The Fatal Gift Of Beauty: The Trials Of Amanda Knox (2011) - Plot & Excerpts
In mystery novels, the author frequently throws her protagonist into a completely foreign or alien situation wherein she must not only solve the crime but also figure out the rules of the game, which seem to be in constant flux.Much as in fiction, Amanda Knox, a young woman trying to figure out who she was and where she belonged in the world, struck out from her home base in Seattle to seek her fortune via a college year abroad in Perugia, Italy. Within weeks, one of her housemates, Meredith Kercher, was found murdered in their rented house and Amanda was under arrest for her murder.We writers know that the real deal is weirder than anything we could make up, and the Amanda Knox trials proves this as nothing else could.In "The Fatal Gift of Beauty" Nina Burleigh, author of many nonfiction crime books and frequent contributor to the New York Times, moves her family to Italy where they reside for several months. Burleigh embeds in Perugia and with the precision of a brain surgeon investigates every aspect of this case, from bloody footprints and missing evidence right down to DNA copy numbers and what sort of underwear is worn by the various players in this drama.Her conclusion, as she told a crowd of us in March at the Tucson Festival of Books, is the only one that could be reached. Yet for reasons apparent only if one knows the Italian justice system inside and out, Burleigh's conclusion was not the same as that of the judge in this case.Complex relationships. Superstition and tradition. A variety of characters all part of the scenery for different reasons. Tons of booze and hashish. Provincialism. Naivete. And that doggone "fatal gift of beauty" (thank you Lord Byron). All these elements, drawn on an Etruscan canvas, contrive to make one hell of a read. Thank you Nina Burleigh! I admit it. Until I read this book, I thought this girl was guilty. For one reason, Italy was set against her and she was arraigned again (and found guilty again) even though her appeal overturned the first ruling. This is about being in the wrong place at the wrong time--namely Italy during a murder case. It is well written, thoroughly researched, and sets the tone of what Amanda Knox is really like--an awkward college girl with social mishaps mixed with too much dope. At times I felt the author was showing off some of the depths she dug to give us the story (the ending where she compares Amanda to the two Mary's of Perugia was a little far fetched and lost me) but I thought it was a good perspective of the facts. Amanda was unjustly accused and found guilty of a crime she obviously didn't commit. Regardless of whether you think she did, there never was enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt. However Italy used Inquisition tactics to persuade a boggled jury, including police brutality, prejudice, and a computer-generated video of the avatar Amanda stabbing avatar Meredith repeatedly.
What do You think about The Fatal Gift Of Beauty: The Trials Of Amanda Knox (2011)?
Unbiased, exhaustive and absolutely heartbreaking.
—tahira
saw some of the movie hope the book is great
—shrey2121
