It’s been a while and I’m sorry, but I always just forget!! Time to set a reminder on my phone I think … So, this week the book under scrutiny is Helen Garner’s Joe Cinque’s Consolation. I read this book only because I needed a true crime text fro Extension English, but that doesn’t mean I regret reading it. Basically it’s the story of how Joe Cinque (hence the title) was killed by his girlfirend. actually it’s the story of the court cases foor this crime and how Garner thinks Joe is lost amongst all the proceedings and ‘gets to know him.’
Thsi is a very good read. Well, there are many book I’d read over it, but I still enjoyed it. It’s a bit confusing trying to work out when everything happened, and there’s a plethora of witnesses, but I think that reflects the confusion Garner feels on trying to understand the case. YOu really engage with Garner and her opinions, and so end up quite frustrated at the legal system, which is a small taste of how she feels, I think. The Cinque family never get the justice they want, and the judge tells us that sentencing isn’t about punishment but protection fo society from the criminal (or something to that effect). It’s all a bit annoying. Especially when Anu Singh (the girlfriend) gets off on her charges because she was mentally ill or something……
After reading this I’ve learnt hat I’m not really a true crime fan. The book was very interesting and a good read, eye-opening too, but I don’t think I could read much more of the genre. Too morbid.
Ah, well I don’t have much to say abotu this book but that I would recommend it to you to read, because it’s a good insight into the Australian justice system and also, I’d never heard of this case and am kind of blind to murder cases that happen in our country. It was ‘illuminating’ to read about when I never realy consider their occurance. So yes, read this if you can. Good book.
