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Has anyone here read "The Executioner's Song" (or seen the movie)?

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idgiehkt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-17-07 09:33 PM
Original message
Has anyone here read "The Executioner's Song" (or seen the movie)?
Are either any good? I know Mailer wrote the book. I just read "Shot In The Heart" by Mikal Gilmore about his brother Gary, and I am thinking about maybe reading Mailers book, but I don't want to if it's no good. The book I just read, by Mikal, was incredibly well-written and one of the most devastating books I've read in a long time, probably since I read a couple of Iris Chang's books back to back. Any feedback on Mailer's book would be appreciated.
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Bullwinkle925 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-17-07 09:40 PM
Response to Original message
1. I did see the movie . . .
long, long time ago. I actually remember when Gilmore was executed. That was such a weird-feeling day. I always feel that way now whenever I know someone's time is 'up'. I watch the clock and think about them. Don't get me wrong, - I'm totally empathetic with the victim and the families involved - its just - well, weird. If I remember correctly - the movie was compelling - but it was so long ago and now whenever I think about the death penalty my mind goes back to "Dead Man Walking". I'm sure Mailer's book (as most books are) is much better than the film.
:hi:
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idgiehkt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-17-07 09:55 PM
Response to Reply #1
5. thanks
I should remember but I have no recollection of it or of ever hearing about it. I thought "The Executioner's Song" was some kind of medieval tale of fiction til I read this book. At the end of this book Mikal has a conversation with Schiller about his being around the execution; Mikal says to Schiller that Gary was worth more to him dead than alive and Schiller refutes that and also says that it was Gary's inalienable right to die if he so chose. I thought that was interesting.
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SeattleGirl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-17-07 09:42 PM
Response to Original message
2. Both. I liked both of them, especially the book.
I had forgotten that Mikal wrote a book about Gary; I should read that, for a different take on the whole thing.
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idgiehkt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-17-07 09:52 PM
Response to Reply #2
3. it is an incredibly devastating book
on many different levels. Be warned; I wasn't prepared because I had no idea who Gary Gilmore was, or that there was already a famous book and movie about him. Mikal is a writer by trade and his book is pretty much flawless, but it's almost overwhelming reading about his family history, it's like a genetic holocaust or something, with the tragedy and abuse. :(

I guess I will probably check out Mailer's book...I sometimes don't like to see the movies because I have it in my head how things are and a movie will replace all my preconceived notions, and sometimes I like mine better, lol. Plus watching all that in technicolor make it too real.
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SeattleGirl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-17-07 09:54 PM
Response to Reply #3
4. Thanks. I will definitely check Mikal's book out.
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Starbucks Anarchist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-17-07 10:00 PM
Response to Original message
6. I would like to read the book.
Mikal Gilmore is Gary Gilmore's brother? Is this the Mikal Gilmore from Rolling Stone?
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idgiehkt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-17-07 10:09 PM
Response to Reply #6
7. yep.
He talks about how that was for him, people would write him letters saying they wished he was dead too, just because of what his brother had done. :(
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Starbucks Anarchist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-17-07 10:12 PM
Response to Reply #7
8. Damn.
I've read his RS articles before, but never made the connection with the name.

BTW, have you read In Cold Blood? That's one of my favorites.
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idgiehkt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-17-07 10:17 PM
Response to Reply #8
9. Yes, that book is a masterpiece
Capote really set the bar high with that one. There is a line in there about the daughter and he talks about what she is doing on "this, the last day of her life"...I always think of that line when that book is mentioned and it still gives me chills.

Mikal book is kind of like if one of the brothers of the robbers in "In Cold Blood" had written a book, it has the same feeling (but it's more graphic in his telling of the child abuse Gary went through, it was just a hell on earth)
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Starbucks Anarchist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-17-07 10:19 PM
Response to Reply #9
10. The movie (In Cold Blood) is excellent as well if you haven't seen it.
Edited on Tue Jul-17-07 10:20 PM by Starbucks Anarchist
Ironically, Robert Blake plays one of the killers.

EDIT: The Quincy Jones soundtrack is great as well.
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mike_c Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-18-07 12:48 AM
Response to Original message
11. I read the book years ago-- it was good, and very insightful...
...about growing up disaffected in Utah. That's about all I really remember.
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idgiehkt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-18-07 12:49 AM
Response to Reply #11
12. thanks
I have never read a book by Mailer so I guess I should go ahead and read it just for that reaso alone, lol. :hi:
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mitchum Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-18-07 09:28 AM
Response to Original message
13. "Mailer had a bunch of researchers working on the book. He's not an author...
Edited on Wed Jul-18-07 09:28 AM by mitchum
he's just a a guy manning the rewrite desk over at The Daily News"
Truman Capote on "The Executioner's Song"

I recommend the movie for the phenomenal performances of Tommy Lee Jones and Rosanna Arquette.
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idgiehkt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-18-07 09:01 PM
Response to Reply #13
16. lololol
that isn't how Mikal tells it, according to him it was all Mailer and Schiller who interviewed Gary.

I didn't know Tommy Lee Jones was in it. I respect him, he is a great actor. One thing I hate is when they choose the wrong actors for a book I like.
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Paladin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-18-07 09:42 AM
Response to Original message
14. By All Means, Read "Executioner's Song"

It;s extremely well written. And you learn some fascinating things---like, why Utah has a firing squad to carry out its capital punishment program (hint: it has to do with Mormonism).
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idgiehkt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-18-07 09:03 PM
Response to Reply #14
17. Mikal goes into great detail about 'blood atonement'
probably more than I cared for, that part was kind of boring. He covers Mormon history pretty thoroughly (one joke he told was that since Brigham Young was supposed to have been married to 27 women at once, his dad, who was catholic, referred to Young as "bring 'em young".
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av8rdave Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-18-07 10:34 AM
Response to Original message
15. I liked the book...how can you go wrong with Norman Mailer?
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idgiehkt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-18-07 09:04 PM
Response to Reply #15
18. I've never read him
I read Kate Millett growing up so always looked at Mailer as an anti-feminist butthead. I might give him a go on this, just because the story is so intriguing.
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