Review of Housewife Assassin
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Stephanie Runyon
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Review of Housewife Assassin
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Housewife Assassin" by Geri Spieler.]
On September 22nd, 1975, Sara Jane Moore attempted to assassinate President Gerald R. Ford. Astonished, nobody in the crowd suspected that a forty-five-year-old middle-class mother of a young boy would be an assassin. Sara Jane invited the author, Geri Spieler, to visit her in prison. The first time Spieler met with her, Sara Jane acted as a polite hostess. Spieler’s correspondence with Sara Jane led to her creation of Housewife Assassin. While Sara Jane had asked her to write a book about her, Spieler’s research angered her, and contact ended in 2003.
The information Spieler researched came from news articles, the letters from Sara Jane, and interviews with people who were close to her. Sara Jane was born on February 15th, 1930, and grew up in Charleston, West Virginia. From the very beginning, Sara Jane was described as odd. At age sixteen, Sara began her disappearing acts that continued throughout her life. No explanation was ever given to anyone.
Housewife Assassin chronicles Sara Jane Moore’s life and the radical movements that occurred around her. Her peculiar behavior became apparent through her relationships with her husbands and children. For instance, Sara Jane flew her three children from California to her parents. All three were under four years old, and she did not accompany them. Sara Jane gave no explanation as to why she ceased contact permanently. How could she abandon her children and continue her life like they never existed?
Sara Jane Moore was a radical activist against the government. Somehow, she became an FBI informant. The FBI wanted her to infiltrate the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) so a kidnapped college student could be rescued. This was Sara Jane’s introduction into the downward spiral leading to her assassination attempt. Sara Jane provided the names of everyone who attended the meetings. On May 17th, 1974, Sara Jane supplied the FBI with information about Camilla Hall. The following day, law enforcement engaged in a shootout that resulted in the death of the SLA leader, Hall, and several people that Sara Jane knew personally.
Housewife Assassin holds a great deal of historical information about the Civil Rights Movement. There were detailed reports about the Black Panther Party, Martin Luther King, the creation of the FBI, and the Women’s Task Force for Women in Prison. The delivery of the historical facts was easy to follow and showed their significant influence on Sara Jane. Despite Sara Jane’s lack of remorse for her life choices, Spieler gave her book a neutral stance. I didn’t find anything to dislike about this intriguing novel.
I rate Housewife Assassin five out of five stars. The content was organized and concise. I learned quite a lot about the various radical groups. It was surprising to discover that the Black Panther Party initiated the Free Breakfast Program in public schools. Unlike their violent portrayal in modern movies, their original intentions were to help all the oppressed people.
Where is Sara Jane Moore now? People who like to read biographies about people of notoriety will find Housewife Assassin a perfect fit. The black and white photos are a great addition as well.
******
Housewife Assassin
View: on Bookshelves
On September 22nd, 1975, Sara Jane Moore attempted to assassinate President Gerald R. Ford. Astonished, nobody in the crowd suspected that a forty-five-year-old middle-class mother of a young boy would be an assassin. Sara Jane invited the author, Geri Spieler, to visit her in prison. The first time Spieler met with her, Sara Jane acted as a polite hostess. Spieler’s correspondence with Sara Jane led to her creation of Housewife Assassin. While Sara Jane had asked her to write a book about her, Spieler’s research angered her, and contact ended in 2003.
The information Spieler researched came from news articles, the letters from Sara Jane, and interviews with people who were close to her. Sara Jane was born on February 15th, 1930, and grew up in Charleston, West Virginia. From the very beginning, Sara Jane was described as odd. At age sixteen, Sara began her disappearing acts that continued throughout her life. No explanation was ever given to anyone.
Housewife Assassin chronicles Sara Jane Moore’s life and the radical movements that occurred around her. Her peculiar behavior became apparent through her relationships with her husbands and children. For instance, Sara Jane flew her three children from California to her parents. All three were under four years old, and she did not accompany them. Sara Jane gave no explanation as to why she ceased contact permanently. How could she abandon her children and continue her life like they never existed?
Sara Jane Moore was a radical activist against the government. Somehow, she became an FBI informant. The FBI wanted her to infiltrate the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) so a kidnapped college student could be rescued. This was Sara Jane’s introduction into the downward spiral leading to her assassination attempt. Sara Jane provided the names of everyone who attended the meetings. On May 17th, 1974, Sara Jane supplied the FBI with information about Camilla Hall. The following day, law enforcement engaged in a shootout that resulted in the death of the SLA leader, Hall, and several people that Sara Jane knew personally.
Housewife Assassin holds a great deal of historical information about the Civil Rights Movement. There were detailed reports about the Black Panther Party, Martin Luther King, the creation of the FBI, and the Women’s Task Force for Women in Prison. The delivery of the historical facts was easy to follow and showed their significant influence on Sara Jane. Despite Sara Jane’s lack of remorse for her life choices, Spieler gave her book a neutral stance. I didn’t find anything to dislike about this intriguing novel.
I rate Housewife Assassin five out of five stars. The content was organized and concise. I learned quite a lot about the various radical groups. It was surprising to discover that the Black Panther Party initiated the Free Breakfast Program in public schools. Unlike their violent portrayal in modern movies, their original intentions were to help all the oppressed people.
Where is Sara Jane Moore now? People who like to read biographies about people of notoriety will find Housewife Assassin a perfect fit. The black and white photos are a great addition as well.
******
Housewife Assassin
View: on Bookshelves
"Facts don't care about feelings." Ben Shapiro
"If you aren't paranoid, then it's already too late." Marilyn Manson
"If you aren't paranoid, then it's already too late." Marilyn Manson
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NetMassimo
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I confess I knew nothing about Sara Jane Moore's personal story and her involvement with the FBI, with all its consequences. This biography seems very interesting in covering all these bits of history.
Ciao 
Massimo
Massimo
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