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trin's review
3.0
A frustrating book on a number of levels. Furious Hours is a story ultimately about failure: failure to write, failure to prosecute a crime, failure to enact political change. It is also a book slightly too enamored of its own prose, which results in sections that draaaaaaaag through lengthy descriptions of scenery or, say, the history of the insurance industry. A bit too often, it feels like Cep is straining to stretch her material to book length.
Even when she gets down to the meat of it, the story feels a bit like three distinct parts stuck together. It's structured that way, deliberately, around three central characters: Willie Maxwell, an Alabama reverend who murdered his relatives for the insurance money; Tom Radney, the crusading liberal lawyer who defended both Maxwell and the man who ultimately ended his reign of terror by shooting him in front of hundreds of witnesses; and tragic "one-hit wonder" Harper Lee, who attempted to write a follow-up to To Kill a Mockingbird about the case. Though the parts have obvious and major intersections, they felt very separate--Maxwell's the most packed with asides; Lee's already well-tread ground.
The most dynamic by far was the middle third of the book, following Radney. Where Furious Hours does absolutely succeed is in convincing the reader that the book Lee would have written, featuring Radney as its hero, would have been a hell of a read.
Even when she gets down to the meat of it, the story feels a bit like three distinct parts stuck together. It's structured that way, deliberately, around three central characters: Willie Maxwell, an Alabama reverend who murdered his relatives for the insurance money; Tom Radney, the crusading liberal lawyer who defended both Maxwell and the man who ultimately ended his reign of terror by shooting him in front of hundreds of witnesses; and tragic "one-hit wonder" Harper Lee, who attempted to write a follow-up to To Kill a Mockingbird about the case. Though the parts have obvious and major intersections, they felt very separate--Maxwell's the most packed with asides; Lee's already well-tread ground.
The most dynamic by far was the middle third of the book, following Radney. Where Furious Hours does absolutely succeed is in convincing the reader that the book Lee would have written, featuring Radney as its hero, would have been a hell of a read.
bhnmt61's review
5.0
Like any fan of Southern literature, I’ve long been fascinated by the friendship between Harper Lee and Truman Capote. So that is the reason I picked up this book. But Harper Lee barely appears until halfway through, so I found the beginning a little slow going.
The first third, about an infamous African American preacher who took out dozens of insurance policies on his relatives and then murdered them—and then was murdered himself — was interesting enough, but the middle section about the lawyer who defended him and then defended his murderer, dragged quite a bit. The third section, which is a brief bio of Lee and then a more extended discussion of her involvement in this case, was just as fascinating as I’d hoped it would be. I suspect that someone who is more interested in the murder than Harper Lee might find the third section the slowest.
Very well researched and written, great book. Four and a half stars rounded up to five.
The first third, about an infamous African American preacher who took out dozens of insurance policies on his relatives and then murdered them—and then was murdered himself — was interesting enough, but the middle section about the lawyer who defended him and then defended his murderer, dragged quite a bit. The third section, which is a brief bio of Lee and then a more extended discussion of her involvement in this case, was just as fascinating as I’d hoped it would be. I suspect that someone who is more interested in the murder than Harper Lee might find the third section the slowest.
Very well researched and written, great book. Four and a half stars rounded up to five.
roxvna's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
You’ll find this book on the True Crime shelves at your local bookstore, but really it’s a heartwarming, sincere, endearing insight into the complicated life of Harper Lee. By the end, you feel like Nelle Harper Lee is your dear friend, rather than the author of one of the most popular and beloved books of all time. A sensational read that got me really emotional in the final chapter.
jrmarr's review against another edition
4.0
This book is written in three sections, and the best one is the one about Harper Lee herself. The story of her life and struggle for and with success is really interesting, and makes me want to read 'To Kill a Mockingbird' again.
emrodav's review
4.0
3.5 stars, rounded up
An interesting book, though it couldn't decide whether it was a true crime story or a biography of Harper Lee. On the plus side, it's like getting two books in one. On the minus side, it muddies the waters.
An interesting book, though it couldn't decide whether it was a true crime story or a biography of Harper Lee. On the plus side, it's like getting two books in one. On the minus side, it muddies the waters.