Lo and behold, a true crime book is now # 1 on the New York Times bestseller list. The word is his publisher printed 2.8 million copies. Most of the reviewers compare John Grisham to Truman Capote, which is quite the statement. Still others feel his book is a "handbook perfectly outlining how true-crime narrative should be constructed. " I had to laugh when I read that one reviewer thought he was reading fiction -- “It wasn’t until I was about halfway through it that I realized this Grisham book is a true crime book.” Maybe that's the ticket: true crime can conquer America by stealth.
Many people commented on this site or privately about the post appearing here on Coral Eugene Watts. The remarks are very interesting and worth reading. True crime author Corey Mitchell published a book about Watts just a few months ago that I had to pick up and will be telling you more about the day after its arrival. The title is Evil Eyes.
Meanwhile, Father Gerald Robinson is asking to be released on bond pending the appeal for his murder conviction. The outcome of the motion should tell us something about the chances for success overall. The Father's persistent cadre of supporters continues in its dogged effort to raise funds and awareness for his cause. Several hundred people in Toledo who believe the priest was railroaded attended a fundraiser for him, though it was the "small group of protesters" who got the headline. And the Toledo Free Press has jumped on the bandwagon and bashes his supporters as "sick, warped, wrong" and yet "sweet" -- for "forgiving" him. Then goes on to suggest that the website supporting Father Robinson should be called "www.ChickenDinnerInHell.com."
How's this for an idea: we're convinced the guy is innocent and the scientific evidence proves it!
The first book about Father Robinson's case is now in print. It was authored by the Toledo Blade reporter, David Yonke, who grappled with the case while covering it for that publication. The author remarks that the case has made him toss and turn, and in an interview, conceded that he was undecided on his guilt until the closing arguments of counsel.
Well, he's not alone in having his sleep disrupted by this murder case, though I think we turn and toss for entirely different reasons.
An overall favorable review of the book appeared in the Blade last week. The reviewer is critical of the author's
groundless extrapolations. (How did the author know that the killer's mind "was a dull roar, like a freight train was roaring through it" or that the killer was "whispering in Latin" as he repeatedly stabbed the nun?)
The book is available from Amazon, though I'm still undecided on whether to read it. I don't know if it would be good for my blood pressure -- or my marriage. Poor Mr. James's ears are still a bit bent on this one.
Funny, though, how John Grisham's expose of a wrongly convicted man is the hottest bestseller in the country right now, while those who try to go about proving a more recent example of justice run amok are skewered as sick and warped.
Shame on Mr. Yonke for not reporting the facts! The bits you quoted sound as if he was actually writing his book hoping to get it picked up as a TV movie of the week.
Posted by: Nene | October 23, 2006 at 11:03 AM
Laura, my opinion on this is two-fold. First, it's Grisham. His name means something to people, and they might have thought they were picking up his fictional book. His storytelling abilities to weave a NF tale is important--voice.
The second reason is the cover. When you look at most TC covers, they look sensational. When you look at Grisham's, you see his branding package, as well as a more classy overall look.
Posted by: Allison Brennan | October 23, 2006 at 08:13 PM