I picked up a copy of "Picking Cotton" expecting to be succumbed to tons of legal jargon and the technical ramifications of DNA testing within the North Carolina legal system. That was not the case at all. I was taken on two separate emotional journeys. The lives of Ronald Cotton, a wrongfully convicted rapist of tremendous faith and integrity, collide with Jennifer Thompson, a rape victim of great courage and humility. The story begins with the rape of Jennifer in 1984 and ends with justice, redemption and friendship only 10 years and 164 days later when Ronald was released from prison.
The synopsis tells you how it begins and how it ends. So, why pick up the book? The authors are hoping that readers can take all of the emotions in this book and allow it to serve as life lessons of human virtue. You will cry, gasp in awe, and even smile with relief when you read this memoir. What I felt did not come from the anticipated sequence of events, but rather the exchange of dialogue and internal struggles of the authors.
This was my first time reading a dual memoir. I found it exciting to jump through emotions chapter by chapter. It is also the most substantiated memoir I have ever read. The pictures helped bring this story into a reality that still continues today. This book also serves as a catalyst of awareness for the Innocence Project and similar causes around the United States. It’s always worthwhile when a well-written story can translate into a real cause. I highly recommended this book.
2 comments:
I enjoyed this book as well and would highly recommend it! Check out pickingcottonbook.com
It would be interesting to read a truthful account of Thompson's life as to how her "search for forgiveness and redemption" resulted in the destruction of her family through divorce and a mentally disturbed child. The "compassion" feigned by this author does not depict the reality of her psyche.
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