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novelesque_life's review against another edition
3.0
3 STARS
"Many twists and turns, "Under the Bridge" examines a terrible crime in which middle-class teenagers obsessed with film idols and hip-hop culture turn on one of their own with tragic results. Who were the seemingly ordinary suburban teenagers who found themselves under the bridge on a moonlit Friday night? Why would a girl who longed to be their friend be beaten and killed? And how did so many teenagers keep the knowledge of a murder from parents, teachers, and police for eight days? "Under the Bridge" answers these questions in a stunning account that takes us into bedrooms and classrooms, into a fateful night, into the hearts of grieving families, and finally, into police stations and courtrooms as adults reckon with a shocking and brutal crime." (From Amazon)
It was odd to read this book as it was a case I read about in the papers and it was near my hometown. I could not get into the writing style but did finish the book.
"Many twists and turns, "Under the Bridge" examines a terrible crime in which middle-class teenagers obsessed with film idols and hip-hop culture turn on one of their own with tragic results. Who were the seemingly ordinary suburban teenagers who found themselves under the bridge on a moonlit Friday night? Why would a girl who longed to be their friend be beaten and killed? And how did so many teenagers keep the knowledge of a murder from parents, teachers, and police for eight days? "Under the Bridge" answers these questions in a stunning account that takes us into bedrooms and classrooms, into a fateful night, into the hearts of grieving families, and finally, into police stations and courtrooms as adults reckon with a shocking and brutal crime." (From Amazon)
It was odd to read this book as it was a case I read about in the papers and it was near my hometown. I could not get into the writing style but did finish the book.
booksandpasta's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Bullying, Violence, and Child death
sgorr's review against another edition
1.0
I read 155 pages of the book because it was on the free library shelf in my hotel room. The story is interesting, but the prose isn't very good. It comes off as highly stylized to the point of distraction.
I also thought her constant references to the kids' interest in hip hop came off as pretty racist. The kids like 2 Pac so they killed someone? I don't think so. It's like the stories on Columbine that blame it all on video games. It's lazy writing/research and its honestly kind of offensive.
I wish people would stop comparing books like this to In Cold Blood because Capote's book is perfect and this is far from it.
I also thought her constant references to the kids' interest in hip hop came off as pretty racist. The kids like 2 Pac so they killed someone? I don't think so. It's like the stories on Columbine that blame it all on video games. It's lazy writing/research and its honestly kind of offensive.
I wish people would stop comparing books like this to In Cold Blood because Capote's book is perfect and this is far from it.
suzsta's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
4.0
The tragic murder of Reena Virk is immortalised within these pages in a true crime novel that reads like a tragic work of fiction. With a tenderness and deep regard for the lived experiences of many of the teenagers implicated in this heinous crime, which are littered with hardships and abandonment, rage and love, horror and beauty, and none more than Reena herself, Godfrey handles the lead up, the crime, and the subsequent trial with a stunning clarity and insight into the reality of how a group of young people could come to be involved in a murder. A sobering, heart rending look at the circumstances that brought Reena Virk to the fateful bridge, and the minds of the teenagers who would murder her there.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for access to this ARC
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for access to this ARC
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Injury/Injury detail
donnakaye64's review against another edition
5.0
A good book but, hard to read about teens killing a school mate.
brenna1130x's review against another edition
I read this for my criminology class and I enjoyed reading it for the most part but I thought there were somethings that we were told that were unnecessary and some parts of the writing in particular the way it talked about the girls involved, I just found weird.