Defending Jacob: A Novel

Oh. My. God.You know, I nearly abandoned this book based purely on the first couple of pages of the book because I disliked the court transcript formatting for those pages. I thought it was difficult to follow and lacked depth (which ought to be obvious). If I'd not pressed on, I'd have missed one of the most entertaining reads I've enjoyed in some time.Ironically, these first couple of pages, and the way they tie the entire story together and wrap it up in a tidy bow, are precisely the reason this book made it onto my coveted list of five star books. (Alright, alright. Maybe not COVETED. I'm a nobody, after all.)I realize I'm fangirling, but this book is BRILLIANT. It's not just the way the author ties one end of the book to the other so skillfully. It's not just the brilliant pacing which rarely ("never" is too strong a word for me) drags. It's not just the fact that every move the author made throughout this novel was so deliberately planned (and, no doubt, well-revised). Amazingly, it's not what this book made me feel.Oh no. It's what this book DIDN'T make me feel.Truly and astonishingly perhaps the MOST psychological book I've ever read, brilliantly executed, and outstanding in its construction.Oh yes. I loved this book.But that's not what you REALLY want to know. You want to know if YOU will love this book.I like to give my readers information about the book -- a warning label, if you will, of things about the book which may not appeal to some readers. When I first started writing, I couldn't think of a single thing I'd want you to know before you invest your time (and potentially your money) in this novel. Fortunately, the more I wrote, the more cognizant I became of some of the flaws in this novel.So here's what you need to know before you purchase, or borrow this book.First, Landay writes in huge blocks of text.See how short my paragraphs are here on my blog? I try to keep them a length which is easily readable for most people. We tolerance is lower, of course, than print tolerance, but I try to keep my paragraphs at a length readers can easily scan without losing any significant amount of information. A paragraph is generally about five sentences long, often four lines long in text. This paragraph is five sentences long.Landay's paragraphs sometimes span the length of AN ENTIRE PAGE of text. This makes it more difficult for the reader to scan the paragraph for relevant information, slows down speed readers, and can make even a standard reader (one reading every word at a normal pace) frustrated because its point seems interminable. I consider myself a "standard reader" and Landay's paragraphs slowed me down considerably.This is never more relevant than at the end of the novel.Because following the climax, Landay continues with the story.Now if you're like me, you like something after the climax. You're probably not looking for much more story, just something to conclude what you've been reading and to wrap up the book. Some books are terrible about ending immediately after the climax -- what we'd call a "cliffhanger," sometimes without any intention of continuing as a series. So I appreciate the effort. Really, I do.The problem is the massive paragraphs. They initially felt superfluous, as though they intended only to tell the reader the general sense of what happened after the climactic moment. I asked myself several times, while reading page-long paragraphs, why the author had included this information. (I'm glad I kept reading, because the story actually continued, but suffice it to say this was frustrating, and somewhat tedious.)I know what you're probably thinking: "Well good! There's something to wrap the story up!" And if you are a die hard for post-climax conclusions, this will definitely be helpful for you.But this post-climax storyline goes on for several chapters. I'll be the first to admit it's important, and it seems the author had it in mind the entire time, but it's poorly paced. A quick-moving story takes a turn for slow and drawn out. And maybe -- just MAYBE -- this was information I didn't WANT to have.Not that it destroys the story, because it doesn't. But I'd have been fine with a bit more left to the imagination. (Intriguingly, one of the one-star reviews on Amazon argues that the entire story leaves TOO MUCH to the imagination!)In another note about the ending, it's similar to the ending of another book I've read. Not that it's predictable, because HOLY MOLY I DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING! But the resemblance struck me as odd and jarring. I didn't like the ending of THAT book, but in this case I felt like it worked. (No, I'm not going to tell you which book, in case you've read it and can then compare notes.)Finally, I want you to know before committing to read this book that the characters aren't likable.I always find myself wondering at the fact this is such a BIG deal for so many reviewers. "I didn't like the characters." Really? Do you like EVERYBODY you come into contact with on a day to day basis? Now granted, even the worst monsters in history have had FRIENDS who loved them in spite of their flaws, but that's beside the point.Some people just aren't likable, and Andy, Laurie, and Jacob Barber are on the list of unlikable people in the world. (So, as it happens, are Derek Yoo, and Paul Duffy. You're going to despise Ben Rifkin and Neal Loguidice by the time it's done as well (though that is less veiled than the aforementioned characters).There's good in each of them. Well, MOST of them, anyway. But I don't think you're supposed to like them. No, not even Andy, the narrative character, Jacob's father. Not even sweet, sympathetic Laurie. While not caricatures, I do believe these characters were made intentionally exactly the way they are. So if you're reading this book, and you pause to think to yourself "something seems to be missing from this characterization," try to consider some people have something missing from their personality and that's just the way the author intended it to be.Oh yes, I loved this book. LOVED this book. It was amazing! I'm not finding many negative reviews I don't feel missed the point of the novel. I think you'll enjoy it too, if you can live with the aforementioned flaws.

I read this for my book club.This book starts off pretty good but ends kind of twisted sideways.The beginning was okay but the middle seemed to drag on. The ending was rather abrupt.The way the story is told makes you feel there is more to the story than is being revealed. I didn’t really like this format, or foreshadowing, or whatever you want to call it. It feels like the author is purposefully hiding something important to make you finish the book.Overall, I didn’t care for this book and wouldn’t read it again. Maybe it’s just not my genre.It would be good for someone who likes courtroom/investigation drama or books with an unexpected ending.

Can you say, with 100 percent conviction, that you would know exactly what you'd do if your fourteen-year-old son was on trial for killing a classmate by stabbing a serrated fighting knife three times into the other boy's chest? Can you honestly state, without a doubt, that you'd defend your son's innocence--even if damaging evidence kept piling up--because it is your inherent obligation as a parent to protect your child; to believe your son is telling the truth in critical situations; to know the "real" teen; and most of all, to love your son unconditionally--even if he is accused of murder.William Landay's novel DEFENDING JACOB compels you to ponder these questions as the story unfolds of assistant district attorney Andy Barber and his wife Laurie, whose eighth-grade son Jacob is tried as an adult for the murder of fellow student Ben Rifkin in the wealthy suburb of Newton, Massachusetts.The first thing that attracted me to this book was its title--because I have a 10-year-old son ... named Jacob. The synopsis of the story also pulled me in, as I've watched many TV interviews of parents whose children (still young or grown) committed murder or some other heinous crime, and I've always had mixed emotions about that. On one hand, I love my son and my 5-year-old daughter, yet on the other hand, I wonder how could those parents either continue to claim their son or daughter was innocent, or if they admitted to the child's guilt, how could the parents still speak of their child in such fond terms or ask others to please not view their child as a monster?This novel brings home the fact that we parents cannot claim for sure that we would know exactly what we would do if we were placed in the same situation as parents Andy and Laurie Barber or parents Dan and Joan Rifkin, the mom and dad of the murdered boy.My first reaction when reading DEFENDING JACOB was that I absolutely would believe my own sweet son Jacob to be innocent if he was accused of a crime like this. However, I'm also a former reporter, so my tendency is not to base the majority of my decisions on emotions, but instead on proven facts. Just admitting "out loud" that I can't say how I'd react makes me feel like such a terrible parent--and the author conveys that both Andy and Laurie at one point or another also experienced this sentiment.One of the many reasons I liked this book was because I could relate to it on so many levels, such as the relationship and reactions of Andy and Laurie. Just as they thought they knew each other so well, I THINK I know how both my husband and I might react to this situation and to each other in this circumstance, and I THINK I know my husband pretty well since I've loved him for more than half my life ... but this book really forces you to question just how strong your personal relationships and beliefs are, and just how long would you continue to act one way even when the pressure and evidence pushes you strongly in the opposing direction.DEFENDING JACOB might fall under the heading of a legal suspense/courtroom drama, but it also could be termed a "relationship novel" or a medical mystery. This book delves into the highly-debated issue of nature versus nurture when investigating whether violence can be inherited trait, and is there such as thing as "the murder gene." This novel also focuses heavily on several relationships: the love story between husband and wife Andy and Laurie; the bond between the family unit of Andy, Laurie and Jacob, and the connection (or lack of) between Andy and his dad "Bloody Billy Barber."The title doesn't refer to only defending Jacob in the courtroom, but it also encompasses: the parents defending Jacob from the public's accusations--the general public, neighbors, school members and students; Andy defending Jacob from Laurie when she (although with much trepidation) considers the possibility Jacob might be guilty; Andy defending Jacob to Jacob's paternal grandfather Billy; and Andy defending against his own "negative inner thoughts" about whether or not Jacob could have been involved in such a horrific crime, and if Andy's biological family traits contributed in any way to Jacob's behavior in the past and present.Author Landay's background as a former district attorney is evident in his writing, from the believable courtroom dialogue to how a prosecutor husband would likely speak to his wife or the way a lawyer dad would phrase questions when speaking to his teen son about a crime.DEFENDING JACOB is a 421 page novel that moved me on so many levels, and it's a book I would recommend to anyone, regardless if you're a parent or not, or even if you usually favor other genres. I can say "without a doubt" that I absolutely look forward to reading William Landay's other books!

I'm really late to this party. I remember there was so much hype around this book, then the show came out and somewhere along the line I forgot all about this book.Am glad I finally picked it up, its been a long time since I read a courtroom drama and this is a very good version of that.This entire story is told from the perspective of Andy Barber who is the DA's Assistant and whose 14 year old's son is accused of murder.I thought this was a great concept, seeing the trial play out through the eyes of a prosecutor, the father of the accused was frustrating and unreliable but also compelling.I'm now aboard the hype train.Five stars.

Three stars means okay. I did not like this book overall.There were parts I did like and liked very much. But overall this book irked me. Maybe it was because I read it after just finishing Presumed Innocent. That was a masterpiece.Without any spoilers, this book is essentially a nature vs nurture argument. To me, that argument is best left to a non-fiction book in the context of crime and criminality. I don't want it thrown into my fiction reading in such a mish-mash and diluted fashion.The other problem I had with this book is the characters. Not one of the main characters is likeable. Indeed they are despicable for one reason or another.The author had the most annoying habit of introducing a seemingly important event but wanders off into excruciatingly irrelevant details. I'm screaming 'get on with it!'Witness the bumping into Dan Rifkin at the Whole Foods store: "Dan Rifkin guided his cart into the checkout line besides ours. He was five feet away ..." This is the dead boy's father and I'm waiting for the confrontation but instead Landay writes, "... He wore ... His belt was canvas ... embroidered pattern of little ships' anchors... " Yadiyadiya. So what!That kind of annoying stuff was repeated ad infinitum through the book.The ending was weak. Thoroughly disappointed as this book came highly recommended.

15 minutes into watching Defending Jacob, I realized it’s a book. So, I dropped it and immediately got the book. I liked the story and the execution of the plot. Unlike the series, the book is narrated by Andy Barber. The characters are likeable and I liked Andy Barber. The book moves through the steady flow. As the chapters progress, we realize the past incidences that bring us in the present scenario. The book slumps for some portions but picks up the pace soon. Defending Jacob is not a legal thriller surrounding the courtroom. The family going through the accusation and in preparation of the courtroom trials. That’s unique and it got extended to its ending as well. In most books, I wouldn’t like this ending, but for this one, I don’t think it couldn’t be any better.

Andy Barber is a DA, ready to help find and prosecute the murderer of child who attends the same school as his son, Jacob. However, when he finds a knife, which matches the murder weapon in his own son's room, he has to confront the possibility his own son may be the killer. This is a brilliantly written book, with super sharp, realistic dialogue. It shows how this devastating event tears a family apart and stretches their loyalty to one another to the limit. The beauty is, you never quite know who to believe. It gives a great insight into the US legal system without bogging you down in too much detail or complicated facts. I was totally by the ending. It's a book which leaves you thinking about it, long after you have finished reading.

I'm guessing like many I watched the show before I read this - of you haven't seen it I highly recommend it- It's something I seem to do a lot, if I enjoy a movie or show which turns out to be based of a book I have to then read it. It happens the other way around too, read a book, watch the movie/show. After watching then reading "Defending Jacob" I am so very happy that I have discovered an author that I will most certainly read more from.This story is thought provoking, as a parent it really got me thinking "what if", how would any parent in that situation react? The simple answer is, obviously, you just don't know, and can only hope with all your heart you never have to find out. I can count on one hand how many books gave me such conflicting emotions as this. More so I think because, although this is fiction, things like this happen at a depressingly high rate. We see the news report paint a picture of broken homes, years of abuse and neglect, we want to believe it was the nurture, or lack thereof, that caused it, because 1, it means the child isn't entirely to blame, they didn't stand a chance coming from that after all. Basically, it's easier to blame the parents. 2, we provide love, protection, stability for our kids, we are good parents, so there is no way my angel would do something like that. And 3, admitting that it may be a genetic predisposition- an irresistible urge- t*hat could happen to any child, no matter the upbringing, opens the proverbial box of "that could happen to me and mine" which is something no parent wants to consider. This story tackles that head on and in a way that is easy to follow. It would be easy for the author to get tied up in the legal and scientific jargon, which would be difficult for the average person to understand. The essence of the story could easily get lost. But be caused we read it from Andy's view point, the science element is translated into manageable, bite sized pieces that, rather than distract the reader with looking up definitions, give us enough understanding of the topic and theories to get the point and relevance across while carrying the narrative forward. All in all a compelling well crafted work of fiction with enough realism that allows the reader to relate to the characters with a twist that leaves you speechless.