Review by Monie_raey -- Junk Justice by Gerry Rising
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Monie_raey
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- Latest Review: Junk Justice by Gerry Rising
Review by Monie_raey -- Junk Justice by Gerry Rising
[Following is a volunteer review of "Junk Justice" by Gerry Rising.]
Junk Justice: A Law Abiding Businessman's Tragic Quest for Due Process by Gerry Rising is a gripping story of a man who found himself on the wrong side of the law. His life before him played out a script he was none too aware of, suffering at the hands of the very justice system that he once was sure would, if not protect, hear him out. Get ready to be taken through one of the most ridiculous law processes I have ever been briefed on in my life.
Mr. Rising at the cusp of his retirement, got himself tangled up with the law and her consisting unscrupulous members. From a tumor cell of sorts; this description relating to the negligent auditing (not on Mr. Rising's side, to be sure), to the malignancy so manifested in a system riddled with egoistic, self-serving prosecutors and judges, you will realize that Mr. Rising was indeed roped into acting out a part in this sordid play, one that if asked some twelve years ago, would be sure he would not feature in for any reason. That right there is the incredulity of the justice system. The system that would so incongruously withhold justice from its seeker, neglecting 'exculpatory' evidence as Mr. Rising calls it, accompanying such with the malicious dispensation of duty. This book really does not tell us anything new but in fact, reaffirms my mistrust in human systems; that the government and all of its arms are against the citizenry and that to place one's complete trust in it or/and 'them' would be foolhardy.
Without mincing words, I must say right this instant that I do not in any way doubt Mr. Rising's story. While I cannot imply that I am not emotionally compromised to make this assertion, I believe I have a lot of evidence to stand unabashedly by it. Mr. Rising gives his reader this privilege by helping us to actually know how the government can so blatantly delay and deny justice to its 'targeted.' If it is anything, this book has helped me better appreciate the way behind-the-scenes legislation runs, even in my country (wherein, you can most certainly expect underhanded practices), through the explicit, and at times, the almost painful process so detailed in Junk Justice.
One of the charms of this book apart from the story itself is the manner in which the author tackles his storytelling. Nearly impersonal yet not quite, he authored this book in such a way that you could almost forget the injustice he was living through at the time. He did not just talk law and court trials, he shared his journey, detailing his serving jail time, confinement, seeking justice, reacclimatizing to society, and whatnot. Even as he patiently expounded on the law process that he underwent in very simple terms, he did not drop the ball in giving us a snippet of the 'abnormal normal' he now had as his life. He did not shy away from this and I truly commend him for his bravery in not only reliving his story but also in his sharing it with us. I would not have had the book in any other way.
His truthfulness is depicted throughout the book, and this was seen even more clearly in how he described his stay in the prison camp. He forged new relationships with men from different backgrounds and was able to in fact make the most of the resources he had on hand. While I must say that this is no survival guide, it really helps to know how prison life is, from the perspective of one who was once privileged to lead a middle-class life in the United States. He shared so much about his life in prison; the rough-handling he had to suffer from the guards, racism, faith, teaching, the whole works. He really turned every stone, paying attention to detail and never really shying away from 'hard' topics.
The footnotes he used were very informative but did affect reading, and at times, I just ignored it. I guess he was just trying to accommodate the likelihood of his readers getting lost in the midst of the somewhat heavy use of legal and insurance terminologies. The footnotes were a necessary evil truly yet were much appreciated.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. Well edited and perfectly paced. How they managed the back and forth, moving from the present to the time in prison and still returning to his moments before it is nothing short of incredible. Of all though, I found hope in how he was not shy to appreciate the love of his life in the person of his wife. It really goes to show how important our loved ones are. Theirs' is a love to celebrate, to commend. I also think that the book's title is quite fitting and I hope with all my heart that he indeed gets his justice and that he would detail the rest of his journey while at it. I loved the book, and I most definitely respect the businessman who chose to stick his neck out and was able to speak against the vile injustice he and many others suffered, suffer, and will still continue to suffer if we continue on this path. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.
******
Junk Justice
View: on Bookshelves
Junk Justice: A Law Abiding Businessman's Tragic Quest for Due Process by Gerry Rising is a gripping story of a man who found himself on the wrong side of the law. His life before him played out a script he was none too aware of, suffering at the hands of the very justice system that he once was sure would, if not protect, hear him out. Get ready to be taken through one of the most ridiculous law processes I have ever been briefed on in my life.
Mr. Rising at the cusp of his retirement, got himself tangled up with the law and her consisting unscrupulous members. From a tumor cell of sorts; this description relating to the negligent auditing (not on Mr. Rising's side, to be sure), to the malignancy so manifested in a system riddled with egoistic, self-serving prosecutors and judges, you will realize that Mr. Rising was indeed roped into acting out a part in this sordid play, one that if asked some twelve years ago, would be sure he would not feature in for any reason. That right there is the incredulity of the justice system. The system that would so incongruously withhold justice from its seeker, neglecting 'exculpatory' evidence as Mr. Rising calls it, accompanying such with the malicious dispensation of duty. This book really does not tell us anything new but in fact, reaffirms my mistrust in human systems; that the government and all of its arms are against the citizenry and that to place one's complete trust in it or/and 'them' would be foolhardy.
Without mincing words, I must say right this instant that I do not in any way doubt Mr. Rising's story. While I cannot imply that I am not emotionally compromised to make this assertion, I believe I have a lot of evidence to stand unabashedly by it. Mr. Rising gives his reader this privilege by helping us to actually know how the government can so blatantly delay and deny justice to its 'targeted.' If it is anything, this book has helped me better appreciate the way behind-the-scenes legislation runs, even in my country (wherein, you can most certainly expect underhanded practices), through the explicit, and at times, the almost painful process so detailed in Junk Justice.
One of the charms of this book apart from the story itself is the manner in which the author tackles his storytelling. Nearly impersonal yet not quite, he authored this book in such a way that you could almost forget the injustice he was living through at the time. He did not just talk law and court trials, he shared his journey, detailing his serving jail time, confinement, seeking justice, reacclimatizing to society, and whatnot. Even as he patiently expounded on the law process that he underwent in very simple terms, he did not drop the ball in giving us a snippet of the 'abnormal normal' he now had as his life. He did not shy away from this and I truly commend him for his bravery in not only reliving his story but also in his sharing it with us. I would not have had the book in any other way.
His truthfulness is depicted throughout the book, and this was seen even more clearly in how he described his stay in the prison camp. He forged new relationships with men from different backgrounds and was able to in fact make the most of the resources he had on hand. While I must say that this is no survival guide, it really helps to know how prison life is, from the perspective of one who was once privileged to lead a middle-class life in the United States. He shared so much about his life in prison; the rough-handling he had to suffer from the guards, racism, faith, teaching, the whole works. He really turned every stone, paying attention to detail and never really shying away from 'hard' topics.
The footnotes he used were very informative but did affect reading, and at times, I just ignored it. I guess he was just trying to accommodate the likelihood of his readers getting lost in the midst of the somewhat heavy use of legal and insurance terminologies. The footnotes were a necessary evil truly yet were much appreciated.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. Well edited and perfectly paced. How they managed the back and forth, moving from the present to the time in prison and still returning to his moments before it is nothing short of incredible. Of all though, I found hope in how he was not shy to appreciate the love of his life in the person of his wife. It really goes to show how important our loved ones are. Theirs' is a love to celebrate, to commend. I also think that the book's title is quite fitting and I hope with all my heart that he indeed gets his justice and that he would detail the rest of his journey while at it. I loved the book, and I most definitely respect the businessman who chose to stick his neck out and was able to speak against the vile injustice he and many others suffered, suffer, and will still continue to suffer if we continue on this path. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.
******
Junk Justice
View: on Bookshelves
That which can kill, can save
Latest Review: Junk Justice by Gerry Rising
