欧宝娱乐

** spoiler alert ** Okay, so I'm a True Crime addict. I binge each new Netflix true crime docuseries, take notes during each episode of Dateline, the whole shebang. When I saw I could get an ARC of Amanda Knox's "Free," I jumped. The Meredith Kercher case was an international media circus when it happened. I was living abroad at the time and I couldn't escape the headlines, even if I had tried.

I didn鈥檛 follow the details closely at the time, but the whole "she was convicted because she didn't look and/or act how an innocent person is supposed to" thing always stuck with me.

A big chunk of "Free" focuses on Knox's correspondence with the prosecutor, Dr. Guiliano Mignini. She basically paints him as Inspector Javert from Victor Hugo's Les Mis茅rables, relentlessly hounding her. She's desperate for him to admit he was wrong, to say she's innocent. Honestly, their back-and-forth just felt... unresolved. Like she's still trying to make him see her side.

And here's the thing: I really wanted to like this book. I went in rooting for Amanda. But, man, it was a slog. I found it surprisingly dull, and I just couldn't connect with Knox's voice. I forced myself to finish it, hoping for some kind of satisfying resolution, but it just wasn't there for me.

Honestly, I think I need to reread Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" now. That's a book about finding purpose in suffering, and it's actually, you know, well-written.

Which brings me to my biggest issue: the writing in "Free" is just... not good. I don't know if Knox wrote it all herself, if there was a ghostwriter involved, or if it's a collaboration with ChatGPT, but it feels clunky and unengaging.

Look, no one can truly know what Amanda Knox went through. Years stolen, reputation destroyed, still guilty in the court of public opinion despite being acquitted. It's a horrific situation.

I genuinely hope she finds peace and can live a happy life away from the spotlight. But as a book? "Free" just didn't do it for me.

Disclaimer: I received a free advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. This review reflects my personal and independent opinion.