Status
Checked out
Collection
Publication
Signet (1989)
Description
Biography & Autobiography. True Crime. Nonfiction. HTML:From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ann Rule, "America's best true-crime writer" (Kirkus Reviews), her unforgettable classic account of the horrifying murders in the Pacific Northwest and her shock when she discovered her friendâ??Ted Bundyâ??was not only a suspect but also one of the most prolific serial killers in American history. Meeting in 1971 at a Seattle crisis clinic, Ann Rule and Ted Bundy developed a friendship and correspondence that would span the rest of his life. Rule had no idea that when they went their separate ways, their paths would cross again under shocking circumstances. The Stranger Beside Me is Rule's compelling firsthand account of not just her relationship with Bundy, but also his lifeâ??from his complicated childhood to the media circus of his trials. Astonishing in its intimacy and with Rule's clear-eyed prose, you can't help but share in her growing horror at discovering that her friend was one of the most notorious American serial killers. An unforgettable and haunting work of research, journalism, and personal memories, The Stranger Beside Me is "as dramatic and chilling as a bedroom window shattering at midnight" (The New York Ti… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member schatzi
Ann Rule, a struggling single mother writing stories for detective magazines, lands a book contract for the yet-unsolved "Ted" murders that are occurring in her town. In a twist that I'd call unbelievable and unrealistic in a novel, the "Ted" behind these murders is her friend, Ted Bundy. Rule
Show More
discusses Ted's crimes, which culminate in a shocking murder spree in Florida. She also talks about her own life, and her feelings about Ted. You can see her opinion on Ted Bundy evolve as she writes numerous "final chapters" and updates in the book - one in 1986 (once Ted Bundy had been on Florida's death row for years), another in 1989 (after his execution), another in 2000, and a final one in 2008. Part memoir and part true crime book, Rule isn't the best writer I've read, but the book was very engrossing. Show Less
LibraryThing member iBeth
One of the best true crime books ever written (up there with Helter Skelter and Doc: the Rape of the town of Lovell). The crime descriptions are too painful for me to read (now that I am a parent) but the story of the relationship between Rule and Bundy, and her growing awareness that he is a
Show More
monster, is just as gripping as ever. Show Less
LibraryThing member pdebolt
Although I read this book when it was first published, I am still haunted by it. Ann Rule is the standard by which true crime writing is measured, and she did a spectacular job of describing Ted Bundy, who touched her life. This is a fascinating account of this horrific, psycopathic killer and the
Show More
people he knew who had no idea of the depths of his depravity. Show Less
LibraryThing member mrtall
Ann Rule's initial true crime book, sparked off by her friendship with Ted Bundy, possibly the USA's most notorious serial killer, is a milestone in the true crime genre.
The events of this book are so unlikely that a fiction writer trying on a similar storyline would be laughed out of the
The Stranger Beside Me is therefore just as much about Rule's own growing realization of the truth about Bundy as it is the story of his sick life. In ordinary circumstances, this would be insufferable in a true crime writer, but the circumstances here are so far from ordinary that a very large measure of indulgence to Rule's moral equivocating is due.
This is a long, complicated book, but it needs to be. It's highly recommended for all true crime fans.
The events of this book are so unlikely that a fiction writer trying on a similar storyline would be laughed out of the
Show More
publishing houses. Rule worked side by side with Bundy on a suicide prevention hotline, then maintained contact with him in person, and via letter and telephone calls though his continuing campaign of grotesque killing, eventual capture and escape, and ultimately his conviction and execution. The Stranger Beside Me is therefore just as much about Rule's own growing realization of the truth about Bundy as it is the story of his sick life. In ordinary circumstances, this would be insufferable in a true crime writer, but the circumstances here are so far from ordinary that a very large measure of indulgence to Rule's moral equivocating is due.
This is a long, complicated book, but it needs to be. It's highly recommended for all true crime fans.
Show Less
LibraryThing member skelterhelter
I think this is my favorite Ann Rule book, hands down. Not only because it's well-written, but because she knew Ted Bundy personally (she worked along side him at the Crisis Center in the late 60's, never knowing her good friend and co-worker was a cold-blooded serial killer).
Ted Bundy is one of
This book is told from a person who knew him well and it definitely shows. 'The Stranger Beside Me' is not to be missed (especially if you're a fan of true crime novels!)
Ted Bundy is one of
Show More
the most fascinating serial killers to me in the fact that he looked nothing like a killer--he was handsome, charismatic, and well-liked by everyone...yet, he brutally kidnapped, raped, and murdered dozens of young women. He was not only a sexual deviant, but a necrophiliac as well (straddling two types of serial killers, which is rare). This book is told from a person who knew him well and it definitely shows. 'The Stranger Beside Me' is not to be missed (especially if you're a fan of true crime novels!)
Show Less
LibraryThing member GAYLEGREY
Story of Ted Bundy. Scary, makes we wary. Can't read too many of her books without getting spooked.
LibraryThing member DrT
The next book I read was The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule. Since I was reminded of the Zodiac book I read a long time ago I thought I'd read about another serial kill. I picked up this book about Ted Bundy. The author, Ann Rule, worked along side him at a telephone hotline where she heard him do
Show More
work that saved people's lives. Ms. Rule appeared to have a crush on Bundy with his handsome looks, good verbal ability, and clean-cut appearance back in the 60's and 70's. I appeared to me that she was torn whether or not to believe his innocence. This book goes through a biography of Ted's life, the troubled youth, his schooling, the crimes, and legal aspects of his cases. It was interesting that he quickly was liked by people and was a young republican name as he was growing up. I did not think the book went too deep into the gore of the crimes and did not talk about all of the seventy six or so murders that he committed. It was interesting how it chronicled where he lived and how he went through towns particularly in Utah. To me, he did not appear to be a person that handles refusal well. I know that is not much about that book but I'd be happy to talk to anybody that wants to talk about it. Just let me know. Show Less
LibraryThing member LongDogMom
Ann Rule is one of the best true crime writers around, but the added insights from her personal relationship with Ted Bundy made this a truly exceptional and fascinating read. The fact that Bundy could so easily hide the horrific parts of his personality from so many, including Ms. Rule who clearly
Show More
was experienced with criminals and disturbed personalities from her work with the police and in crime writing, was astonishing and frightening. It makes one realize that we could all be fooled by such a person, a terrifying thought. Bundy's brutality juxtaposed with his thoughtfulness and kindness in his dealings with friends was chilling. A very rare and unusual glimpse into one of America's most prolific serial killers. Show Less
LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
Ann Rule is the James Patterson of True Crime writers. In other words, prolific, ubiquitous, practically rules her genre--but essentially an empty writer of boiler plate. But this book, such as it is, is definitely a fascinating read for two reasons: one, Ted Bundy is among that rara avis, a serial
Show More
killer, and a high-functioning sociopath who kept a mask of sanity so skin tight and smooth that Ann Rule, who knew him and volunteered beside him on a suicide hotline had not a clue he was the killer so many were looking for--and that she was writing about as a crime reporter. And there you have the other reason: she did know him. She did think of him as a friend. So the inherent fascination of content triumphs somewhat over the clumsy hack writing. Show Less
LibraryThing member audramelissa
Definitive work on Ted Bundy. Very in depth (like most of Ann Rule's works) and of course horrifying because we see how someone as charming as Bundy could fool so many people. It can be a little slow in parts but pretty much everything related to Bundy's crimes and trial are included.
LibraryThing member coloradogirl14
I read horror novels like they're going out of style, I devour twisted psychological suspense stories, and yet I have the strongest reactions to true crime accounts. I guess that's not surprising, since these events actually happened, but The Stranger Beside Me scared the living daylights out of
Ann Rule's account of her relationship with Ted Bundy, before and after he was charged with murder, is straightforward but still manages to delve into the emotional aspects of the case, both in terms of her friendship with Bundy and in terms of his many female victims. The writing is not spectacular, but in this case, it really doesn't have to be. The facts speak for themselves. (Some readers don't respond well to this type of writing, but it seems to be more of a preference thing than a comment on the writing talent. I personally think this type of straightforward writing is extremely effective.)
The crime scenes are stomach-turning and graphic, which juxtaposes horrifically with Bundy's suave, charismatic demeanor. Simply put, this book is terrifying and still gives me chills when I think about it. Bonus chapters, epilogues, and forewords show just how far Ted Bundy's infamy has spread through American culture...25 years after his execution, we're still talking about him.
Readalikes:
Green River Running Red - Ann Rule. If you liked how this serial killer account unfolded, from the murders to official investigations, to the trial, GRRR is another must-read. This time, the murderer is the Green River Killer, who was finally caught at the end of a 20+ year reign of terror in the Pacific Northwest.
My Life Among the Serial Killers - Helen Morrison. A forensic psychologist interviews several infamous serial killers in the hopes of learning what makes these murderers tick, and how they became serial killers.
The Good Nurse - Charles Graeber. Although this book isn't written from an insider's perspective, it evokes many of the same powerful and visceral reactions as TSBM. The Good Nurse covers the crimes of Charlie Cullen, a male nurse on the East Coast who killed as many as 300 patients in his 16+ years of hospital experience.
Defending Gary - Mark Prothero. An insider's perspective into an infamous serial murder case - in this instance, written by the lead defense attorney for Gary Ridgeway, the Green River Killer.
John Wayne Gacy - Sam L. Amirante. See above. This book, however, covers the trial and crimes of John Wayne Gacy, the Chicago serial killer who dressed like a clown for his victims.
Show More
me.Ann Rule's account of her relationship with Ted Bundy, before and after he was charged with murder, is straightforward but still manages to delve into the emotional aspects of the case, both in terms of her friendship with Bundy and in terms of his many female victims. The writing is not spectacular, but in this case, it really doesn't have to be. The facts speak for themselves. (Some readers don't respond well to this type of writing, but it seems to be more of a preference thing than a comment on the writing talent. I personally think this type of straightforward writing is extremely effective.)
The crime scenes are stomach-turning and graphic, which juxtaposes horrifically with Bundy's suave, charismatic demeanor. Simply put, this book is terrifying and still gives me chills when I think about it. Bonus chapters, epilogues, and forewords show just how far Ted Bundy's infamy has spread through American culture...25 years after his execution, we're still talking about him.
Readalikes:
Green River Running Red - Ann Rule. If you liked how this serial killer account unfolded, from the murders to official investigations, to the trial, GRRR is another must-read. This time, the murderer is the Green River Killer, who was finally caught at the end of a 20+ year reign of terror in the Pacific Northwest.
My Life Among the Serial Killers - Helen Morrison. A forensic psychologist interviews several infamous serial killers in the hopes of learning what makes these murderers tick, and how they became serial killers.
The Good Nurse - Charles Graeber. Although this book isn't written from an insider's perspective, it evokes many of the same powerful and visceral reactions as TSBM. The Good Nurse covers the crimes of Charlie Cullen, a male nurse on the East Coast who killed as many as 300 patients in his 16+ years of hospital experience.
Defending Gary - Mark Prothero. An insider's perspective into an infamous serial murder case - in this instance, written by the lead defense attorney for Gary Ridgeway, the Green River Killer.
John Wayne Gacy - Sam L. Amirante. See above. This book, however, covers the trial and crimes of John Wayne Gacy, the Chicago serial killer who dressed like a clown for his victims.
Show Less
LibraryThing member nevans1972
The Stranger Beside Me had a huge influence on me when I first read it years ago. Ann Rule was my first true crime book that I read and started me on a true crime obsession. I have read almost all of Ann's books and they where all 4 to 5 star ratings in my opinion. Ann will be truly missed. RIP Ann
Show More
Rule. Show Less
LibraryThing member nevans1972
The Stranger Beside Me had a huge influence on me when I first read it years ago. Ann Rule was my first true crime book that I read and started me on a true crime obsession. I have read almost all of Ann's books and they where all 4 to 5 star ratings in my opinion. Ann will be truly missed. RIP Ann
Show More
Rule. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookworm12
This nonfiction look at the strange case of Ted Bundy is chilly to say the least. The author knew him well and was researching the killings without realizing she knew the killer. At times it dips into her personal life, which I could have done without, but to be fair, her real life was intertwined
Show More
with his so it was relevant. Show Less
LibraryThing member Greymowser
One scary individual.
LibraryThing member karieh
Though I will never read this book again (I'm 37 years old and it gives me nightmares) - for some reason I can't get rid of it.
LibraryThing member nessa33
This updated version of Ann Rule's book just blew my mind! Normally, large books can be intimidating but I had no trouble getting through this one. A facinating read with a lot of uncensored and new information about this notorious serial killer. A must read for any true crime fan.
LibraryThing member lesliewright34
Absolutely fascinating how this true crime writer, of all things, worked alongside and was friends with, Ted Bundy. Rule does a fantastic job detailing their relationship and his heinous crimes, and remaining objective throughout.
LibraryThing member SumisBooks
Wow!!!!
Ann Rule takes us on a thrilling journey of the life and death of serial killer Ted Bundy. Being friends with a serial killer isn't the easiest thing in the world. But Ann didn't find that out until much later...
Oh, Ted Bundy... what can I possibly say about this American icon that hasn't
I feel very conflicted however about the relationship between Ann and Ted. She doesn't explain until "The Last Chapter" that she held hopes for him to still help the world in the way that she first knew him to help people. She explains how she doesn't understand and cannot comprehend how someone can hurt an innocent victim and not feel remorse for it. Perhaps this is why she continued to send him money even in prison and why she continued to correspond with him even after his conviction. She wanted to use him to do good in the only way that she knew how. Whereas in the beginning I believe she was simply in denial that someone she called her friend could possibly be such a monster.
As for Ted Bundy himself oh, I feel that he ultimately got what he wanted. Control. He was able to convince everyone that he was "the baddest son of a bitch around" and that he was the most monstrous of serial killers. By manipulating the public the way that he did he was able to victimize people that he hadn't even touched yet. When we as a populist think of Ted Bundy we think of fear. That is his legacy. and in my opinion the legacy that he wanted for himself.
But anyways enough about my thoughts on the book. Let's talk about the nitty-gritty. The book was masterfully written as with most of Ann Rule's works. Her profession has allowed her to write these true crime novels in such a way that the layman can understand and follow but she still uses the police and detective crime jargon. She makes it easy for her readers to follow along and even makes her books exciting by turning the facts and evidence into a storyline. She is without doubt America's number one true crime novelist.
I enjoyed this book immensely. although I already knew a lot about Ted Bundy there is still so much in this book that I did not know and was eager to learn. My self-studies in the field of psychology made this book more than fascinating for me. I don't think we realized when Ted was convicted how rare a jewel he actually was. And when I say that here's what I mean: it is so positively rare that we get a serial killer the likes of Ted Bundy. It is even rarer to get a serial killer the likes of Ted Bundy caught alive and held in captivity where we could possibly study him and learn from him. I truly wish we would have kept him alive and not giving him the death penalty. I understand that this statement may piss a few people off but it is my personal opinion.
I could honestly go on and on about this book but I will refrain from doing so. LOL đ Please read this book if you have not already. I think this is one of those books that everyone should read no matter who you are, no matter where you come from. Ted Bundy is a study and not only American history but human history itself. Because you never know when you might meet a Ted Bundy yourself.
Ann Rule takes us on a thrilling journey of the life and death of serial killer Ted Bundy. Being friends with a serial killer isn't the easiest thing in the world. But Ann didn't find that out until much later...
Oh, Ted Bundy... what can I possibly say about this American icon that hasn't
Show More
already been said in this book? I had several problems with this book but it had absolutely nothing to do with the author. Problems such as the diagnosis that they gave Ted Bundy which I felt was completely bogus and only used so that he could not use the insanity plea in his trials. I feel very conflicted however about the relationship between Ann and Ted. She doesn't explain until "The Last Chapter" that she held hopes for him to still help the world in the way that she first knew him to help people. She explains how she doesn't understand and cannot comprehend how someone can hurt an innocent victim and not feel remorse for it. Perhaps this is why she continued to send him money even in prison and why she continued to correspond with him even after his conviction. She wanted to use him to do good in the only way that she knew how. Whereas in the beginning I believe she was simply in denial that someone she called her friend could possibly be such a monster.
As for Ted Bundy himself oh, I feel that he ultimately got what he wanted. Control. He was able to convince everyone that he was "the baddest son of a bitch around" and that he was the most monstrous of serial killers. By manipulating the public the way that he did he was able to victimize people that he hadn't even touched yet. When we as a populist think of Ted Bundy we think of fear. That is his legacy. and in my opinion the legacy that he wanted for himself.
But anyways enough about my thoughts on the book. Let's talk about the nitty-gritty. The book was masterfully written as with most of Ann Rule's works. Her profession has allowed her to write these true crime novels in such a way that the layman can understand and follow but she still uses the police and detective crime jargon. She makes it easy for her readers to follow along and even makes her books exciting by turning the facts and evidence into a storyline. She is without doubt America's number one true crime novelist.
I enjoyed this book immensely. although I already knew a lot about Ted Bundy there is still so much in this book that I did not know and was eager to learn. My self-studies in the field of psychology made this book more than fascinating for me. I don't think we realized when Ted was convicted how rare a jewel he actually was. And when I say that here's what I mean: it is so positively rare that we get a serial killer the likes of Ted Bundy. It is even rarer to get a serial killer the likes of Ted Bundy caught alive and held in captivity where we could possibly study him and learn from him. I truly wish we would have kept him alive and not giving him the death penalty. I understand that this statement may piss a few people off but it is my personal opinion.
I could honestly go on and on about this book but I will refrain from doing so. LOL đ Please read this book if you have not already. I think this is one of those books that everyone should read no matter who you are, no matter where you come from. Ted Bundy is a study and not only American history but human history itself. Because you never know when you might meet a Ted Bundy yourself.
Show Less
LibraryThing member palu
I was very excited to read a book written to some one that has known the criminal and with a background related with crime and investigation. She was specialized to write about ââŚpeople, who often wear a perfect mask..â It seems my expectation did not match the other readers...At least it is
Show More
what you expect when you see all these five stars evaluation. The book looks more a report of the writer with a very superficial analysis of Ted Bundy. In fact, most of the book is a about good cop nice justice and manyâŚmany description about supposed victims. The last chapter (named as that) you really gets lost in among many people (lawyers, news report, girl friends, etc..) that wanted to get any money from the situation. In fact, this scenario give me the reason to give the three stars: one sociopath looking to be famous at any expenses, and, in the other hand, people (lawyers, reports, girls, etc..) taking the chance to be part of it to become famous. Show Less
LibraryThing member Danielle.Desrochers
This book was so good.
It was a bit on the long side, but I feel like Ann was just trying to work out what actually happened and what she thought as it was going on. She was candid and easy to understand and I can't wait to read more of her books.
It was a bit on the long side, but I feel like Ann was just trying to work out what actually happened and what she thought as it was going on. She was candid and easy to understand and I can't wait to read more of her books.
LibraryThing member Andy5185
If you like true crime and have not yet read this, I urge you to check it out. I'd say it is the book that DEFINITIVELY got me interested in reading true crime when I read it many moons ago. Ted Bundy was an appalling human and also gave us the 70s/80s serial killer blueprint. Shocking, deplorable,
Show More
horrific and absolutely terrifying that Ann Rule knew and worked with this guy. This was the best of all of her books in my opinion, and made me realize these creeps are hidden in plain sight all around us. yikes!!! Show Less
LibraryThing member kwskultety
Great detail about Ted Bundy and his evil acts.
LibraryThing member goosecap
Obviously this isnât the sort of book you read to impress your friends in academia, and the preface or whatever by that girl named Georgia is almost bafflingly bad, you know. Although I suppose a certain amount of unconsciousness is par for the course for people and especially the popular, and I
And Ann herself seems much more stable and thoughtful than you might assume a âtrue crimeâ author to be. (Although I tag it as popular crime reporting, gotta distance myself a little. đđ). I actually found Ann on the local bookshelves just because sheâs popular, and used LT to find her most popular book and then bought that, so Iâm not, I donât know, doing this Jungian project on everyone named Ted, although that is my name. But since it is, this has helped me understand something that happened to me at the local community mental health center I used to go to (and please donât judge community mental health centers from what Iâm about to say).
There was one guy, a fellow client or consumer or whatever, who used to greet me by saying wryly, âTed Bundyâ. I had this vague notion that Ted Bundy had murdered people, but I didnât ask questions about that. (Back then, I DID think that you could only be optimistic by looking away from everything terrible and sad.) So now, Other Ted (yes, this is very âHow I Met Your Motherââprobs not a show I would watch again lol), was Not obviously a killer; he seemed cheerful, even. And at the time, when I was symptomatic, I was often very cheerful, always trying to fool myself, I guess, that things were âokayâ, even though I could also think quite negatively at the time; itâs weirdâand anyway, I guess incidentally sometimes I fooled other people, since I was âcheerfulâ sometimes, even though I was kinda strained and not well, you know. âTed Bundyâ. We all have a shadow, right. (âShadows only exist in physics.â âThe shadow exists in the heart of man.â)
And, you know, with âtrew krymeâ crap, sometimes it does come off as the Revenge of the Normalsâespecially, to be fair, on television, and Iâm sure people go off the deep end occasionally on stuff like this. âI hear theyâre building a psycho center in our town, where the little commies can get therapy and heal and shitâI say we find the city-leader, Der Stadt-Fuhrer, and tell people, this polis is ruled by, Teh Normales!â
But, you know, Iâm sure it can also get tangled up with legitimate concern for the victims of violent crime, who often come from vulnerable populations, you know.
âŚ. This is not a clever saying, but it is sad that people do get murdered sometimes, many of them girls.
I guess it gives you perspective. Sometimes girls do segregate themselves into things that seem safe, but sometimes it is true that the world is unsafe, and unsafe for them. I heard a story recently about a woman who got harassed by her boss in a âmaleâ field, and then of course sometimes girls get physically assaulted, and killed.
So they try to stay safe.
âŚ. Of course, I have to say that I think dismissing personal crime writingânot systemic, goodbyeâwould be very doctrinaire, but at the same time there certainly is a level at which this book is the conformist-y work of a Silent Generation cop, you know. Annie does betray some preferences in her pictures of the victims: pretty, conventionally educated good mother figure= infinite good; alt consciousness femme = slight embarrassment, you know. To be fair, someone born forty years before probably would have bared her teeth more at some of them. I donât know. To be honest, sheâs even kinda apologetic for her own role as a non-conforming professional woman or whatever, you know. Occasionally, at least.
âŚ. It must be difficult to think you might get into trouble because of how you lookânot, indeed, as the âobvious perpâ (the foreigner!), but the âobvious victimââthe pretty young girl, you know.
The land is a tragic place.
âŚ. It is very strange and sometimes words deceive, of course.
It is true of course that sometimes thereâs religion (Iâm right! Iâm so right! Iâll never doubt myself again!), or love or whatever, whatever it is that stops serial killers from being normies, from just giving people the finger on the freeway and letting that be that. To take âloveâ, obviously with Bad Ted thereâs the sexual assault, the sexual power. And then with his girlfriend Meg, thereâs the betrayal, secondarily (she felt this greatly) of her (she did not realize) almost suicidal devotion to Bad Ted, and more rationally one might also point out, her betrayal of herself (and the community, I guess) by putting it off for so long.
Sometimes strange things lead to unpleasant consequences, whether itâs religion or love, or self-confidence or self-doubt or whatever. I donât look at that and say, Ok kids: Seinfeld from now on, for the next sixty years! Nothing weird, now!
But I try to appreciate the problem.
âŚ. I wouldnât want to be chummy with Bad Ted, so to speak, and certainly Ann can see the bad in him, and itâs sometimes important to see the bad in people (and certainly to see people who see the bad in people), and I donât think sheâs a crime propagandist, you know. (A terrorist behind every unlocked door! And to think thereâs still the Constitution for people like that!) But certainly, again, this is one of the faces of manâsometimes man thinks itâs more entertaining, on some level, to plan prison escapes, than to be a lawyer, right. (Which he could have been, had he wanted it.) And itâs like, certainlyâ Certainly this is one of the faces of the heart of darkness in an outpost of progress, you knowâŚ. And not just the wars between the nations.
âŚ. I guess that, (assuming that the laws are applied fairly to different backgrounds), it would be permissible to execute a serial killer with a history of more than one successful escape from prison. But I wouldnât bet a lot of money that thatâs the profile of most people executed in America. Most people on death row probably just did something really badâmaybe something really luridâwhen they were young, and I doubt that thereâs some rule that somebody has to be a current threat to be killed, (âbut it was so lurid!â), whereas really there should be, you know. But occasionally the improbable does happen, and it sounds like Bad Ted was both a serial killer and an escape artist, and I suppose itâs permissible to kill a threat, you know. If he werenât still a threat, then I donât see the benefit in hacking and slaying, you knowâitâs not like that really brings peace, anyway; victims (and âcodependentsâ if you like), of violent crime do need healing and should be supported, but thinking you can literally kill nightmares to improve sleep comes from watching the wrong movies, you know. But it is true that Bad Ted really wrecked his way out, so to speak; if you canât protect the public a certain way, then you canât make that deal, even if you could if the person was just violent to a specific person, or when they were young, or at least theyâre willing to be confined. I mean, if you can confine people, then theyâre not a threat, and then thereâs no benefit to just cut off the national nose to spite the national face, you know. But I guess that rules can have exceptions.
âŚ. Then again we could have kept him as a research project, like a prisoner in the war against crime and the antisocial personality.
I donât know.
I do know that Annie is a good writer, like a sort of psychologist, without the titleâlike a popular social psychologist, but without the degree or the kinda social class that often comes with it.
âI donât recognize the dirty mob and their writers.â
You know.
âŚ. I know people probably think Annieâs just a lumpenproletariat expertâalthough the heat-instead-of-light of crime and people who fall through the cracks is certainly a real problem, that can be looked at in a memoir-y kinda way, you know. And I remember once I was talking about religion and politics, and I said you canât always kung fu chop Karl Marx with white light, or whatever I said. I think thatâs a good principleâdonât be glib; I agree with myself, you know.
And yet that person who was a sort of monster was once also somebodyâs friend, you know. And he also killed somebody who was somebody elseâs friend. I suppose in a way itâs hard to understand, but itâs not that abstract. Itâs not always: (a) abstract, or (b) trash. I guess sometimes things are trashy, but, you canât really make a rule out of it (ie no legalism thatâs not a pun).
âŚ. AnywayâIâm not going to Explain How To Get Through Life, but it would have been a VERY long book, a tiresome book instead of just a detailed one, if she had spent the 600 pages lecturing and haranguing and steeling herself against being thought weak or whatever. I mean, certainly we have to see that there are dangerous guys out there. Thereâs that, too. I donât knowâŚ. Thereâs always another story of people getting hurt, right. As long as thereâs stories, thereâs hurt. Even killing off the cast of characters doesnât seem to end the play.
Show More
donât believe, you know, that we can have hope in this life only by looking away from everything terrible and sad. And Ann herself seems much more stable and thoughtful than you might assume a âtrue crimeâ author to be. (Although I tag it as popular crime reporting, gotta distance myself a little. đđ). I actually found Ann on the local bookshelves just because sheâs popular, and used LT to find her most popular book and then bought that, so Iâm not, I donât know, doing this Jungian project on everyone named Ted, although that is my name. But since it is, this has helped me understand something that happened to me at the local community mental health center I used to go to (and please donât judge community mental health centers from what Iâm about to say).
There was one guy, a fellow client or consumer or whatever, who used to greet me by saying wryly, âTed Bundyâ. I had this vague notion that Ted Bundy had murdered people, but I didnât ask questions about that. (Back then, I DID think that you could only be optimistic by looking away from everything terrible and sad.) So now, Other Ted (yes, this is very âHow I Met Your Motherââprobs not a show I would watch again lol), was Not obviously a killer; he seemed cheerful, even. And at the time, when I was symptomatic, I was often very cheerful, always trying to fool myself, I guess, that things were âokayâ, even though I could also think quite negatively at the time; itâs weirdâand anyway, I guess incidentally sometimes I fooled other people, since I was âcheerfulâ sometimes, even though I was kinda strained and not well, you know. âTed Bundyâ. We all have a shadow, right. (âShadows only exist in physics.â âThe shadow exists in the heart of man.â)
And, you know, with âtrew krymeâ crap, sometimes it does come off as the Revenge of the Normalsâespecially, to be fair, on television, and Iâm sure people go off the deep end occasionally on stuff like this. âI hear theyâre building a psycho center in our town, where the little commies can get therapy and heal and shitâI say we find the city-leader, Der Stadt-Fuhrer, and tell people, this polis is ruled by, Teh Normales!â
But, you know, Iâm sure it can also get tangled up with legitimate concern for the victims of violent crime, who often come from vulnerable populations, you know.
âŚ. This is not a clever saying, but it is sad that people do get murdered sometimes, many of them girls.
I guess it gives you perspective. Sometimes girls do segregate themselves into things that seem safe, but sometimes it is true that the world is unsafe, and unsafe for them. I heard a story recently about a woman who got harassed by her boss in a âmaleâ field, and then of course sometimes girls get physically assaulted, and killed.
So they try to stay safe.
âŚ. Of course, I have to say that I think dismissing personal crime writingânot systemic, goodbyeâwould be very doctrinaire, but at the same time there certainly is a level at which this book is the conformist-y work of a Silent Generation cop, you know. Annie does betray some preferences in her pictures of the victims: pretty, conventionally educated good mother figure= infinite good; alt consciousness femme = slight embarrassment, you know. To be fair, someone born forty years before probably would have bared her teeth more at some of them. I donât know. To be honest, sheâs even kinda apologetic for her own role as a non-conforming professional woman or whatever, you know. Occasionally, at least.
âŚ. It must be difficult to think you might get into trouble because of how you lookânot, indeed, as the âobvious perpâ (the foreigner!), but the âobvious victimââthe pretty young girl, you know.
The land is a tragic place.
âŚ. It is very strange and sometimes words deceive, of course.
It is true of course that sometimes thereâs religion (Iâm right! Iâm so right! Iâll never doubt myself again!), or love or whatever, whatever it is that stops serial killers from being normies, from just giving people the finger on the freeway and letting that be that. To take âloveâ, obviously with Bad Ted thereâs the sexual assault, the sexual power. And then with his girlfriend Meg, thereâs the betrayal, secondarily (she felt this greatly) of her (she did not realize) almost suicidal devotion to Bad Ted, and more rationally one might also point out, her betrayal of herself (and the community, I guess) by putting it off for so long.
Sometimes strange things lead to unpleasant consequences, whether itâs religion or love, or self-confidence or self-doubt or whatever. I donât look at that and say, Ok kids: Seinfeld from now on, for the next sixty years! Nothing weird, now!
But I try to appreciate the problem.
âŚ. I wouldnât want to be chummy with Bad Ted, so to speak, and certainly Ann can see the bad in him, and itâs sometimes important to see the bad in people (and certainly to see people who see the bad in people), and I donât think sheâs a crime propagandist, you know. (A terrorist behind every unlocked door! And to think thereâs still the Constitution for people like that!) But certainly, again, this is one of the faces of manâsometimes man thinks itâs more entertaining, on some level, to plan prison escapes, than to be a lawyer, right. (Which he could have been, had he wanted it.) And itâs like, certainlyâ Certainly this is one of the faces of the heart of darkness in an outpost of progress, you knowâŚ. And not just the wars between the nations.
âŚ. I guess that, (assuming that the laws are applied fairly to different backgrounds), it would be permissible to execute a serial killer with a history of more than one successful escape from prison. But I wouldnât bet a lot of money that thatâs the profile of most people executed in America. Most people on death row probably just did something really badâmaybe something really luridâwhen they were young, and I doubt that thereâs some rule that somebody has to be a current threat to be killed, (âbut it was so lurid!â), whereas really there should be, you know. But occasionally the improbable does happen, and it sounds like Bad Ted was both a serial killer and an escape artist, and I suppose itâs permissible to kill a threat, you know. If he werenât still a threat, then I donât see the benefit in hacking and slaying, you knowâitâs not like that really brings peace, anyway; victims (and âcodependentsâ if you like), of violent crime do need healing and should be supported, but thinking you can literally kill nightmares to improve sleep comes from watching the wrong movies, you know. But it is true that Bad Ted really wrecked his way out, so to speak; if you canât protect the public a certain way, then you canât make that deal, even if you could if the person was just violent to a specific person, or when they were young, or at least theyâre willing to be confined. I mean, if you can confine people, then theyâre not a threat, and then thereâs no benefit to just cut off the national nose to spite the national face, you know. But I guess that rules can have exceptions.
âŚ. Then again we could have kept him as a research project, like a prisoner in the war against crime and the antisocial personality.
I donât know.
I do know that Annie is a good writer, like a sort of psychologist, without the titleâlike a popular social psychologist, but without the degree or the kinda social class that often comes with it.
âI donât recognize the dirty mob and their writers.â
You know.
âŚ. I know people probably think Annieâs just a lumpenproletariat expertâalthough the heat-instead-of-light of crime and people who fall through the cracks is certainly a real problem, that can be looked at in a memoir-y kinda way, you know. And I remember once I was talking about religion and politics, and I said you canât always kung fu chop Karl Marx with white light, or whatever I said. I think thatâs a good principleâdonât be glib; I agree with myself, you know.
And yet that person who was a sort of monster was once also somebodyâs friend, you know. And he also killed somebody who was somebody elseâs friend. I suppose in a way itâs hard to understand, but itâs not that abstract. Itâs not always: (a) abstract, or (b) trash. I guess sometimes things are trashy, but, you canât really make a rule out of it (ie no legalism thatâs not a pun).
âŚ. AnywayâIâm not going to Explain How To Get Through Life, but it would have been a VERY long book, a tiresome book instead of just a detailed one, if she had spent the 600 pages lecturing and haranguing and steeling herself against being thought weak or whatever. I mean, certainly we have to see that there are dangerous guys out there. Thereâs that, too. I donât knowâŚ. Thereâs always another story of people getting hurt, right. As long as thereâs stories, thereâs hurt. Even killing off the cast of characters doesnât seem to end the play.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ElspethW
Ann Rule is not great at voicing audiobooks but this was nevertheless absolutely fascinating
Awards
Washington State Book Award (Winner — 1981)
Original publication date
1980
Physical description
6.6 inches
ISBN
0451164938 / 9780451164933