Kitty Genovese

Kitty Genovese: A True Account of a Public Murder and Its Private Consequences | Catherine Pelonero

pick

I, surprisingly, didn‘t know about the Kitty Genovese murder, so it was quite shocking to read in detail the crime and the after-effects of this violent and public case. It‘s disturbing and truly saddening. The author gives great detail about Kitty‘s life, the case and the perpetrator. It is a well-researched and well-written true crime novel. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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MidnightBookGirl

Kitty Genovese: A True Account of a Public Murder and Its Private Consequences | Catherine Pelonero

pick

Like a lot of people, I thought I knew the story of Kitty Genovese. Polonero does a great job of presenting Kitty as a whole person, but she also paints the picture of New York in 1964 and how Genovese's attack, rape and murder could have been ignored by so many people. Also a detailed look at her murderer and his life before and after. Highly recommend this for any true crime fan or #murderino. Just #SSDGM!

MidnightBookGirl Also, I would do this one on audio rather than print because the writing is clunky and repetitive at times. It was less noticeable bc the narration is good and I listen at 2x speed. 7y

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MidnightBookGirl

Kitty Genovese: A True Account of a Public Murder and Its Private Consequences | Catherine Pelonero

This one has been on my audiobook tbr for a long time. Kitty Genovese was a badass of her time, and it's horrible that she was murdered, especially because she was so close to home and safety. #truecrime #murderino

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thereadingowlvina

Kitty Genovese: A True Account of a Public Murder and Its Private Consequences | Catherine Pelonero

bailed

Another book I've bailed on! The first few chapters were intense but I really don't like the trite writing. Felt like I'm getting nowhere & it was frustrating. I think I'll watch the documentary on Netflix instead 😐

keithmalek They've sort of proven that this whole story is an exaggeration anyway. A lot of people heard her screaming, but there were always people screaming outside of that building. Then again, I'm quoting Malcolm Gladwell, and he's usually wrong about EVERYTHING. 7y

Amiable Actually, they have not "proven" that this story was an exaggeration. What has happened is a blatant case of revisionist history over the years, because current residents of Kew Gardens don't want to believe that such apathy could have existed in their neighborhood. But this book delves into the actual police reports from the investigation at the time of the murder--it doesn't rely on people's "feelings" about what should have happened. 7y

33 likes2 comments

thereadingowlvina

Kitty Genovese: A True Account of a Public Murder and Its Private Consequences | Catherine Pelonero

Just started this. First 2 chapters flew by quickly. Hard to read 😔

CherryPie Interesting. TBR. 7y

somebooksaround This sounds intense😳 7y

thereadingowlvina @CherryPie @josteele Yes, it's intense so far, like reading a horror fiction. Sadly, this is true crime which makes it harder to read. Haunting 😮 7y

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Reviewsbylola

Kitty Genovese: A True Account of a Public Murder and Its Private Consequences | Catherine Pelonero

pick

I had a few issues with this one, mainly the repetitiveness. I think it could have been edited to be more straight forward. That being said, it‘s a haunting look into the human condition and how far we are willing to go to help others. Kitty Genovese was a young woman who was murdered in 1964. She screamed and pleaded for help, but 38 people watched passively as she crawled away, only to be found later by the perp and brutally slaughtered.

peaKnit Wow, sounds tough, but interesting. 7y

thereadingowlvina Oh my, that's heartbreaking. Kind of reminds me of an episode in Law & Order: SVU. The victim was assaulted but none of the 39 witnesses came forward. 😐 7y

Velvetfur Oh gosh, how horrific! Behaviour like that just makes me hate humans (not any of the humans here on Litsy though). 7y

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Cosyreader There‘s a documentary about it on Netflix called The Witness that changed my opinion on this. It‘s worth watching 7y

emilyhaldi I was just going to mention The Witness too! @Amy-Laura You need to look into that next... @Meredith3 and I both watched it on the plane from London 😁 7y

Kaye There are a couple different books on this. I did a review on one, which I think this was it. I said in the review that it seemed like it was written more as a textbook with all the added in info in the Gay lifestyle, etc. I thought it could‘ve been used in a college class. Let‘s just say the author didn‘t take kindly to that review. Oh well, , my loyalty when I write reviews is to other readers, not to the author. I give truthful opinions. 7y

Reviewsbylola Wow, that‘s awful when authors are personally offended by reviews. I‘ve seen some nasty behavior before. I understand that authors pour their heart and soul into their work but not every review will be positive. And I agree, it was pretty dry. I only gave it three stars and it teetered on being a so-so rating. @kaye 7y

Reviewsbylola Yes, I did hear about that @amy-Laura after @emilyhaldi and @Meredith3 watched it on our flight. Unfortunately they didn‘t know I was reading this book at the time so they didn‘t tell me about it until after we landed. I def want to watch tho. 7y

Jerdencon May have to check this out... her murder happened a few miles away from where I live (but before my time!) and the story kind@of fascinates me. 7y

Mdargusch Heartbreaking! 7y

110 likes10 comments

MPL

Kitty Genovese: A True Account of a Public Murder and Its Private Consequences | Catherine Pelonero

True crime display! What books should we add?!

Jess7 Excellent book - very well written:

Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders

(edited) 8y

Jess7 This is a must read bc so many people are misinformed. I know I was before reading the book:

Waiting to Be Heard: A Memoir

(edited) 8y

Jess7 West Memphis Three :

Devil's Knot

(edited) 8y

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Jess7 And this one because the proceeds goto the Goldman family (bc let's be honest, he definitely did it, and it was interesting to get into the mind of a narcissist 🙄)

If I Did it

(edited) 8y

Jess7 Marcia Clark's book on the OJ Simpson trial. She can be a bit too detailed at times, but it's probably the best written about the murders in terms of the facts of the case (at least of the five or so I've read about it)

Without a Doubt

(edited) 8y

Jess7 This one was so-so but SERIAL was hugely popular so I'm sure people will want to read it:

Adnan's Story: The Search for Truth and Justice After Serial

Jess7 Maybe throw in one about Jon Benet if you know of a good one. 8y

MPL @Jess7 These picks are awesome! Definitely adding! 8y

Jess7 Thanks. I would also recommend this one, which is practically a classic/staple in the true crime genre 🎉

In Cold Blood

EvieBee Awesome!! I still need to read Alice and Freda. What about

A Thousand Lives: The Untold Story of Hope, Deception, and Survival at Jonestown

(edited) 8y

MPL @EvieBee Great pick!! 8y

7 likes11 comments

KimHM

Kitty Genovese: A True Account of a Public Murder and Its Private Consequences | Catherine Pelonero

bailed

Okay, I concede. I made it halfway through, but the bad writing was too painful. Part of the problem (particularly with grating/inappropriate tone) may be that the authors other published works are comic plays.

Completists might want the bargain ebook for their collections, but otherwise, pass. #bookbail

MidnightBookGirl I listened to it in audio, at 2x speed, which made the boring parts and clunky writing much easier to get through. 7y

KimHM Maybe I‘ll give that a try sometime, @MidnightBookGirl 😄 7y

8 likes2 comments

KimHM

Kitty Genovese: A True Account of a Public Murder and Its Private Consequences | Catherine Pelonero

I'm getting worried about finishing this one. The questions--how many persons witnessed the murder and did anyone intervene?--are important ones but the bad writing is distracting and detracting. The tone of this metaphor is so inappropriate ( it concerns the murderer's parents) I'm not even sure what to think.

BookishMarginalia Bad writing? #bookbail is warranted 😜 8y

KimHM What a perfect hashtag! Somehow, that makes me feel better 😆 8y

7 likes2 comments

StellaDz

Kitty Genovese: A True Account of a Public Murder and Its Private Consequences | Catherine Pelonero

Bookbub deal of the day! 2.99 on Amazon.ca! Will certainly be reading this soon!

4 likes

KimHM

Kitty Genovese: A True Account of a Public Murder and Its Private Consequences | Catherine Pelonero

I guess it's #tbr Tuesday isn't it? This went to the top my list, despite some reservations. But, it's an electronic bargain, so how far wrong can it go 😄?

7 likes

KrisConstantReader

Kitty Genovese: A True Account of a Public Murder and Its Private Consequences | Catherine Pelonero

Ebook deal today, $1.99. A few months ago I read another book about this case and had planned on getting this one and another one also, I'm glad I waited.

KimHM I've long been interested in this case, too, but put off by the debunked "no one helped" narrative. But I check Inside the Book for the author's references and she has consulted the American Psychologist study, so I'm giving in to temptation. What was the earlier book you read about the case? 8y

LibrarianToujours Oddly the Harlan Ellison story collection (Deathbird Stories) with a story influenced by this murder is also a deal today. 8y

KrisConstantReader @KimHM the one I read is an older one, I think it's been debunked, as you said

Thirty-Eight Witnesses: The Kitty Genovese Case

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KrisConstantReader @KimHM I also have this short one, haven't read it yet

Fifty Years After Kitty Genovese: Inside the Case that Rocked Our Faith in Each Other

KrisConstantReader @KimHM and there's one more, a recent one--I read a review or article and I think it was described as the definitive account, it comes to very different conclusions than the one from the original post, both published around the same time

Kitty Genovese: The Murder, the Bystanders, the Crime that Changed America

KrisConstantReader @NHLibrarian I saw that, I think I already have that book but I need to double-check. Do you know what story was inspired by this case? 8y

MrsV I couldn't pass this one up either! 8y

KimHM I'm putting the Cook book on my wish list (maybe it'll become a deal ?). I've started this one on my Kindle. The writing is a little rocky: a mixed metaphor, a misspelling, things like that but I'm overlooking those for the moment because the pace is quick and she's being careful about what Genovese "must have" or "could have" seen or felt. 8y

KrisConstantReader @KimHM I should mention, the book by Rosenthal was what started the perhaps-false, perhaps-exaggerated account of the 38 witnesses. Rosenthal was a reported for the New York Times, had access to the cops, wrote a series of articles when it happened and then the book. And here's the article about this book & Cook's: 8y

KrisConstantReader @KimHM https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/kitty-genovese-the-murder-the-bystanders... 8y

LibrarianToujours @KrisConstantReader The Whimper of Whipped Dogs 8y

KrisConstantReader @NHLibrarian thanks so much! I didn't have it after all so I went ahead and got it. 8y

KimHM Yes, I knew about Rosenthal; I've always hoped he'd admit or recognize how faulty his NYT reporting was. 8y

KrisConstantReader @KimHM I read about all that AFTER I'd bought the book, unfortunately. But it did lead me online to read a bunch of fascinating articles about the case. If I'm not mistaken, there's even a documentary that her brother produced, I think it's on YouTube somewhere. 8y

KimHM I'm not going to fret too much since this book was so cheap, and as you say, there are lots of articles, tho I do wish Rosenthal had been more forthcoming in 2004. But, I think I'm going to use this as a lesson in critical thinking for my Mass Comm class, so I'm counting this in the win column 😊 8y

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