Last Face You'll Ever See: The Culture of Death Row Book

This book is a poignant look behind the veil into the psychological make up and character of the executioner succeeds as a pioneer into the reality of the Death Penalty in America. I found this book well researched, objective, and not afraid to mark any question as taboo. To say I was affected by this book is an understatement. However, in writing this book there were some stylistic issues that I had with it. I think that the lack of focus and tangents made this book a bit more tedious than it meant to be and I think that, while the tangents were extremely interesting, it left much to be desired. So, the problematic over-all flow and organization of the book did not seem a natural choice for this reader.

But I do not fault Solotaroff on this literary "failing" (if you even want to call it that). The years and time he put into researching and interviewing the people who were willing to talk told a vivid true-story that should affect a person immediately, with no question, no matter which side of the issue or in-between they have chosen. I think this book is much more palatable to anti-death penalty, but I do believe that the book is accessible to people who are very much for the death penalty as well.

Solotaroff has written a book that I wanted to read. That in and of itself makes me biased; it makes me want to give it a 4 or a 5. But as a reviewer I can't say that it would clearly make that mark on every reader. I can say, though, that if the book is read with the understanding that this particular research and these particular interviews are extremely difficult to arrange as well as an understanding that this is a first of its kind book, I think that the reader will be rewarded as I was. The book never asks you to pick a side; it never slips into strong opinions on the author's part and provides insight from many angles. It promises a glimpse and it gives the reader one.

This is more than just an objective commentary on the death penalty. It is, instead, a study of humanity. It's a glimpse into the enormous amount of pressure that can break one person and solidify another. And yet in this whole subject it also shows an uncanny bond in humanity. And I'll leave that up to you to find out.