A Bunch Of Bound Pages (aka Almost Home)

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76387 Posts in 6760 Topics by 681 Members
Latest Member: wiltar

[rugs]

Well, it's not really what you'd consider a 'book' as such but if you have a few hours to waste and are looking for:

a) absolutely no insight into the mind of Echols
b) barely fifth grade writing and grammar skills
c) something to light the barbecue with...

Then this bunch of bound pages is for you.

Here's one happy customer...

[Scott]

 

I think several supporters bought many copies.

[Wised]

Where's the rolling smiley!!!!

 

[rugs]

[BlackAngel]

And a couple of review from Amazon

 Interesting, June 13, 2007
By  S. Monsma (Adelaide, SA, Australia) - See all my reviews
     

Worth the read if interested in the case to understand Damien and hear his side of the story. What an amazing individual. Aside from his past, his courage and strength for someone in his situation is really quite remarkable. He has a great sense of humour as well and made me laugh on numerous occasions!

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    Erica's review, May 12, 2007
By  E. Denning (PA, USA) - See all my reviews
     

This book is fantastic. I could not put it down. A great read for anyone who is interested in the West Memphis Three.

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    Almost Home Review, May 9, 2007
By  S. Peck "Pecks" (Australia) - See all my reviews
     

I highly recommend this book, it gives an insight into the life of Damien Echols. You will laugh and cry along with him. If anyone has any doubt of the WM3's innocence this book will clear it up for them. I just hope one day Damien Echols will walk out of jail with his head held high.

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   4 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
 Unintentionally Revealing Book, March 27, 2007
By  Charles J. Rector (Woodstock, IL United States) - See all my reviews
     

This book by unrepentant murderer Damien Echols is an exercise in attempted public deception. This book endeavors to paint Echols as an innocent man falsely convicted and sentenced to death row for three homicides that he did not commit. However, it fails in its task and, if anything, it backfires on its author.

This book starts out with an introduction by comdienne Margaret Cho who reveals that she was the one who was most responsible for this book being published in the first place. The book's distortions start here with Cho's claim that, "it seemed that having long hair, a love of heavy metal music, and a tendency toward esoteric reading could get you the death penalty." Typically, Cho provides no evidence for this assertion. Cho presents the fundamental hypocrisy of the pro-West Memphis 3 case in claiming that the culprits were convicted because they were "different", yet she turns right around and claims that John Mark Byers killed the 3 little boys because he is "weird". Of course, Cho does not realize that it is hypocritical in the first place, which only adds to the unintentional hilarity of the pro-West Memphis 3 case.

Cho also reveals her lack of knowledge of this case by bringing up the alleged nonfiction work Devil's Knot by hack writer Mara Leveritt. Cho calls Leveritt's book "definitive" even though Leveritt cleverly implies things that she has little or no evidence for such as the notion that the police planted a knife in a pond to implicate one of the defendants. Leveritt's book is also full of such things as rhetorical questions and special pleading. Leveritt also attempts to implicate the father of one of the murder victims while leaving out the fact that the man had an airtight alibi. Court TV reporter Fiona Steel critiqued Leveritt's book saying, "She makes the defendants into innocents, their defenders into tireless heroes, and everyone on the other side into backwoods ignoramuses who performed inept investigations, exaggerated evidence and covered up the crimes of another suspect." If Margaret Cho wanted to read a truly definitive book about this case, she would have chosen the more
objectively written The Blood of Innocents.

The writings of Damien Echols reveal thought patterns that are the same as those of psychotic killers. The attitudes of Echols are essentially the same as those of the likes of Ted Bundy and Charles Manson. This book is an unintentional portrait of a demented killer who would kill again if released. As with other psychotic slayers, Echols is completely self absorbed and blames everyone but himself for his problems in life. He accuses his parents of being "white trash" and makes it clear that if you are not one of the celebrity friends that he has made since his conviction, then you are some sort of low life.

(....)

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   1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
 Such a crime..., March 25, 2007
By  S. Ayala "Shanonlee29" (NJ) - See all my reviews
     

Damien was wrongfully convicted on no evidence...Its a shame..You get to see the real side of this "so called monster".....His sense of humor, his ability to see the beauty is all his memories...Its horrible what they have done to him, Jessie and Jason!

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   2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
 Must-read to understand the justice system, March 25, 2007
By  Dr Cathy Goodwin (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
         

A powerful story, especially because it's so openly written and so genuine. He communicates the stifling, dreary reality of a small town dominated by fundamentalism. From the earliest days, he has trouble fitting in. He reached out to everything from skateboarding to the Catholic religion, curious and eager.

In the last part of the book, he writes about being arrested (at first he thought he was being charged with skipping school) and his time in prison.

Even on Death Row (which seems bizarre in the context of Echols's story), Echols keeps his spirit alive. He learns about Buddhism. He tries to stay in touch with his son. He writes. He's smart and witty - even ironic.

It's pretty obvious from the movie that he's innocent. Now we realize the whole satantic cult fear was more like an urban legend than a crime wave.
But the police wanted a reason to lock him up.

His account of the trial is even worse than what we saw in the movie. According to Echols, the judge would be telling jokes during the breaks, commenting on a juror's appearance and even making jokes about him, the person being judged.

What's scary is that this mentality seems prevalent at all levels of the criminal "justice" system. The New York Times described prosecutors who ask for longer sentences based on accusation of crimes rather than actual convictions.

Echols claims the state of Arkansas would still like to put him to death, despite evidence that has emerged since the original trial. I believe it: I read about some judges who wanted to keep someone on death row despite exonerating evidence, just to protect "the system."

Ultimately, the lesson of this book is what Johnny Cochran said so eloquently: "The color of justice is green."


The book is even more horrifying because Echols is so mattter-of-fact. He used to think the cops were his friends, he writes. He was sure the system worked. In the movies it's the prisoners who are the bad guys; in real life he's more scared of the guards.





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   6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
 Very Moving, November 6, 2006
By  A. Thomas "CharlesDexterWard" (Georgia) - See all my reviews
     

I loved this book. It really made me question all that I believe in. Damien is such a strong and beautiful person. Anyone interested in this case should certainly read this book.

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   5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
 Amazing!!! Please buy the book!, August 17, 2006
By  Stephanie Flett (Hicksville,NY) - See all my reviews
     

This is the story of damien echols a misunderstood teen..who because of his love of heavy metal music & black clothing was labled a "devil worshipper". He was arrested along with 2 of his friends Jason Baldwin & Jessie Misskelley and charged with a triple homicide of (3) 8yr old boys. Homicides they did not commit!! Damien is currently on death row and they are still waiting for dna evidence to prove their innocents.Please read this book it will change your life ( and at the same time value it!!) FREE THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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   7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
 Free The West Memphis 3!!, July 8, 2006
By  SonjaMitchell "Sonja" (Nashville, TN USA) - See all my reviews

The best book I have ever read...I feel different in a way I can't describe. I know people have said it a million times...but it could have been me! I will forever follow this case and do all I can to support and make people aware of it! This cannot be happening in America! Go to www.WM3.org and do everything you can to make sure it doesn't happen again and to help FREE THE WEST MEMPHIS 3!!!!!!!

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   6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
 I walk in Damiens Shoes (Almost Home), May 15, 2006
By  Sophia Cerveny "www.wickedkiss.org/sophie" (Panama City, Panama) - See all my reviews

As I read Almost Home, I saw myself in Damien Echol?s shoes, I saw myself in his shoes even when I had just read a little bit of info about the case. But reading his Autobiography is like reading a book about my own life, I don?t have to write a book about my life he has already done it for me. I am so engrossed in this book & Damien Echol's life that I stayed up until 4 AM reading it & that is kind of the time sleep started to settle in.

I still yet am not done with the book & can already categorize it as my most favorite book ever. Damien is me he's just a male version of me. I have laughed, & cried with this book. He invites you to read his book as a friend, so that you know about his life & learn about his innocence. Damien Echol's right now is sitting on death row for a crime that he did not commit simply because he never fit into a crowd.

I?ve never fit into a crowd, I?ve always been myself & some may call me morbid or obscure but to be honest I like keeping to myself & being outcasted as I always have been. Being in College has brought out the socializer in me I never ever dreamed that I could be social.

I have utmost respect for Damien Echol?s, Jason Baldwin, & Jessie Miskelley, better known as The West Memphis Three. I cannot wait to finish this book to begin reading Devil?s Knot.

If you ever get a chance to watch the documentaries do it, or even if you stumble upon a book on the case in your local library or maybe because a friend has it, even if you don?t order it yourself through www.amazon.com or buy it at your local bookstore. I advise you to get informed about a huge injustice that happened in North America, aren?t we the land of the free?

 

[rugs]

If anyone has any doubt of the WM3's innocence this book will clear it up for them.

It doesn't sound like the book that I read.

[Scott]

They mean in a spiritual Buddhist I mean Catholic err no I mean Wiccan err wait Baptist sort of way Rugs.

[Swan]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh Jan, love the review by Charles Rector anyone know that guy? Like the Ted Bundy comparison as that couldnt be farther from the truth ..


I would like to address something in that book that I have stuck in my head let me type out some pieces here ..


First of all Damien is writing about his Catholic experience and this chapter is...only three pages.


One day, while looking through the stacks in the library I encountered a shiny new book on Catholicism written for teens. It was aimed at teaching young Catholics why they do what they do during mass, or the meaning behind each gesture. I was about fourteen or fifteen when I found this book and never been to a Catholic Church in my life.



I cant type the whole three pages because well, we could get in trouble for copy right but..


he goes on about how he fell in love with the Catholic faith how he was forced to go to Protestant churches against his will how he fell in love with the Catholic ceremony and how he wanted to start going to Catholic ceremonies now.



He states that in the South,the word Catholic is used as the same tone in voice when insulting someone and said he heard that a Saint Christopher medal is satanic he goes on about how the South is land of Baptist and a cruel place.

( I would like to say that I met a few  one a newbie on EZ that pmed me and told me that they were more than disgusted with the stereo types of people in West Memphis more than disgusted)


Damien says basically he had a "calling" he told that to his father Jack  to get approval to go to church and use language that Jack would understand.

He goes on to about his journey to different churches till he finally goes to St. Michaels the only Catholic church in West Memphis as he states.  One thing I noticed about this book is there is a lot of "filler" of course Damien is not the only person to go filler crazy but ever read a book where its like " okay it was beautiful get on with it please" Damien goes on a lot of filer to describe the ceremonies in the Catholic church.


He tells Jack that he found his place in that church.


He then asked one of the priests how to become Catholic, Damien said that he attended every single class never missing one and the priest arranged for him to ride with another woman who attended the classes.


There were less then 10 people in this class he says he liked the classes too.


He got a sponsor an 80 year old man named Ben, Ben drove him to Mass every Sunday, they would sometimes go for coffee and donuts and Damien was introduced to all of the Catholic members of the church.


When the day arrived for Damien to receive the sacrament of baptism and first communion, Ben gave him two gifts. One .. a rosary that his wife had before she died the other was a suit to wear for the occasion.


Damien says that he and Ben showed up early every week in order to pray the rosary before mass and even Jason "often went with us" he says. He says Jason managed to get a gulp of wine and Damien told him he wasnt supposed to stand in the communion line.


He says that Jack and Pam only stepped in the church during his first communion and that was it.


He says  he attended mass until his life went straight to hell a couple of years later.


He goes on about how his views of Christianity of the main stream and has a degree of animosity towards that because of what has been done to him by people declaring them selves Christian but he still likes the Catholic ceremony and would like to return to Saint Michaels some day when no one knows his name just to remember what it was like.


He then starts another chapter about going to high school.



On stand Pam says her son was studying to be a priest, false no he was not, he was studying according to Damien to get communion on stand Pam says Damien wanted the name Damien after Saint Damien.

What gets me is Pam was not so into the church as Damien says and at the age of 14 or even 15 why allow your son to change his name as for this reason as Pam states on stand that she knew it was a fad, a long one but it was a fad.


I will wait for the trial transcripts to be posted by Farm and Scott, I did post Pams testimony and Wised did post the other one as well in the trial thread.


On stand, Damien goes on about Saint Damien and how he healed lepers and that is what the name change was based after, that was his defense on his name.



Here is a link on Father Damien

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father_Damien


There is a picture of him to the right, and while anyone can say oh Damien Echols was different, he was still a teen and its very hard to believe that a teen at that age would want his name changed after this man then go all black, grow long nails and then get into the darker side all of a sudden.


Damien does write about Deana how she was reaked of sex and how he then started getting into Wicca because of her, excuse the expression, but, he wanted to get laid. As most boys in that age group do its natural.

So any deep feeling wanting to be Saint Damien at this age and by Damiens Echols actions are false and there is not one mention of Father Damien in Almost Home.

I have looked over and over and unless my eyes have crossed not one.

Jan, or anyone that have read this book have you come across anything on Father Damien? I have not. Yet this  man was Damiens defense so wouldnt it be only reasonable and make sense to go into more depth of Father Damien in this book?


Doesnt it make sense to be very skeptical of this saying one thing and not saying another?



This book does not show Damien as a hero if one gets to know this case and I was hoping this book would show that side of Damien and perhaps make things more clear but no it dug him a hole anyone who falls for this book is responsible of having the need for him to be innocent, harsh statment but its true.



An innocent man would not be so evasive..


Where were these people during the trial? Ben, the church members, why were they not there and wouldnt of shouldnt of Pam and Damiens lawyer get these people to testify for the defense??


Where was the woman who gave him a ride ???

[Wised]

Swan,

Since I haven't read that book, I find your post really interesting.

Would you consider discussing other stuff he said in his book with us, for those of us who have not read it?

Jan, too.

I'd like to hear opinions from nons on what he said in his book and how it struck you, considering most of the reviews are by supporters.

[Swan]

Sure there is a lot of contradictions and Jan really got me into that book from her posts on Memp and Rages board and Jan has a lot to say on this book as well.

I got it used .

But yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn, Im going to bed now and wanted to let you know that Im going to bed Im now a night owl it was sooo hot today it was bad and I took a long nap when my husband came home and your getting ready for work now.

So night to me and dont work too hard to you...


Cheerio

[Swan]

Oh wait before I go to bed is that chic holding the book Lori Davis Rugs Wised Jan anyone????

Okay time to do some dog cuddlin'....

[rugs]

is that chic holding the book Lori Davis

 



Yes. That's her.

[BlackAngel]

'ALMOST HOME'...By Damien Echols...
Current mood:  determined


The first morning of our trial, Jason and I were given bulletproof vests to wear to and from the courthouse. Emotions were running high and the cops were taking no chances.
We arrived at court everyday in a convoy of police cars-about six of them, to be exact.
When we pulled up out front, we had to walk a gauntlet.There was a huge crowd of reporters, and people who wanted us dead, and we had to walk right through the middle of them like Moses parting the Red Sea.

The screams of hatred were so loud you couldnt discern individual voices. It was like fighting yourself through a black wall.Reporters shoved cameras and micriophones into your face at every step, all shouting questions at once......

Its maddening to sit there hour after hour, day after day, on trial for something both you and the cops know you didnt do. You can feel hundreds of eyes drilling into you, taking in your every shift and move.

Many seemed to think this was the greatest entertainment they'd ever witnessed. Vultures were stripping flesh from my bones while I was still alive.....

I never stood a chance. During breaks the judge and prosecuters told jokes about me and smiled like they were all awaiting a pat on the back. The judge commented on what a nice ass one of the female potential jury members had, and the prosecuter's teeth stuck out while he yuk- yuk -yukked it up. Convincing twelve people they should vote to have me murdered was just another day at the office for them.

Whenever evidence was introduced that could have helped me, the jury was escorted from the room so they wouldn't hear it.
The stepfather of one of the children was discovered to have a knife with blood on it that matched at least one of the victims.
We were not even allowed to ask him," Did you murder those children"? in the presence of a jury.
Why?   Because he wasn't the one on trial here, I was. It wasn't really a trial. More like a formality to get out of the way before the guilty verdict.

He is so full of shit it makes you sick.

Jan

[mikespadre]

wow...I sat thru that same trial and I never once saw the Judge or DA do any of the sort, I guess if sitting in court for hours were so maddening why was he smiling at us all the damn time and acting so fucking arrogant?
As far as his book goes how well does it work for toilet paper? ah nevermind i'll stick to the fluffy stuff

[GODDESS6]

i just bought the book used at amazon, on jan's recommendation, ebay didn't have any & i wanted to make sure i got it used so none of my money would go to the WM3 cause~ can't wait to give it a read~ ?, the chick in the photo above, lori davis, is that the cook who married damien?~ also i noticed on amazon the synopsis of damien's book was written by none other than Kathryn L. Bakken~