Well…this is a new record of lateness. But it’s being written!
There was a time- mainly in high school- when I thought I might go to law school, not to become a lawyer but because I found the study of law fascinating. The idea flourished in a bioethics course in high school that I absolutely LOVED- I could see myself working with ethical theories to understand the ways in which decisions are made. (This also led to the ill-advised decision to take a philosophy based ethics course in college, but I digress.) I then took AP Gov in my senior year and decided I would become a constitutional lawyer, taking rules that were written over 200 years ago and applying them to modern dilemmas. I was (kindly but perhaps not gently) encouraged to consider a less dry career path, and here we are, with a book of fiction reigniting some legal interest.
Now, I can say with fair certainty that I am not going to law school. But I do wonder what place there is for someone so interested in the entanglements of human interests with and against each other and with/against society, which is a lot of what both ethics and constitutional law come down to. Whose interest is more important- and why, and who decides? In an extreme case, whose life is more worthy of consideration?
It’s a lot to think about.
This book (recommended to me by my coworker, Murphy) centers on a judge in England going through her own personal life crises while trying to work out those of other people. The cases themselves were compelling and keep the reader’s attention- I wish I felt as invested in Fiona, the central character. While she is certainly painted as a competent and fair judge, I found it a little hard to focus on her when it seemed other characters- secondary or even tertiary- might have a more interesting story to tell. I found myself interested in the particulars of the cases above all else. Perhaps the legal basis for the book and memories of amendment memorization and evidence based scientific debate got me interested in something a little more…dry. Whatever it was, the recommendation was spot on: I liked it, it was a fast read and it offered more than I could have expected- a renewed interest (if temporary) in a past life plan.
You’ll like this if: you like to consider ethical dilemmas in the context of law. Or if you liked Atonement, by the same author. (And it’s okay to like Atonement just for Keira Knightley’s ridiculously incredible green dress.)
Happy reading!
carlyreads 