Customer Reviews

The Confession of O. J. Simpson

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

All I can say is: "the leaves were hinting at their autumnal intent." Yes, this line is actually in this book.

When a lawyer uses OJ's own private notes, and audio and video tapes to write a book about the ex-superstar's confession to the most famous double homicide in U.S. history, and subtitles it, "A work of fiction," the reader then can be sure that about 99% of it is true, and that for rather obvious legal reasons, the remaining 1% indeed had to be turned into fiction. That is what any reasonable person might conclude after reading this fictionalized account of "how O.J. `may' have done it." The last few pages, in which Goldman shoots OJ, represent the 1% fiction. But the rest of the book, the 99%, has the clear ring of truth.

According to this author's scenario, OJ's confession is motivated by the Goldman family's promise to wave $25 million of the $38 million judgment awarded to them if OJ would simply consent to a signed confession. Simpson's confessional strategy was to be a ruse in which he would confess, then immediately after the deal was settled, recant. He would thereby only be running the risk of perjury in exchange for a wavier that could secure his children's future.

The key events in this version of the story is the fact that in the weeks leading up to the murders, O.J. had Nicole's romantic life under tight surveillance by a highly paid friend and a very effective private investigator named "Mickey Brown." Among his other duties, Brown had Nicole's phones tapped, tailed her 24/7 and was the one who picked up the travel bag of bloody clothes O.J. had dumped in the trash bin near the American Airlines check-in entrance on the night of the murders. OJ claims he did the killing with an ordinary Swiss pocketknife, which he washed off and actually took onto the airplane with him.

The smoking gun however had to do with the fact that O.J's best friend, Marcus Allen, who only a year earlier had gotten married in OJ's house, was reported by OJ's PI as having an affair with Nicole. On the eve of the murders, OJ and Nicole had had a big fight about her affair with Allen. This affair was the same one that Faye Resnick had warned Nicole not to enter because it could end her life. She details this warning in her book "A Life Interrupted." The affair is the same one that Allen also curiously and studiously remained mute on in his own book, "Marcus."

According to this author's version, Simpson was not only well aware of the affair but just prior to the slow-motion Bronco chase, had actually confronted Allen with the clear intent of shooting him. However, Allen apparently begged for his life and O.J. relented, allowing Allen to re-board a plane that returned him to Cabo San Lucas where he had been vacationing with his wife. Allen stayed out of sight for the better part of the next two years.

The actual murders themselves seemed to have been a culmination of a lifetime of rage and insecurities that were in part a feature of OJ's insecure psychological makeup, and in part directed at his father who due to his open homosexuality, had embarrassed both OJ and his mother throughout his life. Nicole was the only thing in his life that gave him a full sense of control, and now she too was spinning out of control.

The single flaw that the author saw in OJ's personality was his inability to perceive himself as he actually was. Whether he was afraid of finding out who that might really be, or because he already knew. OJ it seems had developed no instincts for how to survive as a private,or as an authentic, person. He could only breathe the air he sucked from those around him. And in this regard, an acquittal on the murder charges was perhaps the worse thing that could have happened to a person with his psychological make up. It forced him to walk the corridors of his own life -- corridors, that after the murders, turned his life into dust, into a daily private execution of a public ego: An ego that was once his only identity. The acquittal thus became death by identity suicide through public humiliation and invalidation. It seems that in OJ's case, society gave with one hand and took away with the other.

This version of the murders is carefully constructed and very coherent. It is about as close as we will ever get to the truth. [I wonder what Faye Resnick as to say about this book?]

A fascinating coda to the Simpson saga. An entirely plausible and well-crafted "what-if" story. One is grateful for the addition of "A work of fiction" to the title; otherwise, one wouldn't really be quite sure.... Highly recommended.

David Bender has written a remarkable book here, one which I sailed through in a single attentive sitting. With the freedom of a novelist, the freedom to speculate, the freedom from debates and arguments and political positions, Bender has written more human truth about the Simpson case than most other books on the topic. I was a consultant for the prosecution in the Simpson criminal case, and then for the Golman family attorneys in the civil case, and I know the case very, very well. I also came to know the man, the batterer, the murderer O.J Simpson, and no matter how you feel about his guilt or innocence, David Bender's book paints a picture of the fictional Simpson that is far clearer, and with more delicate brush-strokes than you'll ever likely see of the so-called "real" Simpson. Read the book for the pure enjoyment of the novel. If it adds some light to your impressions of the case, all the better. - Gavin de Becker, author THE GIFT OF FEA

When you read this book you can tell the author doesn't have much of a love for OJ Simpson; however, when you read this book you get a hint that maybe... just maybe this author actually got his story from OJ himself.

It's one of them OJ books you can get through quickly while believing every word is actually OJ's. Hmmm, makes me wonder.

This is bad writing. I knew I was taking a risk when I picked up the book for $1 at a local book sale, and I'll admit early that I usually read nonfiction. If this is a sample of what I've been missing, giving me a dictionary over books like this anyday.

The author took a storyline, filled in a few holes with typical crime-writing, and expected accolades for his creativity. Instead, upon finishing the book (an easy hour and a half read) one is left feeling the story was incredulous, light, and offensive to the memories of two victims and their families.

It is a shameless ploy to gleen money from this tragedy, and I am embarrassed and ashamed that I wasted my time with it.

This might very well be the worst book I have ever read.

Really stinks. If you care about writing, you won't like this book. And by "book," I mean "shameless and shoddy effort to cash in on another's tragedy." Oh, and did I mention...it stinks?

It was obvious that the author didn't care much for OJ. I did enjoy the book for what it was suppose to be - fiction. However, I did have to keep reminding myself that it wasn't real. But it makes me wonder... does the author know something he's not telling?

This intriging topic had me anxious to get into the book, but the book offered nothing new or really very interesting. I kept waiting for something new to reach out and grab me from the pages, but I was vry dissapointed.

After I finished reading it, I felt like I had been fed a bit of fluff.

I bought and read this, expecting the worst but was surprised to find an artistic work of fiction. It may be closer to revealing what happened and what might yet happen than any other work