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Alligator Candy: A Memoir
From journalist David Kushner, a regular contributor to "The New Yorker," "Rolling Stone," and other premiere outlets, "Alligator Candy" is a reported memoir in the vein of "The Night of the Gun" about how a family survives an unthinkable tragedy. David Kushner grew up in the suburbs of Florida in the early 1970s, running wild with his friends, exploring, riding bikes, and disappearing into the nearby woods for hours at a time. One morning in 1973, however, everything changed. David's older brother Jon, making a trip to the local convenience store, vanished. This is the story of Jon's murder at the hands of two sadistic drifters and everything that happened after.
"Alligator Candy "isn't only the chronicle of Jon's death, it is also the story of how parenting in America changed, casting light on the transition between two generations of children one raised on freedom, the other on fear. Jon's death was one of the first in what turned out to be a rash of child abductions and murders that dominated headlines for much of the 1970s and 80s. It was around this time that milk cartons began to feature the images of missing children, and newscasters began asking, It's 10:00, do you know where you children are?
When one of Jon's killers received a parole hearing, David revisited the case that had so haunted him. Marshalling his skills as a journalist, he compiled all the details that he was sheltered from as a child, interviewing neighbors, reporters, cops, and his own family, and combing through yellowed news clippings. Haunting and intimate, "Alligator Candy" is a moving, disturbing, insightful, and inspiring meditation on grief, growth, family, and survival."
"Alligator Candy "isn't only the chronicle of Jon's death, it is also the story of how parenting in America changed, casting light on the transition between two generations of children one raised on freedom, the other on fear. Jon's death was one of the first in what turned out to be a rash of child abductions and murders that dominated headlines for much of the 1970s and 80s. It was around this time that milk cartons began to feature the images of missing children, and newscasters began asking, It's 10:00, do you know where you children are?
When one of Jon's killers received a parole hearing, David revisited the case that had so haunted him. Marshalling his skills as a journalist, he compiled all the details that he was sheltered from as a child, interviewing neighbors, reporters, cops, and his own family, and combing through yellowed news clippings. Haunting and intimate, "Alligator Candy" is a moving, disturbing, insightful, and inspiring meditation on grief, growth, family, and survival."
243 pages, Hardcover
First published March 15, 2016
127 people are currently reading
4736 people want to read
About the author
David Kushner
28 books228 followersDavid Kushner is an award-winning journalist and author. He is a contributing editor of Wired, Rolling Stone, and Spectrum and is an adjunct professor of journalism at New York University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 352 reviews
July 26, 2016
A harrowing family memoir about the murder of the author’s brother in 1973, when he was four and Jon was 11. Along with their older brother, the boys grew up Jewish in Tampa, Florida, with an anthropology professor for a father and a childbirth educator for a mother. One day Jon was riding his bike back through the woods from 7-Eleven when two sadistic misfits hit him over the head, gagged him and put him in the trunk of their car, where he proceeded to suffocate to death. To add insult to injury, they abused and mutilated his body and buried him in a shallow grave.
Kushner loops back again and again to chronicle what little he remembers about the terrifying days when his family didn’t know what happened to Jon, the extra facts he learned in the years to come, and the full story he pieced together as an adult trained as a journalist, including the killers’ backgrounds and motivations. This makes for quite a lot of repetition, which might be reflective of the family’s ongoing trauma but is hard on a reader – the facts of Jon’s murder are so disturbing it is a terrible thing to be continually reminded of them.
Two things stood out for me about this book: the overwhelming guilt Kushner felt, even decades later, about asking Jon to buy him a special alligator candy dispenser at the store (would he have even gone if it wasn’t for his little brother’s request?) and the sense of a prelapsarian time when parents could give their children the freedom to roam. Jon’s murder was followed in quick succession by a number of other child abductions and murders, leading to a whole new parental protectionism across America.
Kushner loops back again and again to chronicle what little he remembers about the terrifying days when his family didn’t know what happened to Jon, the extra facts he learned in the years to come, and the full story he pieced together as an adult trained as a journalist, including the killers’ backgrounds and motivations. This makes for quite a lot of repetition, which might be reflective of the family’s ongoing trauma but is hard on a reader – the facts of Jon’s murder are so disturbing it is a terrible thing to be continually reminded of them.
Two things stood out for me about this book: the overwhelming guilt Kushner felt, even decades later, about asking Jon to buy him a special alligator candy dispenser at the store (would he have even gone if it wasn’t for his little brother’s request?) and the sense of a prelapsarian time when parents could give their children the freedom to roam. Jon’s murder was followed in quick succession by a number of other child abductions and murders, leading to a whole new parental protectionism across America.
March 24, 2017
4.5
Haunting, true crime memoir forceful enough to leave a lasting mark. Kushner literally slaps a rear naked choke on this beast of a memory and tames it to a point where:
1). Discoveries can be examined
-What exactly happened? How did this shape him as a person?
2). Answers may ameliorate a heart, spirit, life and family.
-His parents as heroes and bastions during a turbulent time
-The light and dark side of human nature
Kushner communicates a visceral requiem of loss, fear, endurance, love, resurrection and legacy.
Bronson Pinchot is simply perfect as narrator.
Highly recommended.
For sensitive readers: some descriptions of violence and profanity.
Haunting, true crime memoir forceful enough to leave a lasting mark. Kushner literally slaps a rear naked choke on this beast of a memory and tames it to a point where:
1). Discoveries can be examined
-What exactly happened? How did this shape him as a person?
2). Answers may ameliorate a heart, spirit, life and family.
-His parents as heroes and bastions during a turbulent time
-The light and dark side of human nature
Kushner communicates a visceral requiem of loss, fear, endurance, love, resurrection and legacy.
Bronson Pinchot is simply perfect as narrator.
Highly recommended.
For sensitive readers: some descriptions of violence and profanity.
May 24, 2016
This story of the murder of Jon Kushner, at age 11, when his brother David, the author, was four, is skillfully told and becomes deeply moving. As a teacher, writer, and student of the memoir genre, I wondered how the author could write about an event that occurred when he was so young. But I really read it because when the murder occurred, in a Tampa suburb in October 1973, I was growing up directly across the state on the opposite coast. Florida memoirs seem a small subset of the burgeoning genre. Plus it was becoming a scary time in the state, with its diverse residents, endless tourists, and transient population—I had a close call myself in 1975.
Alligator Candy brought back the early 1970s in the state as Kushner creates the backdrop for Jon's disappearance and harrowing murder. David was the last person to see him alive, as Jon headed out for the neighborhood 7-Eleven that day. The book is interestingly and complexly structured, as Kusner alternates time frames—shifting between events then, when he was a boy, and more recent ones, when he's an adult and a father himself—as he moves toward details of exactly what happened to Jon. That scenario, in contrast to his limited understanding as a child, took him decades to hear and then to fully piece together, using his skills as a journalist and author. Reading it was horrifying, not only because of the nature of the crime but because by then we've gotten to know Jon and the Kushner family.
The Kushners were remarkable people, invested in social progress, active in their synagog and their three sons' school, nurturers of friendships. They tried to do everything right in the wake of Jon's death, including involving therapists and remaining open to the outpouring of concern from Tampa residents. Kushner seems critical only that his parents didn't spur much discussion within the family. But I'd wager most readers will marvel, as I did, at such strong, loving parents.
Any parent surely has wondered how a parent can survive the death of a child. Though many families would have flown apart, here is how one staggered forward, keeping their love for Jon and his memory alive.
Alligator Candy brought back the early 1970s in the state as Kushner creates the backdrop for Jon's disappearance and harrowing murder. David was the last person to see him alive, as Jon headed out for the neighborhood 7-Eleven that day. The book is interestingly and complexly structured, as Kusner alternates time frames—shifting between events then, when he was a boy, and more recent ones, when he's an adult and a father himself—as he moves toward details of exactly what happened to Jon. That scenario, in contrast to his limited understanding as a child, took him decades to hear and then to fully piece together, using his skills as a journalist and author. Reading it was horrifying, not only because of the nature of the crime but because by then we've gotten to know Jon and the Kushner family.
The Kushners were remarkable people, invested in social progress, active in their synagog and their three sons' school, nurturers of friendships. They tried to do everything right in the wake of Jon's death, including involving therapists and remaining open to the outpouring of concern from Tampa residents. Kushner seems critical only that his parents didn't spur much discussion within the family. But I'd wager most readers will marvel, as I did, at such strong, loving parents.
Any parent surely has wondered how a parent can survive the death of a child. Though many families would have flown apart, here is how one staggered forward, keeping their love for Jon and his memory alive.
April 19, 2022
When the author was only 4 years old, his older brother rode his bike to the convenience store for candy; he never returned. In time, two men would be convicted of the boy’s murder. The author recounts both the experience of the tragedy as well as its impact on his family and on him through his adult vantage point. This was well written. The author did not try to shock the reader or make a play for sympathy. Instead we met a strong, resilient, hurting family who was carried by their community and their unshakable faith that life is always gift.
October 9, 2018
This was a great memoir of life and loss, hope and healing. It was very well written and heart felt.
Enjoy and Be Blessed.
Enjoy and Be Blessed.
June 22, 2016
I don't know. I really don't know.
I won Alligator Candy: A Memoir on Goodreads Giveaways and the publishing house had to send me a second copy to review, because the first one was lost in the mail. That meant that I had to wait almost four months to read it and now that I finally did, I am kind of disappointed that I did not love it.
For those who do not know me (which is everyone), real crime is a subject I have been known to study, so me being squirmish did not play a part in my mixed feelings. My main problem was the writing. I just wasn't crazy about it. It was too plain and at times repetitive. There were whole sentences that were repeated almost word for word, and I often caught myself thinking that it could have used a better editor, when I shouldn't have. I should have been more invested in the story. I mean, this wasn't a story. This was an actual crime and its consequences to the family left behind and the community that supported them, narrated by the victim's own brother. It should have provoked more emotions in me, but sadly it didn't.
It's a really tough thing, reviewing someone's memoir. I have no doubt that David Kushner had the best intentions in digging up the memories surrounding his brother's murder. And at the end of the day, it does not matter that I did not connect with his grief. I still sincerely hope that putting all this on paper helped him find a way to deal with it.
I won Alligator Candy: A Memoir on Goodreads Giveaways and the publishing house had to send me a second copy to review, because the first one was lost in the mail. That meant that I had to wait almost four months to read it and now that I finally did, I am kind of disappointed that I did not love it.
For those who do not know me (which is everyone), real crime is a subject I have been known to study, so me being squirmish did not play a part in my mixed feelings. My main problem was the writing. I just wasn't crazy about it. It was too plain and at times repetitive. There were whole sentences that were repeated almost word for word, and I often caught myself thinking that it could have used a better editor, when I shouldn't have. I should have been more invested in the story. I mean, this wasn't a story. This was an actual crime and its consequences to the family left behind and the community that supported them, narrated by the victim's own brother. It should have provoked more emotions in me, but sadly it didn't.
It's a really tough thing, reviewing someone's memoir. I have no doubt that David Kushner had the best intentions in digging up the memories surrounding his brother's murder. And at the end of the day, it does not matter that I did not connect with his grief. I still sincerely hope that putting all this on paper helped him find a way to deal with it.
July 30, 2016
This is a poignant telling by David Kushner. He relates his perspective upon his brother, Jon. Jon was murdered at 11 years of age.
It details how his entire family is transformed by the crime. And the absence in its midst. And how their very perceptions of those days surrounding the disappearance are altered. Memories shift, so he is seeking the reporter's witness to the true reality.
It's honest, truthful, and heartfelt. Sincere in a 5 star way. Because of the inherent heartbreak, guilt, horror and sorrow involved with the other 4 members of the family, it accurately portrays what happens in the "afterwards" to such crimes. He absolutely nails that fact.
But because of the order of his own cognition to what happened, and how and why? And his facing the one perpetrator many years later when it needed to be done- because all of that scatters so much, the timing and redundancy becomes almost "out of order" for the telling. It doesn't make for a smooth flow- but does portent the roller coaster of knowledge to the reality.
It was so truly accurate that victims are victimized forever as he descirbes. And that others say they "get it" but they actually don't. Especially when it comes to paroling those who perpetrate such a deed with introducing them back to society. They just don't get it. The repeat of the suffering does not diminish either for that process, but increases.
His tribute to his brother was 4.5 star.
It details how his entire family is transformed by the crime. And the absence in its midst. And how their very perceptions of those days surrounding the disappearance are altered. Memories shift, so he is seeking the reporter's witness to the true reality.
It's honest, truthful, and heartfelt. Sincere in a 5 star way. Because of the inherent heartbreak, guilt, horror and sorrow involved with the other 4 members of the family, it accurately portrays what happens in the "afterwards" to such crimes. He absolutely nails that fact.
But because of the order of his own cognition to what happened, and how and why? And his facing the one perpetrator many years later when it needed to be done- because all of that scatters so much, the timing and redundancy becomes almost "out of order" for the telling. It doesn't make for a smooth flow- but does portent the roller coaster of knowledge to the reality.
It was so truly accurate that victims are victimized forever as he descirbes. And that others say they "get it" but they actually don't. Especially when it comes to paroling those who perpetrate such a deed with introducing them back to society. They just don't get it. The repeat of the suffering does not diminish either for that process, but increases.
His tribute to his brother was 4.5 star.
July 15, 2016
I read this in one sitting while on a flight. Beautifully, painfully written. This crime happened in my neighborhood, and the immediacy of the setting combined with the author's search for memory and truth made this personal and moving.
June 7, 2019
A truly sad story. But a tedious and repetitive writing style. Like a textbook; understandable given the author's family background. I just couldn't muster the emotion I knew I should be feeling. So 2 stars leaning toward 3.
August 16, 2016
David Kushner was four-years-old when his eleven-year-old brother rode his bike to the 7 Eleven to get some candy back in 1973 in the suburbs of Tampa, FL. He was never seen alive again. Kushner writes basically a true crime novel trying to piece together the story of his brother's death and how his parents, older brother Andy and the community came to grips with it. What makes this such a rewarding true crime book is that it is so personal. And it also has the added intrigue of it happening to the author at an age where most of the story is unknown.
The author is a journalist for such publications as The New Yorker and Rolling Stone, and it definitely shows in the way he investigates and subsequently reports on the crime. The book is at times intriguing, at times compelling, and at times emotionally harrowing. He does go into pretty gruesome detail about the crime itself, which may be a bit much for the faint of heart or squeamish to bear. It was a pretty horrific crime which actually could have been much, much worse. Lastly, the author goes into reporting on the killers themselves, trying to make some sense out of why they would do this to a stranger. And he maintains a constant theme of how acts like this change the world both for the victims and the society in general.
This book can be intense and almost lurid at times, but the emotional purity of it is so rich and rewarding. The way he describes his family and community is worth the ride.
The author is a journalist for such publications as The New Yorker and Rolling Stone, and it definitely shows in the way he investigates and subsequently reports on the crime. The book is at times intriguing, at times compelling, and at times emotionally harrowing. He does go into pretty gruesome detail about the crime itself, which may be a bit much for the faint of heart or squeamish to bear. It was a pretty horrific crime which actually could have been much, much worse. Lastly, the author goes into reporting on the killers themselves, trying to make some sense out of why they would do this to a stranger. And he maintains a constant theme of how acts like this change the world both for the victims and the society in general.
This book can be intense and almost lurid at times, but the emotional purity of it is so rich and rewarding. The way he describes his family and community is worth the ride.
July 26, 2017
I found this book to be such a mixture of tragedy and beauty that I could hardly put it down. The horrific murder of David Kushner's brother was heartbreaking, and he writes about his lifelong questioning of the whole situation - how it happened, who was involved and how it affected his family - in such a simple, straightforward way. Since he was only four when the murder occurred, he spent much of his life putting the pieces together. I'm in awe of his family and how they coped through this ordeal, continuing to be kind, loving and "normal" (hate that word, but it just fits here) even through the darkest days that anyone can imagine. That's where the beauty comes into play. A really good read, in my opinion, and my heart goes out to the author and his family.
September 7, 2018
We often read or hear about violent crime and tragedy without fully understanding there are real people caught up in those stories. In ALLIGATOR CANDY, the brother of a murder victim tries to make sense of the senseless.
January 15, 2024
Wish the author would’ve spent a bit more time with the reveal at the end and his emotional journey with the “what ifs” of grief that stemmed from such. The emotion reallyyy came through in those last few chapters and left a big impact. Still, a beautiful testimony to his brother, whom he lost so young, and incredibly unnerving given it happened so close to home.
March 28, 2016
I cannot imagine anything worse in this life than having your child or sibling abducted, mutilated and murdered. My heart weeps for anyone who has had to experience something this awful. The worst moment of my life was taking my 3 nieces to a neighboring town's summer fair. They were 6, 8 and 10 at the time and the ten year old wanted to ride one of those circular rides that often makes one sick to their stomach. We watched her ride it standing at the fence; I was standing between the 6 and 8 year old. I looked down and the 6 year old was no longer standing beside me. For anyone who has not experienced anything like this, I cannot begin to adequately describe the terror I felt. I learned how it felt to have one's legs turn to rubber. Every single story I had ever heard or read about a pedophile flashed through my mind. If anything happened to her, how would I live with myself, what could I possibly tell her parents, how was I going to find her in a crowd of thousands out on this warm summer evening? I contacted security immediately, answered their questions and found a hill to stand on tp survey the crowd. It felt like an eternity had gone by, but in reality it couldn't have been more than 10-15 minutes when I spotted her walking through the crowd. I ran down the hill and scooped her into my arms as she said with indignation, "Where were you guys?!!!" As if we had been the ones to wander away from her. I was so relieved I couldn't do more than give her a lecture on how badly she had worried us and she must never ever wander away. I knew quite well 'that there but the grace of God...' and have never quit being thankful that there was a happy ending.
The author's family was not so lucky. His brother was abducted after riding his bike to the 7/11 back in 1973. Those were far more innocent days. Abducting and killing children didn't happen with the alarming regularly that it does today. All of us left our houses, rode our bikes and were out playing hours upon hours each day with our parents not really knowing exactly where we were except 'around the neighborhood.' I can remember my parents telling me to not accept candy from a stranger and not to get into any strangers cars but that was the extent of warnings my friends and I heard back then. How shockingly horrible this must have been to everyone in Tampa, Florida where it took place and everyone who heard about it.
The author was only 4 years old but remembers his brother and is, of course, haunted by what happened to him. I hope writing this book was cathartic for him. I think he did a good job of delineating how his parents, his oldest brother and he got through it if only because there is no real alternative but to continue to live on despite being wounded and scarred forever. This is a painful story to read but an important one. It made me wish I believed in hell because there is no fitting punishment in this life for people who commit such crimes.
The author's family was not so lucky. His brother was abducted after riding his bike to the 7/11 back in 1973. Those were far more innocent days. Abducting and killing children didn't happen with the alarming regularly that it does today. All of us left our houses, rode our bikes and were out playing hours upon hours each day with our parents not really knowing exactly where we were except 'around the neighborhood.' I can remember my parents telling me to not accept candy from a stranger and not to get into any strangers cars but that was the extent of warnings my friends and I heard back then. How shockingly horrible this must have been to everyone in Tampa, Florida where it took place and everyone who heard about it.
The author was only 4 years old but remembers his brother and is, of course, haunted by what happened to him. I hope writing this book was cathartic for him. I think he did a good job of delineating how his parents, his oldest brother and he got through it if only because there is no real alternative but to continue to live on despite being wounded and scarred forever. This is a painful story to read but an important one. It made me wish I believed in hell because there is no fitting punishment in this life for people who commit such crimes.
September 10, 2019
I have a lot of thoughts, many of which I won't write down, or that might come across not how I intend.
This was a decent read, I appreciate David Kushner was willing to share this deeply tragic and personal story with us. I do recognize writing the book likely had a lot of value to him, hopefully towards healing, and shouldn't exactly be up for critique to others. Also, some important context. I literally read stories from incarcerated people all day I work. I am very anti death penalty and very pro opportunity for parole. (Although, I completely understand as a victim I would likely feel a change of heart- for better or worse).
I felt like the writing was a bit repetitive, I think I could have gotten equal value from an essay lengthen piece of the story. It felt very personal and didn't touch a lot on opinions of criminal justice, or even treatment of trauma- which maybe I was looking for...
This case definitely is not a good one to read and feels worse than many of the stories I hear. It was interesting told from the perspective of someone who in many ways, didn't feel the tragedy as it took place, because he was just so young, but rather felt it in how his family continued. I appreciate he includes some page space to discuss the offenders lives as well.
The book was very very aptly named.
I'm not sure I would recommend to be honest. It feels like the kind of case one (maybe even me) reads for the wrong reasons... sensationalized crime. It discusses the healing (or maybe just existing) to some extent, but to me felt like it hinged so much on the event itself.
I think I will leave my review at that, mostly just some jumbled thoughts.
This was a decent read, I appreciate David Kushner was willing to share this deeply tragic and personal story with us. I do recognize writing the book likely had a lot of value to him, hopefully towards healing, and shouldn't exactly be up for critique to others. Also, some important context. I literally read stories from incarcerated people all day I work. I am very anti death penalty and very pro opportunity for parole. (Although, I completely understand as a victim I would likely feel a change of heart- for better or worse).
I felt like the writing was a bit repetitive, I think I could have gotten equal value from an essay lengthen piece of the story. It felt very personal and didn't touch a lot on opinions of criminal justice, or even treatment of trauma- which maybe I was looking for...
This case definitely is not a good one to read and feels worse than many of the stories I hear. It was interesting told from the perspective of someone who in many ways, didn't feel the tragedy as it took place, because he was just so young, but rather felt it in how his family continued. I appreciate he includes some page space to discuss the offenders lives as well.
The book was very very aptly named.
I'm not sure I would recommend to be honest. It feels like the kind of case one (maybe even me) reads for the wrong reasons... sensationalized crime. It discusses the healing (or maybe just existing) to some extent, but to me felt like it hinged so much on the event itself.
I think I will leave my review at that, mostly just some jumbled thoughts.
March 28, 2016
The author was four years old when he asked his older brother Jon to buy him some gum when he rode his bike to the local convenience store. Jon never came home. Eight days later Jon’s mutilated body was discovered and life was never the same for David, his parents or his other brother. This is their story after the murder. David’s memories of the time were vague due to his age and what people felt he could handle, so years later he used his reporting skills to go back in time to discover the truth behind Jon’s death. In doing so he uncovered many things, including what really happened, how the case was solved and what memories he had were true, while others were not. This is a family that remained together and strong despite what happened. Kushner attributes this to his parents’ ability to remain connected with others, sharing their pain and grief, while remaining compassionate people themselves. We often read about the victims in such tragedies, but this book shows how everyone who knew such a victim was affected by his death. But for the grace of God…
September 15, 2016
This was a compelling story, marred by some sloppy writing or, more likely, editing--"peaked" when they meant "peeked," and sentences like: "This was a grassroots effort, the kind of which the city hadn't been seen before." There was also a certain amount of unnecessary repetition. However, it's a quick, interesting read and is in part an unusual perspective. The book is only partly about what happened to the author's brother in 1973; the perhaps more interesting part is his consideration of how his family survived the trauma of the boy's murder. So often you hear about relationships foundering after a terrible event like that, but the Kushner's stayed together and stayed open, caring parents and people. They must have been remarkable.
February 13, 2017
This book wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be. The author investigates the murder of his brother as a child and the author was 4 years old. He didn't remember much about it because of his age and wanted to know more. I thought it would be about solving the murder but it was solved right away. I would have liked to know more about how the case was solved, but this was more about the author and his emotions following the death of his brother and how it effected his entire life. The book itself was ok as a memoir of living with the death of a brother, but as a case study it is sadly lacking.
April 12, 2019
I read this for book club a few months. I did not like it. The author is revisiting a family tragedy -partly to determine how accurate his memory is over the events and partly to - it seems to me - to maybe lay some fears to rest as he now has children of his own.
His story is not interesting to me - his is not the only family to experience unbearable loss - (unfortunately) and this type of story isn't my cup of tea. There is nothing particularly special about his story/journey - and I want to be clear here - the author never says his story is special or more valid. This seems like something he wrote more for himself - again, just not my cup of tea.
His story is not interesting to me - his is not the only family to experience unbearable loss - (unfortunately) and this type of story isn't my cup of tea. There is nothing particularly special about his story/journey - and I want to be clear here - the author never says his story is special or more valid. This seems like something he wrote more for himself - again, just not my cup of tea.
February 24, 2018
It's been a really long time since the power behind a book actually gave me chills while I was reading it. This book? This book was a beautiful, horrible, wonderful surprise. I didn't quite expect such a dark tone, but I also didn't expect the beautiful retrospective look onto culture and healing and the power of community.
Amazing book. Great grief-healing book. I'd recommend to anyone, for any reason. I read it in one sitting. But just be warned - it's some heavy stuff.
Amazing book. Great grief-healing book. I'd recommend to anyone, for any reason. I read it in one sitting. But just be warned - it's some heavy stuff.
May 14, 2016
I currently live in the Tampa area, but wasn't living here when this murder happened, but I was curious to read this story. I work in the legal field and have done so for over 30 years. While I really enjoyed this book, I would have liked to have known more about the legal end of this horrible story. I am glad to see both of these murders will never see the outside light of day again.
April 6, 2019
Kushner recounts the devastating story of his brother John's murder in a beautifully subtle and contemplative style (reminiscent of Patrick Dillon's very good book "Lost at Sea"); even the title has a quiet, heartbreaking aspect to it.
September 2, 2016
Sad at times due to the topic of young child's murder but author annoying in that he was extremely
Repetitive and constantly interpreting his
Theme which is insulting to the reader's intelligence.
Repetitive and constantly interpreting his
Theme which is insulting to the reader's intelligence.
April 14, 2021
2.5 stars rounded up.
I found this a bit superficial and clunky for the intimacy and pain of the subject matter, almost like you'd expect from an article written about someone else for a general mainstream magazine as opposed to a first-person grief narrative. Early chapters consisted largely of tediously delivered exposition and later on, efforts at reflection often spurred a confusing spree of mixed metaphors, among other issues. I also hoped for a more powerful evocation of the early-1970s era.
Ironically, perhaps the most compelling chapters and characters emerged around the personal histories of the men who killed the author's brother. I wish he'd managed to portray himself and his family members as characters who were as real and compelling.
ETA: The author adopts a "true crime" or SVU-type trope when he drops hints from early in the book that if we read on we'll learn the full, gory details, and sure enough about three-quarters along, we do. This manipulation made this a lesser book. Better to have divulged the facts early on, adding further texture later in the narrative.
I found this a bit superficial and clunky for the intimacy and pain of the subject matter, almost like you'd expect from an article written about someone else for a general mainstream magazine as opposed to a first-person grief narrative. Early chapters consisted largely of tediously delivered exposition and later on, efforts at reflection often spurred a confusing spree of mixed metaphors, among other issues. I also hoped for a more powerful evocation of the early-1970s era.
Ironically, perhaps the most compelling chapters and characters emerged around the personal histories of the men who killed the author's brother. I wish he'd managed to portray himself and his family members as characters who were as real and compelling.
ETA: The author adopts a "true crime" or SVU-type trope when he drops hints from early in the book that if we read on we'll learn the full, gory details, and sure enough about three-quarters along, we do. This manipulation made this a lesser book. Better to have divulged the facts early on, adding further texture later in the narrative.
April 18, 2021
When David was four years old, he remembers asking his older brother to get him Gator Snap gum at the nearby convenience store. Eleven year old, Jonathan Kushner, hopped on his bike and disappeared into the woods, taking a path to the 7-11 on the other side. He had promised his mother he would call from there if it started to rain.
The rain did begin to fall, but no call came, and Jon never came home again, the victim of a brutal crime.
This is a unique addition to the true crime space, told from the point of view of a sibling who was very young when his family suffered a loss that would change them forever. David Kushner takes us on a journey that is ultimately about community and healing.
Recommended for anyone struggling with grief.
The rain did begin to fall, but no call came, and Jon never came home again, the victim of a brutal crime.
This is a unique addition to the true crime space, told from the point of view of a sibling who was very young when his family suffered a loss that would change them forever. David Kushner takes us on a journey that is ultimately about community and healing.
Recommended for anyone struggling with grief.
July 26, 2016
Do you ever just see the title of a book and sigh like you've just slipped into a warm bath, just knowing, this book is going to be good? That's what I got with Alligator Candy.
I found I could relate to this boy on so many levels. I lost a sibling at a young age, thought not nearly as horrifying and permanent as his loss, and I found myself nodding as he laid out his shards of memory of his brother. I too lost myself in my imagination as I suffered through church services.
As the book progressed, the author gradually built up the story in such a lovely way. He gets older and seeks out more and more information, and the portrait of what his brother suffered that day
(as well as everything surrounding the event) comes into sharper focus. His portrayal of the killer's background, reminded me of another book I read recently, "I Will Find You," by Joanna Connors, in its relative compassion. It certainly added a fullness to the story that would have been missing otherwise if the killers were just left as unexamined boogeymen.
Also, this book brought to mind "Son of Gun" by Justin St. Germain, the memoir of a man investigating his mother's murder, in that even with all the pieces at hand, all the avenues of investigation exhausted there are still parts of the story that remain a mystery, and at some point we have to make peace with that.
This book actually brought me to tears, and that's saying something, as I am a veteran of dozens and dozens of grim memoirs about difficult subjects. My hours spent with this story were a hard pleasure. I came away with a sense that this story is what life is: it confirms that the world is not safe, horrific things are done to the innocent but still in the darkest times people come together to help, endure, grieve, and struggle to find meaning for the rest of their lives.
PS: A few days after I wrote this review I suddenly made a connection: my older sister was committed to the psychiatric ward after a suicide attempt when I was about 8, she was 17. We stopped at the store on the way to visit her and I agonized over what type of gum to buy for her. (12 sticks of the thin, minty stuff or 6 big juicy pieces of the fruity stuff?) I actually remember nothing else about the visit except my desperate desire to choose the gum that would make her the happiest. Maybe on a subconscious level, that's why I connected so strongly with this book. Memory is a strange thing. :)
I found I could relate to this boy on so many levels. I lost a sibling at a young age, thought not nearly as horrifying and permanent as his loss, and I found myself nodding as he laid out his shards of memory of his brother. I too lost myself in my imagination as I suffered through church services.
As the book progressed, the author gradually built up the story in such a lovely way. He gets older and seeks out more and more information, and the portrait of what his brother suffered that day
(as well as everything surrounding the event) comes into sharper focus. His portrayal of the killer's background, reminded me of another book I read recently, "I Will Find You," by Joanna Connors, in its relative compassion. It certainly added a fullness to the story that would have been missing otherwise if the killers were just left as unexamined boogeymen.
Also, this book brought to mind "Son of Gun" by Justin St. Germain, the memoir of a man investigating his mother's murder, in that even with all the pieces at hand, all the avenues of investigation exhausted there are still parts of the story that remain a mystery, and at some point we have to make peace with that.
This book actually brought me to tears, and that's saying something, as I am a veteran of dozens and dozens of grim memoirs about difficult subjects. My hours spent with this story were a hard pleasure. I came away with a sense that this story is what life is: it confirms that the world is not safe, horrific things are done to the innocent but still in the darkest times people come together to help, endure, grieve, and struggle to find meaning for the rest of their lives.
PS: A few days after I wrote this review I suddenly made a connection: my older sister was committed to the psychiatric ward after a suicide attempt when I was about 8, she was 17. We stopped at the store on the way to visit her and I agonized over what type of gum to buy for her. (12 sticks of the thin, minty stuff or 6 big juicy pieces of the fruity stuff?) I actually remember nothing else about the visit except my desperate desire to choose the gum that would make her the happiest. Maybe on a subconscious level, that's why I connected so strongly with this book. Memory is a strange thing. :)
May 20, 2017
You know how shows like Dateline sensationalize crimes and do gross things like asking you to Tweet who you think the killer is? This is not that. This is the reality. The family behind the tragedy. Told by the youngest member of the family as he questions how his family lived through and continued on after the murder of his eleven-year-old brother.
Having only been 4 at the time he tries to understand what he remembered at the time, and looks back at a life of trying to process the tragedy, while also in retrospection seeing how his family members each got through together, and alone.
This isn’t about the crime the way a true crime book would be, it isn’t told from that perspective. It’s about the victim’s youngest brother exploring his childhood, the time surrounding his brother’s murder, and how his family found a way to continue, marked by two times in his life where he finally faced learning the actual events of the horrific murder—eventually leading to his writing this memoir.
This weaved effortlessly from memories of things like a specific childhood toy and exploring how differently children were raised in the ‘70s—along with specific crimes that changed missing children’s cases from being local to national news-- to the very raw and real questions and feelings that come with grief, especially after a tragedy.
If we read to understand, this is certainly a book to read involving tragedy and grief: while raw in parts, and gut-wrenching, it reminds you of the human spirit and the ability, with community, to survive.
Having only been 4 at the time he tries to understand what he remembered at the time, and looks back at a life of trying to process the tragedy, while also in retrospection seeing how his family members each got through together, and alone.
This isn’t about the crime the way a true crime book would be, it isn’t told from that perspective. It’s about the victim’s youngest brother exploring his childhood, the time surrounding his brother’s murder, and how his family found a way to continue, marked by two times in his life where he finally faced learning the actual events of the horrific murder—eventually leading to his writing this memoir.
This weaved effortlessly from memories of things like a specific childhood toy and exploring how differently children were raised in the ‘70s—along with specific crimes that changed missing children’s cases from being local to national news-- to the very raw and real questions and feelings that come with grief, especially after a tragedy.
If we read to understand, this is certainly a book to read involving tragedy and grief: while raw in parts, and gut-wrenching, it reminds you of the human spirit and the ability, with community, to survive.
August 23, 2017
I like true crime, but this was different. Please read with caution even if you are a true crime fan. The worst thing, they say, is to lose a child. David Kushner's brother, Jon, 11, gets on his bike and rides to the local 7-11 in Tampa, Florida in 1973, promising 4 year old David some alligator candy, a popular sweet of the time and locale. Jon never returns. I listened to the audiobook and Bronson Pinchot, a wonderful actor, narrated this horrifying story but was able to convey the angst and sadness so that I could listen without stopping. Stop.... I wanted to so many times. But as a literary piece, it is a glowing example of the genre of memoir. The aftermath and how David, his other brother Andy and their parents endure this horrific nightmare brings you to a world that is unfathomable. I wanted to stop many times, because the story was so painful but Kushner's writing was so poignant and real, I felt obligated to share his pain, as well as feel I was gaining something from listening to this memoir. If you can get through the pain, experience Kushner (a writer for NY Times, etc.)'s purging of his soul, so to speak. If you can separate the pain from experiencing Kushner's journey, it is well worth your time.
February 7, 2017
I'm going to sound calloused and unfeeling by giving a so-so review for a book about tragedy but this book really is just okay. Losing a brother is unfathomable to me. I would be devastated if I lost my brother, especially the way David Kushner lost his; a random murder. However, I felt the real sorrow was how it personally affected David and the rest of the family for decades after the murder. By never speaking about it or confronting it each family member wore the death like a yoke, dragging it through the rest of their lives and relationships. I just kept thinking, "You HAVE to move on". I know, everybody deals with death in their own way and I never want to diminish anybody's feelings or ways of dealing with grief. This was his way; investigating, conducting interviews, reading newspaper articles and police reports, and writing this book. The lesson to me is this: talk about death. It will happen to every one of us, it is inevitable. You will lose somebody you love. This is an extremely sad story and I hope David Kushner finds the peace and understanding he is looking for.
February 24, 2017
I'm a big fan of mystery/thrillers and read a lot of true crime. But this one.... This one got me.
Told in 4 parts, Kushner takes the reader through each of the phases of his understanding of his brother Jon's murder. The first 2 parts cover his family history before the murder and how he, at age 4, understood what happened to Jon, age 11. It also includes his first attempts to find out the truth through newspaper articles around age 13. Parts 3 and 4 read more like true crime in that he takes the reader through the facts of the case, how the murderers were caught, and later into adulthood when he and his brother chose to testify at the parole hearing for one of the men (the other was executed). When I first finished the book, I wasn't sure I would rate it more than 3 stars as I found the writing repetitive, especially in the first two parts. But I actually finished this a few days ago, and I can't get some of the story out of my head. The way it was told sticks with me, so I find I have to rate it higher. The way the thread about the alligator candy, a small toy alligator that when squeezed releases small gum balls out of its mouth, is woven throughout the story is haunting.
Told in 4 parts, Kushner takes the reader through each of the phases of his understanding of his brother Jon's murder. The first 2 parts cover his family history before the murder and how he, at age 4, understood what happened to Jon, age 11. It also includes his first attempts to find out the truth through newspaper articles around age 13. Parts 3 and 4 read more like true crime in that he takes the reader through the facts of the case, how the murderers were caught, and later into adulthood when he and his brother chose to testify at the parole hearing for one of the men (the other was executed). When I first finished the book, I wasn't sure I would rate it more than 3 stars as I found the writing repetitive, especially in the first two parts. But I actually finished this a few days ago, and I can't get some of the story out of my head. The way it was told sticks with me, so I find I have to rate it higher. The way the thread about the alligator candy, a small toy alligator that when squeezed releases small gum balls out of its mouth, is woven throughout the story is haunting.
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