A review by porshainielsen
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
4.75- maybe even a 5 after I sit on it for a few days.
My opinion of true crime has shifted quite a bit in the last few years. I do not want to hear about the handsome mysterious man who murdered nameless women. I do not want to hear about the killers turbulent childhood. I want to hear about the victims and how they loved to listen to Fleetwood Mac, how they loved reading horoscopes and how they were people. This style of story telling made me quite emotional as these women could easily be myself or one of my friends. The person that this story is about killed thirty women. Yet, it is always his face in the paper or on the homescreen of your Netflix app. I also loved the narrative change of the killer being a brooding, handsome man- no, he was actually fucking annoying and prayed on the societal norm of women feeling obligated to help/entertain a man in need.
While I loved reading hearing this story told in a perspective based upon court documents and eye-witness reports, I can't help but think about how the victims feel about this portrayal. The two main characters, Ruth and Pamela, are based on real people. People who haven't or cannot confirm that these were the thoughts and feelings they were having at the time.
My opinion of true crime has shifted quite a bit in the last few years. I do not want to hear about the handsome mysterious man who murdered nameless women. I do not want to hear about the killers turbulent childhood. I want to hear about the victims and how they loved to listen to Fleetwood Mac, how they loved reading horoscopes and how they were people. This style of story telling made me quite emotional as these women could easily be myself or one of my friends. The person that this story is about killed thirty women. Yet, it is always his face in the paper or on the homescreen of your Netflix app. I also loved the narrative change of the killer being a brooding, handsome man- no, he was actually fucking annoying and prayed on the societal norm of women feeling obligated to help/entertain a man in need.
While I loved reading hearing this story told in a perspective based upon court documents and eye-witness reports, I can't help but think about how the victims feel about this portrayal. The two main characters, Ruth and Pamela, are based on real people. People who haven't or cannot confirm that these were the thoughts and feelings they were having at the time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Rape, and Homophobia