Lost in Florida

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Categories: Books

June reads

 

The Night Shift by Alex Finlay
Ok did I pick this book simply because the plot mentioned murders at a Blockbuster Video? Yes. The book goes beyond that because there are not only one set of murders, but a second timeline with another set of teen murders. Both time, there was only one survivor. The final girl from the Blockbuster murders is now trying to help the new girl survivor to go through her trauma and figure out who is the murderer – the same person, or a copycat?
I loved: the strong woman characters, the alleged original killer set free who disappeared, and the short binge-reading format.

How to be an antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
I am not gonna lie it was not an easy read. It does require your full attention. I really enjoy that the author looked at his younger self and applies his theories to himself, enlightening the moment he was himself racist while thinking he was fighting racism. For hi, not being racist is not being antiracist, and this is maybe the most important idea in the book and I will surely take it with me. However, I had troubles with some of the extreme he goes to, for example the fact that you are an activist only if you make the laws change, which, in my opinion, you are an activist if you are actively trying to make the laws change. I am unable to say if some of my disagreements come from a possible internalized unconscious racism in me, so for sure the book raised some thinking.

Nine Lives by Peter Swanson
9 strangers each receive a list of names of strangers, except for their own. Quickly after, the people on the list start being murdered…
It was “fun” that one of the investigators was also on the list and overall it was entertaining enough, but I was really disappointed by the big reveal.

Categories: Prison

Resentencing update

This is a post I have hesitated to make because I feel it could offend friends who were not as lucky or victims who disagree with this (it’s not all of them luckily) but I do want to share that Alan was resentenced to Life Without Parole last month and is now off death row. After 17 years of isolation this is quite an adjustment. He should have more visits and more access to the phone, and he will be able to work (something he is looking forward to). But mostly, as he described to me, it is the first time in his life he is not waiting for death – or rather that death is not waiting for him. It is a strange feeling but something I’m sure he’ll get used to quickly, as will I. I keep the men on the row who didn’t get a chance at a resentening or did not get the same outcome in my thoughts. I’ll never stop fighting against the death penalty, as this was never a personal issue to me, but a moral one since I learned of its existence in my early teens. I do appreciate and love those of you who supported me through my activism, my marriage, and this exhausting trial, to sum up, who stood by my side during difficult battles. I know my choices are not always easy to understand, but my heart is always leading the way. Alan is everything to me, I loved him as soon as I got to know the deep real him. He deserves this second chance.

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