Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This book was easy to read and many parts were interesting so I can see why people like it for those reasons. However I personally did not care for the way it was written. At times it reads like fiction, I've heard others say that it reads like a story and they may like that I just happen to disagree. The author often describes events as if she were there and knew exactly what words were spoken and even how people were feeling at the time which is of course not possible. I realize she used transcripts, talked to people, etc but some of it went beyond that. For example she couldn't have known what Travis was thinking and feeling at different points because he's not around to say. This doesn't really affect my review however because it's the authors way of writing and some are going to like it, some not. I began to have issues with the book when I realized the author was using much of Ms. Arias's own words given on the stand to describe her life and versions of what happened. She does on occasion write "according to Arias" but often seemed to write things as if they were facts, details that came from JA without anyone else being able to verify them. I don't think the author was trying to "favor" Arias, she sums her up as the heartless murderer she is, but I don't understand how anything Arias testified to can be counted on as truth. For instance when describing the early years of Arias. Her mother carried a wooden spoon to hit her with and her Dad pushed her into walls and furniture, hit her with a belt, etc. Is it possible these things happened? Of course it is but to take it at face value from a proven liar makes me question what is being written. I noticed this also happens when describing the sex life. Most of it doesn't read like it's only JA's version of things, it reads like it is what actually happened in thier relationship. Aria lies and changes stories on a regular basis to suit her needs. I don't assume that anything she says is true and to see things written as seemingly factual is disappointing. The author states at the end of the book she knows Arias will never tell the truth so I'm not sure why she seems to give some of JA's version of events the benefit of the doubt. .There are also many typos in the book, some not a big deal, some more surprising to read. For instance when Arias fills up the gas cans. It says she puts them in the back of her "truck" and then gets in her "car". It also says JA attended Mr. Alexander's funeral when that was not true- according to Arias she missed it due to a flat tire. It obviously meant to say she was at the memorial service, they had it right earlier in the book but again these inconsistencies take away credibility. Maybe there was a rush to get the book published and it wasn't looked over as thoroughly as it could have been. I was surprised to read that Travis was writing in his journal in 2008, several months after his Birthday about his needs in a relationship. His BD was in July, he was murdered in June, so he couldn't possibly have been writing several months later in 2008 as he was already dead. Some of the incorrectly spelled words were comical- during the autopsy they refer to the corroded artery, I believe they meant carotid. One last thing that bothered me is the cover of the book with it's picture of JA and the words "The Jodi Arias Story" then you open it up and it's dedicated to Travis's late Grandmother, there's something not quite right with that to me. Anyway, just my take on the book I know not everyone will agree with it. To each his own.