Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town in Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge

Jun 27, 2015 Renata rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: nonfiction, grownup

This is a powerful book and one that is--and should be--hard to read. There are a lot of graphic, detailed descriptions of rape in this. Which isn't surprising, given the subject matter, but just, you know, heads up. I had to stop reading it before bedtime and move it to daylight hours only reading.

Anyway. Jon Krakauer is fantastic at spinning nonfiction narrative out of exhaustive research, and this is no exception. He's done a great job at connecting all the disparate threads of rape in Missou ...more

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Jul 08, 2015 Ashley rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: work-public-health, women-s-studies

What a difficult, infuriating book to read. After the fiasco that was the "Rolling Stone" article, I went into "Missoula" unsure of how Krakauer would report the story, what his policy would be on pseudonyms, and how much detail he would provide about individual cases. While he's helped by the fact that at least some of these cases went to trial and have public records, many of the people he spoke with are given pseudonyms and provide essentially unverifiable information. The book does NOT suffe What a difficult, infuriating book to read. After the fiasco that was the "Rolling Stone" article, I went into "Missoula" unsure of how Krakauer would report the story, what his policy would be on pseudonyms, and how much detail he would provide about individual cases. While he's helped by the fact that at least some of these cases went to trial and have public records, many of the people he spoke with are given pseudonyms and provide essentially unverifiable information. The book does NOT suffer from this, however. Krakauer is clear about facts and policy. His writing doesn't shy away from the horror of these crimes or the complexity of proving rape in court v. a college disciplinary hearing. I'm giving it 4 instead of 5 stars because, at times, Krakauer quotes extensively from passages of newspaper articles, research papers, testimony, and other items. There were so many block quotes that it was, at times, distracting. It's a style issue but I found that it actually broke up the power of his prose and argument.

I left this book infuriated with the justice system, the education system, rape culture, and football culture. I finished this book amazed that, as a people, we doubt what women say about rape. I also feel like there's a special place in hell for women who don't help other women... You'll know who I'm talking about when you've read "Missoula." That said, I think the book also does a great job outlining why using Title IX to adjudicate rape claims in an educational context is deeply problematic. While I don't have an alternative, I do worry about systems of punishment shrouded in secrecy and without representation. Not worried enough to suggest we ought to get rid of Title IX, but sympathetic to arguments about how Title IX is woefully inappropriate for this kind of thing.

In all, I'm glad I read "Missoula." It's a book that, obviously, should have all the trigger warnings attached to it. Still, it's an important investigation into rape, rape culture, and justice in the United States. It's also an important corrective to the "Rolling Stone" piece.
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Nov 17, 2015 Andronike rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This book is intense, as expected. Krakauer handles the rape cases of the women he writes about with elegance and grace. He never once vilifies the survivors, acknowledges his own prejudices, and provides as complete a picture as he can about the events that preceded each event. This is a must-read for everyone, and worth the emotional breaks necessary to get through it.

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Aug 23, 2015 Abby Johnson rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, grownup_books, nonfiction

This is a really powerful and important book. It was not an easy read - there are many graphic descriptions of sexual assaults - but I think a necessary one. I am impressed that a man noticed this issue, educated himself to learn about it, and wrote a powerful book about it.

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Sep 06, 2015 Linda Parker rated it liked it · review of another edition

"Acquaintance rape is a crime like no other. Unlike burglary or embezzlement or any other felony, the victim often comes under more suspicion than the alleged perpetrator. This is especially true if the victim is sexually active; if she had been drinking prior to the assault — and if the man she accuses plays on a popular sports team"- quote from the book. This summarizes the best point the book makes.
This book was really interesting and I learned a lot, but it's just one small snapshot in one s ...more

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