Today is the day Ansel Packer will be executed. He’s known that this day would come, he knows what he’s guilty of. But he doesn’t want to fade into obscurity—he wants to be remembered for his ideas. He’s been writing his Theory, a missive which explains his thoughts and philosophies (but it's not a manifesto) for years.
As much as this day and this story is about Ansel, it’s also about three women. Lavender, his mother, a teenager when she gave birth to him in 1973 and found herself trapped with no way out. Hazel, the twin sister of Ansel’s wife, who has always resented her sister’s easy path to happiness but wonders about this man she has found. And Saffy, the homicide detective determined to make Ansel pay for his crimes—a dogged determination built over decades.
The story counts down the hours until Ansel’s execution, but also follows him from childhood, and sees his life through the eyes of the three women. Are his crimes his own fault? Are they the fault of his upbringing, of ridicule at the hands of others, or is there something inherently wrong with him? Is a person truly bad or can a good person just go wrong?
Notes on an Execution is a gripping, phenomenal story, emotional and thought-provoking, one that made me wonder where I stood on so many issues. This would be ideal for a buddy read or book club because you will want to discuss this.
Many thanks to William Morrow Books for the complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. This truly was phenomenal.
No comments:
Post a Comment