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#12booksof2025 @TheEllieMo

5*/5 ⭐

Loved this book, I think it's now one of my favorites from Stephen King.

This is my 3rd O‘nan in2 months and I love him. Here, we hear Marjorie Standiford tell her story as she sits waiting for her death row execution. Her story is peppered with Stephen King references because the person she‘s telling the story to is the author who bought the rights. Who is it? Mr.King himself. Her life goes from small, normal Midwest town to a boyfriend with a hot car to drug spirals into murder. It‘s great. I‘m an O‘nan fan. Pick!

Of course it‘s a pick. I don‘t think I‘ve ever read a Stephen King book I didn‘t like…or at least that I couldn‘t find aspects of to like. Ostensibly a whodunit (to a degree), this book is also an examination of the human condition, the lies we tell ourselves & others, the emotional toll of working on death row, racism, the abuse of power, & wonder & hope & the possibility in the seemingly impossible. King just knows how to tell a good story.

Somehow, I have never read this or seen the movie...going to fix that right now.

Despite the grim subject matter - imagine spending 30 years of your one & only life on Death Row for crimes you didn't commit - this biography has a tenacious positivity, due to the remarkable personality of Ray Hinton. The flagrant racism & prejudice he faced in the Alabama justice system was absolutely staggering, but he never lost sight of his own innocence & worth. His strength of character is nothing short of humbling. Eye opening for sure!

If you are an animal lover DO NOT watch the first episode of this docuseries. I will fill in any blanks you may have. You‘re welcome. It ended with the question of whether the amateur sleuths that helped track this guy down were complicit in his crimes, and if true crime fans (specifically the ones who watched the documentary they made) were also complicit in their crimes. It was a very weird turn at the end of this thing. Any thoughts on this?

😢