It can feel like the world has been absolutely saturated with true crime stories in recent years, from podcasts to television shows to books. And while a collective fascination with serial killers and the darker parts of society makes sense, the vast majority of these stories are simply about men and their violence toward women and other marginalized groups. In Bright Young Women, though, author Jessica Knoll turns these stories on their heads by centering the victims of one of the most infamous serial killers in American history – who she never even names in her text (it’s Ted Bundy, though that’s not very important). Bundy’s judge described him as a “bright young man” during his sentencing. And journalists ran with the story that he was handsome, intelligent, and charismatic. But Knoll’s book tells a different story: The one of the women whose lives were shattered by his killings, both those who survived and those who did not. Focused on the sorority house where he killed two women and assaulted 4 in 1978, this book is a smart, refreshing, and riveting look at assault, trauma, and healing, as well as how sexism and misogyny warp our nation’s narrative about perpetrators. I am definitely a person who enjoys true crime and serial killer tales, though I also recognize their popularity as problematic. As I read Bright Young Women, I finally gained a better understanding of the why behind it all. This story is both gripping and important, and it pulled me in from the first page to the last. Can’t wait to discuss it with both you and the author at the end of the month! – Sarah Aswell, Senior Editor |
