Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Getting Life

I've read various news accounts of people wrongly convicted of murder finally being freed after spending years in prison.



Getting Life: An Innocent Man's 25-Year Journey From Prison to Peace by Michael Morton is Morton's own account of spending twenty-five years in prison for the murder of his wife.

In 1986, Michael was happily married with a three year old son, Eric.  After a night out with his wife, he left for work the next morning. By the time he returned home that night, the police were at his home, collecting evidence for the murder of his beloved wife.  

Morton cooperated with police, wanting them to find the person who committed this horrible crime.  However, because of a variety of factors- a police chief who had already decided Morton was guilty being a major contributor, Morton realized that police were not looking at anyone beside him.

Morton's account of his life is harrowing - something too horrible to imagine. And what comes through is that Morton is a person just like you or me.  That he could spend twenty five years in prison for a crime he didn't commit is terrifying.  

Morton's writing is easy to read.  He can tell his story well.  And, he manages to hit the major points, allowing the twenty five year time period to pass without belaboring what must have seemed to him the exceedingly slow passage of time.  

Morton has accepted his life and what happened to him.  He does not preach at the reader or offer religious advice, but it is evident that his faith in God-  achieved during his prison stay- is what has allowed him to move on. 

Getting Life is a book that will amaze you and make you think twice about what you believe.

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