⋙ Libro Gratis True Story Murder Memoir Mea Culpa Michael Finkel 9780060580476 Books

True Story Murder Memoir Mea Culpa Michael Finkel 9780060580476 Books

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True Story Murder Memoir Mea Culpa Michael Finkel 9780060580476 Books

I knew parts of the Michael Finkel story. I also knew parts of the Chris Longo story. I definitely remember reading about him spending time in Mexico on a beach with a German woman. But like so many stories that get filtered through a media lens, the stories were somewhat distorted. I didn’t think very highly of a reporter who was fired for falsifying a story. And my initial thoughts about that same reporter writing a book about a supposed connection with an accused murderer seemed too convenient. I was wrong on both accounts. I found both stories fascinating.
I knew parts of the Michael Finkel story. I also knew parts of the Chris Longo story. I definitely remember reading about him spending time in Mexico on a beach with a German woman. But like so many stories that get filtered through a media lens, the stories were somewhat distorted. I didn’t think very highly of a reporter who was fired for falsifying a story. And my initial thoughts about that same reporter writing a book about a supposed connection with an accused murderer seemed too convenient. I was wrong on both accounts. I found both stories fascinating.

Not long after his ignominious departure from the Times, Finkel learned that an accused murderer was using his identity while on the run in Mexico. Thus began a relationship between Finkel and the man who stole his identity, Chris Longo. While Longo awaits trial for the murders of his wife and three small children, Finkel visits Longo in prison and the two begin exchanging letters. Slowly a portrait of a psychopath emerges. Longo has only a high school education and no skills, but he has a family to support. He can’t stand the thought of failure. So, he invents success through lies and deceit. He writes bad checks because he needs money for his family and his failing business. He steals an SUV because his wife always wanted one and he wants to be seen as a good provider. Finkel tells Longo’s story while at the same time reflecting on his own indiscretions and the mistake that cost him his job. Here’s how Finkel sums up Longo’s story. “My year with Longo made me see how a person’s life could spiral out of control; how one could get lost in a haze of dishonesty, and how these things could have dire consequences.”

Throughout the book Finkel leaves Longo’s guilt or innocence in question. This part memoir, part portrait of a psychopath, is also a murder mystery. You want to know hat happened and why. As it turns out, Longo gives three different versions of what happened to his family. And since Longo is the only one who knows the truth, you’re left to decide on your own which version is correct.


Tags : True Story: Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa [Michael Finkel] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. In the haunting tradition of Joe McGinniss's <em>Fatal Vision</em> and Mikal Gilmore's <em>Shot in the Heart</em>,Michael Finkel,True Story: Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa,Harper,006058047X,903875509,Journalism,Personal Memoirs,Journalism;Corrupt practices;Case studies.,Journalists;United States;Biography.,Murderers;Oregon;Lincoln County.,American Journalism,BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY Criminals & Outlaws,BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY Personal Memoirs,Biography,Biography & Autobiography,Biography Autobiography,BiographyAutobiography,Case studies,Corrupt practices,Criminals & Outlaws,Editors, Journalists, Publishers,Journalists,LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES Journalism,Lincoln County,Murder,Murder - Serial Killers,Murderers,Oregon,United States,Finkel, Michael

True Story Murder Memoir Mea Culpa Michael Finkel 9780060580476 Books Reviews

This book hit close to home, living in Oregon it's not an odd occurrence to hear about a serial killer - or a man that snaps one day killing his wife and three children unfortunately. But the story between the author Michael Finkel and Longo is both fascinating and disgusting. Longo's story was interesting, seeing how he was raised - the family he came from and having been disfellowshipped from the Jehovah's Witnesses myself I found the connection both interesting and irritating.
Longo's struggles to be a decent human being did not come through this story - what you hear is a story developing as does his non-existent character. Because Longo is devoid of any human characteristics. He is nothing more than a pathological liar that decided to rid himself of his family - killing those poor children and discarding them into the murky waters boarding the Oregon Coast so that he may start a new chapter in his life.

I find the relationship between Finkel and Longo to be similar, but Finkel uses the illustrations as a way to apologize for his actions working for the New York Times, and I understand the stress he put himself through plagiarizing his story. The connection is there, and at times made me sick to my stomach.
I was a little disappointed in this book after reading the reviews. I thought that the author was either very naive or was feeling so bad after his own public debacle that he became very codependent on the killer in this book, Christian Longo.

Becoming his friend for most of the story really took away from the objectivity that he had and also caused him to not confront Mr. Longo with his crimes.

Really I was not interested in reading about their cozy relationship and how Mr. Longo was a nice guy and liked the author. I was looking more for insight into why he did these terrible deeds
I initially bought this book thinking it was merely another True Crime story. Wow! It is so much more. I was vaguely aware of Mr. Finkel's firing by the New Your Times. I was vaguely aware that it was for some sort of violation of journalism ethics. I believe I heard or read a blurb about 'some reporter' having their identity used by a criminal. That is all I knew. I had not heard of Longo or his crime(s).
The book was an amazingly well-written account of the convergence of the author and the criminal.
I found the murders to be only a part of the story and in fact, only a backdrop to a large swathe of the book.
It is a book of irony in that the author, who did not appear to be asking for forgiveness, earned it. Meanwhile, the criminal who weasels for understanding and compassion has neither understanding (of self) and deserves no compassion.
Bravo, Mr. Finkel, Bravo!
There are no coincidences in my opinion. We are dealt a hand to play called fate, how we play our hand becomes our destiny. A few days ago I watched a movie that I had seen before entitled “True Story.” Knowing it was written by a former writer for the New York Times intrigued me as I love to read excellent writing, and as one who has a doctorate in criminology, love to ponder the minutia of murderous intents. I thus downloaded the original scripted tome.

This book is exceptionally researched and intimately portrayed by two men, each who had been caught red handed for “crimes” for which they must repent. Longo, the alleged murderer, uses Finkel’s name and career as an alias as he is running from the authorities.

The “why” is the elusive answer. For Finkel, the author, the reason was to absolve himself from his abject humiliation of having lied about a source to slant an article for what he saw as the truth behind it-and for Longo, the alleged murderer, who knows? I will say that I understand more of the narcissistic sociopath for having to witness Donald Trump’s daily shenanigans, although he has not murdered anybody, at least not that we know.

If you love a well written true crime book you will love this one.
I knew parts of the Michael Finkel story. I also knew parts of the Chris Longo story. I definitely remember reading about him spending time in Mexico on a beach with a German woman. But like so many stories that get filtered through a media lens, the stories were somewhat distorted. I didn’t think very highly of a reporter who was fired for falsifying a story. And my initial thoughts about that same reporter writing a book about a supposed connection with an accused murderer seemed too convenient. I was wrong on both accounts. I found both stories fascinating.
I knew parts of the Michael Finkel story. I also knew parts of the Chris Longo story. I definitely remember reading about him spending time in Mexico on a beach with a German woman. But like so many stories that get filtered through a media lens, the stories were somewhat distorted. I didn’t think very highly of a reporter who was fired for falsifying a story. And my initial thoughts about that same reporter writing a book about a supposed connection with an accused murderer seemed too convenient. I was wrong on both accounts. I found both stories fascinating.

Not long after his ignominious departure from the Times, Finkel learned that an accused murderer was using his identity while on the run in Mexico. Thus began a relationship between Finkel and the man who stole his identity, Chris Longo. While Longo awaits trial for the murders of his wife and three small children, Finkel visits Longo in prison and the two begin exchanging letters. Slowly a portrait of a psychopath emerges. Longo has only a high school education and no skills, but he has a family to support. He can’t stand the thought of failure. So, he invents success through lies and deceit. He writes bad checks because he needs money for his family and his failing business. He steals an SUV because his wife always wanted one and he wants to be seen as a good provider. Finkel tells Longo’s story while at the same time reflecting on his own indiscretions and the mistake that cost him his job. Here’s how Finkel sums up Longo’s story. “My year with Longo made me see how a person’s life could spiral out of control; how one could get lost in a haze of dishonesty, and how these things could have dire consequences.”

Throughout the book Finkel leaves Longo’s guilt or innocence in question. This part memoir, part portrait of a psychopath, is also a murder mystery. You want to know hat happened and why. As it turns out, Longo gives three different versions of what happened to his family. And since Longo is the only one who knows the truth, you’re left to decide on your own which version is correct.