Justice Watch Discussion Board "DOI book review" [ Main ] [ Post New Thread ] [ Help ] [ Search ] Table of Contents ................................................................... DOI book review, Ryder, 11:18:15, 5/19/2000 Ryder, Greenleaf, 11:40:21, 5/19/2000, (#1) Ryder, Sioux, 11:57:06, 5/19/2000, (#2) Ryder, Chris, 11:59:01, 5/19/2000, (#3) Well Done, rico, 12:14:44, 5/19/2000, (#4) you sold me, Edie Pratt, 12:19:23, 5/19/2000, (#5) Ryder, Aurora, 12:56:22, 5/19/2000, (#7) Edie, gaiabetsy, 12:56:17, 5/19/2000, (#6) LOL, GB!, Edie Pratt, 13:05:07, 5/19/2000, (#8) Haven't read DOI, zane, 13:13:43, 5/19/2000, (#9) There's a looooong stretch, Cassandra, 13:19:42, 5/19/2000, (#10) ................................................................... "DOI book review" Posted by Ryder on 11:18:15 5/19/2000 DOI book review: Part 1 While purporting to reveal "the untold story of JB's murder, DOI falls short of accomplishing any of the goals said to have motivated it. As a contribution to the search for the killer-intruder, it sheds little, if any, new light on the case. Although unavowed, DOI's main objective appears to be a desire to trigger the public's sympathy for the Ramseys as victims of the media and the police. Notably absent from the book, are the sort of conversations between the Ramseys documenting the frenzy of reflections and theories which one would expect from the innocent parents of a murdered child. John Ramsey's thoughts and theories regarding this intruder are placed close to the end of the book, but are limited to a few pages of the lengthy narrative and thus appear as an afterthought to the general goal of the book. One is equally surprised to find relatively few new memories of JonBenet. Quite a few of the ones provided had already been related in interviews and are here repeated. In a book supposedly about JonBenet, one therefore garners very little new insight into the six years which this child spent in the company of her parents. Not only do we not access here any new information about JonBenet's death, but we learn very little about her life. As an example of a lack of focus on JonBenet, her life and her death, one tends to come away from the book with a much clearer picture of the character of a Ramsey family friend like Susan Stine, than one does of the nature of the little girl about whom this is all about. What one does get in this book, is a clearer picture of the concerns, interests and experiences of John and Patsy Ramsey, their life and times both prior to and after JonBenet's death. In other words this is not so much a book about JonBenet's death, untold or otherwise, as it is a narrative about her parents. More specifically, it is a book about the latter's attempt to restore their damaged reputation by focussing on themselves as victims of the media and the police. Were one to imagine the narrative put forth by innocent parents of a murdered child, one would expect their story to focus on their sincere attempts to shed some light on the case. After all, the Ramsey parents continue to be, if not the prime suspects in ALLl eyes, at the very least key witnesses to the death of their daughter. It is in their capacity as such that they ought to have realized the importance of their testimony immediately after the crime and in their book. We learn much about Patsy's fight with cancer and John's religious trajectory as well as the origins and stages of the Ramseys' successful business undertakings. The book is also studded with quotes of prayers, cards, letters and comments of people supportive of the Ramseys as well as examples of exchanges with deceitful people attempting all manner of guise in order to get close to the Ramseys and get their "inside scoop". Much attention is also drawn to gifts given and received as well as thank-you notes, calls and meetings with well-wishers. Contact established with all famed supporters of Ramsey innocence is documented, ranging from detective Lou Smit to the Internet's Jameson, whose forum URL is included in the Ramsey book. Since my principles never allowed me to buy any tabloid regarding this or other events, I was able to learn a bit more about the nature of the Ramsey tabloid articles and the specific accusations made therein. In spite of all of the above, I would recommend DOI to anyone with more than a passing interest in the Ramsey case. The Ramsey book is a worthwhile read for those interested in a psychoanalysis of Ramsey discourse, and this in spite of the presence of ghost writers and a narrative which appears to deliberately blur the distinction between John and Patsy's portions of the book. In order to remain clear about which of the two is narrating at any given moment, one is endlessly forced to turn back pages for the mention of either one in the third person. This confusing narrative perspective mirrors well the common front which the Ramseys seem to feel appropriate for the re-building of their tarneshed family image. In spite of the fact that the Ramseys have repeatedly drawn attention to comments of readers who were swayed towards a belief of their innocence by reading their book, it is highly unlikely that most readers will abandon their previous beliefs regarding Ramsey guilt or innocence. In my opinion, it is much more reasonable to assume that any change of opinion would run counter to that mentioned by the Ramseys, not so much because of what the book says but rather because of what has been left out. The omission can be reduced to one word: JonBenet. [ ALERT ] [ EDIT ] [ REPLY ] [ REPLY WITH QUOTE ] [ TOP ] [ MAIN ] 1. "Ryder" Posted by Greenleaf on 11:40:21 5/19/2000 The very best, top of the line, book review on DOI that I've read so far. Simply excellent! Thank you. It's worth a print-out, to be read again. Greenleaf [ REMOVE ] [ ALERT ] [ EDIT ] [ REPLY ] [ REPLY WITH QUOTE ] [ TOP ] [ MAIN ] 2. "Ryder" Posted by Sioux on 11:57:06 5/19/2000 Very very good. You are a great writer and annalyst. sioux [ REMOVE ] [ ALERT ] [ EDIT ] [ REPLY ] [ REPLY WITH QUOTE ] [ TOP ] [ MAIN ] 3. "Ryder" Posted by Chris on 11:59:01 5/19/2000 I just wanted to echo the other thoughts. Your writing is top notch! [ REMOVE ] [ ALERT ] [ EDIT ] [ REPLY ] [ REPLY WITH QUOTE ] [ TOP ] [ MAIN ] 4. "Well Done" Posted by rico on 12:14:44 5/19/2000 Ryder! A very level, rational and observant review and yes, I think most readers have arrived at the same conclusion-little mention of JonBenet. Thank you!!!!! JfJBR [ REMOVE ] [ ALERT ] [ EDIT ] [ REPLY ] [ REPLY WITH QUOTE ] [ TOP ] [ MAIN ] 5. "you sold me" Posted by Edie Pratt on 12:21:05 5/19/2000 NOTE: This message was last edited 12:21:05, 5/19/2000 I have yet to read that tripe, but I think you sold me, Ryder. You should write book reviews for a living, that was so objective and well worded, I am impressed! Now, if you could only get me back to reading "The Sound And The Fury", and make sense of that, I'd be happy to write any publication on your behalf:-) [ REMOVE ] [ ALERT ] [ EDIT ] [ REPLY ] [ REPLY WITH QUOTE ] [ TOP ] [ MAIN ] 7. "Ryder" Posted by Aurora on 12:56:22 5/19/2000 I am just over half way thru reading the book and I couldn't agree more ..with your report on it. It is confusing... as to whom is speaking and it's content is mostly about...poor little mistreated...John and Patsy! You sure captured the whole of it in your review. Great Job!! The photos they shared are new and used to gain more sympathy to them. The best part of the book...I might add. The pic on the cover.. tells you what the book is about. Every picture tells a story..doesn't it? *LOL* I got DOI from the local library. I could not in good conscience spend a penny on anything they wrote because I do feel they are involved in their daughters murder. It isn't something I can't put down like Steve Thomas's book..either. [ REMOVE ] [ ALERT ] [ EDIT ] [ REPLY ] [ REPLY WITH QUOTE ] [ TOP ] [ MAIN ] 6. "Edie" Posted by gaiabetsy on 12:56:17 5/19/2000 this book really reveals them for who they are. Go for it. Chow down! [ REMOVE ] [ ALERT ] [ EDIT ] [ REPLY ] [ REPLY WITH QUOTE ] [ TOP ] [ MAIN ] 8. "LOL, GB!" Posted by Edie Pratt on 13:05:07 5/19/2000 I will "chow down", I am starving for information that gives insight into the minds of these two, and what better way than from the horse's mouths. I'll check our library tommorow:-) [ REMOVE ] [ ALERT ] [ EDIT ] [ REPLY ] [ REPLY WITH QUOTE ] [ TOP ] [ MAIN ] 9. "Haven't read DOI" Posted by zane on 13:13:43 5/19/2000 but thought the title referred to their innocent little JonBenet. Only to learn later that it was about the innocence they themselves possessed, until the filmy cheesecloth that they were going through life with was rudely ripped off their faces as they were unjustly accused of this crime. Thus the death of their own naiveness and the cruelty of their accusers. It's always about them and not what happened to their daughter. [ REMOVE ] [ ALERT ] [ EDIT ] [ REPLY ] [ REPLY WITH QUOTE ] [ TOP ] [ MAIN ] 10. "There's a looooong stretch" Posted by Cassandra on 13:19:42 5/19/2000 that's really dull, however. I made comments in red in my copy, and passed it on to my sister to make comments in blue or whatever. She can't even make herself read it yet! Cassie [ REMOVE ] [ ALERT ] [ EDIT ] [ REPLY ] [ REPLY WITH QUOTE ] [ TOP ] [ MAIN ]