2008 Woodie Awards
If he did it: A reporter's look at O.J. Simpson's newest book
Danielle Young
Issue date: 11/19/07 Section: Style
I've always been convinced that O.J. Simpson got away with murder. I remember watching the trial when I was just a little girl and thinking he was a filthy murderer. In September, Simpson's highly anticipated book "If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer," a hypothetical look at how he would have killed his ex-wife and Ron Goldman, was released to the general public. I was apprehensive about purchasing this book, but in the end I'm glad I did. My opinion of O.J. has remained unchanged.
I still think he committed those murders, but I found myself sympathizing with him regarding his turbulent marriage to Nicole Brown. Whether or not he committed the crime, this book captured my attention, and I was unable to put it down (even if I received strange looks for reading it).
The publication of this book is a story of its own. Originally set for a November 2006 release, HarperCollins pulled the book from publication before it could be released after the public learned that O.J. Simpson would be profiting millions of dollars from the project. The Goldman Family ended up with the rights to the book after a long court battle and was originally planning to keep the book from ever being published. Following much thought and viewing the book as essentially a confession, the Goldman Family finally decided to go ahead with its publication. Partial proceeds of the books sales go to the Ron Goldman Foundation for Justice.
In the Prologue, O.J.'s ghostwriter, Pablo Fenjves, describes the eerie and chilling accounts of sitting in a room for hours on end, listening to O.J.'s story. Simpson said from the beginning that this was not a confession, only a hypothetical scenario of what he would have done that night. Fenjves often described Simpson as skittish and uneasy during their time together, but usually he would end the day with a smile. Ghostwriters, Fenjves said, were liked unlicensed therapists. Before narrating this book, Fenjves believed Simpson to be guilty, and his mind wasn't changed after the completion of the project.
I still think he committed those murders, but I found myself sympathizing with him regarding his turbulent marriage to Nicole Brown. Whether or not he committed the crime, this book captured my attention, and I was unable to put it down (even if I received strange looks for reading it).
The publication of this book is a story of its own. Originally set for a November 2006 release, HarperCollins pulled the book from publication before it could be released after the public learned that O.J. Simpson would be profiting millions of dollars from the project. The Goldman Family ended up with the rights to the book after a long court battle and was originally planning to keep the book from ever being published. Following much thought and viewing the book as essentially a confession, the Goldman Family finally decided to go ahead with its publication. Partial proceeds of the books sales go to the Ron Goldman Foundation for Justice.
In the Prologue, O.J.'s ghostwriter, Pablo Fenjves, describes the eerie and chilling accounts of sitting in a room for hours on end, listening to O.J.'s story. Simpson said from the beginning that this was not a confession, only a hypothetical scenario of what he would have done that night. Fenjves often described Simpson as skittish and uneasy during their time together, but usually he would end the day with a smile. Ghostwriters, Fenjves said, were liked unlicensed therapists. Before narrating this book, Fenjves believed Simpson to be guilty, and his mind wasn't changed after the completion of the project.
Be the first to comment on this story