Shelf Control

Shelf Control is a weekly feature from Bookshelf Fantasies! The goal is to take a look at the books that are already released that you own but have not read yet. I have MANY that fall under that category so this feature is perfect for me. Check out Lisa’s inaugural post for more details!

Title: Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town
Author: Jon Krakauer
Published: Published January 12th 2016 by Anchor (first published April 21st 2015)
Length: 398 Pages

Goodreads Summary: Missoula, Montana is a typical college town, home to a highly regarded state university whose beloved football team inspires a passionately loyal fan base. Between January 2008 and May 2012, hundreds of students reported sexual assaults to the local police. Few of the cases were properly handled by either the university or local authorities. In this, Missoula is also typical.

In these pages, acclaimed journalist Jon Krakauer investigates a spate of campus rapes that occurred in Missoula over a four-year period. Taking the town as a case study for a crime that is sadly prevalent throughout the nation, Krakauer documents the experiences of five victims: their fear and self-doubt in the aftermath; the skepticism directed at them by police, prosecutors, and the public; their bravery in pushing forward and what it cost them. These stories cut through abstract ideological debate about acquaintance rape to demonstrate that it does not happen because women are sending mixed signals or seeking attention. They are victims of a terrible crime, deserving of fairness from our justice system. Rigorously researched, rendered in incisive prose, Missoula stands as an essential call to action.

How I Got It: I bought it.

When I Got It: January 2016

Why I Want To Read It: Several reasons. I have read 3 of Jon Krakauer’s other books and devoured them. I’ve wanted to read this since it was published but wanted to wait until the paperback came out to match my other Krakauer collection. I also almost attended the University of Missoula for college. I chose it for this week’s Shelf Control because of recent events that pretty much everyone in the world has heard about with the Brock Turner case at Stanford University. I’m very interested to hear about these other cases that Krakauer researched and while I know it will most likely prove to be a very upsetting read, it’s an important topic.

Have any of you read this book? What did you think of it?