This was, as advertised, the fastest 1,000 pages I’ve ever read. It was a lot more than that too.

I didn’t know anything about this story going in. I didn’t even seek this out. I was browsing a bookstore and it was thick, I knew Mailer’s name (and had read nothing by him), and it sounded interesting. In truth, I though this was fiction until I was home! In Dave Eggers’ introduction, he recommends going in cold, so I did. What a ride. I’m not spoiling anything below.

The first half flew by. Gilmore’s story was extremely well-told, and he is written as a character that is easy to root for.

The second half was a grind, which I think was by design. It is a long, detailed examination of the American justice system, the media, public voyeurism, class and race at that moment in history (one spoiler: things aren’t that different today). It examines issues from every possible angle, and goes to great length to describe the rationale behind things that seem completely inconsequential.

It shocks and stuns, infuriates and tires you out, but never bores you. Mailer is operating with a cast of dozens by the last 1/4, but I never had an issue keeping them straight. Even in the last 100 pages things were happening that made me gasp.

When I was done with it, my views on the American justice system hadn’t changed, but I think much more clearly about how and why I feel the way I do.

I will never forget this book. Just wow.