American Fire: Love, Arson, and Life in a Vanishing Land
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.14 (601 Votes) |
| Asin | : | B073DGC8Y1 |
| Format Type | : | |
| Number of Pages | : | 392 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2013-02-23 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
Incorporating this drama into the long-overlooked history of arson in the United States, American Fire re-creates the anguished nights that this quiet county spent lit up in flames, mesmerizingly evoking a microcosm of rural America - a land half gutted before the fires even began.. Through her depiction of the dangerous shift that happened in their passionate relationship, Hesse brilliantly brings to life the once-thriving coastal community and its distressed inhabitants, who had already been decimated by a punishing economy before they were terrified by a string of fires they could not explain. But Charlie wasn't lighting fires alone: he had an accomplice - his girlfriend, Tonya Bundick. Shocked by a five-month arson spree that left rural Virginia reeling, Washington Post reporter Monica Hesse drove down to Accomack County to cover the trial of Charlie Smith, who pled guilty to 67 counts of arson
Compelling story, worth reading twice This is a stunning book. I read it (rather, I swallowed it) in three marathon sittings. The story is captivating, unfolding a troubling and urgent mystery in a once-proud region now become a backwater. It's a page-turner. But the keen insights about this county and its people, coupled with an engaging style, are what push this book into the territory of the extraordinary. I especially appreciated Hesse's ability to balance clear affection for the county's residents with honest critique. Both beauty marks and blemishes. Read it first for a compel. True crime at its best! Lots of research went into this one! Holds your interest!!. Geoffrey Brymer said Five Stars. Great