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3rd out of 13 books
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Bitter Harvest
by
Ann Rule
Ann Rule probes the mind of Debora Green, a successful doctor and loving mother who seemed to epitomize the dreams of the American heartland--until a murderous rage brought death and destruction to her family. Photo insert.
Mass Market Paperback, 496 pages
Published
February 15th 2000
by Pocket
(first published 1997)
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I read this book in the airport, on a layover in Jacksonville, Florida. If my flight would have been canceled again, I would not have cared or minded. More time to read!! Times just seems to fly when you're sucked into this book.
It's a really sad ending, why didn't people see danger coming? Where were the neighbors? The police? The teachers? The own father? Why didn't anyone do anything? Yet another example why if you see something wrong, you should do something...
It's a really sad ending, why didn't people see danger coming? Where were the neighbors? The police? The teachers? The own father? Why didn't anyone do anything? Yet another example why if you see something wrong, you should do something...
Not That Impressed
Lifetime Network seems to love Ann Rule. I see many of her books-turned-to-movies on their channels. I've never been drawn to watch them, and after having read this book, am glad I have not wasted 2 hours of my life doing that. I've already wasted enough time with this book.
It is a sad and twisted story of a "sick" wife and mother who goes to extremes to "keep" what she believes is hers. I think Rule truly believes she's writing these nar...more
Lifetime Network seems to love Ann Rule. I see many of her books-turned-to-movies on their channels. I've never been drawn to watch them, and after having read this book, am glad I have not wasted 2 hours of my life doing that. I've already wasted enough time with this book.
It is a sad and twisted story of a "sick" wife and mother who goes to extremes to "keep" what she believes is hers. I think Rule truly believes she's writing these nar...more
I am a huge Ann Rule fan. I love true crime books and she nails the story every time. This tale is fascinating in every way. Both parents are Dr's and the mother descends into an unimaginable madness. Chilling, devistating and a great read.
The true story about a Dr. from Kansas City that tries to kill her husband.
Shows how kooks can really be out there functioning in society - pretty scary stuff
Another interesting true crime portrayal of a wife who kills her husband.
An interesting and tragic story: lives torn apart by rage, culminating with a deadly fire and the ensuing court case. It made national headlines in 1995-96, but I don't remember hearing about it. At the end of the book they mention another news item that made headlines near the same time: a mother cat that entered a burning building seven times to rescue her kittens and ended up blind but alive with all the kittens. I remember that headline. What does that say about memory?
I enj...more
I enj...more
this one was really good if you like this sort of thing...
Hard to get into--really sad, but true story.
Another nutso!
The book was a true crime story that told the tale of a mother’s misplaced love, infatuation and murder. What I loved most about this story is the non-stop unfolding of the events. I had a hard time putting the book down.
The lasting impression that stayed with me throughout the story was how crazy Deborah actually was and no one seemed to notice, till it was too late. Reading the story, and being an outsider looking in, it was clear Deb was suffering some type of mental struggles ear...more
The lasting impression that stayed with me throughout the story was how crazy Deborah actually was and no one seemed to notice, till it was too late. Reading the story, and being an outsider looking in, it was clear Deb was suffering some type of mental struggles ear...more
Rule is well-known for her true crime writing and justifiably so. Ever since Truman Capote popularized the form in In Cold Blood, true crime has become a popular genre.
This harrowing book tells the story of Dr. Debora Green, a very bright Kansas physician whose life unraveled into a nightmare of murder and virtual insanity. After her trial for the murder of two of her children and the attempted murder of her husband, Michael Farrar, psychiatrists attempted to answer why something lik...more
This harrowing book tells the story of Dr. Debora Green, a very bright Kansas physician whose life unraveled into a nightmare of murder and virtual insanity. After her trial for the murder of two of her children and the attempted murder of her husband, Michael Farrar, psychiatrists attempted to answer why something lik...more
Hot Cup O'Monkey
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
readers who like true crime and/or psychology
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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An intriguing story and impossible to put down. Ann Rule has again outdown herself. This was a story that I truly enjoyed and found fascinating!
From the back cover:
"This book probes the case of Debora Green, a doctor and a loving mother who seemed to epitomize the dreams of the American heartland. A small town girl with a genius IQ, she achieved an enviable life: her own medical practice, a handsome physician husband, three perfect children, and an opulent home in an...more
From the back cover:
"This book probes the case of Debora Green, a doctor and a loving mother who seemed to epitomize the dreams of the American heartland. A small town girl with a genius IQ, she achieved an enviable life: her own medical practice, a handsome physician husband, three perfect children, and an opulent home in an...more
The main character in this book is an incredibly domineering woman who seems absolutely larger than life. She is a brilliant physician who abuses drugs, alcohol and retreats into novels while her family suffers. She starts by poisoning her husband, and then sets fire to the house which also takes her two children. This book is about the havoc that a strong, controlling woman is able to wreak on the world around her and at times seems unreal. But once again, it's all 100% true story.
FINALLY FINISHED IT AFTER ABOUT 3-1/2 YEARS!!!
What I say next has NOTHING whatsoever to do with the quality of this book, because it's quite good. I love the way Ann Rule brings all of the elements of these stories and makes a cohesive, illuminating tale out of chaos.
Anyway, to the unbelievable laziness in my reading it: this has been my "waiting book", in my truck at all times, ready to give me something to do in the numerous waiting situations. Well, it's been my "...more
What I say next has NOTHING whatsoever to do with the quality of this book, because it's quite good. I love the way Ann Rule brings all of the elements of these stories and makes a cohesive, illuminating tale out of chaos.
Anyway, to the unbelievable laziness in my reading it: this has been my "waiting book", in my truck at all times, ready to give me something to do in the numerous waiting situations. Well, it's been my "...more
You may have noticed that many of my books are about murder and crime. I am totally fascinated by human beings that have such anger or psychosis that they murder others. It is beyond my ability to understand. So I read about those who conduct these crimes in an attempt to somehow understand the behavior.
Ann Rule writes about true crimes and she does so in an insightful manner that helps the reader see how these crimes could have been committed. Bitter Harvest is about a female d...more
Ann Rule writes about true crimes and she does so in an insightful manner that helps the reader see how these crimes could have been committed. Bitter Harvest is about a female d...more
I consider Ann Rule's books to be a guilty pleasure! This one was especially intriguing for me because I used to live near Prairie Village KS where the action occurred and recognized many of the places in the book, including an Earl May Garden Center that was located across the street from a place where I used to work. I have never been able to start on of Ms. Rule's books without finishing it within a few days and this one is no exception!
It's surreal to read about this crime that happened right here in our neighborhood and know exactly where places are that are mentioned throughout! Ann Rule does a great job, as usual, of describing in great detail what happened. I certainly went away knowing more about the crime than we ever read elsewhere, but I don't think anyone, even Ann Rule, still really knows what was going on the the mind of Deborah Green.
I have had a love of Ann Rule's style of true crime writing for a while now. Bitter Harvest is the tale of Debora Green, a once doctor and mother who did the unthinkable and started a fire that left two of her own children dead. The story chronicles the marriage, decay of the relationship, the tug of war with children and affair that brought her to that point.
Ann's writing is as always, clear, quick paced, ever contentious and caring of the families involved, she manages to tell the st...more
Ann's writing is as always, clear, quick paced, ever contentious and caring of the families involved, she manages to tell the st...more
I vaguely remember this happening when I was growing up, so this book had been on my list for awhile. There's something about reading a true crime book that took place where you live, that just makes it that much more interesting and creepy.
I thought this book was so interesting. This woman had everyone fooled on her she was – everyone started off thinking what a perfect mother she was. This book so addicting, and it's just unbelievable that someone could do the things she did.
I thought this book was so interesting. This woman had everyone fooled on her she was – everyone started off thinking what a perfect mother she was. This book so addicting, and it's just unbelievable that someone could do the things she did.
I know this looks like a book you'd buy in the airport but I couldn't put it down. This is the true story of a Kansas City-area doctor who poisoned her husband and set their house on fire, tragically killing two of her children. The fact that people in my family know some key players in this book, and that this took place in the suburbs where I grew up made it all the more chilling.
This is a great book for people who love true crime novels. Follow the life of a brilliantly gifted young lady. See how she becomes a doctor, then marries a doctor, has children and yet destroys the world around her. This book just proves that money can't buy you happiness. Follow the author as she takes you into the life and investigation that leads to a conviction.
Could. Not. Put. Down. This is Ann Rule's treatment of the Debora Green case, the mother who set fire to her home, killing 2 of her children right here in Prairie Village. It happened in the 90s and I sort of remember it. A really fast read, though once the court proceedings begin, things slow down. There is too much word-for-word transcript, which sets a much different pace than Rule's gossipy, narrative style.
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It mystifies me how a mother could set her own house on fire knowing her children will be burned alive. And to think, she heard them calling out to her for help, and simply hurried out the back door without even trying to help them. My heart aches for those kids. I almost couldn't finish the book because it was such a sad, horrible story.
True crime is pretty scary. I don't think I could do a regular diet of it. It is fascinating in a morbid way to read about people who are capable of such evil. I remember reading and hearing about this story when I was in college as it only happend an hour from my home town. Ann Rule does a great job of showing all aspects of the case.
This is the first Ann Rule I have read - enjoyed it and will read others by her.
Back Cover Blurb:
From the bestselling true crime author comes the mesmerising story of Debora Green, a beautiful, wealthy, successful doctor and mother of three whose murderous rage and jealousy brings death and destruction to her family.
Back Cover Blurb:
From the bestselling true crime author comes the mesmerising story of Debora Green, a beautiful, wealthy, successful doctor and mother of three whose murderous rage and jealousy brings death and destruction to her family.
This case happened very close to where I live and was covered pretty thoroughly in the media, but Ann's book provides a much more detailed look at both Deborah and Mike Green individually and as a couple, and makes it clear just how manipulative and truly dangerous Deborah Green can be.
This book was given to me by my Father to read. He insisted that I must read it. He was right! This book started my whole Ann Rule addiction. "Bitter Harvest" proves that the truth is stranger than fiction. After you read this book, you will be shaking your head & going WOW, this is twisted!
I loved this book! Found it in the True Crime section of my library. I couldn't put it down! Although this book is of actual events it read like a fictional mystery with twists and turns! I recommend this book highly.
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Ann Rule is a popular American true crime writer. She came to prominence with her first book, The Stranger Beside Me, about the Ted Bundy murders.
At the time she started researching the book, the murders were still unsolved. In the course of time, it became clear that the killer was Bundy, her friend and her colleague as a trained volunteer on the suicide hotline at the Seattle, Washington ...more
More about Ann Rule...
At the time she started researching the book, the murders were still unsolved. In the course of time, it became clear that the killer was Bundy, her friend and her colleague as a trained volunteer on the suicide hotline at the Seattle, Washington ...more
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