Defending Jacob, by William Landay

Characters

Andrew Barber – lawyer, narrator Jacob – son – accused of Ben Rifkin’s murder Laurie – mother Bloody Billy Barber – Andrew’s father - jail   Neal Logiudice – ADA   Jonathan Klein – Jacob’s lawyer Dr. Elizabeth Vogel - psychiatrist   Ben Rifkin – murder victim – age 14 Dan and Joan – parents   Lt. Detective Paul Duffy   Leonard Patz – pedophile, confessed to Ben’s murder and hung himself   Father James O’Leary – fixer, old gangster   Derek Yoo – friend of Jacob’s   Hope Connors – deceased girl at resort

 For discussion:

1. At one point Andrew said that he believed in the power of rituals associated with the court system – the robes, religious symbolism, etc.  What rituals do you have in your own day-to-day life or for special occasions?

2. Do you think Leonard Patz was guilty?  In the beginning was Andrew just looking for any other answer?  In the end, do you think Patz really did it?   Did Andrew?

3. In the beginning of the novel when the parents were gathering at the school following the murder, Andrew stated that he felt like an outcast with the group of mothers.  When you first read that how did you understand it?  Did your understanding change as the story progressed?

4. Discuss the influence of Facebook?  At one point Derek was asked about something he “published” on Facebook and he replied that he did not “publish,” he just wrote something.   What part did Facebook play in the story?  Do the teens understand the implications of posting something?   How much responsibility do parents have to monitor their children’s Facebook usage?

5. Do you think there really is a “murder gene?”

6. At one point Andrew stated that “whatever Jacob may have done, she (Laurie) and I were certainly innocent.”   Do you agree?

7. When Laurie was first talking with Dr. Vogel, do you think she was sharing too much information?  Was she now looking at the past with a different perspective?

8. When Andrew was talking with a classmate of Jacob’s (Sarah Groehl), she said that each student had their own thing – be on a team, play an instrument, etc. – but that she and Jacob did not and were just “nothing.”    Do you think this is an accurate depiction of junior and senior high school?  What about as adults? 

9. One incident the author described was the family shopping at Whole Foods during the trial and how it was so uncomfortable.  How do you think they should act in public?  What should they do about their basic needs – food, etc?   10. Could you understand Joan Rifkin spitting in Laurie’s face?  Was that realistic?

11. When Patz confessed and all charges were dropped against Jacob, why did Dan Rifkin still want to kill Jacob?  (Was he planning to kill Jacob or someone else in the family?)

12. After the trial, was it possible for the family to return to normal?  What do you think they should have done with the rest of their lives?

13. What do you think really happened to Ben?  To Hope?

14. Were you able to understand Laurie’s decision at the end of the novel?  What else could she have done?

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