Review – Audiobook: Waiting to Be Heard by Amanda Knox
Waiting to Be Heard: A Memoir
by Amanda Knox
Narrated by Amanda Knox
Genre: Memoir
Publisher: HarperAudio
Publish Date: April 30, 2013
Format: Audio, 12 hours | 31 minutes
Audio Listening Level: Easy
Rating: 4 of 5
Publisher’s Synopsis:
She spent four years in a foreign prison for a crime she did not commit. Separated from her family, she was demonized by the international press and treated harshly by the Italian justice system, including disdainful police. She endured humiliation, injustice, and loneliness thousands of miles from her home. Now, with intelligence, grace, and candor, Amanda Knox, the young American exchange student, tells the full story of her harrowing ordeal in Italy — a labyrinthine nightmare of crime and punishment, innocence and vindication-and of the unwavering support of family and friends who tirelessly worked to see her win her freedom.
My Thoughts:
I have been aware of this case ever since it hit international news a few years ago. Until her recent prime time television interview with Diane Sawyer, I had not heard or read an interview with Amanda herself, just other people’s thoughts and opinions. That’s when I found out she had written a memoir.
Amanda tells her story in linear style, beginning with her decision to spend time in Italy as an exchange student and ending with her release from prison four years later. She goes into a lot of detail about the case and her time in prison, and occasionally became repetitive, but overall it was a readable and compelling story. I was amazed and at times horrified at how the police and prosecutors manipulated the legal system. And for what purpose? Not to solve the crime, but because they didn’t want to admit their errors.
If Amanda is guilty of anything it is of being very naïve and knowing little about the culture of the country she was moving to. Italy is not America and by a lot of her actions it was evident she did not understand that. It’s unclear whether it was college student arrogance, her quirky personality or if she was just too trusting of everyone she met. She allowed the police to interrogate her multiple times without asking for an attorney and she didn’t contact the US Embassy for help or advice. By the time she realized she had a problem, it was too late. Many of her statements were not what she meant to convey because she did not speak fluent Italian and she had incriminated herself.
I listened to the audio and Amanda herself is the narrator. In the beginning her voice is neutral and almost flat but after a while she begins to add more emotion and occasional anger. I didn’t have a problem with her as the narrator as it is her story and her voice adds another level of authenticity.
After listening to Amanda’s story, I feel she is telling the truth. However, the reader/listener can judge for themselves.
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Source: Review copy
© 2013 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
Under My Apple Tree 
I’m intrigued by this case (and book). Says a lot that you formed an opinion after listening to it – makes me want to listen!
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If you believe what she is saying are facts, and she is quoting from testimony and DNA lab results, etc, then the investigation was handled badly.
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this sounds like an interesting read, even though it’s not the type of book I usually pick up. Sounds like you get a real sense of what she went through.
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It was a nice change of pace from fiction … although in it’s own way it was stranger than fiction.
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I did follow the case pretty faithfully, and while I think Amanda Knox is kooky, I don’t believe she had anything to do with her roommate’s murder. I have to wonder if the reason Italy is re-trying her again was a way to put pressure on her not to release this book? The original prosecutor in her trial is insane and perverted. The real murderer of Meredith Kercher is in jail, I’m not sure why, other than to save face, they would continue to try to convict Knox. I feel so bad for the Kercher family, for the mess the police made of the crime scene, and the sick joke of an investigation and trial.
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I think she said the original prosecutor was eventually convicted of abuse of office for a different trial. I’m sure they did not want this book released. They look foolish and incompetent… not for originally suspecting her but for not dropping the charges when the DNA proved the murderer acted alone.
I hope the US doesn’t extradite her… it would be criminal for them to do so and she would be persecuted relentlessly for this book.
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Excellent review, Leslie. I agree that having Amanda as the narrator would give this another level of authenticity.
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I’m still not sure how I feel about this case. I imagine she had a very difficult stay in Italy, I do believe the case was handled very poorly, and yet… there are questions. I haven’t read this book, but did watch the interview, as well as listening to many opinions, what a mess, and toying with a person’s life.
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No doubt about it, she contributed to her troubles. She admits in the book that there were a lot of things she should have handled differently.
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In all honesty, she is very self deprecating and I think she was being too hard on herself. There is really nothing she could have or could not have done because they needed an out. They needed to save face at any cost. Giuliano Mignini is not a good person and the Supreme Court is corrupt too. It’s horrible all the way around. She is no different than you or I.
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Thanks for your review. I will be alert to hear any more in the news about her.
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How horrible to have to go through that! But I agree with you that to contact an attorney or the US Embassy would have been a smart move. We are always at a disadvantage when being interrogated in a country not our own and not in our language.
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I don’t want tot read this one but wanted to see if you formed an opinion after listening. From the little but I know about the case it does seem like she was railroaded and now they want her back! Crazy. It’s a shame, one day I’d like to move to Italy!
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The prosecution should have dropped the charges once they found the real killer… the guy that matched the DNA. But they didn’t want to admit their error so they insisted she was involved. The whole thing was a mess. And they still don’t want to let it go.
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Why would anyone believe anything Amanda Knox says? She gave three different alibis which all turned out to be false and repeatedly accused an innocent man of murder. The Italian Supreme Court recently confirmed Knox’s conviction for slander. She is a convicted criminal and a proven liar.
If you want to understand why Amanda Knox was convicted of murder, I recommend reading the translation of the official sentencing report which can be downloaded from the Perugia Murder File website.
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Ew, this guy is a Cyber Troll who has cut and pasted more comments on this case (literally CUT and pasted) than any other “thing” known to man. He’s not real, he’s a big coward…ew. Just sayin…
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The Supreme Court have hinted heavily that the remaining DNA found by Conti and Vechiotti will be retested this time. So maybe that will keep everybody happy.
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