Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Unavailable
    American Honor Killings: Desire and Rage Among Men
    Unavailable
    American Honor Killings: Desire and Rage Among Men
    Unavailable
    American Honor Killings: Desire and Rage Among Men
    Ebook269 pages4 hours

    American Honor Killings: Desire and Rage Among Men

    By David McConnell

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

  • Extremely timely, given the significant coverage of the topic of "bullying" in the national media these days.
  • Book covers 5 case studies involving very different murders of gay men; the author is gay but offers an impressively balanced perspective, and intriguing revelations, such as: some of the killers turn out to be gay or bisexual themselves.
  • The Matthew Shepard and "Jenny Jones" murders aren't among the 5 case studies, but are highlighted in the book.
  • Akashic will hire a freelance publicist for this book.
  • A truly groundbreaking nonfiction work that explores murder and young men in away that avoids the pitfalls associated with this topic on both the political right AND the political left.
  • Broad relevance in the following areas: sociology, criminology, gay/lesbian studies, popular culture.
  • Very strong academic potential, particularly in sociology & gay/lesbian studies.
  • Submit to the Barnes & Noble Discover Program.
  • Major national media push: print, broadcast, online. David McConnell is very media-genic and we are confident of radio/TV coverage.
    • LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAkashic Books
    Release dateMar 5, 2013
    ISBN9781617751530
    Unavailable
    American Honor Killings: Desire and Rage Among Men
    Author

    David McConnell

    DAVID McCONNELL is the author of American Honor Killings: Desire and Rage Among Men (Akashic, 2013), which won the 2014 American Library Association Award for Non-Fiction. His other novels include The Firebrat (Attagirl, 2003) and The Silver Hearted (Akashic, 2010). His short fiction and journalism have appeared widely in magazines and anthologies, including Granta and Between Men. He lives in New York City.

    Read more from David Mc Connell

    Related to American Honor Killings

    Related ebooks

    LGBTQIA+ Studies For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      The Darkness Within

      Dec 13, 2017

      LAST summer I wrote a review of Who Is Rich? (Random House, 2017) by Matthew Klam. The novel is narrated by a man named Rich Fischer, a self-loathing husband and father who conducts an anguished and antic affair with an equally unhappy infidel. Short

      7 min read

    • Article

      The Darkness Within

      Dec 5, 2017

      LAST summer I wrote a review of Who Is Rich? (Random House, 2017) by Matthew Klam. The novel is narrated by a man named Rich Fischer, a self-loathing husband and father who conducts an anguished and antic affair with an equally unhappy infidel. Short

      7 min read

    • Article

      John Fram

      Jun 10, 2020

      John Fram
      7 min read

    • Article

      White People, Black Authors Are Not Your Medicine | Yaa Gyasi

      Mar 20, 2021

      In 2018, two other novelists and I were being driven back from a reception in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, to our hotel in downtown Detroit, when we saw a black man getting arrested on the side of the road. The driver of our car, a white woman who had sp

      6 min read

    • Article

      A Year in Reading: Ismail Muhammad

      Dec 10, 2017

      For me, 2017 was the year that journalism nearly supplanted fiction as my reading life’s dominant genre. I started the year in a state of alarm at Donald Trump’s inauguration. Shortly after he took office, I resolved to be a good, engaged citizen aft

      5 min read

    • Article

      Writing for the Moment: The Millions Interviews Zoe Whittall

      Sep 19, 2017

      Young women are able to refuse to take some of bullshit that women of my generation had to live with. It’s exciting to see how willing young women are to speak up about sexual assault and sexism in general. The post Writing for the Moment: The Millio

      11 min read

    • Article

      This Native American Life

      Oct 12, 2018

      This Native American Life
      7 min read

    • Article

      Some Other I Before Me

      May 21, 2018

      On books as mentors for those of us who grew up in the wake of HIV/AIDS. The post Some Other I Before Me appeared first on Guernica.

      14 min read

    • Article

      FEEDBACK ON ‘To Tell Or Not To Tell’

      Feb 10, 2023

      As anticipated, my November 2022 article on ethics within family history, ‘To Tell or Not to Tell’, comprehensively stirred up Family Tree readers. The strength of opinion confirmed how important, controversial and divisive this topic is; I was a lit

      8 min read

    • Article

      Telling Secrets: The Millions Interviews Steve Almond

      May 5, 2022

      "Obviously, there are real risks to writing about the disenfranchised from a position of privilege.... So if I get anything wrong, I’ll deserve whatever criticism comes my way." The post Telling Secrets: The Millions Interviews Steve Almond appeared

      8 min read

    • Article

      The Mississippi Truth

      Feb 2, 2022

      YOU’D think I might be embarrassed to write about truthfulness. And, if not embarrassed, I’d at least feel a little shameful. The truth is, where I come from, the clean-as-a-bone truth is never appreciated as much as a good story that provides an ext

      4 min read

    • Article

      More Than Just Statistics: On the Victims of Criminal Injustice

      Oct 27, 2017

      These three books give us flesh and blood, beating hearts you’ll still be able to hear long after the books are closed. I can’t say it will be easy reading, but I can promise it will be worthwhile. The post More Than Just Statistics: On the Victims o

      3 min read

    • Article

      American Survival: The Millions Interviews Jung Yun

      Jan 19, 2022

      Growing up in an immigrant family, I was taught the value of hard work and pulling myself up by my bootstraps. But what happens when hard work isn’t enough? The post American Survival: The Millions Interviews Jung Yun appeared first on The Millions.

      5 min read

    • Article

      A Year in Reading: Namwali Serpell

      Dec 13, 2018

      I’ve been thinking a lot about pettiness lately. I live in the U.S. and right now, the American media landscape is all blah blah incivility blah anger blah blah hate. But it feels to me like the great fever of rage-mourning prompted by the 2016 elect

      7 min read

    • Article

      The Problem of White Efficacy

      Jun 4, 2020

      The Problem of White Efficacy
      15 min read

    • Article

      DREAM HOUSE As Interview

      Oct 9, 2019

      DREAM HOUSE As Interview
      12 min read

    • Article

      Penguin Pride.

      Jun 28, 2019

      Penguin Pride.
      16 min read

    Reviews for American Honor Killings

    3.5/5

    31 ratings13 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      An exercise in complicating the stories of hate crimes, from the well-known to the obscure. McConnell frames these stories of the murders of gay men by other men (frequently of ambiguous sexuality) as "honor killings" rather than hate crimes, pointing out that there's usually a lot more going on than simple gay panic or distaste for gay men. This is rough going - there's a lot of graphic description of the murders - but interesting and valuable in its careful treatment of masculinity.
    • 2/5
      There's no question that this book is well-researched and well-written but I didn't feel that I got from it what it promised. While the description focuses on an analysis of hate crimes that deal with the idea of masculinity, the book was essentially just a number of detailed descriptions of murders. It felt much more voyeuristic than contemplative and in the end I don't think I learned much beyond the different ways in which people plan and execute murders.
    • 3/5
      I have to admit that this is a difficult book for me to review. I finished the book the day I learned of yet another antigay murder in New York City the night before. It's also difficult for me to review, because the author himself so readily points out some of the shortcomings of the work. I also have to wonder if my lack of appreciation for the book involves the subject of the book itself; it's certainly a difficult topic.The book focuses on several murders of gay men over the past few decades, and the the premise is that the killers committed these acts partly in an effort to maintain their honor and demonstrate their masculinity. The author briefly touches upon the "gay panic" defense; however, he also admits in the introduction that as acceptance of gay and lesbian people increases, the violent reaction to the suggestion that someone might be gay has decreased. He then proceeds to discuss cases in which the killers felt that they were murdering in an effort to be righteous or cleanse society in some way.David McConnell admits he is not a journalist, and I felt that there were times in the book where I wished he was. I wanted him to merely relate the facts for the case and let them speak. Instead, he describes a crime and tries to relate what he supposes MIGHT have been going through the killer's mind. I found this whole supposition very distracting and I felt there were times that it seemed a little overreaching. I wish he would have just committed to a train of thought, and instead the approach is more of a "he might have thought this, or he might have thought that" kind of thing. I have to admit, I also found the crimes that the author actually highlights rather odd choices. Several of the killings are committed by members of Neo-Nazi or White Supremacists groups. In the final murder discussed, that of news reporter George Weber a few years ago, I did not see any part of the murder in which the author could conclude the violence took place as an "honor killing."Despite my criticisms, I do think that the book makes some interesting points, and I do think that the topic of anti-gay hate crimes deserves to be studied more. I appreciate David McConnell raising the topic and highlighting these crimes and allowing these victims to be remembered again.
    • 5/5
      I really enjoyed this book. It was well researched and very well written. Sometimes it is hard to read but well worth the time.
    • 4/5
      This is a well written though very dark book. It has lots of data and facts, but the author adds descriptions of the areas and people involved which adds interest to what could have been a text book with all the datum.
    • 5/5
      This book is incredibly well written and researched. It give a glimpse into the mind of men that have killed other men, all because of their sexuality. The parts written from conversations with the killers are chilling. No one wants to see a murderer as a normal person, but these conversations put you in their shoes and lets you see that somethings, things just go incredibly wrong.
    • 4/5
      I got this book through the Early Reviewer program. It was a great read, with clear and powerful writing that was a good balance between journalistic clarity and emotional power. I thought that the ambiguity of David McConnell's overall theme worked well, and his inability to find deep meaning in the crimes he depicts is compelling and useful. The stories chosen were different enough from each other to make each one interesting as the book progresses, and similar enough to be worth comparing and contrasting. There are moments of American Honor Killings that I won't soon forget... like depictions of one of the killers walking in the desolate midwest contemplating his surroundings.... chilling and wonderful.
    • 2/5
      I was drawn to this book by its provocative title and compelling blurb. Unfortunately, the academic/sociological study that the blurb promises is far from what this book delivers. More than anything, this is a true crime book: each chapter provides all the background and salacious details behind a number of murders of gay men at the hands of other men, some straight and some closeted homosexuals themselves. McConnell is a good writer. Given the blurb, though, the book kept me wishing for more cohesiveness to tie everything together.The connections that McConnell draws among the tragic stories he features just don't feel complete. I think the book could have gone for a bit more theory, something more comprehensive that could draw everything together and give us new understanding of the way that men's fear and hatred of the feminine contributes to these murders. I also would have appreciated a small lit review -- where do other academics come down on this issue? Is there already a rich literature or is this a fledgling field/interpretation? This book promises high-level analysis, but it delivers just a true crime narrative. That's fine for people interested in true crime, but I hoped for so much more.
    • 4/5
      Not bad. Written in a very "crime-show" sort of style, which can be tiring. The most horrible part of these stories is that they are true. It's difficult sometimes for us to admit that humans are capable of some incredibly twisted acts. It's incredibly uncomfortable to read, but I think it is important to be aware of these things and realize that they still happen and how wrong that is. That said, I definitely have to agree with circumspice's review. This book does not explore themes of masculinity and homophobia (or hatred) as deeply as its cover blurb and introduction make it seem. It is like reading a top-ten list of homophobic murders rather than a thoughtful, respectful study of how and why people commit such atrocities. It does seem voyeuristic in nature, which is probably not the angle with which this topic should be approached. My problems with this book are the writing style and organization.
    • 1/5
      I tried to read this book and it was pretty tough to read. I skipped the blah blah blah at the beginning and went to the story part and that part was ok, so the author can write and be interesting, but then it got back into the blah blah and I just couldnt get into it. It was dry and he talked above my head. Just not interesting to me and I had to stop.
    • 4/5
      This was a lot different than I thought it would be - I thought it'd be about honor killings by Muslims. It was a good book but the author seemed a bit obsessed with Darryl Madden....the chapter on him got a bit weird in my opinion. I only remember ever hearing about 2 of these cases and it makes me want to look more into Matthew Shepard.
    • 5/5
      Rating: 5* of fiveThe Publisher Says: In American Honor Killings, straight and gay guys cross paths, and the result is murder. But what really happened? What role did hatred play? What were the men involved really like, and what was going on between them when the murder occurred? American Honor Killings explores the truth behind squeamish reporting and uninformed political rants of the far right or fringe left. David McConnell, a New York-based novelist, researched cases from small-town Alabama to San Quentin's death row. The book recounts some of the most notorious crimes of our era.Beginning in 1999 and lasting until the 2011 conviction of a youth in Queens, New York, the book shows how some murderers think they're cleaning up society. Surprisingly, other killings feel almost preordained, not a matter of the victim's personality or actions so much as a twisted display of a young man's will to compete or dominate. We want to think these stories involve simple sexual conflict, either the killer's internal struggle over his own identity or a fatally miscalculated proposition. They're almost never that simple.Together, the cases form a secret American history of rage and desire. McConnell cuts through cant and political special pleading to turn these cases into enduring literature. In each story, victims, murderers, friends, and relatives come breathtakingly alive. The result is more soulful, more sensitive, more artful than the sort of "true crime” writing the book was modeled on. A wealth of new detail has been woven into old cases, while new cases are plumbed for the first time. The resulting stories play out exactly as they happened, an inexorable sequence of events—grisly, touching, disturbing, sometimes even with moments of levity.My Review: It is no secret that I'm a leftist, anti-religion queer. I loathe the existence of the systems of "Rightness" that the murderers in these crimes use to justify their actions. The mere ability of a person to point to a bible and have any segment of society secretly or not-so-secretly justify or even agree with the heinous crime of murder is shameful to us as a society.That said, it's still true. These accounts of the motives and actions of some seriously mentally ill young men, certain that they are Right and they are Correct in the actions, are enlightening and chilling.I spent most of the time I read this book alternating between scaring my dog with loud, rasping screeches of outraged indignation that such stupidity is allowed to exist by this gawd person most of these boys, their families, and their communities profess belief in, and miserable, hopeless weeping of sympathetic pain at the agonies of loss, grief, and longing that the families, the parents, the loving friends of the murdered men will spend the rest of their lives experiencing, because the holey babble and its hellspawn idiot-friendly "culture" don't like the idea of men having sex with each other.Who cares what you think? Did someone ask you? Drag your mind out of the prurient gutter of thinking about what other people do in their bedrooms.McConnell has written a book as horrifying and as necessary as In Cold Blood, and as likely to stand the test of time as a document of the consequences of sociopathic thinking. I can't recommend that you read it; but really, you should. Depressingly, most of you won't. It's not YOUR friend, brother, cousin, so why bother?Because until people confront the horrible consequences of their smug, exclusionary language of "salvation" and the like, this won't be the last time a book like this is necessary.I received a review copy of the book from Akashic Books.
    • 4/5
      Firstly and foremost, I won this book in a drawing from LibraryThing. Despite the fact that I didn't pay a dime for it, I will give it a candid assessment below.So this is the bit in which I traditionally summarize the plot, and I'll admit this book wasn't what I expected. When I hear the phrase "honor killings" I expect traditional murders to safeguard the reputation of the family. The murderous rampages described here are plain and simple hate crimes. This does nothing to diminish them or their importance, certainly, but reading this book I did have trouble correlating the title with the content. Our author describes at length, and with absolute candor, the act of killing because of prejudice against race, religion and primarily, sexual orientation. The work is an incisive view into the odious act of hating and destroying someone just because of the demographic into which they fall. Or, to put it more simply, these are the truly scary people with which we share society.Evaluating this book, on the positive side the author has done us a great service. He's shielded us from nothing. No detail or nuance is hidden and his research is intimate and complete. We see these heinous acts from the inside of the killer's head and from the outside as viewed by the world in general. On the negative side, I'll admit that I just couldn't carry on reading this whole thing. By the halfway point I felt that I'd fairly well "gotten the point" as it were. The killers are heartless bigots motivated by hate and fortified by misplaced religious beliefs. A hundred or so pages of that seemed sufficient. I didn't need more text to back up my support of the author as I was solidly and convinced from the beginning. In summary, this book is a meticulously researched and insightful view into the mind of those that hate to the point of murder. If it suffers, it suffers only from the fact that I agree with it so vehemently and don't really need more examples to fortify my dislike for religious zealotry. An excellent work that I just couldn't finish because it resonated far too strongly.PS: It is my endeavor to provide reviews that are succinct, honest, balanced and above all help the potential reader to answer the simple question, “Do I want to read this or not?” Any feedback you can provide about how you feel I have accomplished those goals (or not) is immensely appreciated.