jcpdiesel21's review against another edition
3.0
Worth checking out if you are a fan of Serial and/or anything tangentially related. Chaudry does a good job filling in the blanks on the personal side to help complete the full picture and providing updates on the case, some of which are quite intriguing. Occasionally Chaudry's bias toward Syed becomes very obvious in her zealous assessments, and she comes down a little too harshly on Koenig, who may not have performed exactly as anticipated, but did have a hand in bringing Syed's story into the public eye. Although a different narrator could have elevated the occasionally dry material, this audiobook nicely complimented the experience that I had with the podcast.
nikkiole's review against another edition
2.0
Couldn't quite finish this. Was a avid listener of Serial and Undisclosed podcasts as each delved into Adnan's case. Rabia is obviously quite passionate about this, but the writing style was hard for me to follow and maintain focus. One minute we are talking about the events of the day or days leading up, and then we are taking a whole tangent on Muslim teenage culture. Which, to be honest, was still interesting... I just wish the chapters had been better organized.
nerdyrev's review against another edition
3.0
Like many, I got caught up in this story from the Serial podcast. I pick this up knowing the HBO series was also coming. With all this stated, I am going to comment on the book itself. The book is setting out to prove:
1. Adnan was innocent
2. The police handled Adnan’s case incorrectly
3. Adnan’s lawyer didn’t fight hard enough.
As a book it did a fine job of laying that out. The problem was in her desire to see Adnan free, there is no credible alternative really presented.
At one point she says Don wasn’t really looked into, his mother was his manager, and... It just kind of ends there.
The same with Jay. She sets out to prove Jay is unreliable, but doesn’t really give a reason as to why Jay points to Adnan or had the knowledge he had. How did Jay know so many crucial details.
The book lays out the mistakes, but doesn’t strongly give an alternative narrative as to who may have committed the crime, which is typical in a true crime book. It was a good read, but way too much of tossing things against the wall.
1. Adnan was innocent
2. The police handled Adnan’s case incorrectly
3. Adnan’s lawyer didn’t fight hard enough.
As a book it did a fine job of laying that out. The problem was in her desire to see Adnan free, there is no credible alternative really presented.
At one point she says Don wasn’t really looked into, his mother was his manager, and... It just kind of ends there.
The same with Jay. She sets out to prove Jay is unreliable, but doesn’t really give a reason as to why Jay points to Adnan or had the knowledge he had. How did Jay know so many crucial details.
The book lays out the mistakes, but doesn’t strongly give an alternative narrative as to who may have committed the crime, which is typical in a true crime book. It was a good read, but way too much of tossing things against the wall.
elisacrln's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, just wow. This book was so amazing. So detailed and full of information. A must read for anyone truly interested in Adnan's case. I had so many questions left after Serial and this book along with Undisclosed and the HBO documentary have allowed me to understand the case better. It has inspired me to join the fight for Adnan.
mandimartin's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
I appreciated that it filled in some of the details Serial couldn't cover. While I fully understand Rabia's outrage and frustration, it discredits her to some extent that she makes little to no effort to work through her bias. The flow of the book could have been smoother as well. Overall, I enjoyed it from a purely informative perspective. I wish Adnan all the best and have no doubts that he deserves a new trial. I also liked that his friendship with Hae was given a heavier focus than in other accounts. She gets pushed to the side of the story too often.
I appreciated that it filled in some of the details Serial couldn't cover. While I fully understand Rabia's outrage and frustration, it discredits her to some extent that she makes little to no effort to work through her bias. The flow of the book could have been smoother as well. Overall, I enjoyed it from a purely informative perspective. I wish Adnan all the best and have no doubts that he deserves a new trial. I also liked that his friendship with Hae was given a heavier focus than in other accounts. She gets pushed to the side of the story too often.
upgirlcd's review against another edition
5.0
I believe in his innocence
Wow.
I read this book because I follow the author on Twitter.
I have not listened to any of the podcasts.
My soul is touched by Adnan's heartbreaking story.
He is innocent; yet has spent nearly 20 years in prison.
Ugliness is exposed -- racial bias; religious bias, of course., intensified after 9/11; assumptions that "the ex-boyfriend" had to have done it.
Sadly, in the area where I live, which is barely exposed to POC or faith other than mainstream Christian, Adnan would have been convicted today, in far less time. We have a long way to go.
This book sure brings this to light for me.
Thank you for sharing Adnan's Story with the world.
Keep fighting Rabia.
Keep believing.
Adnan needs your unwavering strength.
Adnan needs our support.
I believe he will see freedom in his lifetime.
And dear, sweet Hae. May her soul continue to be at rest.
Wow.
I read this book because I follow the author on Twitter.
I have not listened to any of the podcasts.
My soul is touched by Adnan's heartbreaking story.
He is innocent; yet has spent nearly 20 years in prison.
Ugliness is exposed -- racial bias; religious bias, of course., intensified after 9/11; assumptions that "the ex-boyfriend" had to have done it.
Sadly, in the area where I live, which is barely exposed to POC or faith other than mainstream Christian, Adnan would have been convicted today, in far less time. We have a long way to go.
This book sure brings this to light for me.
Thank you for sharing Adnan's Story with the world.
Keep fighting Rabia.
Keep believing.
Adnan needs your unwavering strength.
Adnan needs our support.
I believe he will see freedom in his lifetime.
And dear, sweet Hae. May her soul continue to be at rest.
arisa9290275's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0
4.0.
Adnan's Story is written by Rabia Chaudry, a close friend of Adnan Syed who is imprisoned for the murder of Hae-Min Lee in 1999. Hae-Min Lee is Adnan's ex-girlfriend and Chaudry writes to make a case that Adnan is innocent by reviewing the two's relationship, the investigation and trial, and the multiple attempts that followed to overturn his conviction.
Adnan's Story exploded in popularity back in 2016 through the podcast Serial and since then Adnan's conviction has been vacated. Regardless of the changes in circumstance since the book was published, it was a dark, convoluted, and interesting read.
What I gathered is that Adnan had an unjust trial with an investigation that missed a lot of avenues looking into other potential suspects and his legal representation sucked.
It's difficult to conclude as a reader what exactly happened as the details are murky and the legal procedures went over my head, but either Adnan Syed is guilty or he is the most unlucky man ever.
Adnan's Story is written by Rabia Chaudry, a close friend of Adnan Syed who is imprisoned for the murder of Hae-Min Lee in 1999. Hae-Min Lee is Adnan's ex-girlfriend and Chaudry writes to make a case that Adnan is innocent by reviewing the two's relationship, the investigation and trial, and the multiple attempts that followed to overturn his conviction.
Adnan's Story exploded in popularity back in 2016 through the podcast Serial and since then Adnan's conviction has been vacated. Regardless of the changes in circumstance since the book was published, it was a dark, convoluted, and interesting read.
What I gathered is that Adnan had an unjust trial with an investigation that missed a lot of avenues looking into other potential suspects and his legal representation sucked.
It's difficult to conclude as a reader what exactly happened as the details are murky and the legal procedures went over my head, but either Adnan Syed is guilty or he is the most unlucky man ever.