@majwv8 let's discuss Defending Jacob! *spoilers*

WasNotWas

I totally didn't think he did it, until it was obvious he did. I knew father o Leary killed Pax and thought it was unnecessary for him to go to visit his dad and beat us over the head with it. I thought Laurie did what any mother would do.

I think the author got Laurie down pat, but I was not impressed at how these two other guys were supposed to be complete sociopaths and their behavior was inconsistent.

The whole thing read like a screenplay, so I'm hoping if it gets adapted they tighten up the psychology a bit. I picture Justin Theroux as the dad

WasNotWas

@42Butterflies said:

J/k. Never heard of this book. I still need to read the current book club book.

What are the rules on that? Don't start until the start date?

WasNotWas

I think it's one of those once you get a taste you can't stop, I've watched enough dexter to know that I thought the son was textbook sociopath but why didn't Laurie, a good teacher, notice the signs? Like of all professions I feel she should have known. And I think it's incredibly irresponsible for the dad not to tell Jake about the killer stuff. If you had a history of alcoholism you would tell your kid so they knew they were susceptible, same with this history of mental illness. He even said that Jake wasn't as strong as he was at that age. If you have to actively act against your nature how can you expect Jake to?

#ihavefeels

Lizzybizzy80

Is it ok if I bump this? I powered through this book and just put it down. I think once Jacob heard his family history he felt like the impulses he had felt and acted upon were justifiable and almost beyond his control (which I don't agree with). He also must have felt invincible after getting away with Ben's murder. It still was a lot to take in at the end. I'm wrung out.

WasNotWas

Lizzybizzy80 said:

Is it ok if I bump this? I powered through this book and just put it down. I think once Jacob heard his family history he felt like the impulses he had felt and acted upon were justifiable and almost beyond his control (which I don't agree with). He also must have felt invincible after getting away with Ben's murder. It still was a lot to take in at the end. I'm wrung out.

See I had resigned myself to it being over when the trial was over (the joys of e-reading), so the rest of the book seemed like such a crazy whirlwind, but I kind of knew what was going to happen based on the way the narrator was telling the story. As soon as they were still showing his deposition I knew there had to be more to the story and I thought it was odd that Jacob made friends with a girl, since he had seemed like such a loner.

To be honest my first guess was that he and Pax were a gay couple and were walking together in the park when Ben saw them and started making fun of them. I thought Pax killed the guy and Jacob was a witness, but didn't want to out anyone because he'd be outing himself. I felt that's the way the evidence was leading because I couldn't (and still don't) understand why that Matt kid said that Pax told him he killed a kid named Ben...

Lizzybizzy80

@WasNotWas‌ I thought Patz was molesting Ben and that was why Ben was so quick to accuse Jacob of being gay. Did Matt say Patz told him he killed Ben or just that Patz said he liked Ben and Matt assumed he killed him?

WasNotWas

Lizzybizzy80 said:

@WasNotWas‌ I thought Patz was molesting Ben and that was why Ben was so quick to accuse Jacob of being gay. Did Matt say Patz told him he killed Ben or just that Patz said he liked Ben and Matt assumed he killed him?

I'd have to go back and check but I remember that Matt said that Patz told him he killed a guy and that guy's name was "Ben or something"

WasNotWas

@majwv8 you are absolutely right! I'm still wanting to know how it went down.

Lizzybizzy80

I hope the next book club book isn't about moms and sons who murder, between this and Dark Places, yikes.