Customer Reviews

Under the Bridge

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

 

 

This book was incredible. To use an accurate cliche, I couldn't put it down. As I read, I felt as though I came to know each "character", and while I definitely didn't like each one, I felt as though the author was presenting me with an understanding of their separate motivations. Godfrey managed to weave together a complex subject involving more than two dozen people, a confusing night, a morass of lies and gossip and denial, somehow bringing it all into the light. I kept wondering how long she'd had to research, and how many people she must have interviewed during the course of the writing. Godfrey writes of jealousy, love, vanity, fear, violence, and tragedy in an understandable way. She also keeps the reader in suspense, revealing each bit of this real-life plot slowly so the reader experiences the tension, uncertainity, and need to know that many of the (unfortunate) real-life particpants must also have felt.

This really was such a good book. As others have said, I really never wanted to put it down. I find there is a lack of information on what happened to Reena Virk, and any searching results mainly with focus on the trials of Kelly Ellard. This book provided not only details on the sad crime itself, but insight into Reena, her family, and all of the other teenagers who either participated in or witnessed her death. I was most surprised in the kind and strangely forgiving nature of the Virk family.

I really enjoyed Godfrey's writing style; the book did read like a novel, and you can definitely tell she has done her research and created a very detailed and realistic outline of what happened. From small details, like one girl's use of Nivea cream and Reena's eagerness to share her favourite songs with a member of her family, to the prosecutors and defense lawyers as well as frustrated police trying to deal with scared and angry young teenagers, every character and situation was "brought to life", as cheesy as it sounds.

Again, it is difficult to find much information on the Reena Virk case, and this book is perfect for anyone wishing to know the story and the people, as confused and confusing as they seem to be. It's one of the best "true-crime" books I've read, and it contains vivid insights into the awkward, gossipy and, in this case, often cruel world created by these young teenagers.

Being bullied, wanting to fit in, wanting your peers to view you in a certain way are all things that people of this age feel and experience, and Godfrey effectively captures that atmosphere in this book. The only hollow part is the question that even those convicted of the crime can't answer: why this horrendous crime happened, committed by people so young.

Beautifully done, in my opinion.

I am also a reader who couldn't put this book down, which hasn't happened to me in a long time. I credit Rebecca's writing for pulling the reader right into the case, so much so that I was left feeling deeply emotional about the whole thing. I am grateful that this book exists, it adds an extra dimension to the sound bites we've seen in the media-- but most importantly, it honours Reena's memory.

I'm not going to argue that this case was well-documented here. You got a feel for the victim and alleged criminals, even felt as though you knew them. The crime was unspeakable, especially considering how small a thing it was the victim died for.

What most find a strong point--the fact the novel was written like a fictional piece--is what I believe to be the failing point. At times I put down the book only to realize that I still didn't believe this to be a "true" crime story. It seemed TOO fictional; sometimes TOO in touch with the players. To be honest, I enjoyed this as a piece of fiction, not as a fascinating documentary of a senseless murder--and that is not something I particularly look for in this genre.

A view of a gang style killing in Canada, told in a lot of detail by an author who seems to be atuned to adolescent issues and thinking. I was very impressed with the book, although I felt parts of it were too "novelized", seemed more the author's interpretation of things and could not have happened the way they were told.

The first few pages of this book really drew me in. Unfortunately, the rest of it let me down.

One problem is that, as others have noted, Godfrey introduces too many people. For instance, on page 9, we meet a teenager called "Nevada." She appears on the next six pages. We don't read her name again until 288, where we learn simply that she does indeed still have red hair. Given that there are already several suspects and a victim, plus their families, we don't really need the extras.

But worse than the confusion is the very selective editing of the truth.

The author clearly spoke at length to most of the kids involved, and tried to really get their side of the story. But the sympathy she tries to evoke for them is at odds with their actions. Not only did they tacitly condone Reena's assault by not stopping it or, later, offering her help, but they kept quiet about what had happened despite hearing rumors she was dead and noticing her absence. At the trials, said they didn't remember the violent assault -- yet they easily recalled details about what people were wearing that night.

Notably, Godfrey dwells on the media portrayal the girlfriend (Syreeta) of one of the suspects, as cold, yet leaves out at least one major reason for that perception: On the witness stand, Syreeta said Reena's murder was "not a very interesting subject."

Also, Godfrey neglects to bring race into the discussion at all. This must be a conscious choice, as it was widely reported that Syreeta testified her boyfriend beat up Reena because other "east Indians" had beat up his friend. How do you write about this case and never once discuss race?

Even Warren, who I truly think was/is remorseful, was actually sentenced to an extra year in prison because he initially refused to testify against Kelly Ellard. That fact is left out of the book too. So is his joking comment (according to Syreeta) that Reena had a "hairy butt" (yes, he said that before Reena's unclothed body was found).

It's extremely hard to sympathize with these people, given that they almost never acted as if they actually cared that a girl was dead. I hope I'm never able to picture myself as one of the players in this story. The book is a worthwhile read, but it's far from a perfect -- or complete -- report on the murder of Reena Virk.

UNDER THE BRIDGE is an amazing story about a group of directionless teenagers in the town of View Royal, British Columbia. This group is presented as sad, scared, and insecure as are many teens, and in addition a large number of these kids, largely girls, appear to have had either ineffective or no adult direction.

One night, an outcast girl named Reena Virk, who desperately wanted to fit in, was murdered in a spasm of juvenile mob violence. What amazed me as much as anything was the fact that these kids were YOUNG - ages 13-16. While the book is true crime, it is anything but standard.

Author Rebecca Godfrey has done an exemplary job of researching the social milieu in which these children lived, and she writes exquisitely, showing a true empathy for them. But UNDER THE BRIDGE is different from most true crime in that Godfrey writes the story almost as a novel, and is able to portray the kids' emotions (thankfully omitting her own) in a creative fashion that allows her to place the reader right in the emotional middle of the rootless angst of the teenagers. I liked her writing a lot, though it may not appeal to everyone. As a true crime work, UNDER THE BRIDGE incorporates a police investigation (slow but short) and some very interesting courtroom scenes. This book is not about forensics or investigation. It is ALL about sociology and individual personality studies.

I loved the book and, once again, I must thank my Lubbockian friend for passing it on to me.

I am a huge fan of 'true life' stories and this one didn't disappoint me! For me it started out slowly but then I couldn't put the book down. It is just unbelievable that this was kept secret with practically the whole teenage population knew about it. I couldn't believe that Warren actually participated in the beating. He seemend like such a nice guy, despite his personal life. I felt that he really wanted to make something of himself and then to have ended up as Kelly's sidekick is just so bizarre. Kelly deserves to be in prison for the rest of her life. Warren was found guilty at one trial and she is now on her fourth! And, she was really the mastermind behind the lethal beating of Reena. I hope she burns in hell as I am sure there is not a remorseful bone in her body!

This is a fascinating, engrossing book. It is extremely readable and well-written. The negative reviews seem a bit harsh for a book I read in one sitting because I had to know what happened next. The lack of compassion and empathy in these children is astounding. Who on earth is raising kids like this? The parents are obviously totally unfit and unable to provide any moral guidance and boundaries. Godfrey did a great job--period!

I recently read an article in Variety that stated Reese Witherspoon's Type A production company had bought the film rights to this book with the film due out in 2009. Anyway, I became curious as I generally like to read the book before I see a film. This book was well-written and mightily researched. I am not a huge fan of the true-crime genre, but this story did read like a novel; specifically, it is reminiscent of "Lord of the Flies". It is a very sad story of a group of teenagers and how one night of reckless behavior has a lifetime of repercussions.