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CLOSING TIME: THE TRUE STORY OF THE "GOODBAR" MURDER
CLOSING TIME: THE TRUE STORY OF THE "GOODBAR" MURDER | LACEY FOSBURGH
9 posts | 7 read | 17 to read
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Cinsarly
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Pickpick

Very loose biography (ex. the author invents "likely" dialogue) that follows the murderer and victim through time. Less time is spent with the victim's story (her friends and family didn't support the writing of the book), which does/could tilt sympathy toward the murderer. Still found it fascinating! Loved the timeline convergence and description of NYC in the 70s. #WinterGames #SlayBells #HolidayRead @MidnightBookGirl @Clwojick @StayCurious

MidnightBookGirl Me too! 21pts! 6y
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MidnightBookGirl
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Pickpick

Why, yes, I am wearing Christmas corgi leggings. #NoRegrets. Finished this for true crime book club- picked bc the murder takes place on New Year's Day. It's a bit dated bc the murder happened in the 70s, but still very interesting. The author calls it a “interpretive biography“ so she changes most of the names, which was weird. Inspired the book and movie Looking for Mr. Goodbar. #WinterGames @Clwojick @StayCurious #SlayBells #HolidayRead (21pts)

kimmypete1 🎶Closing time
🎶One last call for alcohol so finish your whiskey or beer.
🎶Closing time
🎶You don't have to go home but you can't stay here.
6y
MidnightBookGirl @petersonks15 Every time I even think of the book's title, I start singing this song. 6y
guinsgirlreads I might have to try to fit this one in!! 👏 👏 6y
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KrisConstantReader
Pickpick

I wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did, due to the "interpretive biography" aspect of it, but the book won me over. Both the writing and the story just draw you in. 4 stars???? Thank you to Netgalley and Open Road Media for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Girl_Power Thanks, @KrisConstantReader! Officially on my TBR! What are some of your other true crime faves? 10y
KrisConstantReader @Girl_Power Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil; Justice by Dominick Dunne; In Cold Blood; The Mayor of Castro Street; The Executioners Song; The Dead Girl; Columbine; Shot in the Heart by Mikal Gilmore...man, there's so many. OH-Alligator Candy, high on the list for sure! Several are more memoirs 10y
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KrisConstantReader @Girl_Power more than straight up true crime. If you click on the link of the review above, I have a favorites section and also a true crime section; there's a lot more listed there. 10y
KrisConstantReader @Girl_Power do you have any favorites? 10y
Girl_Power @KrisConstantReader Awesome, thank you!! This is new territory for me. I read three true crimes that blew my mind this year, and now I am obsessed. This House of Grief, Lost Girls and The Yoga Store Murder (cheesy title, fab book). 10y
Girl_Power @KrisConstantReader Although I guess I am not a total newbie, as I have read and utterly love a few of your suggestions, like Columbine, Mailer, Capote and Dunne. Off to track down the rest! 10y
KrisConstantReader @Girl_Power wow, I've never heard of those and they all sound great! Now I definitely need to look them up. Hey, are you on Goodreads? If you are, add me there. 10y
Girl_Power @KrisConstantReader Sadly, I am not on GR. But I'm going to try to backlist some of my faves on Litsy. I'll tag you when I do. 10y
brendanmleonard @KrisConstantReader your true crime faves are almost identical to mine lol 10y
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KrisConstantReader
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"She drinks glasses of Tab and talks like someone lying on the beach who is too hot and drowsy to move." Gosh, I remember Tab!

BlueNoodleFritz I loved that stuff as a kid. I thought I was being so cool drinking it. 10y
KrisConstantReader @BlueNoodleFritz and Mr. Pibb! I loved that one. 10y
McFarchie Haha 10y
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KrisConstantReader
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I love this. It's the murder victim's friend describing what she was really like. As the family member of a murder victim myself, I know that you don't hear stories like this when the murder is covered in the media. The real person gets lost; what remains are lurid details of how they were killed.

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Love the quote, so sorry to hear about your family member. 10y
KrisConstantReader @Riveted_Reader_Melissa thanks, I appreciate that. 10y
laurenm @KrisConstantReader So sorry for your loss.. 10y
KrisConstantReader @laurenm thank you! It was a long time ago, but, of course, it never leaves you. 10y
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KrisConstantReader
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And THIS is how your son becomes a murderer, lol.

razmanda Poor Joe Willie! 10y
KrisConstantReader @razmanda nah, he grew up and murdered a woman, and it's a true story. 10y
Laura317 That's horrible! Poor little boy. 10y
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razmanda Oh, wow! So maybe don't tease my kid about giving her away. Got it. Also, no double-names. 10y
KrisConstantReader @razmanda hahaha! She didn't use real names in the book, I think the guy's real name was John Wayne Johnson or something like that. John Wayne for sure. 10y
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KrisConstantReader
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I don't know what to think about this. First she says that "everything here is true," in the next paragraph says that she "created scenes or dialogue I think it reasonable and fair to assume COULD have taken place, perhaps even did." I think that makes it fiction. @brendanmleonard @Girl_Power

Reviewsbylola I feel like they all have to say something along those lines just to cover their asses. A lot of it probably has to do with lawsuits like the one with Augusten Burroughs and Running with Scissors. 10y
KrisConstantReader @Reviewsbylola I don't think so--I read a lot of nonfiction and true crime, I've never seen one that's claims to be "interpretive fiction"--(that was on the previous page) or that says they created things that "could have happened." It seems to be over the line in claiming to be the "true story." 10y
Reviewsbylola It's definitely more prevalent in memoirs, so that's interesting. 10y
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Carol Usually when I've seen things like this it's in fiction. Speculative fiction, biographical fiction, etc. Most people understand narrative nonfiction has to have some pieces filled in from the author's imagination. To come out and say it like this would concern me, too. 10y
KrisConstantReader The book still seems great, very well-written, interesting. Unfortunately, while reading it I find myself wondering if each scene is true. I think I need to just let it go, lol, and enjoy the book for what it is. 10y
KrisConstantReader @Carol you should see the cover, it says "The True Story of the Goodbar Murder." So it's very misleading. I saw it described somewhere as a blend of fiction and nonfiction, that just doesn't appeal to me. With that said, the book is excellent so far. 10y
Carol Any sources cited/bibliography? Reading something that could be more fiction than I realize would probably send me on a research mission when I finish the book. I'd want to find more facts & compare to the text. I can get neurotic about that. Good luck! 10y
KrisConstantReader I'm the same way. There's really nothing except where she said that she interviewed virtually everyone connected with the case. But this is an ARC, maybe the actual book has that info. I did a little research, it appears to be a relatively famous book first released just a few years after the murder 10y
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KrisConstantReader
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Latest arrival from Netgalley, it seems to be a re-release of a book originally published in 1976. Date of publication is listed as July 5, 2016--I need to read this fast! And I now have 8 others waiting...be careful what you wish for. This book does look great, though.

brendanmleonard Oooh! I am fascinated by this case. 10y
KrisConstantReader @brendanmleonard I was really excited about it until I read that the book is "interpretive non-fiction." Meaning that the author invented parts of it. That really turns me off, especially when the cover says it's the "True Story." Still, it seems pretty good, aside from that. 10y
brendanmleonard @KrisConstantReader that's really irritating but I also know there's still a lot that's unknown about certain elements of the Goodbar case...it seems like that's a common technique (see also: In Cold Blood)...but I agree, don't advertise as true. 10y
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Girl_Power Can't wait to hear your final verdict! I am fine with interpretive non-fic, as I think even the most objective writers cast a slight interpretation when describing events (see Hhhh by Laurent Binet). But I do agree, the ones purposely made up should be labeled as "fiction based on a true story." 10y
KrisConstantReader @Girl_Power although, I think what she mainly made up were thoughts and dialogue that, of course, nobody can possibly know. From what I gather, the events are all true but many scenes and dialogue are invented. 10y
KrisConstantReader @Girl_Power I just finished it and it was way better than I expected. Definitely worth a read. Solid 4 stars (out of 5). 10y
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