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Kitty Genovese: A True Account of a Public Murder and Its Private Consequences

Catherine Pelonero

Discussion: Crime

Why we're reading this: great book, terrifying story. if you like mind boggling true crime then this book is for you.
[close] great book, terrifying story. if you like mind boggling true crime then this book is for you.

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Feb 12, 2014 dave rated it it was amazing

Shelves: all-time-favourites

I didn't want to get involved...

A simple sentence that absolutely kills the speakers humanity. This book is the tale of a young woman, viciously murdered in her prime by, and this is my own personal opinion, a completely sane psychotic. He knew what he was doing, he went out that night hunting. He stalked her, he stabbed her, he ran from being caught but came back to finish the job. Yet the defense went with the insanity plea, to no avail thankfully. So now he rots in jail, and deserves every st I didn't want to get involved...

A simple sentence that absolutely kills the speakers humanity. This book is the tale of a young woman, viciously murdered in her prime by, and this is my own personal opinion, a completely sane psychotic. He knew what he was doing, he went out that night hunting. He stalked her, he stabbed her, he ran from being caught but came back to finish the job. Yet the defense went with the insanity plea, to no avail thankfully. So now he rots in jail, and deserves every stretched out second in that cell no matter how much he has changed for the better. This fantastic book is my introduction to the case of Kitty Genovese, and to be honest I don't know what was more disturbing, the horrific crime or the human apathy displayed during it.

The number of witnesses to the crime, whether eye witnesses or ear witnesses, doesn't really matter to me. It was said at the time to be 38, 37 of which didn't call the police after hearing Kitty's cries for help, the one that did waited over a half an hour to call. Over the years the number of the witnesses has been debated, and this book absolutely puts the evidence on both sides of the fence in our faces. One number is overwhelmingly stronger in case of validity, but what does it matter? If only one person heard what was going on and didn't call the police it is too many. After reading this book I have indeed put a lot of thought into what I would do. Safe in my house would I have been too scared to call the police? Hopefully I will never be in that situation, but if I ever am I hope I rise to the help of a fellow human being. That has always been my assumption, that I would of course jump in to help. Now that I am aware of the case of Kitty Genovese though I am hesitant to believe in myself. I want to do the right thing, always, but would I have the guts to do it? If the time ever comes I will remember Kitty and I will do the right thing, and I think that conviction I now have is thanks to the amazing work Catherine Pelonero has put into providing the correct evidence, the proper chain of events and telling the complete story of Kitty Genovese.

It truly is a great book, a horrible tale and one that should make you look hard at yourself, help you think about what you would do, but a great book nonetheless. Would you get involved? Would you take the chance? One phone call after her first terrified screams would have saved Kitty Genovese. At first I was angry at the people who did nothing to help her, now though I pity them. I hope that I am not one of them and will absolutely strive to do the right thing should the situation ever present itself, for Kitty.

Thank you Catherine Pelonero, you wrote a great book and have indeed opened my eyes to the cancer of apathy. ...more

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Mar 10, 2014 Mirjam Penning marked it as to-read

Aug 11, 2014 Catherine Pelonero rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author)

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