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Criminal That I Am: A Memoir
A candid memoir from a talented young lawyer who becomes romantically entangled with the convicted drug felon she represents—Cameron Douglas, son of film actor Michael Douglas—and who soon makes the mistake of her life. Or does she?
Criminal That I Am is a defense attorney’s account of the criminal justice system as seen through the prism of a particular her own. Jennifer Ridha is enlisted to defend Cameron Douglas in a federal drug trafficking case while he is incarcerated in a maximum-security prison under difficult, even dangerous, conditions. As media scrutiny and the pressures of Cameron’s case mount and as Jennifer becomes increasingly transfixed by her charismatic but troubled client, he asks her to do the commit a crime. In a decision inexplicable even to herself, guided only by her indignation and infatuation, she agrees. When her transgression is discovered, her criminal case begins, and her life as she knows it is over.
A page-turning trip through professional self-destruction, tabloid scandal, and self-reckoning, Criminal That I Am is about the choices one woman how they define her, how she lives with them, and, ultimately, how she is transformed by them. Recounted with brutal introspection and self-deprecating humor, this strange and twisted love story contemplates what we make of crime and punishment...and what it makes of us.
Criminal That I Am is a defense attorney’s account of the criminal justice system as seen through the prism of a particular her own. Jennifer Ridha is enlisted to defend Cameron Douglas in a federal drug trafficking case while he is incarcerated in a maximum-security prison under difficult, even dangerous, conditions. As media scrutiny and the pressures of Cameron’s case mount and as Jennifer becomes increasingly transfixed by her charismatic but troubled client, he asks her to do the commit a crime. In a decision inexplicable even to herself, guided only by her indignation and infatuation, she agrees. When her transgression is discovered, her criminal case begins, and her life as she knows it is over.
A page-turning trip through professional self-destruction, tabloid scandal, and self-reckoning, Criminal That I Am is about the choices one woman how they define her, how she lives with them, and, ultimately, how she is transformed by them. Recounted with brutal introspection and self-deprecating humor, this strange and twisted love story contemplates what we make of crime and punishment...and what it makes of us.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published May 12, 2015
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493 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
May 2, 2015
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an opportunity to read an advance copy of Criminal That I Am. This was an odd reading experience. Jennifer Ridha was a criminal defence lawyer. She was on the team defending Michael Douglas' son, Cameron, against drug trafficking charges. She seemed to be a bit star struck and got romantically involved with Cameron. She ended up smuggling him some anti anxiety prescription drugs while he was in jail. Not suprisingly this makes Ridha a party to a criminal offence and she gets caught and prosecuted. The first half of the book was interesting because it dealt with how she came to do what she did and her prosecution. The second half was not so interesting because it dealt with Ridha's emotional wallow in the aftermath of these events, and although I'm sure that the whole experience and its aftermath have led to much embarrassment, regret and soul searching, that emotional process did not make for great reading. But that's not what makes this an odd reading experience. It's the writing that makes it odd. Ridha writes very well, and uses a wry narrative voice throughout the book which makes it sound more like a novel than a memoir. Adding to the sense that this reads more like fiction than fact, Ridha leaves a lot out, especially about people in her world and how they reacted to these events. Most striking, Ridha says nothing about how the legal team she was working with reacted and to the extent that she mentions any friends she refers to one person as "Best Friend". This creates an odd sense that all of these events occurred in somewhat of a Kafkaesque vacuum. I expect that Ridha is trying to protect people's privacy, but it ends up feeling like a huge chunk of what happened to her is missing. Having said that, the best and most moving part of the book is the depiction of her parents' reaction. Here she is not wry. She clearly has a tremendous amount of love and respect for her parents, and she depicts their unconditional love in the face of her circumstances with true appreciation. In contrast with some of the other people referred to in the book, her parents pop off the page as real people. In the end, what Ridha did was unethical for a lawyer and was a criminal offence, but it wasn't over the top or unheard of. So what makes this story book worthy is probably the fact that Michael Douglas' son was involved. I am not sure that that's quite enough to sustain a whole book but I expect it may well work as a selling point and there are certainly aspects of this book that are worth the read.
June 16, 2015
So, you committed a crime and got caught. Your got lucky and get no trial or jail. You manage to keep it out of the papers, even though there was a son of a celebrity involved. Then, it all comes out in a different way. You are humiliated and angry to see all the details of your crime in the papers. No one should have to be subjected to that! Your privacy should be respected! So, then, of course, the only thing to do, obviously, is write a book. Sigh....
This navel gazing memoir is manipulative. She wants you to believe that she and celebrity son were in love and that she was only trying to help him. Then, with amazing speed, that love gets thrown aside in favor of her wanting you to believe that she just has issues with authority. Basically....the girl got played and that's what she doesn't want to admit. That's the story she's hiding.
This book was written like she went on a killing spree for this guy. She didn't. What she did was a crime and incredibly stupid, but it wasn't worth the level of drama in this book. She never sat down and talked with any of her employers about what happened, even though it might have helped her. She never did anything but hide and cry. We're supposed to feel so sorry for her, but she gives us zero reasons to. Ever.
I don't feel sorry for her, because even by the end of the book, I could feel in my bones that she'd commit another crime if she can justify it.
Thanks and sorry NetGalley
This navel gazing memoir is manipulative. She wants you to believe that she and celebrity son were in love and that she was only trying to help him. Then, with amazing speed, that love gets thrown aside in favor of her wanting you to believe that she just has issues with authority. Basically....the girl got played and that's what she doesn't want to admit. That's the story she's hiding.
This book was written like she went on a killing spree for this guy. She didn't. What she did was a crime and incredibly stupid, but it wasn't worth the level of drama in this book. She never sat down and talked with any of her employers about what happened, even though it might have helped her. She never did anything but hide and cry. We're supposed to feel so sorry for her, but she gives us zero reasons to. Ever.
I don't feel sorry for her, because even by the end of the book, I could feel in my bones that she'd commit another crime if she can justify it.
Thanks and sorry NetGalley
September 14, 2015
There is no story here... I have no clue why anyone thought this should be published.
An attorney does something stupid, gets a slap on the wrist, is embarrassed that people find out about it, and then wallows in self pity for the majority of the book.
An attorney does something stupid, gets a slap on the wrist, is embarrassed that people find out about it, and then wallows in self pity for the majority of the book.
March 1, 2015
A brutally honest cautionary tale by this very young lawyer never get too involved with your client.Jennifer Ridha was one of a team of lawyers representing Cameron Douglas ,the actor.Michael Douglas's son.Even though she was one of his lawyer &he the defendant they seemed to have an immediate bond.Jennifer wound up spending more&more time with him passing up vacations to visit himSuffering from anxiety Cameron desperately needed a perscription that the jail just coukdnt seem to get him.one day he asked her to bring him some& after much hesitation she agrees&the lawyer smuggles drugs in& there is the start of her life &career falling apart.A true page turner that will shock you .perfect reading for young lawyers as a warning or anyone curious for an inside look at a lawyer client relationship that went very wrong.
January 30, 2020
This was alright, I very much appreciated that it was easy to read and get into. I enjoyed different subjects were discussed, as in the law was referenced not just regarding the cases, and the cases themselves were not discussed to the point they got older than was necessary to create a certain tone. There was enough swapping up and referencing back that I didn't get bored. Not a story where the narrator is something to strive to, but a realistic retelling of how sometimes, your world will kinda fall apart a bit, which is a good thing to be reminded of.
December 8, 2018
Truth be told, I had never heard of Cameron Douglas before I started reading this book so I basically went into this completely blind. Jennifer Ridha is a young, intelligent educated woman, brought up in a traditional family who gets caught up in the charm and excitement of Hollywood celebrity and makes a horrible mistake.
I found the writing to be refreshing, open and candid.
Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for providing a digital copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.
I found the writing to be refreshing, open and candid.
Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for providing a digital copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.
May 13, 2015
3.5 Stars - Anyone can Make a Mistake, Right?
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This memoir starts with Jennifer Ridha being woken up in the middle of the night by federal agents pounding on her door. She knows exactly why they have come. I was immediately pulled into this novel by this engaging and mysterious first chapter. This late night visit by the feds felt more like a suspense novel than a memoir. As the reader, I was immediately wanted to know: what had she done? And why did she do it?
Unfortunately, I felt that the pacing slowed down considerably as the story continued. The narrative started out incredibly suspenseful, but eventually slowed to an uneventful story. I felt this story didn't quite feel "big enough" to warrant a full length memoir. The premise itself was intriguing enough for me to request this book, but the story itself was slightly underwhelming. Her greatest punishment was the public humiliation, rather than the ramifications of the legal system.
As the author and central character in this memoir, Ridha came across as relatable and likeable. She appeared to be an average person who, admittedly, did a very stupid thing. I appreciated reading to her journey of denial to acceptance as she came to terms with her poor decisions and criminal behaviour.
One of the strengths of this memoir is the inclusion of legal theory. I found the discussions of crime and punishment to be particularly interesting. This memoir offered a insightful perspective into the American justice system.
I would recommend this one to fans of memoirs who are interested in the topic criminal justice and are curious how an average person could make a terrible choices and get caught breaking the law.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This memoir starts with Jennifer Ridha being woken up in the middle of the night by federal agents pounding on her door. She knows exactly why they have come. I was immediately pulled into this novel by this engaging and mysterious first chapter. This late night visit by the feds felt more like a suspense novel than a memoir. As the reader, I was immediately wanted to know: what had she done? And why did she do it?
Unfortunately, I felt that the pacing slowed down considerably as the story continued. The narrative started out incredibly suspenseful, but eventually slowed to an uneventful story. I felt this story didn't quite feel "big enough" to warrant a full length memoir. The premise itself was intriguing enough for me to request this book, but the story itself was slightly underwhelming. Her greatest punishment was the public humiliation, rather than the ramifications of the legal system.
As the author and central character in this memoir, Ridha came across as relatable and likeable. She appeared to be an average person who, admittedly, did a very stupid thing. I appreciated reading to her journey of denial to acceptance as she came to terms with her poor decisions and criminal behaviour.
One of the strengths of this memoir is the inclusion of legal theory. I found the discussions of crime and punishment to be particularly interesting. This memoir offered a insightful perspective into the American justice system.
I would recommend this one to fans of memoirs who are interested in the topic criminal justice and are curious how an average person could make a terrible choices and get caught breaking the law.
July 30, 2015
As a lawyer, I found this story particularly interesting. The legal profession can be a bit snobby, especially when it comes to law school, my reaction to Ms. Ridha's situation are complicated, to say the least. I didn't go to Columbia, be part of a high profile case, do research in Iraq, or become a law professor. On the other hand, I didn't lose my career by smuggling drugs, so I guess it all evens out.
Joking aside, I related to her. The fact that she was justifiably bewildered at how her case proceeded, the way she reacted when the news broke, even the fact that she was finally worn down by her client's pleas for help. The only downside was that this was a memoir and naturally, the story focuses mainly on her experience. The experience was fascinating and, in my opinion, very relatable, but she also touched on some other interesting issues, like the need for prison reform (had her client been given the meds he was prescribed, this probably wouldn't have happened), issues with the Iraqi justice system, issues with the U.S. Justice system (was her punishment appropriate for her crime?), extrajudicial punishment (was losing her career fair?), and punishment in general. I would love to see her discuss any (or all) of these issues in future books because she certainly has a very unique perspective based on her life and background,
Joking aside, I related to her. The fact that she was justifiably bewildered at how her case proceeded, the way she reacted when the news broke, even the fact that she was finally worn down by her client's pleas for help. The only downside was that this was a memoir and naturally, the story focuses mainly on her experience. The experience was fascinating and, in my opinion, very relatable, but she also touched on some other interesting issues, like the need for prison reform (had her client been given the meds he was prescribed, this probably wouldn't have happened), issues with the Iraqi justice system, issues with the U.S. Justice system (was her punishment appropriate for her crime?), extrajudicial punishment (was losing her career fair?), and punishment in general. I would love to see her discuss any (or all) of these issues in future books because she certainly has a very unique perspective based on her life and background,
October 20, 2015
I thought the author had more of a personal relationship with Cameron Douglas outside of being his lawyer, which would mean some juicy details, intense emotions between the two, how to cope with a jailhouse love, etc. WRONG. Basically, she gets used by a user and whines about it for three quarters of the book. Face it – you screwed up. A lot of people do. A lot of people have to completely change professions due to a scandal, a mistake, something – but they move on.
What I loved: She’s very likable in the beginning but she just goes on and on and on about her crime and how her life was ruined that it starts to get old. Enough. We’ve all committed a crime (or 2) and done things we know we shouldn’t have done. We’re all human.
What I didn’t love: The entire trip to Iraq – boring and I admit I skimmed it very lightly because it was boring.
What I learned: Defense lawyers really shouldn’t get attached to their cases.
Overall Grade: C-
August 31, 2015
I thought I would love this book after reading about it in Psychology Today, but it seemed shallow. From page 1, we learn that the author fell in love with Cameron Douglas the first time she met him and that she would do whatever he asked. So - no more mystery about why she broke the law for her client. It also seems like the author had some need/desire to be a criminal herself, like the middle-class teens who have a desire to be "gangstas". The true mystery is why some people feel the need to self-destruct before they can live a productive life, but that isn't explored in the book. There was some self-aggrandizement, making herself out to be reviled and infamous when in fact, I never would have heard of her if she hadn't written the book. I'm not sure what the purpose of the book was, but it was just an OK read.
April 8, 2015
I just got done with this book. I love the insight that helps you see how inherently good people get caught up in bad situations. I hate that Ms. Ridha went through this, but I do think this was a story that needed to be told, especially with society the way it is today. I love how nothing was off-limits, she laid everything out there bare bones from beginning to end.
April 17, 2018
With all of her advantages, education, and the world in her hand, Jennifer Ridha actually falls for the manipulations of a drug addict.
Overall I found the book to be well written and very frank. Ms. Ridha bares her soul first by openly admitting that what she did was wrong, she broke the law. Second, she also did it because she was "in love," although it seemed more of a codependent relationship.
The negative I found was the childish way she side stepped calling "Cameron Douglas's father" and "Cameron Douglas's mother" by their names, Michael and Diandra. Most readers bought the book in part because of Michael Douglas's connection. So I have no idea why she wouldn't use their names.
Bottom line, I would recommend it as a good summer read.
Overall I found the book to be well written and very frank. Ms. Ridha bares her soul first by openly admitting that what she did was wrong, she broke the law. Second, she also did it because she was "in love," although it seemed more of a codependent relationship.
The negative I found was the childish way she side stepped calling "Cameron Douglas's father" and "Cameron Douglas's mother" by their names, Michael and Diandra. Most readers bought the book in part because of Michael Douglas's connection. So I have no idea why she wouldn't use their names.
Bottom line, I would recommend it as a good summer read.
November 9, 2019
Oh my gosh. This was the most whiny memoir I have ever come across. I don't get the point. The constant and very detailed account of these years in her life were incredibly boring. This poster child of codependency rails on and on about her poor, poor life leaving only the last 30 minutes of audio to some semblance of revelation for the crime she committed. I was left unsatisfied and completely annoyed. Add in they never say "Michael Douglas" or "his father" or any gender pronouns to represent his father (they, for the entire audio book, say "Cameron Douglas' father" over and over and over) and it becomes just some girls poorly written journal account of how the popular boy in school duped and made a fool of her.
August 4, 2019
Fans of Orange is the New Black (the book) will appreciate this book. Like Piper, Ridha spends her time complaining about something that is entirely her fault. Like Piper, Ridha comes across as shallow and spoiled. Like Piper, Ridha takes no responsibility for herself or her actions. There's no story here. There's Ridha complaining about how she was inconvenienced while she name drops. It's shallow. It's self-absorbed. Why it ever got published (much less why it was *ever* a BOTM pick) is beyond me. Ick.
September 23, 2017
Complete enjoyment reading this.Raises some intersting questions that have leaked into many conversations I've had in the past week.
Yes, there's a little whiing and yes, it comes from a place of privilege but she's reflective and smart. I liked her. I like her writing.
The Book of the Month judge who recommended this said "If nothing else, Criminal That I Am will make you feel better about your own screw-ups."-- true that.
Yes, there's a little whiing and yes, it comes from a place of privilege but she's reflective and smart. I liked her. I like her writing.
The Book of the Month judge who recommended this said "If nothing else, Criminal That I Am will make you feel better about your own screw-ups."-- true that.
December 9, 2019
Fascinating tactful retort to media and courtroom testimonies in a case involving powerful players with criminal connections. In 2015 the author was pursuing a doctorate degree and in the past four years she has vanished without a digital trace. This raises many questions. I'd like to think the author is safe and well, living under another name, and has simply unshackled herself, as much as possible, from the earlier events of her life.
October 22, 2019
This book is awful.
I had high hopes because it's usually interesting to see somebody's spiral.
But all she did was smuggle xanax. Like seriously?
I've commited several far more severe crimes in my life.
Reading this makes my life seem considerably more interesting. Maybe I should write a book, good lord.
Plus Cameron sounds like a manchild.
I had high hopes because it's usually interesting to see somebody's spiral.
But all she did was smuggle xanax. Like seriously?
I've commited several far more severe crimes in my life.
Reading this makes my life seem considerably more interesting. Maybe I should write a book, good lord.
Plus Cameron sounds like a manchild.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2017
I enjoyed the first 2/3 of the book. I couldn't wait to find out how this beautiful, young lawyer got herself caught up in illegal drugs with Michael Douglas's son, Cameron. Once I got that all figured out, I lost interest.
November 12, 2017
Didn’t even make it half way through the book without giving up.
November 26, 2017
Sad. Just sad.
June 2, 2019
Dumb. Pathetic story of a supposedly intelligent person who gets star struck and smuggles drugs into prison. She is so thick, it’s hard to believe she went to Columbia.
January 15, 2020
Listened to audiobook.
November 8, 2021
Mostly, I enjoyed this memoir, there were just some bits and pieces that seemed irrelevant to me and I found myself zoning out.
March 30, 2025
Started off really good…then dragged on towards the middle/end. Lacked accountability/ownership.
August 24, 2023
2.5 stars
December 3, 2025
I mostly picked this up because I hoped it would be properly salacious. Lawyer falls “in love” with her nepo baby (Cameron Douglas, Michael Douglas' son) criminal client? Sadly, it was not nearly as salacious as I wished, although it had its moments.
Ridha stays coy about her motivations. She kind of says she was in love (aka, dazzled/manipulated), she kind of says she has an innate problem with authority, she kind of says she thought what she did was just (but illegal). But…I feel like that’s not very reflective. She never seems to get angry at Cameron Douglas and how he CLEARLY used her. Cameron Douglas is an addict and a dealer and a spoilt, manipulative manchild. Ridha never gives an example of Cameron doing anything for her or showing any sign he actually gave a flying fig about her (and not just what she could do for him).
Ridha also doesn’t explain how she basically instantly crossed so many ethical lines and got way too invested in her client. Visiting him NEARLY EVERY DAY? Accepting calls from him on the days she didn’t see him? Even while writing this memoir, she has not done any soul-searching (or at least does not describe any analysis) on why she acted the way she did.
She also writes like she is the only lawyer on his case. All the legal decisions are her decisions. Anything that goes wrong is her fault. I have to side-eye this. I assume Michael Douglas hired the best of the best - some 30-something young attorney a few years out of law school is not going to be the lead attorney on a big case. Yes, she is the only one having an affair with her client, thus getting herself emotionally over-involved. But she cannot be the only person on Cameron’s defense team.
I agree with Ridha that the criminal justice system is broken…but I don’t think smuggling pills to a drug-dealing client is fighting the system or correcting any injustice. Especially when the convict is privileged, wealthy, and well-connected.
Ridha stays coy about her motivations. She kind of says she was in love (aka, dazzled/manipulated), she kind of says she has an innate problem with authority, she kind of says she thought what she did was just (but illegal). But…I feel like that’s not very reflective. She never seems to get angry at Cameron Douglas and how he CLEARLY used her. Cameron Douglas is an addict and a dealer and a spoilt, manipulative manchild. Ridha never gives an example of Cameron doing anything for her or showing any sign he actually gave a flying fig about her (and not just what she could do for him).
Ridha also doesn’t explain how she basically instantly crossed so many ethical lines and got way too invested in her client. Visiting him NEARLY EVERY DAY? Accepting calls from him on the days she didn’t see him? Even while writing this memoir, she has not done any soul-searching (or at least does not describe any analysis) on why she acted the way she did.
She also writes like she is the only lawyer on his case. All the legal decisions are her decisions. Anything that goes wrong is her fault. I have to side-eye this. I assume Michael Douglas hired the best of the best - some 30-something young attorney a few years out of law school is not going to be the lead attorney on a big case. Yes, she is the only one having an affair with her client, thus getting herself emotionally over-involved. But she cannot be the only person on Cameron’s defense team.
I agree with Ridha that the criminal justice system is broken…but I don’t think smuggling pills to a drug-dealing client is fighting the system or correcting any injustice. Especially when the convict is privileged, wealthy, and well-connected.
December 10, 2016
I listened to this on audio while I ran. It was the perfect thing to keep me company during those runs. I was interested in every part of this. HOW could an intelligent, independent woman allow herself to 1) fall for her criminal defense client and 2) be persuaded to commit a crime for him? I was incredulous while listening to this. There were many times throughout the book when I scoffed or gasped out loud, while running, and was worried someone would be around me wondering what I was doing, haha! While it wasn't always the author's actions I was scoffing at, I will admit I found myself judging her at times. I had to remind myself that the ethics of my client relationships (as a mental health counselor) and hers as an attorney are not the same. And in the grand scheme of things, her crime could, to an extent, be somewhat understood. In the end, I did feel it came full circle, to a point, regarding the author growing and being able to see her situation from an outside perspective. I wish there would have been more thorough insight into the author's needs that led to everything that happened - but that's probably the counselor in me. I think the reality is that we could all easily have been in her situation in some way or another, but this book is a good reminder to ALWAYS just stick to what you know is okay and always think out your decisions! Overall I enjoyed this read and would recommend it if you find the situation interesting.
January 19, 2016
Criminal That I Am: A Memoir
by
Jennifer Ridha
The Lawyer Could Not Resist
This conversational, easy read leaves you wondering how a brilliant, pretty and highly educated female attorney could allow herself to get entangled in a self-destructive situation that could ruin her career. Apparently, her client, Cameron Douglas (who just happened to be the infamous drug-addict son of famous actor, Michael Douglas) exhorted upon her a childish attraction. During her multiple legality visits to him during his incarceration in prison she acquiesced to his wishes like a teenage groupie.
We ask ourselves what was the psychological cause of such
naivete? There was a plausible reason for sympathizing with Camaron when the prison staff intentionally withheld his prescription medications. However, that did not give her the right to illegally correct the situation herself.
In this memoir, more elucidation of her home life probably would have helped to clarify the source of her motivations. Interestingly, she describes a relationship with her mother, but there is no mention of a father. Perhaps her immature actions were related to an underlying insecurity resulting from some type of family conflict. The pathetic young lady did not deserve the price she ultimately paid for her faux pas.
by
Jennifer Ridha
The Lawyer Could Not Resist
This conversational, easy read leaves you wondering how a brilliant, pretty and highly educated female attorney could allow herself to get entangled in a self-destructive situation that could ruin her career. Apparently, her client, Cameron Douglas (who just happened to be the infamous drug-addict son of famous actor, Michael Douglas) exhorted upon her a childish attraction. During her multiple legality visits to him during his incarceration in prison she acquiesced to his wishes like a teenage groupie.
We ask ourselves what was the psychological cause of such
naivete? There was a plausible reason for sympathizing with Camaron when the prison staff intentionally withheld his prescription medications. However, that did not give her the right to illegally correct the situation herself.
In this memoir, more elucidation of her home life probably would have helped to clarify the source of her motivations. Interestingly, she describes a relationship with her mother, but there is no mention of a father. Perhaps her immature actions were related to an underlying insecurity resulting from some type of family conflict. The pathetic young lady did not deserve the price she ultimately paid for her faux pas.
July 25, 2015
A young lawyer with a promising career succumbs to her client's wishes and commits a crime. When the source is discovered, her criminal case begins and she thinks her life is over. This memoir is an interesting look at an attorney's account of the criminal justice system as seen through her own experiences of being on both sides of the process.
Ridha's memoir provides important anecdotes on the justice system from someone who was usually on the other side of the process as an attorney. I found the first part of the book, detailing her experience with Cameron Douglas's and the events leading up to her criminal decision to be fascinating. It's not often you get a look at the process from someone who has been on both sides. The second half dealt with Jennifer's falling out from her case and how she coped with what had happened. While I understand her take, it was hard for me to feel sympathetic for her. Had she stuck to more about the case and the aftermath, including what led her to give the drugs to Cameron, this would have rated higher for me. I think it would be good reading for law students as a tale of caution. It also gave a human side to this profession that most people see as being tough. It shows how hard it can be sometimes not to get personally involved in cases.
Ridha's memoir provides important anecdotes on the justice system from someone who was usually on the other side of the process as an attorney. I found the first part of the book, detailing her experience with Cameron Douglas's and the events leading up to her criminal decision to be fascinating. It's not often you get a look at the process from someone who has been on both sides. The second half dealt with Jennifer's falling out from her case and how she coped with what had happened. While I understand her take, it was hard for me to feel sympathetic for her. Had she stuck to more about the case and the aftermath, including what led her to give the drugs to Cameron, this would have rated higher for me. I think it would be good reading for law students as a tale of caution. It also gave a human side to this profession that most people see as being tough. It shows how hard it can be sometimes not to get personally involved in cases.
June 30, 2015
This book is the quintessential 3-star book ("liked it"): enjoyable, quick, but nothing particularly amazing.
My favorite moments are when Ridha indulges the unexpected: an early passage (told in the 2nd person!) about the effect as an adolescent of watching sex scenes with Michael Douglas; a visit to Baghdad that helps put her own crime into perspective; the perfect final chapter that ties the story into a national tragedy.
But I think there's a fundamentally odd focus issue here: the first half had the effect of convincing me that her crime wasn't really so bad at all; in fact, it felt practically moral. But then the second half slows down as we're invited to wallow in the horribleness of it all and then admit to ourselves that it really *was* a horrible crime--but without ever really convincing me it was so bad. It seemed like the book was trying to have it both ways.
I could also do with far fewer dramatic section-endings, 90% of which are some variety on, "But little did I know that *I* would soon be a criminal too!!!!1!!" I could go with more literary beauty and subtlety.
But shrug--I still had a fun time.
My favorite moments are when Ridha indulges the unexpected: an early passage (told in the 2nd person!) about the effect as an adolescent of watching sex scenes with Michael Douglas; a visit to Baghdad that helps put her own crime into perspective; the perfect final chapter that ties the story into a national tragedy.
But I think there's a fundamentally odd focus issue here: the first half had the effect of convincing me that her crime wasn't really so bad at all; in fact, it felt practically moral. But then the second half slows down as we're invited to wallow in the horribleness of it all and then admit to ourselves that it really *was* a horrible crime--but without ever really convincing me it was so bad. It seemed like the book was trying to have it both ways.
I could also do with far fewer dramatic section-endings, 90% of which are some variety on, "But little did I know that *I* would soon be a criminal too!!!!1!!" I could go with more literary beauty and subtlety.
But shrug--I still had a fun time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews