Customer Reviews

Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account Of The Death Penalty In The United States

5 star:		(42)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

When I started reading this book some years ago, I was staunchly for the death penalty. On the other side, I was staunchly opposed. Such is the power and vibrancy of Helen Prejean's writing. She takes you inside the prison walls, inside the mind of the men who commit these desperate acts, the lives they've destroyed by these acts, and the long trek out of the dark night of evil. For some, the journey ends in forgiveness, for others in a hatred and an emptiness. This book will make this sort of crime and punishment real to anyone that reads it, and whatever opinion formed afterwards will be a better-informed one.

I am currently attending theological seminary, and the film "Dead Man Walking" inspired me to look into prison ministry. Helen Prejean's personal account of her work at Angola State Prison was even more inspiring than the film. I agree wholeheartedly with her theology that we must love even those who have done evil things, for every human being is a CHILD OF GOD. Jesus Christ called us to love one another, and Prejean firmly practices Christian love in what I believe to be its true sense: loving ALL human beings, regardless of their deeds. Prejean brought to light the corruption of our criminal justice system, and I was shocked but trustworthy of her data. As a first-year seminary student, I identified with her initial fear and uneasiness at entering a project about which she knew little, and I applaud her ability to befriend convicted rapists and murderers honestly, yet without condoning their crimes. I am a Protestant woman studying to become a minister, so in some ways my life will differ from Sister Helen's, but I can only pray for the strength to emulate her, and I thank her for her great inspiration.

What makes this book so intense is that you know it's real. It is well written, descriptive without being overbearing and detatched enough to give you a fair perspective. The movie runs along similar lines as the book, except the method of execution, and the book delves into far more detail, as you would expect. Although an anti-death penalty activist, Helen Prejean has not written a anti-death penalty book. It's a straightforward narrative that draws the reader in and doesn't let go. She is a very talented lady and you feel a huge respect for what she does. Very compelling reading.

I had the pleasure of meeting sister Helen quite a few times, and she was an inspiring woman. I have to admit, that before meeting her I had no interest in reviewing my opinion on the death penelty, but after sitting through a few seminars of hers, i decided to read the book. What I found was an inspiring account of friendship between Helen and the inmates, and Helen and the families of the victims. This book rang with truth. It was very informative as well. After reading the book and meeting the amazing woman behind it, I began going to candlelight vigils at Angola(the prison in the book), the night of execution. I now believe completely in her cause, and reccomend this book to anyone who is at all interested in capital punishment, or even human nature.

I started reading this book one night, and couldn't put it down for hours. It's full of information, and really makes you think, no matter what your point of view. It's also very moving; some parts brought me to tears. Although I saw the movie a couple of years ago, it had much less effect on me than the book did. Highly recommended!

The book is a factual, non-judgmental recitation of the author's observations of Louisiana death penalty executions. She has done a great deal of research and gives a great perspective of everyone involved: inmates, inmates' family members, prison officials, defense attorneys, and victims' families. She is a self-made expert on the death penalty and many people have relied on her support and friendship- despite their death penalty convictions. She's a great writer and this read is a real treat.

This is the most powerful book I have encountered since Merton's Seven Story Mountain. I will never forget it. I needed to absorb the ideas in this book slowly and I will never be the same again, because of them. Sister Helen travels with me in spirit. Yes, prisoners, and murderers are human beings. People have helped me out with my own life. Without their help and without God's grace, I could be on death row, too.

While the manner in which the story is presented is quite readable and engaging, the strength of this work is in the important and poignant experiences and issues the author presents. Reading this book one is struck by the incredible depth and character of the author. She is clearly a person of profound integrity and compassion, yet does not convey the impression of being judgemental nor saccarine.

Prejean confronted the issue of capital punishment by embracing the situations of two of the least sympathetic situations perhaps possible: the men executed had committed heinous, unforgiveable crimes, ones that are alone horrifying to read about. However, in an incredibly objective fashion the author presents their atrocities in the context of the circumstances of these mens' lives which, while it does not in any way mitigate their crimes, does make their predilection for commiting them perhaps more comprehensible.

Besides the fortitude Prejean demonstrated while supporting these men through their executions, including witnessing them, one is moved by her character in embracing the need to engage in dialog with the relatives of the victims of these mens' crimes. She shows incredible compassion in presenting their circumstances and suffering as well. While opposed to capital punishment Prejean fairly represents the perspective of those demanding vengance. The author also, in a very subtle fashion presents how the criminal justice system is cynically manipulated for political purposes, and the immense economic cost involved in executing prisoners.

This is powerful, moving, and thought provoking. "Dean Man Walking" is a very important work.

As a former investigator on behalf of Florida death sentenced persons from 1986 - 1992, I can vouch for this book as an excellently written and informative about the testing of wills and struggles with God and the consequences of one's actions. Definitely beyond any shadow of a doubt a five star book and film.

This is both a book and a movie that you need to interact with. Particularly in a day and age when there is a movement here in Canada to try to bring the death penalty back. The book is much more in depth than the movie. The book profiles the first three men that Sr. Prejean goes to the death chamber with as Spiritual Director. It profiles her mistakes as she journeys down this path for the first few times. She witnessed her first execution on April 5th, 1984 and she has been advocating against the death penalty since then.

The book does a great job of showing the disparity in how the death penalty is applied. It goes through the studies on its lack of effectiveness, and how for the most part, it is the poor and the African-American who are on death row. Even if you only read the appendices, the book will challenge you to view the death penalty in a different way.

The movie was the inspiration and starred Susan Sarandon. Sarandon was given the book while on a personal retreat at a monastery; she came home and gave the book to her partner, Tim Robbins, who directed the film. Together they approached Sr. Prejean, who went out and rented Bull Durham. She was a little leery of having them do the film, but after meeting with them went ahead with the project.

The film co-stars Sean Penn as Matthew Poncelet, a compilation of the 3 men in the book. The movie, while slow moving, is incredibly intense and draws you into the drama of waiting for a death when you know the date and time of that approaching death.

As an interesting aside, another good book is Forgiving the Dead Man Walking by Debbie Morris, who was one of the victims of Robert Lee Willie from the book. Debbie always said if they ever made a movie, Penn would have to play Willie because they looked so much alike.

So read the book and watch the movie, and if you want yet another challenging book, give Forgiving the Dead Man Walking a read also.