The New York Times best selling true story of an unlikely friendship forged between a woman and the man she incorrectly identified as her rapist and sent to prison for 11 years. Jennifer Thompson was raped at knifepoint by a man who broke into her apartment while she slept. She was able to escape, and eventually positively identified Ronald Cotton as her attacker. Ronald insisted that she was … insisted that she was mistaken– but Jennifer’s positive identification was the compelling evidence that put him behind bars.
After eleven years, Ronald was allowed to take a DNA test that proved his innocence. He was released, after serving more than a decade in prison for a crime he never committed. Two years later, Jennifer and Ronald met face to face– and forged an unlikely friendship that changed both of their lives.
With Picking Cotton, Jennifer and Ronald tell in their own words the harrowing details of their tragedy, and challenge our ideas of memory and judgment while demonstrating the profound nature of human grace and the healing power of forgiveness.
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A true story that is heartbreaking and maddening yet redemptive. A story of real life faith and forgiveness. Highly recommended for readers of both fiction and non-fiction.
I LOVED THIS BOOK! Kudos to the authors for having the courage to write this book. Rarely do I get a book that I cannot put down, but this book was that for me. The story breaks my heart, but it was so interesting to read both sides of the story in one book. Excellent!
I read this book several months ago and still find myself randomly thinking about it. Such a compelling and inspiring story of forgiveness, hope and truth triumphing. Yet also heartbreaking at the losses each of the individuals suffered over so many years. When Cotton came face to face with the real perpetrator of the crime, knowing he’s serving that guy’s time, and yet continued to remain convinced truth would prevail showed his strength of character and true humanity. I can’t say enough about how riveted I was by each accounting through the eyes of the victim, the accused; the families persistence, the defense and the joyful conclusion. Cotton is a book to be read by anyone believing in justice and the prevailing human spirit.
It’s a book that makes you think about how things can go from being good to all at once your whole life has changed. I felt for both of the main people. It’s a true story that ends in a way you wouldn’t expect.
Forgiving. Redemptive.
It is wonderful to know there is forgiveness and that the accused and the accuser were able to each forgive the other for wrongs that were done. A great book!
Very well written in telling of a true-to-life experience about a “ruined life” that turned out great because of hearts willing to practice forgiveness.
Much of my adult life I have been drawn to the tragedy of the falsely accused/convicted. This true story of grace, vindication and redemption of both the accused and the accuser was heartwarming.
Sad but true story. Great depth of the characters.
I loved this book, especially the ending but it is also very sad to think such a thing can happen to a person.
Life changing
I have been interested in The Innocence Program and learned a lot about how it started and some of the success they have had.
This is the story of one of the first overturned guilty murder convictions thanks to DNA evidence . The characters are not unilateral saints or sinners but ordinary people trying to come to grips with a defendant convicted of rape who swears for 11 years he is innocent; the story is also told from the point of view of the victim, and then a second victim also claiming “ hedunit” by picking him out of a lineup. Both women were wrong, and their coming-to -terms with the proof that they were wrong and how they handled that is, in itself, amazing. What happens when victim and 11-year’s wrongly accused meet face to face? You’ll need to read the story. It is a tough but vindicating story for both of them and well worth your time.
Until you read a book like “Picking Cotton” you will never know the extent of your decisions and how forgiveness can change your world.
You will finish this book with hope for mankind.
When this book was recommended to me, I really was not sure I would read it (so many great books and too few hours to sit and read). So very glad I decided to try it. Wonderfully written, so yes I definitely would recommend it.