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The Executioner's Song
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Executioner's Song with Reading Schedule-discussion starts Oct 20th
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Meg
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Nov 24, 2013 05:35PM
What do you all think about the suicide attemt?
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I think that Gilmore believed in reincarnation strongly enough that he was wanting this life to end. Nicole truly loved him so went with it. Selfish of him. But not surprising because he was entirely self absorbed.
I felt that perhaps Nicole was having second thoughts which led to less pills. Was I reading into that?
I wonder if Gilmore knew it wasn't enough pills for his frame. I think Nicole meant to go through with it
Julie, I wondered that too. I am thinking with all her exploration with the Florinol that he would have know his tolerance somewhat. Despite all his wanting to die. I think he still a bit of "chicken with going through with it.
I wondered why Nicole wasn't waiting for him to go first like Gary had asked her to do.
Mod
I feel for her too. He was very selfish - he didn't want her to be with anyone else. I think he wanted her to go first too.
Sheila - I agree with you about Gary wanting her to kill herself to prove her devotion to him.
I think Gary thought somewhat that it wasn't enough to kill him. I agree with you that he wanted to see her go first so he could "die in peace" knowing that she would be his for eternity. He was one sick man.
Am I the only one still reading?My question: why do you think family still stuck with Gary? Guilt? Hope to ride on this fame wagon? Still care for him?
Oddly enough it seemed like they actually cared for him - even though they got a bit exasperated with him. Family is family I guess.
Mod
I guess his family stuck with him because he was family, and they felt that tie. Even those that knew he was guilty, like Brenda. They didn't try to get him free, but there were still there for him in his guilt.
I want to finish this up but probably won't until after the holidays. I don't really want to be reading this during the holidays.
Mod
Meg does have the schedule set up for this one with a break for the holiday, and the discussion running into the first week of January, so if anyone feels they don't want to read the end of this at Christmas, there is plenty of time to catch up with the end of the book the beginning of January.
So the question that I keep going back to is Do you believe in capital punishment? Has the book changed your mind and/or solidified your opinion?
Mod
As an added questions to Meg's questions, how do others feel about the fact that Gary wanted to be executed? Does that influence your opinion on capital punishment at all?
I have finished the book, I can't wait to discuss the rest of the book.
Mod
I used to be strongly in favor of capital punishment but no longer. My mind was changed while reading a different book. Although when I read about child molesters it makes me deliberate again. I think the issue for me is securing the innocent - get them off the streets. Rehabilitation? Not so certain our prisons are really even attempting that.
As for Gilmore, first I thought it noble that he asked for execution. It seemed like he understood how horrific and dangerous he was. But actually I think he was thinking only of himself. He didn't want to be behind bars for life. He was selfish and a coward.
I still have mixed feelings. I hate the fact that it costs society so much money to keep people on death row; however, not all people convicted are necessarily guilty. I am not sure I really believe in rehabilitation. If you use Gilmore as an example, he was bad from the beginning. Reform schools, jails did nothing to "reform" him. He had a sense of entitlement which drove me crazy. He wanted beer, he couldn't afford it, but he was entitled to it so he stole it daily. I hated that. He believed he deserved anything that he wanted at any cost.
Another thing that I hated was his control he had over Nicole. He ruined her. The nerve that he wanted her to die with him and if she didn't she should never sleep with another man. What gaul!!!
All true. It bothers me too that it costs so much to incarcerate people to keep them off the streets.I don't believe the prison system even attempts rehabilitation.
Gilmore did have a sense if entitlement. That's a great way to put it. He was a list cause unfortunately.
Nicole, in her own wirds, will never get over him. So even though it was clear as day that he would never change she loved him. Or the essence of his "charm." I think they connected on a real level. Sad for her.
I finished at the book and I have to say the right to movies and books bored me to tears. I think a lot of that was unnecessary, but maybe the author wanted to show that people wanted to capitalize on Gilmore's life. I was REALLY mad too at the reporter who used Nicole and got close to her to get her story again I guess another illustration of the lengths people go to to get their story. It was bad then but so much worse now days.
For me more than they money spent on death row is that they still get the privileges of life. I don't get how you can take some else life or property privilege away but still get your own AT ALL!!
Nicole was the one who moved me in this whole book. It is just sad that she was so brainwashed by Gary's crazy belief of the after life and the idea of love.
At the end I felt confused about how or if his parents played a hand in his early life. He did never wanted to speak about his mom and was eager to protect her. Did you all get that his mom was a saint?
I had the feeling that Gilmore loved his mother and did not want to speak ill of her. I think there was more to the story there - that perhaps she wasn't a saint but an enabler of the abuse from the father to the kids or maybe she was also abusive or neglectful. She did not try to see him. I can't imagine that.
I found the movie rights section to be boring too. Definitely the book could have been pared down.
I was amazed at what they did to Gary's body. I couldn't believe they autopsied his brain looking for a tumor as the cause to his murders. The whole autopsy made me sick. Then the cremation and his family scattering his ashes over the place he loved the most.You are right Rebecca, the fact that he gets all the privileges of life (and after life) is just wrong.
It is very sad that he ruined Nicole, she will never near normalcy. I can't even imagine what her kids will grow up to be.
I must have missed that section. Do you know where that is Meg? I remember them scattering his ashes in a plane over Spanish Fork.
Mod
I wonder what Nicole is like now. Her kids are probably adults now. I hope she found some peace and happiness in her life.
I can't imagine Nicole ever finding peace, I hope I am wrong. I wonder if what they did to Gary's body they do to all prisoners they execute? I was appalled by the whole thing.
Rebecca, it was right before the cremation part.
