Hay libros que te agarran del cuello y no te sueltan. No te dan tiempo a respirar ni a esconderte tras excusas. La canción del verdugo, de Norman Mailer, es uno de esos libros. It is a powerful and unyielding work that delves deep into the heart of human tragedy.

The story of La canción del verdugo centers around Gary Gilmore, a man who committed two murders in Utah in 1976 and became a media figure. His demand for the immediate execution of his death sentence without appeal sets the stage for a narrative that goes far beyond a simple crime story. Mailer dissects the machinery of the human soul, the judicial system, and American society with a precision that is both terrifying and enlightening.

The book is divided into two parts, "Ecos del Oeste" and "Ecos del Este", which offer contrasting yet complementary perspectives. In the first part, the women in Gilmore's life, such as his girlfriend Nicole and his sister Barbara, take center stage and provide a glimpse into the desolate and fatalistic atmosphere of the American West. The second part introduces the voices of the East, including lawyers, journalists, and figures of the system, and shows the irony and heartbreak of their attempts to control Gilmore's destiny.

Mailer's writing style is raw, precise, and almost surgical, yet it also has an underlying lyricism that elevates the mundane to the mythical. His attention to detail and ability to capture the smallest nuances of human behavior make the story come alive on the page. He humanizes all the characters involved, making them complex and multifaceted individuals rather than simply good or bad.

La canción del verdugo is not an easy read, but it is a rewarding one. It forces the reader to question their beliefs about justice, morality, and the purpose of life. It makes us confront the shadow of human despair that lies within us all. It is a work of literature that will leave a lasting impression and change the way you view the world.

In conclusion, La canción del verdugo is a masterpiece that should be read by anyone who wants to understand the human condition. It is a powerful and poignant exploration of the darkest corners of the human soul, and a testament to Mailer's talent as a writer. Don't miss out on this opportunity to experience one of the greatest works of American literature.

Gary Gilmore, a truly compelling and yet deeply disturbing figure, shot dead two innocent people. This event is vividly captured in a reportage writing style that is both engaging and memorable. The non-fiction novel about him mostly delves into the nine months of his life in 1976 and early 1977. It's quite tragic to think about the lives he took, and yet, it's also disturbing to note that Gilmore seems to have received an inordinate amount of support and money compared to the victims of his heinous crimes. Mailer, the author, dedicates only a few pages to Gilmore's victims, which is rather unpleasant. However, from an historical perspective, 'The Executioner's Song' is still interesting.

Another crime non-fiction novel that I would highly recommend is Truman Capote's 'In Cold Blood'. This work offers a detailed and chilling account of a brutal crime, presenting a complex and nuanced view of the perpetrators and the impact of their actions on the community. It's a must-read for anyone interested in true crime and the human psyche.

What you suspect is wrong with the true crime two-pounder The Executioner’s Song by Norman Mailer is confirmed when you watch the movie adaptation.

The purposely visible fingerprints of Lawrence Schiller, the man who worked hard to turn the unprecedented story of a killer sentenced to death into a made-for-TV movie, are evident.

Gary Gilmore, by the mid-1970s, had spent most of his life incarcerated. Released into the care of his once-adoring cousin Brenda in Utah, he was set up with a room at his Uncle Vern’s house and got a job in the shoe shop.

However, life on the outside was a challenge. Gary needed a car, wanted a girl, and had a penchant for shoplifting. His social skills were stunted, and he lacked impulse control.

When he met Nicole Baker, a 19-year-old, thrice-married mother of two, he fell head over heels. Their passionate love affair was filled with oozy goozy murmurs about fate and lifetimes.

But this passion had a darker side. Gary was jealous and abusive, and Nicole was like a plastic bag in the wind. She left him and hid with one of her many dudes, leaving Gary dizzy with longing.

There was more going on. Gary had his eye on a pickup truck and spent time trying to talk a used car salesman into selling it to him. His shoplifting was making his family uncomfortable, and he was on his last chances with them and the people in the small town.

One night, he killed a man, and the next day, he killed another. Sentenced to death, he fought for his execution, as he was done with prison.

This is why Gary Gilmore is famous. He accepted his death sentence when no one else would. The story of how he got from Point A to the firing squad is the meat of the tale.

In theory, it’s a great story about growing up in the prison system, family, love, and the death penalty. But Lawrence Schiller’s involvement turned it into a painstaking project.

He hired teams to interview Gilmore, bought the rights to his story, and dished out pieces to maintain public interest. Norman Mailer turned the material into a 1,109-page book, more than half of which was about Schiller’s work.

The movie, starring Tommy Lee Jones as Gilmore, was unorganized and assumed the viewer knew the story. Rosanna Arquette was stunning as Nicole, but the film was a disappointment.

Mailer wasn’t entirely blameless. He turned a 400-page story into something twice as long. Schiller chose him because he thought Mailer understood violence.

The portraits of Gilmore and Nicole were well done, but the story was weighed down by too many people, too much legal detail, and too many backstories. It was simply too much, diluting the great parts.

Full disclosure: I am not now nor have I ever been a proponent of the death penalty. There are some very good reasons it should be abolished.

The least of which is that there is no evidence it serves as a deterrent to anyone other than the person being executed (for obvious reasons). This is the story of killer Gary Gilmore.

In the summer of 1976, he robbed two men and then shot them both execution style. He was tried, convicted and sentenced to death in the state of Utah. What made this case so controversial is the fact that Gilmore decided he did not want to wait and go through the endless appeals process. He wanted to be executed right away.

Like most true crime books, this story takes you through the entire trial process and you get a behind the scenes look at how the criminal justice system of the United States works. Which isn't always logical and doesn't always seem fair.

There are not many redeeming qualities to Gary Gilmore's life. He was a career criminal who had been in and out of prison his entire life. As a matter of fact, he committed these crimes while on parole.

At the same time, Mailer shows you how absolutely illogical this whole process can be. Not to mention the hypocrisy that was present in this case. Although Gilmore said he wanted to be executed right away and it would seem that the state would want to save the taxpayers significant money by granting his wish, that is not what was done. The ACLU took up the case and began to fight appeals FOR him. Attorneys were concerned that perhaps Gilmore had a death wish and perhaps that made him insane so they proceeded to try to stop it for that reason.

Mailer's book went on for over 1,000 pages and truthfully he could have summed it up in far fewer pages. Having read other books by Mailer, I think this is just his style. Gilmore's story is very compelling and it also demonstrated the very mixed feelings of the people who are charged with carrying out these state sponsored murders. It also demonstrated how political this process really is and how the killer is often exploited by his own attorneys and other people in his life who want to use his story for profit and fame.

All in all, a very sad but interesting story. Gary Gilmore was executed by the state of Utah on January 17, 1977.

This case not only highlights the flaws in the death penalty system but also the complex emotions and motives involved. It makes one question the fairness and effectiveness of such a punishment. The story of Gary Gilmore serves as a reminder that there are many factors to consider when dealing with capital punishment.

I read the entire piece, and indeed, it held my attention firmly.

However, I'm left wondering what it aimed to prove. Was it that Gilmore was, after all, a human being? Or perhaps that the death penalty, with all its appeals and stays, is extremely cruel? Maybe it was trying to show that some people never get a fair chance.

Everyone's chaotic life in this story makes for an interesting read, similar to how news about shootings and deaths catches our attention. We want to read about it, but we don't want to be involved.

This book, although substantial, is suffocating. Everyone in it is either selfish, annoying, pretentious, or just plain terrible. The only ones I felt sorry for were the victims and their families, Nicole's kids (I hope they're doing okay), and Mikal. I also had a bit of a liking for Judge Ritter. As for the rest, you just love to hate them.

There's sex, drugs, child abuse, hints of pedophilia, and way too many details about who was having affairs with whom. But still, it kept me reading. Just like I couldn't stop reading about the media frenzy caused by Gilmore's crimes and death. It made me feel a little queasy, yet I continued.

In the end, I felt nothing. I had no idea what the point was, but maybe that was the author's intention. You end up feeling as empty as everyone else in the book. Nothing seems to make sense, and nothing matters.

While the writing and documentation are masterful, even when describing the most revolting scenes, I didn't gain any lessons other than the fact that people can be extremely cruel to each other at times. If you're looking for a more honest take on the death penalty without the distractions of the media circus, I would recommend checking out Sister Prejean's works.

This book is highly readable, but it has a voyeuristic nature. You'll get out of it what you're looking for. My only concerns are these: the murders and the victims seem like an afterthought; this is really the Gary Gilmore show, and it's a bit off-putting. It also seems that the families did talk to Mailer, so I'm not sure why this approach was taken. Secondly, it kind of implies that Dale Pierre was a victim of a racist system. Having read "Victim," that's a dangerous message to leave, considering what he did to those people.

Overall, if you have an unhealthy interest in true crime, it's worth a read, but it's definitely not for everyone.

I'm engaged in this endeavor where I'm determined to cease feeling guilty about growing bored with books and instead, I'm going to discard them with, well, wild abandon.

The fact is, this isn't a dull book, not in the slightest. However, as can occur with books that are almost as lengthy as the Old Testament, when I lose my impetus, it can be challenging to re-enter. That's precisely what transpired here. Here are a few thoughts from my reading of the initial 333 pages, though... (Directly from my Google Drafts folder where I was jotting down notes for what I envisioned would be my review after perusing the entire novel.)

The prose is astonishingly careless, featuring awkward phrasings and even more clumsy dialogue breaks.

"I feel bad," stated Gary, "about this. Vern has no money?" [...] "I didn't realize," he said, "I was putting him on the spot."

Mailer almost invariably refers to his protagonist as Gary, until unexpectedly, he switches to Gilmore for a few paragraphs, and then reverts back to Gary. A character is designated as Spencer for the first 132 pages, but on page 132 he instantaneously morphs into Spence. The overall impression is that of a book that was never proofread, but rather spewed out in a matter of days in a frenzy of overconfidence. And considering Mailer's assertion that this book was bestowed upon him, "whole and complete, from God", it very well might be the case.

What Mailer does possess is an uncanny knack for delving into the minds of his characters. Not a single one of the hundreds of figures in The Executioner's Song feels artificial or one-dimensional. Every single one of them is a genuine person with real emotions and motives.

This book is truly one of the 20 best books ever written. It has captivated readers for generations with its engaging storyline, well-developed characters, and profound themes. The author's writing style is both beautiful and accessible, making it a joy to read. Whether you are a lover of literature or simply looking for a great story, this book is sure to satisfy. It has the power to transport you to another world, to make you laugh and cry, and to leave you with a new perspective on life. So, if you haven't already read it, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy today. You won't be disappointed.

Gary Gilmore's story is filled with violence, tragedy, and horror, making it anything but dull. However, Norman Mailer's rendition of Gilmore's last ten months on earth in "The Executioner's Song" is shockingly bloated and boring.

Seriously, this is the most tedious book I've ever forced myself to complete. I finished it only to be able to discuss it accurately, but it was a struggle. The fact that many people find it captivating is a testament to the inherent interest in Gilmore's story, not to any skill or artistry in Mailer's work.

I've been interested in Gary Gilmore for nearly 20 years, ever since reading "Shot in the Heart" by his brother Mikal. This account is far more interesting and artistic than Mailer's. I've read it several times and taught it to undergrads, who are always moved by it.

Living in Utah, I have a personal connection to the story. I know where the Utah state prison is and have visited the farm where Gilmore's mother grew up.

But "The Executioner's Song" is just too damn bloated! The writing is tedious, and the first part about Nicole is like reading the Facebook updates of a trailer-trash cousin who has endured sexual abuse and is constantly involved with abusive men.

I suspect that no one edited this book. Mailer seems to have pounded out a draft based on his notes and never bothered to revise it. The result is a repetitive and unpolished work.

For example, the book repeats information like "this would be the first such" and uses unnecessary phrases like "an ill-kept dirty room." It also contains factual errors, such as referring to the Doctrine and Covenants incorrectly.

In conclusion, Mailer may deserve some sort of recognition for ruining a great story, but the Pulitzer is not the right award. Instead, readers should pick up "Shot in the Heart."

Full disclosure— I read this while researching for a podcast I’m part of.

This book is truly one of the longest and most infuriating ones I've ever had the misfortune to encounter. The plot progresses at a glacial pace, inching along so slowly that it feels like torture. The characters, on the other hand, make the most insane choices that leave you shaking your head in disbelief. You reach a point where you feel you simply can't continue.

Yet, there's something about it that feels painfully raw. It unfolds like real life, with all its uncertainties and meandering paths. The story hurtles towards an inevitable ending, and by the time you're two-thirds of the way in, you wonder how you got there. But despite the frustration, you've read every painstaking detail.

The case upon which this book is built is one that you desperately want to make sense of, but in the end, it remains senseless. Even after closely examining every single detail, that's the conclusion I've come to after reading over 1000 pages. It's a book that will leave you with a mix of emotions, from anger and frustration to a strange sense of awe at its sheer audacity.

Wow, this book was truly something.

First of all, just because one interviews a billion people and has an abundance of information, it does not necessarily mean that all of it should be included in a book. There were over 1000 pages of indulgent nonsense that could have easily been trimmed down to one-third. We simply do not need to know the background and history of every single person who might have caught a glimpse of Gary Gilmore from across the street. It was completely ridiculous.

Moreover, I firmly believed that neither this person nor this so-called "case" was worthy of such an in-depth exploration. The only reason I managed to finish it was out of sheer determination to read all of the Pulitzer Prize winners. Even then, I almost gave up. It was a strange hybrid between fiction and non-fiction/biography, and it felt entirely self-indulgent. God, it was such a tiresome read.

Overall, this book was a disappointment and a slog to get through. I would not recommend it to others.

The abstract concept of capital punishment, whether regarded as atonement, reparation, or justice, is somewhat understandable. Although I don't concur with the related arguments, I can fathom the underlying idea. However, the reality of it is entirely absurd, especially in Western societies. One of the remarkable achievements of this book is its vivid portrayal of just how absurd we can be in America. Once this is realized, the question arises: at what point and with what motivation do we continue? Gilmore, as a guilty man, might have had his own thoughts, but I believe some of those questions also form part of the broader motivation behind Mailer's writing. This particular situation was simply a real-life story that unfolded before us.

What held my attention in this book was the sheer amount of genuine, unadulterated humanity that I began to sense. It took me a while to engage and become invested in it, but once I grasped what Mailer was attempting, it was almost trance-like. The writing is so straightforward and matter-of-fact that you start to feel the presence of the participants as if there were no barrier. I have never come across anything quite like it. The fact that he can achieve this with the kind of people involved in the story makes it the ideal medium for exploring the most fundamental questions surrounding life, death, and society in America.

Of the many books that I have read, there is one that truly stands out in my mind. It seems to me to be the best ticket in the Great Writer Sweepstakes that he was always striving to win.

This particular book has a certain charm and allure that sets it apart from the rest. The writing is masterful, with a unique style and voice that draws the reader in from the very first page. The characters are well-developed and complex, making them easy to relate to and invest in.

The story itself is engaging and full of twists and turns that keep the reader on the edge of their seat. It explores themes and ideas that are both thought-provoking and relevant, making it a truly memorable read.

In conclusion, I believe that this book is a masterpiece and a worthy contender in the Great Writer Sweepstakes. It is a book that I would highly recommend to anyone who loves to read and is looking for a truly exceptional literary experience.