Books I Read in 2018
I’m the first to admit that 2018 was not the best year in reading for me. I didn’t accomplish any of my reading goals, to be honest. Fortunately, I was still able to sprinkle in a few books over the course of the year. These are the most memorable books I read this year:
Ghettoside by Jill Leovy
Jill Leovy was a crime reporter who started a blog called the Homicide Report through the LA Times. The website chronicles the homicides in Los Angeles County, telling “a story for every victim.” Thanks to Leovy’s connections to homicide detectives, this book focuses on the high rate of homicide for Los Angeles County’s Black residents as well as the lack of resources available to solve these murders.
I liked Ghettoside because it delves into an aspect of true crime that tends to go unnoticed and unmentioned among those who are interested in it. It is so easy for media to ignore the grief of the families involved in these cases. These stories are important, and I was really moved by this book.
The Spider and the Fly by Claudia Rowe
In her book, Claudia Rowe discusses the murders committed by Kendall Francois, a black man who had a history of attacking sex workers. When eight women went missing in his neighborhood, Francois would have been a solid lead had detectives not written him off based on serial killer stereotypes. This book pairs the story of Francois with Claudia Rowe’s own experience writing to and even visiting him.
I can’t say that The Spider and the Fly is a favorite of mine. I didn’t necessarily get the connection between Rowe’s story and the murders. The information about the victims of the crime was much more compelling, but I felt a bit like I was missing out on some of their stories. That being said, this was an interesting read about a crime I’d never heard about before.
Missoula by Jon Krakauer
Missoula is a college town not often in the news. In Jon Krakauer’s Missoula, we learn the town has a problem with sexual assault on campus. In fact, Missoula police received more than 350 reports of sexual assault between 2008 and 2012 alone, and most were not handled properly. Why is sexual assault so common on college campuses? Why don’t so many police forces have the resources to manage these issues?
I was enthralled by Missoula, which really throws you right into the frustrating and confusing reality of sexual assault related to college and college sports. I know the legal cases mentioned in the book have had updates since this was published, but this book was a stark reminder that as a society, we have a lot to work on.
The Girls by Emma Cline
Technically, I finished The Girls this year, but I started it last year. Emma Cline’s book focuses on a Manson-esque cult developing in the 1960s in Northern California. A lonely teenager joins the group of girls before meeting their charismatic leader (who also happens to be a musician).
There is a lot that I liked about this book. I liked Cline’s writing style a lot. She paints a picture. At the same time, I kept feeling as if the cult in the book wasn’t distinct enough from Manson’s Family. Something was missing for me.
The Long Shadows of Small Ghosts: Murder and Memory in an American City by Laura Tillman
On March 11, 2003, a Brownsville, Texas, couple murdered their three children in a small, run-down apartment building. The murders would go on to shatter the small community and led to more questions than answers. Tillman spent six years examining the murders and trying to understand the perpetrators while writing The Long Shadows of Small Ghosts.
I appreciated the effort Tillman put into writing this book. She spoke with lawyers, neighbors, family members, and even one of the murderers. The level of in-depth research Tillman put into this book is evident, and her writing is compassionate. This is one of the most haunting books I’ve ever read.
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara
The Golden State Killer stepped out of the shadows last year. Rather, he was pushed out. Thanks to DNA and recent attention brought to the crime. This book, written by the late Michelle McNamara, was written before the spotlight returned to the murders.
I waited so long for I’ll Be Gone in the Dark to come out, especially after McNamara’s unfortunate death. It’s so unfortunate McNamara was unable to complete the book, but her research and level of passion for resolving the case is evident. I loved this book, and I plan to revisit it soon with the new knowledge we have of the Golden State Killer.
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