Book: Through the Glass
Author: Shannon Moroney
Article Type: Book Review
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About the Book: An impassioned, harrowing and ultimately hopeful story of one woman’s pursuit of justice, forgiveness and healing.
When Shannon Moroney married in October of 2005, she had no idea that her happy life as a newlywed was about to come crashing down around her. One month after her wedding, a police officer arrived at her door to tell her that her husband, Jason, had been arrested and charged in the brutal assault and kidnapping of two women. In the aftermath of these crimes, Shannon dealt with a heavy burden of grief, the stress and publicity of a major criminal investigation, and the painful stigma of guilt-by-association, all while attempting to understand what had made Jason turn to such violence.
In this intimate and gripping journey into prisons, courtrooms and the human heart, Shannon reveals the far-reaching impact of Jason’s crimes, the agonizing choices faced by the loved ones of offenders and the implicit dangers of a correctional system and a society that prioritizes punishment over rehabilitation, and victimhood over recovery.
Read on October 11, 2012
Read for Review (Edelweiss)
Overall Rating 3.50
First Thought when Finished: NonFiction is such a hard thing to review because it is so personal. Through the Glass is one of those stories that needs to be read but won’t be easy.
What I Thought of the “Story”: Through the Glass is the story of a woman who finds out that her husband has committed a horrific crime. This is not his first offence but no one in the system saw it coming. It is about her journey as a victim, wife, activist, and daughter through the ordeal. I think much of the story shines a light on things that need to be taken into consideration when we hear stories of horrible things happening. The victims are not always just the obvious ones. How the system handles the other parties involved is often as bad as them being the perps themselves. Through the Glass did a terrific job of shining a light on that.
What I Thought of Shannon: Shannon herself did not come across too sympathetic in Through the Glass almost from the beginning. Her incessant need to know who the victims were. Crossing people off her “golden circle” list because they didn’t tell her was “off-putting” to say the least. Her thoughts over the baby that she might have lost were a little over-played. I did feel that she had some very bad things happen to her and there should be more of a system in place for the spouses/family of the perp. They are not responsible in most cases for the actions of the one person and should not be held accountable.
Last thought: Through the Glass was a very interesting look at the victims of association and their struggle to move forward.
© 2012, Geeky Bloggers Book Blog.
This book seems to offer a different perspective. I think that most people don’t consider how it must be for the spouse, kids, and other family members during a tragedy. That’s a hard one.
Oh I agree, I never thought too much about the perpertrator’s families until I read Send and it would be so horrible to not know that someone you love is committing crimes, it would be awful!
It is such a hard thing she went through! I think the perp’s family are victims too and often get some of the blame that should not be theirs :(
Oh this sounds like a book I would want to throw. Better not read it on my ereader… ;)
I’m not sure this one is for me. I can see a lot of important issues being handled here, but I would want to feel more for Shannon. Still, brilly review! :)
I don’t really think you would like this book. I occasionally crave a nonfiction read and true crime is often what I lean too. It was a tough read!
Wow. It doesn’t sound like I would dig it but it sounds like it brings up somethings I hadn’t considered. I do always feel bad for the family of the crazies.
I love true crime but this wasn’t the best one I have ever read. I did like the angle of being from the perps family though. I just hadn’t thought much about them at all.
I can’t even imagine going through something like this. I wouldn’t know what to do if cops showed up at my door claiming my husband was someone I never believed he could possibly be. *shudders* Too bad Shannon is a character hard to sympathize with, I think in a situation like this I would need to feel super connected to her.
I can’t imagine it either. That would be world shattering in a lot of ways! I think my problem with Shannon had to do with trying to get the other’s victims names. That just seemed insensitive to me.
I am not sure I’d like the wife then…dunno
This book is definitely not for everyone.
Hmm..this sounds like an interesting read. I often see high profile murders..and while I feel sorry for the victim and their family, i often wonder about the convict’s parents, siblings etc..how do they move forward.
I think it has to be hard on the perp’s loved one especially their wives. I think in some cases it is like a dual personality and it would be so hard to accept that you lived with a monster. I can’t even imagine trusting my own judgement after that!
WOW! What a heavy read. I would have needed to read something very light after.
I read Ghost Ops #1 (Romantic Suspense) afterwards. Yep this one was heavy and not easy to read at all. It was an interesting look at the Justice system in Canada though.