Play Book Tag discussion

2025 Reread:
4.5 stars

2025 Reread: This is, of course, the story of Charles Manson and his “Family”, who went on a murder spree over a couple of days (plus more murders, in addition) in August 1969. The first night, they killed five people, including actress Sharon Tate; the second night they killed a married couple. They were very violent and frenzied murders. It is written by the main prosecutor in the case; not only that he seemed to help out quite a bit with the investigation.

I read this in high school, then listened to the audio a few years ago. Unfortunately, I discovered that the library (audio) copy was abridged and I wanted to reread the entire book. It is long. Bugliosi, being so involved in the trial and also helping with the investigation, has a lot of information to provide, including info that was public that they were able to use in the trial, and what wasn’t able to come out or be used at trial.

I am rating this so highly due to all the detail, but there were a lot of people and there were a couple of times where I kind of lost where we were and what was happening. This time around, I was reading a 25th anniversary edition, so there is an afterward that was able to update readers on what was happening with many of the people involved at that point (I have, of course, also looked up more online!). As I reread my review of the audio, I commented on not being able to see the pictures included. Unfortunately, they were also not included in the ebook, either! (There was note, something about copyright, I think.)


2021 Reread (audio):
3.5 stars

In 1969, Charles Manson and a few of his “family” committed multiple murders two nights in a row. Vincent Bugliosi was the DA who got them convicted and sentenced to death. This book looked at the murders, the investigation, and the trials.

I listened to the audio, and unfortunately, this ended up being an abridged version of the book. As I ask in all my reviews of abridged audios – why? Why not record the entire book? Anyway, I read this when I was in high school (a few decades ago!), and it wasn’t as creepy as I remember. I can’t say for sure if the abridged version was the reason for that, but in part, I’m certain not seeing the photos was part of that. Charles Manson was a creepy creepy looking man. Since this was abridged, I still want to reread the entire thing. Overall, it appeared that the abridgement was done fairly well, though I’d much rather read the entire book.

I read this when I was just out of high school in my first apartment. I was alone, my roommate out on a date. She knew what I was reading and that I was on the couch right by the window. When she and her boyfriend came back, they pounded on the window and scared me to death!

Thinking back, it was a strongly written book, that captured my attention. Probably I finished it in a day or two. Had I been rating books back then, it would have been a high one too.

Joanne wrote: "I read this when I was just out of high school in my first apartment. I was alone, my roommate out on a date. She knew what I was reading and that I was on the couch right by the window. When she a..."

omg! Yes, I would have jumped pretty high myself! LOL!

I read this when it first came out. I think I binge-read it in one weekend.

Oh, and Joanne ... I would have completely freaked out if someone knocked on my window. At the time I lived on the 3rd floor of an apartment building!

Haha-we lived in a first-floor apartment that had a huge picture window!

Joanne wrote: "Haha-we lived in a first-floor apartment that had a huge picture window!"

LOL! It was just too easy for them!

I read this when I was a teen since my parents already had it; I don't think I could handle reading it now since it was so horrific. At the time I found it gripping.