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Picking Cotton
Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption | Jennifer Thompson-Cannino, Ronald Cotton, Erin Torneo
13 posts | 13 read | 14 to read
Jennifer Thompson was raped at knifepoint by a man who broke into her apartment while she slept. She was able to escape, and eventually positively identified Ronald Cotton as her attacker. Ronald insisted that she was mistaken-- but Jennifer's positive identification was the compelling evidence that put him behind bars. After eleven years, Ronald was allowed to take a DNA test that proved his innocence. He was released, after serving more than a decade in prison for a crime he never committed. Two years later, Jennifer and Ronald met face to face-- and forged an unlikely friendship that changed both of their lives. In their own words, Jennifer and Ronald unfold the harrowing details of their tragedy, and challenge our ideas of memory and judgment while demonstrating the profound nature of human grace and the healing power of forgiveness.
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CorgiBooks
Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption | Jennifer Thompson-Cannino, Ronald Cotton, Erin Torneo
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Pickpick

A great read, but equally hard to read as a survivor. It was fascinating to see the legal and prison systems from first hand experience, and the collaboration between two victims in tandem through the book is an incredible way to tell the story

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Addison_Reads
Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption | Jennifer Thompson-Cannino, Ronald Cotton, Erin Torneo
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Pickpick

Wow! This book is eye-opening, humbling, and simply amazing.

This true story follows the wrongful incarceration of a black male for a rape he did not commit. We as the reader get to see both sides of this story.

I'm so thankful for a world with DNA testing now, but so many are still serving time for crimes they did not commit. The forgiveness and love in this story is the most amazing part, and exactly what we all need to practice more.

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Blueberry
Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption | Jennifer Thompson-Cannino, Ronald Cotton, Erin Torneo
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Pickpick

This was eye-opening book read for f2f bookclub. 4 stars.

runswithscissors007 does f2f mean face to face? 🙃 🤓 😬 5y
Blueberry @runswithscissors007 yes, as in real life. 😀 5y
63 likes2 comments
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Wife
Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption | Jennifer Thompson-Cannino, Ronald Cotton, Erin Torneo
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Pickpick

Yay DNA 🧬! Jennifer Thompson-Cannino mistakenly identified Ronald Cotton as the man who broke into her apartment and brutally raped her. He spent 11 yrs of his life serving time in prison. Enter science and the ability to prove he was not at the scene of the crime. This is an account of incredible forgiveness and a beautiful friendship told from each point of view. When googling a pic of the friends, I learned that a movie is in the works. 3/5🧬s

45 likes1 stack add
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Blueberry
Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption | Jennifer Thompson-Cannino, Ronald Cotton, Erin Torneo
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My next f2f bookclub read.

59 likes2 stack adds
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Bubblebelle
Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption | Jennifer Thompson-Cannino, Ronald Cotton, Erin Torneo
Pickpick

A game changer and a ground shaker. This true story was recommended to me in my Forensic Psychology class and I am endlessly glad I picked up a copy. I‘m going to warn you from experience- don‘t read this on the bus unless you‘re happy to cry in public!!

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Amiable
Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption | Jennifer Thompson-Cannino, Ronald Cotton, Erin Torneo
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Pickpick

An account written in alternating chapters by a woman who was raped and by the man she mistakenly identified as her attacker. He spent 11 years in prison for the crime before DNA evidence proved his innocence. I thought the writing style was fairly simplistic -- which made it a quick read, but still a decent one.

50 likes2 stack adds
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Insightsintobooks
Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption | Jennifer Thompson-Cannino, Ronald Cotton, Erin Torneo
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Jennick2004 Definitely! 6y
55 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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BookBridget
Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption | Jennifer Thompson-Cannino, Ronald Cotton, Erin Torneo
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Pickpick

I read this a few years ago but it still holds a strong impression on me. This is a true story. I rarely read non-fiction but I just adored this book.

A young white woman is raped, she identifies her rapist and he is sentenced to prison for life. He "Cotton" maintains his innocence.

Without giving too much away this book is about acknowledging that all you thought was true isn't, forgiveness, understanding and moving forward.

RaimeyGallant Interesting. 7y
34 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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xernnn
Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption | Jennifer Thompson-Cannino, Ronald Cotton, Erin Torneo

Really interesting read, this one.

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MallenNC
Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption | Jennifer Thompson-Cannino, Ronald Cotton, Erin Torneo
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This is a book about a wrongful conviction, which happened in part because of a mistaken ID by the victim. Years later, when Ronald Cotton was released, he met with, and forgave, Jennifer Thompson-Cannino for her part in this injustice. She had carried tremendous guilt. Now they both speak around the country, telling their story, to try to improve our justice system. Amazing #Forgiveness #MagicalMarch @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Cinfhen Got goosebumps reading the blurb...sounds really good 7y
MallenNC @Cinfhen It's a great book on a tough subject. I read it years ago but the case is mentioned in another book I read last month, about North Carolina's Innocence Inquiry Commission. 7y
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Cinfhen That one sounds just as gripping....which do you recommend more @MallenNC 7y
MallenNC @Cinfhen if I had to choose, I would chose Picking Cotton. It's focused on that particular case, and it is told by those directly affected. 7y
vkois88 Definitely adding this to my TBR 7y
23 likes1 stack add6 comments
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SaraBeagle
Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption | Jennifer Thompson-Cannino, Ronald Cotton, Erin Torneo
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Pickpick

Interesting story on two perspectives and experiences with the justice system. And how they're working through what happened to them to fix the problems that led to where they are.