Defending Jacob
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Was Jacob guilty - What would you do if it was your child?
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Nancy
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rated it 5 stars
May 24, 2012 10:16PM
I really believe that Jacob was guilty. I was sad and sorry by the end of the book. He was just a young sociopath and you can't fix them. I too wished he was innocent.
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Totally enjoyed the book though
I loved this book also. I think it would make a wonderful movie.
Janet wrote: "I think any indication that a child is lacking in compassion or empathy is an indicator of potential sociopathy and should be dealt with professionally. It never hurts to consult a psychologist but..."But Jacob did got to a psychologist and was diagnosed. I don't think this story is about solutions, but about defending Jacob. Ever read <>The Fifth Child?
I feel like i'm the only one who still thinks Jacob was innocent. It seems that everything points to him doing it, especially after Hope disappeared. My jaw literally dropped when I got to the part. I took my eye off the ball. When I set out to read this book I was determined not to let my gaurd down and see all the twists coming, but when the smoke started to clear and the family started to heal, I blinked. I completely forgot that half the story was being told from a courtroom during a grand jury trial and I embraced the end before the end truly came. And then bang. My heart dropped to my stomach and for a few pages I KNEW that jacob murdered both kids. Then something strange happened. I started to feel that Jacob was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and just had a run of some bad luck. Awful, truly terrible, inconcievable luck. By the end I was convinced he didn't commit either crime. Maybe I'm like Andy in that regard. I appreciated his character, I understood him focusing on the trial and not worrying about Jacob's pscho health. I too felt there was time for all of that later. When later came, they were too busy trying to repiece their lives to think about trying to help Jacob's psycho-social difficulties. And to the bitter end, I side with Andy thinking that Jake is innocent as monstrous as the case is against him. Great ending though.... Lulled me to a happy sleep and the punched me right in the face.
I believed he might of been innocent too but after reading the last page and realizing the girl was gone I knew he had to be guilty it kept you going till the very end
Loved it!Anyone remember the part when the parents are awakened by sounds of an animal being killed torturously slow? Andy said it was probably a wolf. Why the heck did they stay in bed and not investigate these God-awful noises? Do you think they were afraid of possibly confronting the truth?
I wanted him to be innocent. As I read I could see my husband in Andy and I could see me in Jacob' s mom. I could'nt help thinking that this things don't happen to good parents like me and my husband . I really liked the grandpa and howhe took care of the "problem"
Does anyone believe in the "bad seed/murder gene"?? I myself believe in DNA & environment together, but what if the nurturing just isn't enough to stomp out the bad seed?
Very interesting premise. I hope it isn't so.
me to as that is scary there are just bad people in this world unfortunately
I loved the ending to this book as it took me by total surprise. I think it was quite evident that the mother recognized how troubled/evil her son was and yet Jacob's father could not see it (or if he did, was in total denial). I think she thought that she needed to take it into her own hands to make sure his behavior did not continue as the legal system had failed once.
Joanne wrote: "I loved the ending to this book as it took me by total surprise. I think it was quite evident that the mother recognized how troubled/evil her son was and yet Jacob's father could not see it (or i..."Remember that Jacob's father had the same "bad gene" and had overcome it.
Jamshid wrote: "Joanne wrote: "I loved the ending to this book as it took me by total surprise. I think it was quite evident that the mother recognized how troubled/evil her son was and yet Jacob's father could n..."Do you think there was any significance in the fact that Jacob's father new about the "bad gene" & that's why he overcame it, whereas Jacob had no idea of his family's background?
(Spoiler) I believe Andy was in deniel, but Laurie had figured out that Jacob was seriously flawed and knew he was guilty. I also think she sacrificed herself and Jacob to spare other families from losing loved one's at the hands of her son. I don't think she intended to live from her actions. Now we have to wonder what will happen since she did live. I am sure the marriage is over, will she try to kill herself again, what will Andy do?
Malina wrote: "(Spoiler) I believe Andy was in deniel, but Laurie had figured out that Jacob was seriously flawed and knew he was guilty. I also think she sacrificed herself and Jacob to spare other families..."
I agree. I think the marriage would be over or at the very least they would have to move to a new state/town and start over again where no one new them. I also think that Andy would do a lot of "soul searching". Hopefully they would put Jacob in some kind of therapy, although I'm not sure how much it would work.
Jamshid wrote: "Joanne wrote: "I loved the ending to this book as it took me by total surprise. I think it was quite evident that the mother recognized how troubled/evil her son was and yet Jacob's father could n..."Did Andy overcome being part of a "crime family"??? Jacob was acquitted because of the loyalty to him on the part of his grandfather. Andy had covered up his past, even from his wife. It was not so much that he was in denial than that he was a survivor. His wife might be indicted by the Grand Jury, but they've got nothing on Andy!
Jamshid wrote: "Jamshid wrote: "Joanne wrote: "I loved the ending to this book as it took me by total surprise. I think it was quite evident that the mother recognized how troubled/evil her son was and yet Jacob'..."I also feel that it was criminal that Andy disposed of the knife (probably the murder weapon). As a lawyer, he was well aware that he was hiding key evidence.
I agree as Andy should not of disposed of the knife but he was doing it to protect his son and the ending was something I had not seen coming
Shelly wrote: "I agree as Andy should not of disposed of the knife but he was doing it to protect his son and the ending was something I had not seen coming"Protecting his son at the expense of other people's lives. I think deep down Andy knew Jacob was guilty, and he was preventing his son from going to prison. Pretty sure if the investigators could have gotten a hold of the knife with the DNA evidence and convicted Jacob, that girl would have still been alive.
I didn't love it, but I liked it. What really redeemed it for me was the ending. And yes, to me the answer is of course Jacob was guilty and that is the point. The father was blind, and thus an unreliable narrator. It was the wife who had to step in and take on this burden since the husband refused to participate. I wish it hadn't ended so abruptly, but it was interesting.
I agree but it kept you going till the very last page
Excellent Book.As against the normal way of reading a book and keeping it at our mind's back, this book and the story lingered in my mind for so many days after I read it. The ending was totally unexpected and leaves a bit of ambiguous pain in the mind of the reader.
Great book. I can't even imagine what it would be like to be a parent in that situation. Excellent attention grabber and a twisty ending.
Once again, I say, this would make an excellent movie. I hope the powers that be are noticing it.
But could the movie be as good as the book? think not
That's not necessarily true. Would depend on those involved.
Yes you are right but the casting would be a problem
Rita wrote: "Once again, I say, this would make an excellent movie. I hope the powers that be are noticing it."due to the popularity of this book i'm sure it will be only a matter of time until it's made into a film- i also think this book would translate well to the big screen (as long as they stick to the story)
I think the question of whether Jacob is guilty or not is not supposed to be answered. There is only one absolute fact in this book- Laurie murdered her son. All along we were worried about the murder gene, but the one who does the killing is the most "empathetic" character in the book. The question becomes: Are we all capable of reaching a point where we can rationalize murdering someone? We got a chance to experience Laurie's trauma,and we liked her. I have not seen anyone call her a murderess. Jacob seems to be the bad guy in our discussion but why are we not talking about his mother the same way? Because we were able to rationalize her behavior, just like Andy rationalized Jacob's.
Tell me, why did the writer begin one of the last chapter's with a detailed, bite-by-bite, description of his son's thumb? It clung to me through the remaining chapters and just wrecks the ending.
That's funny. It obviously made no impression on me because I don't remember it at all.
I agree did not remember it either
Neil, he described the thumb because Jacob was gnawing on it. It was a way that Jacob expressed his terror and nervousness while at the trial. I've seen people do that when nervous, so it didn't have the impact on me that it obviously did for you.
Take another look at the several paragraphs describing his son's thumb and the possibility that Jacob had been so engaged on the morning of the killing.
Mr wrote: "I think the question of whether Jacob is guilty or not is not supposed to be answered. There is only one absolute fact in this book- Laurie murdered her son. All along we were worried about the m..."The only reason I didn't call her a murderess is because I found her to be an unbelievable character.
I can't believe that any mother who cared for her son the way Laurie cared for Jacob would be capable of doing what she did. The book succeeds despite these shortcomings.
Neil J. wrote: "Tell me, why did the writer begin one of the last chapter's with a detailed, bite-by-bite, description of his son's thumb? It clung to me through the remaining chapters and just wrecks the ending."
The book also mentions other things that were not ever used as defense (maybe because they never got the chance). You hear Andy mention how tall Jacob is. You also hear that the stabbing was 3 perfectly aligned stab wounds, all coming at a straight angle into the boy's lower chest. If two people are about the same size ( as it seems Jacob and the victim were) it seems impossible for one to stab the other in that location at a straight angle. To say nothing of the fact that after the first stabbing the person would sag and the next two stabbings would not be able to be so perfectly aligned. The only way that could happen is if there were one person holding the victim from the back and bending them slightly backwards and the other one standing in front,stabbing.
The book does a really good job exploring the ragged edge between defending Jacob as a lawyer and defending him as a father. The moral choices made along the way are inexplicable justice beginning with the ragged-edged knife.
His choices as lawyer and a father in defending his son are unjustified by their consequences and his failure asks if he should defend his wife.
Mr wrote: "I think the question of whether Jacob is guilty or not is not supposed to be answered. There is only one absolute fact in this book- Laurie murdered her son. All along we were worried about the m..."This is so very true!! My explanation.....Jacob killed only out of self-satisfaction because of being bullied at least the first time, where the mom killed not only out of selfishness for herself & family, but also to keep society safer from a sociopath!?!?!? - at least in her mind she was trying help all involved, not just herself.
Renee wrote: "Mr wrote: "I think the question of whether Jacob is guilty or not is not supposed to be answered. There is only one absolute fact in this book- Laurie murdered her son. All along we were worried ..."I think Laurie killed Jacob out of fear for society and to protect her husband and family. I don't think anyone will escape or heal from the tragedy.
Hi Everyone, sorry, but I think he was guilty too. Don't think Andy realised he just wanted to think his son could not be like his father.
Loved the book. Finished it in two readings. I felt jacob was guilty, but not until the second last chapter. I felt Laurie could have done more to help her son. For example, she realised her son had problems in day care and pre school. She was terrified that if he got kicked out she would not be able to teach. She recognised the problems. I guess that they wanted an all American boy.
I agree that Laurie could of done more to help her son she knew he had problems. The book was fast read I agree two days and I finished it also
This was a very modern family. Everyone was an isolated unit. There were no siblings. People you fight, argue and love. Jacob had none of these. Neither did Laurie and Andy. They each evolved by themselves. Do we have priorities all wrong. For example, Laurie puts Jacob into full-time day care at three months and then gives up teaching when he is 4. Most people prefer the other way. Why didn't Jake talk to them?. Everything was second guess. Why didn't Jacob mention he was being bullied at school?. If there was a sibling there may have been someone he could confide in, someone that knew.Jacob's future life, even if this didn,t happen would have been bleak. Going on a holiday with just your parents isn't as good as with a brother or sister.
I thought the reason Laurie killed herself and her son was because she couldn't face the choice of turining him in or allowing him to kill again. I was horrified by the ending but then after I thought about why Laurie would do, I understood -- I think she beleived in the gene theory and thought Jacob was doomed.
I read this book for our book club. It is the first book I wanted to keep reading in a long time. I think the idea of having the storytelling done by Andy was great. It kept you guessing....Did Jacob do it or did he not?
Loved the characters in this story. Loved the forshadowing....You knew something was going to happen by Andy's hints but you just kept hoping all would turn out well for the parents.
Ange wrote: "Carol wrote: "I found this book intriguing, the parents sympathetic and Jacob guilty. I doubt treatment would have helped him, he'd have needed to feel something first. While Andy reacted in a ve..."i agree that she planned on dying herself -- why else would she remove her seat belt? i wasn't crazy about Andy's character...i thought he was trying TOO hard to convince himself that Jacob couldn't possibly do it and i had a hard time being as sympathetic to him as a result...the girl disappearing completely blindsided me as did the car "accident"...but even though i grew to dislike Andy, i couldn't put the book down because i had to find out what happened (also, ex-con killing the pedophile - another unexpected twist)...
Michelle wrote: "Ange wrote: "Carol wrote: "I found this book intriguing, the parents sympathetic and Jacob guilty. I doubt treatment would have helped him, he'd have needed to feel something first. While Andy re..."I agree. There were quite a few unexpected occurrences. Weird that Andy's father felt the need to "protect" his grandson... I, too, was completely not expecting the girlfriend to go missing. I really had hope that Jacob could've been innocent until that point. I couldn't put the book down either - I like that the author was able to bring out such strong emotions in me.
Rita wrote: "I loved this book also. I think it would make a wonderful movie."I agree. As long as it doesn't get into the wrong hands. Some producers and directors can really screw up a good story.
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