Joe Cinque's Consolation
5 journalers for this copy...
Truth is definitely stranger than fiction ...
"In October 1997 a clever young law student at the Australian National University made a bizarre plan to murder her devoted boyfriend after a dinner party at their house. Some of the dinner guests - most of them university students - had heard rumours of the plan. Nobody warned Joe Cinque. He died one Sunday, in his own bed, of a massive overdose of Rohypnol and heroin. His girlfriend and her best friend were charged with murder.
Helen Garner follows the trials in the ACT Supreme Court. Compassionate but unflinching, this is a book about how and why Joe Cinque died. It probes the gap between ethics and law; examines the helplessness of the courts in the face of what we think of as 'evil'; and explores the conscience, culpability, and the battered ideal duty of care"
REVIEWS
'A book which functions at one level as a psychological mystery, but at deeper levels as an exploration of the adequacy of the law to dispense justice, and the responsibility that human beings have to each other. .. It is told with compassion, a singular kind of honesty and unadorned intelligence' - The Bulletin
'This horrifying Australian crime is brought to light by Garner's superb journalistic skills. Be riveted as she explores the gap between ethics and the law and the voicelessness of victims' families' - Sydney Morning Herald
I saw this book when it was first released, and was curious about the significance of the green apple on the cover as well as the title. This was an easy and captivating read, but the content horrified me as Garner relates the story before and after Joe Cinque's death. I still shake my head in disbelief at the eventual outcome of the court case ...
Ringmembers are:
1. DrCris - Vic
2. livrecache - Vic
3. Littlemave - NSW
4. Freelunch - Qld
5. Sharky13 - Tas<-- Book is on its way here
Back to ukcanaus
I spent some time searching the web once I started reading this to get a picture of Joe. There are a lot of pictures out there of Anu, but I had trouble finding one of Joe. Just a note for future readers - there is one at the end!
I will send this onto livrecache once I check she is ready for it.
I'm a little behind in my bookrings, but I'll endeavour not to slow the pace.
I'll PM littlemave for her details
Released 16 yrs ago (6/20/2007 UTC) at Mailed at local postoffice in Melbourne, Australia, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Sending to the bookring's next participant.
Look forward to reading this soon.
This is such a sad story, but compulsive reading. Initially it appears to be about Anu and Joe, but as you get caught up in the history, there are so many other people involved. How could even some of them not see there was danger? Was her presence so strong? How could so many people be tricked? One could blame her parents for indulging her. I cannot even believe that the murder took place. I cannot believe that someone didnt intervene (well Tanya Z-- tried) that there was no one with a personality to defeat that of Anu Singh - what a complete nutter.
The grace and inner strength of Maria Cinque to remain the perfect hostess under such grief was amazing. It was also definitely interesting to have Helen's narrative as a layman into all things legal.
I must say that all through the book only one thing really brought tears to my eyes and that was turning the last page and seeing Joe's photo. It really brought it home that this was about a real person totally betrayed by the girl he loved. A person totally overshadowed not only in life by her, but eclipsed by her all along during the trial.
Contacted sharky13 to pass along soon. Thank you ukcanaus. =)
I'm (always) somewhat over-committed but I'll keep this book near the top of Mt TBR, hopefully to be passed on sometime next month.
thanks Littlemave for sending it to me and thanks too to ukcanaus for making it available.