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REVIEW: Notes on an Execution - Danya Kukafka
Themes: SA, child abuse, domestic abuse, capital punishment
Genre: Thriller, Crime, Fiction
“No one is all bad. No one is all good. We live as equals In the murky gray between".
This novel follows the life of Ansel Packer, from his birth to his state mandated execution. Written mainly from the eyes of the women whose lives Packer turned upside down through his violence, we are led through Ansels life. Through the violent circumstances surrounding his birth and upbringing, his adolescence and adulthood, all whilst fighting and succumbing to the hand that life dealt him.
My Thoughts:
This novel really is a heartbreaking one and one that had me hooked from the first chapter. Ultimately this book, to me, was a balancing act between two juxtapositions of the human experience, in that we are a product of our upbringing and surroundings, whilst having the ability of free will and control over the choices we make. The idea that we have no control and any control at the same time. Kukafka does an excellent job in embodying that very contention in her main character, writing a deeply troubled character with such nuance that you can't help but feel a sense of sadness towards him as well as disgust. Kukafka also does an excellent job of centering the female characters and thier pain and survival at the hands of such a man.
Overall, highly highly recommend
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You can find the book here:https://amzn.to/3zH6U4v
