'Just Mercy' review

This book was a tough one. I'm not sure if I'd of picked it up had my bookclub not chose it as February's nonfic read, but after reading it I say this: Everyone needs to read this book. If you want a better understanding of how the justice system works and it's failings here in America, read this.

I had to take breaks while reading this as it was just so upsetting and a stressful read, especially when Stevenson gets into his work with incarcerated children. The just utter lack a regard to these people's lives is disgusting.

Bryan Stevenson has just dedicated his life to this and has had such a powerful impact on many people's lives and even had hand in changing laws (here, here, here) that were very much unfair. We still have long steps to go in getting the justice system to not be such a crapshoot, needlessly biased against all people of color and poor people, but the strides this man has taken so far are pretty amazing.

It's also interesting to think about how had he not volunteered with the SPDC and met Henry, who was on death row, and really got to know this man, that it might not have gotten him thinking about the injustice of it all and started him on this quest.

"I frequently had difficult conversations with clients who were struggling and despairing over their situations-over the things they'd done, or had been done to them, that had led them to painful moments. Whenever things got really bad, and they were questioning the value of their lives, I would remind them that each of us is more than the worst thing we've ever done. I told them that if someone tells a lies, that person is not just a liar. If you take something that doesn't belong to you, you are not just a thief. Even if you kill someone, you're not just a killer. I am more than broken. In fact, there is a strength, a power even, in understanding brokenness, because embracing our brokenness creates a need and desire for mercy, and perhaps a corresponding need to show mercy. When you experience mercy, you learn things that are hard to learn otherwise. You see things you can't  otherwise see; you hear things you can't otherwise hear. You begin to recognize the humanity that resides in each of us." (pg. 290)

I think the thing I find most impressive about Stevenson is really just his way with words. Both with people and on page. It definitely feels like he gets the grasp on how to talk to people right away and some of his phrases really hit home the idea that there's something wrong here. The most prominent one that was pointed out my bookclub was that instead of life sentence, he frequently said death sentence - because that's what it was... you sentence someone to 100+ years without parole, that's a death sentence. It's insane to me that it took until 2009 before this started being changed.

This overarching story follows Stevenson's quest to get Walter McMillian off of death row for a crime he couldn't possibly have commited. The facts that stacked up against the police force and DA and courts that dealt with this who only wanted to get this murder wrapped up before elections, was just mind boggling. The lack of care in the case was just... horrifying. They put this man on death row before he was even trialed. They bribed people with lesser sentences if they said they saw him places he wasn't - even though there were dozens of witnesses saying he was miles away from when the murder happened. This entire debacle ruined this man's life and while Stevenson ultimately got Walter, thankfully, freed, he was never the same and died thinking he was still on the row. It was utterly tragic and completely unnecessary that someone's life had to go out that way because of some people didn't want to admit they made a mistake.

As a far warning, there are some descriptions of people being sent to the electric chair that are pretty graphic and were upsetting to read. If you are anti-death penalty, this will be a tough one for you and it definitely gave me a lot to think about.

There is an absolute wealth of information on the Equal Justice Initiative website, which was founded by Stevenson in 1989, if you're interested in learning more, volunteering or donating. I haven't watched it yet, but have heard the documentary, True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality, was very good.

'The Wives' review *spoilers*

Originally, I had this rated a little higher, but the more I stewed on it, the more I just did not like it. And weeks later, writing this review, I'm just not happy about it, so here we go.

The premise of this - about a gal who agreed to a poly marriage where she wasn't supposed to know anything about the other wives but finds out that her husband may be abusing one of the other wives and wants to try and save her - was an interesting ideas. And if that's all it was, I think this would've been a good thriller-type (with more research into the whole poly thing needed, most def), but there was a "plot twist" that pretty much invalidated the first half of the book.

I mean, I kinda hated it. I rated it two stars on Goodreads, a pan on Litsy.

My biggest issue with the book is that it uses Thursday's mental illness as a plot point and a "convenient" way to wrap up all those loose ends and random choices she made (oh, she's mentally ill, that explain everything, right?). I realize people react to certain situations differently, but this level of psychosis just doesn't seem reasonable given the reason why. Thursday had a miscarriage sometime before the story begins, and while that's horrible and traumatic, it and her refusal to accept it (and the events after) fully are used as the catalysts to her downward spiral. I dunno, man.

Another thing I disliked about this book, other than the main character Thursday, was just... the characterization of every other female in the book. They were caricatures and stereotypes and just flat as a board. All these women were held down and hurt in some way by men and I'm just not happy reading about that. That's all they were. All their characters were there just to further demonize men. Men are manipulators and cheaters and they bribe and cajool women to stay with them (well, with the exception of Thursday who is just too crazy for her "husband," but he's a-ok leaning into that psychosis to get the food/sex whenever he wants). It's just gross. I'd also venture that this can be considered rape seeing as she, during those scenes, wasn't cognitively aware that they were no longer in a relationship and he's just taking advantage of that.

Also, that ending? When she should've been on the road to recovery and it honestly seemed like it, she just goes batshit on what's-her-face that visits? Out of left fucking field, man. Ridiculous. Of all the people she interacted with in the book, I'd say she's maybe three down the line of who she should be most angry with. In no way a realistic reaction. And maybe that was just in her head? But I fucking hate that kind of shit.

Needless to say, I'm not interested in reading any of Tarryn Fisher's other books as looking at their reviews, I see much of the same and no thanks.

January 2020 Wrap Up (w/some Feb goals)

Books Completed:

Storm Front - Jim Butcher (finished Jan. 05) review here

Guts - Raina Telgemeier (finished Jan. 11) 4 out of 5 stars, read because my oldest daughter gave it to me to read after she did. She has all her graphic novels and has liked them all. They're pretty good books!

Monstress Vol. 4: The Chosen - Marjorie M. Liu and Sana Takeda (finished Jan. 29) 4 out of 5 stars, this entire series has been interesting and beautiful, so far. Pretty great world building, too!

The Wives - Tarryn Fisher (finished Jan. 20) 2 out of 5 stars. I have a bone to pick with this book. It was seriously terrible. I may just dedicate a review post to it, but we'll see. (If I decide to, I'll link it here, too.)

I won a book (The Girl and the Stars by Mark Lawrence) and recieved a book I won back in December (American Sherlock: Murder, Forensics, and the Birth of American CSI by Kate Winkler Dawson). Both are have jumped up the immediate TBR pile (behind Dead Astronauts by Jeff VanderMeer, the bookclub horror pick for February: Twelve Nights at Rotter House by J.W. Ocker, and my current reads).

picture of My Grandma and Me by Mina Javaherbin

Books Read With bb: 11 (plus plenty of rereads)

Her faves of the month:

First Numbers by Tony Mitten and Ant Parker & 12 Lucky Animals by Vickie Lee and Joey Chou (her Chinese zodiac is the dog!)

One of the picture books I read to the bb,  My Grandma and Me by Mina Javaherbin and Lindsey Yankey, completed 3 prompts for 3 different challenges I'm loosely working on. It was a pretty book and sweet.

January was rough for reading. Haven't gotten into the swing of this new year and new schedules so, especially audiobooks, reading has been all over the place. Also, all of my adult reads last month were just.. bad with the exception of one and current reads (though Just Mercy is upsetting in a different kinda way).

Here's hoping February is better! Loose TBR for February is: finish up Just Mercy (physical book for nonfic bookclub), The Princess Beard by Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne (audiobook), Dead Astronauts by Jeff VanderMeer (physical library borrow I've /patiently/ awaited), Twelve Nights at Rotter House by J.W. Ocker (physical book for horror bookclub), American Sherlock: Murder, Forensics, and the Birth of American CSI by Kate Winkler Dawson (physical copy for review), and probably a few chapters of The Way of Kings.

Other Unnecessary Stats:
Active TV shows: Grimm S5E9, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina S3E4, The Great British Pottery Throw Down S3E3
Movies watched: The Witch ****, Paranormal Activity 2 ***, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil ***
Video games playing: Dragon Age: Inquisition (3rd replay, on hard) and picked up No Man's Sky again