#mailer

Mailer for Comme des Garcons FW92 "Lilith"

Apologies for the poor package quality, separating the mailers outer layer from the bubble wrap is quite difficult (also it literally went through the mail).

X

Late 1990s

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My rating: 4 of 5 stars Recommended to me by my Mother, The Executioner's Song was an in depth look at the justice system in America in the 1970s. Gary Gilmore is paroled to Utah from Oregon. He meets a girl and that's when it goes all wrong. Two people are killed and the state of Utah is baying for blood. When he is convicted, Gary Gilmore accepts his fate and demands to be executed for his crimes, making America blanch. With executions still legal in Utah (at this time), it still have been some years since the last person was executed in America, creating all sorts of powerful reactions. To be honest, I was bored for most of the story. It is based upon true events and the way it was presented was, bizarre. For me there seemed way too much backstory for a lot of the minor characters that had very little to do with the overall story. Yet there were times when I found myself backtracking pages trying to figure out when a new character came on the scene and what their story was, only finding no backstory for them. Looking back I wonder if they were people that didn't offer information beyond their involvement with the cases. If you read this book, make a flow chart of all the people names, especially in the second half of the book. I believe there are about 17 lawyers that are mentioned throughout and if you are not paying strict attention, you'll be lost. Also a lay person's knowledge of law is helpful, though that was handled VERY well in the book, explaining the legality and how it differs in Utah. Now, all that said, the book has something like 1100 pages, (not a light weekend read) yet it wasn't until the last 50 pages (and Acknowledgement) that I really go into the story. It was very fascinating watching how so many people that were involved with the main character changed and how they ended up. The events at the end of the book were eye opening to say the least. A front row seat to something I never thought to witness. Yet despite the horror of the events of the book, there was a feeling of respect for everyone. Killers and victims alike. I will say that I have never read any true crime novel that handles both sides of the crime with that level of humanity, acknowledging that while some criminal acts defy logic, everyone is human. Do I think the book is worth it? Yes. I've been complaining to friends that every time I picked the book to read, it grew another 100 pages. I feel if nothing else, it offers the most interesting insight into the legal system of the time, capital punishment, belief and humanity. View all my reviews