Life After Death

I'm not the book reviewer in my family but this book moved me so much that I felt compelled to post a review.The broad range of emotions I felt while reading "Life After Death" is unlike anything I have ever experienced from written words. It was truly emotionally draining. Laughter, hate, disgust, sadness, hope, happiness, joy, wonder, amazement... Maybe it is because I have followed the case for years, read every book published, court transcripts, watched the media coverage as well as the films. I feel close to these men I have never met. You would think knowing the ending, I would not have broken down in sobs, but I did. There are many realities out there that we go through life without ever knowing...It blew my mind that this man, that failed two grades in school, never graduated, was wrongly convicted of murder and spent 18 years, pretty much in solitary confinement could write like he does. His mind is brilliant and his writing will move you. When he writes of his love for his now wife it will melt you, when he describes his hell (prison) you will feel despair and hopelessness..."Life After Death" is not about the case. It is about Damien's life before and during prison and just a little after being released (it went to editing only 6 months after his release from death row). It is a book that will make you want to change the prison system and leave you wondering how such an injustice could happen in America (and does on a regular basis).Read this book! It is worth your time. It just might change your life or at the very least make you pause and wonder how you can help right such injustices. It will cause you to take notice of how very blessed you are and as Damien hopes make you aware of all the "magick" around you.Edit noteThere was one paragraph towards the end of the book about an Arkansas law, that suggests they may execute a prisoner in any way they see fit. I am not sure this is an acurate statement. The US Constitution will supersede any state law that is in direct conflict with its provisions (except those specifically reserved for the states). So if there is an Arkansas state law that allows the warden to choose the method of execution, that law would be valid insofar as it does not conflict with the Constitution prohibition against "cruel and unusual" punishment. Such as starving an inmate to death which I belive is suggested in the chapter this law is mentioned.I believe there was a court hearing earlier this year about the Arkansas law and that it was deemed unconstitutional. The focus of that case was on the chemicals used for executions so I am not sure if the wording lead some to think that the warden had full control over the method used. But then that is what courts are for not to write laws but to interpret them.

Echols doesn't always come across as the most reliable narrator, and while he openly admits to making a string of really terrible decisions growing up, it is this honesty that gives rise to the thought that there is another side of the story that isn't being told. Not to say he had any involvement in the West Memphis killings, on the contrary, there is no doubt that Damien Echols was an innocent man, a fact has been accepted by all but the legal system.Even before the victims were murdered his life was horrendous, but while he often paints himself as a victim, there is enough irritating teenage angst and narcissism showing to wonder how much of it he brought on himself. Now, I'm not saying he deserved to grow up in poverty with neglectful and abusive parents and an absence of role models, but he comes across as so intelligent and insightful that you almost expect him to have known better. There were several times I wanted to grab him and shake some sense into him... it was like reading about my 17 year old self in some regards (and I was a total ratbag, so I get it!).The descriptive language used was really quite lovely, he's no William Faulkner, no Mark Twin, no Tennessee Williams, but he brings the South to life and really includes it as a character in its own right. That itself makes the story a compelling read, and if you dont mind the metaphysical and spiritual tones that colour the whole way through, this is actually a really beautiful book.More than once I wondered what his life would have become if he had not been imprisoned at such a young age, and as an innocent. As an unemployed teenage father, intelligent but uneducated and without the means to improve his life, his exposure to the spiritual path he eventually took and the dedication to his learning would most certainly have been in doubt, and there is little to suggest he wouldn't have ended up in prison on account of his obvious temper and the constant emotional turmoil life presented him.Touching and raw, brutal and unflinching, it is more than the story of an innocent man on death row. It is a coming of age story, a love story, an ensemble comedy about eccentric family members and crazy cell mates. It is deep and thoughtful and at times really very funny. The man Damien Echols has become is definitely a person of great passion and great worth, and I wish him nothing but the best for his future.

I don’t know where to begin my review. I probably should take more time to process all of what I knew so little about before I say anything much. But from the moment I read about Lorri and her letter to Damien, even knowing I was ultimately going to be reading even harder things as I turned each page, I knew or felt that if the two of them are together at the end of the book then I truly will believe it’s a life changing read. And if they are not then it to will be a life changing read but not with the same emotion. I didn’t do what I usually do and spin the pages. I truly turned one at a time. And I had hoped there would be another book and I ran out crying to my husband that there is another book and it’s the letters. And I wasn’t getting it as soon as possible. That was instant. These two people are beautiful and that’s not even a big enough word. Winter will never just be mean winter to me anymore. And snow is going to be something I hope I never complain about again. I also hope people who read this also take the time to find all the beauty within this book. I hope it changes your mornings. I hope it changes your life.

ya conocía la historia de los 3 de west memphis pero este libro escrito por uno de sus protagonistas damien echols es realmente escalofriante... una prueba mas de como en la america profunda la gente esta llena de prejuicios y es capaz de condenar a muerte a alguien solo por vestir y ser diferente. un relato increible que te deja helado. La realidad una vez mas supera a toda ficcion.

Excellent insight into Damien Echols life and time in prison.

First of all, this book is beautifully written. Echols is someone with high intelligence, is very well read, and has a fantastic writing style. I simply could not put this book down, and used every spare minute I had to immerse myself into his life. I still can't stop thinking about this case.I remember the case about WM3 years ago, when the actual story broke and years later, when it was becoming more common knowledge that these three may in fact, be completely innocent. I remember Eddie Vedder getting involved. I can't remember what I thought when the actual story broke, I may in fact have been very naive and just took the story as the truth and believed they had indeed carried out these crimes, but I was young then and believed that the media doesn't lie and that the police surely don't! Now, at almost age 40 myself, I know that this view on the world is incredibly and sadly very wrong. We have so much corruption going on and that people in power are abusing their roles in so many ways. Its an epidemic in the world.I found this book incredibly sad, even before the murders happened and were discussed in the book. I felt myself wanting to cry for Damien's childhood experience, his parents simply were never really there for him (narcissistic mother and absent father) and he had to be shipped around from one caregiver to the other, suffering so much abuse from some of them. His mother couldn't' be on her own, and married anyone basically! they lived in extreme poverty and didn't have much food to eat at times. It was incredibly depressing to read about his life, I tried to imagine what it was like myself. No wonder he wore black and was fascinated by 'dark things' I was too at his age, I was incredibly morbid and suicidal because I was so damn unhappy at home. But really my experiences were nothing compared to Damien's.Damien's intelligence as I said, is far higher than the average person, especially those that live in a bible bashing area of the USA where they are more like sheep and believe everything they are told and don't have the brains to do their own research. I believe this high intelligence also added to him as thought of as being evil. He was so well read and knew so much about many different subjects because he was an avid reader who could understand so much. I think it intimidated the.....dare I say it, pretty thick minded police.Damien was targeted by the local police a few years before these murders took place and, as he was from such a gossipy area, he always stuck out like a sore thumb. So of course, when these awful murders happened, they looked straight at him. In hindsight I wonder if Damien ever looks back and thinks, 'If only I didn't wear those black clothes' as silly as this sounds, I do think that would have changed everything - he wouldnt have fit the 'satanic worshipping' status.Reading about Damien's experience in prison, on death row for a crime he did not commit was truly shocking, disgusting and horrifying. Its no wonder, and a test to his incredible ability to keep fighting - that he is not permanently crazy these days. I would have been and I'd say 99% of the population would be too. Who can get through repeated bashings, awful verbal abuse, living in such unhygienic conditions, eating disgusting food for years on end and not receiving any medical care. Its so sad to hear that he now has permanent physical injuries and cannot see very well. He did not feel the rays of sunshine on his body for a DECADE. that is cruel beyond belief not to mention so very bad for his health.Something that was so tragic was the fact that Damien missed out on his own sons life for almost 18 years. He missed out on the birth and getting to know his son. How can one get that back, and receive justice? As we all now know, the three boys, Damien, Jason and Jessie (no longer boys of course, but now fully grown men) are out. They are free, but not exonerated, and I pray that they will one day receive it.There's still a lot of ignorance out there, especially those that live in the state of Arkansas (huge bible bashing area not known for it's super intelligent people) still think they did it, yet they haven't ever been smart enough themselves to look at the lack of evidence proving any of them had anything to do with it and look at the evidence pointing to other people!. Simple alibi's were not used in court and SO much information was rejected. To get out, the boys had to say that they were guilty, but this is not an admission that they did it, but just to get out of jail. I would have done the same!! It was the Alford plea (i think thats the name) that was the only way for them to get out but some of the unintelligent people out there they think they actually 'finally admitted they were guilty' Um no, if that was so, they wouldn't have been allowed out! Do people really think that they system would let them out if they genuinely said they were guilty!! I think this Alford plea was used because it meant that the WM3 can not sue the state for the years of horrific abuse and lack of freedom that they had dished out on them. Imagine the money that would be required to pay these boys out!! Multi millions!Personally I wish to see the police officers involved in the case, who blatantly coerced people like Jesse into giving a false statement (Jesse is mentally handicapped, and was very easy to scare into lying) go on trial for what they did, same with the lawyers and judges who ignored many things in court that would have showed these three were innocent. and for the guards in prison who dished out so much horrific violence? I just hope that saying is true, 'every dog gets their day'.It was fascinating to read about Damien's spiritual practices to help him survive his time in jail. Meditation and buddhist practices and other much talked about practices, helped him use his mind to keep him sane and to help his body stay as well as it could.Damien says he doesn't feel brave about his time in jail but he so is. Many of us would have just given up and wouldnt have had an ounce of the determination and motivation that Damien had. A year in that prison on death row would have destroyed me, let alone 18!!!I also found the love story between Damien and Lorri so beautiful to read, it sounds like if it wasn't for her, the situation today may indeed be very different. I am going to be purchasing their joint book asap.I'm happy to see that Damien now speaks on TV about the Justice system (or lack of it!) and is receiving some major air time. Im also happy that Anonymous are involved in this case now too and hope that they can really help the boys become cleared completely finally.I hope that the next chapter of his life is full of amazing things, health, love, peace and happiness.I cannot recommend this book more, its simply brilliant and I am telling as many people as I can about this and the case in general.Best wishes to you Damien for a much better and brighter future!

Live is incredible. Just being alive for fantastic things happen. Learning to deal with suffering is the most important. I admire Damien Echols.

j avais vu Devil s Knot le film inspiré de l histoire de ces trois ados arrêtés et condamnés à mort pour le meurtre de trois enfants, et jai voulu en savoir plus sur les présumés coupables. Ce livre m a beaucoup touché , et apporte les réponses aux questions que je me posais sur cette histoire . je le conseille vivement