Waiting to Be Heard

A Memoir

By: Amanda Knox

Narrated by: Amanda Knox

Length: 12 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

Amanda Knox spent four years in a foreign prison for a crime she did not commit. In the fall of 2007, the 20-year-old college coed left Seattle to study abroad in Italy, but her life was shattered when her roommate was murdered in their apartment. After a controversial trial, Amanda was convicted and imprisoned. But in 2011, an appeals court overturned the decision and vacated the murder charge. Free at last, she returned home to the U.S., where she has remained silent, until now.

Filled with details first recorded in the journals Knox kept while in Italy, Waiting to Be Heard is a remarkable story of innocence, resilience, and courage, and of one young woman’s hard-fought battle to overcome injustice and win the freedom she deserved. With intelligence, grace, and candor, Amanda Knox tells the full story of her harrowing ordeal in Italy - a labyrinthine nightmare of crime and punishment, innocence and vindication - and of the unwavering support of family and friends who tirelessly worked to help her win her freedom.

©2013 Amanda Knox (P)2013 HarperCollinsPublishers

Eye opening story about the Italian injustice

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. Answers questions not covered by the media.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Waiting to Be Heard?

I was shocked to hear about children being raised in prisons with their Mothers

What three words best describe Amanda Knox’s performance?

Passionate, detailed &

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. I think that anyone who hasn't been a victim of a flawed justice system may grow tired of some of the detail recounted by Amanda but I loved it!

Any additional comments?

I would love to see a 2nd book in a few years to see how far Amanda has com in life!

You tell 'em, Amanda!!!

What did you love best about Waiting to Be Heard?

Finally Amanda has the chance to share her story. She does so with amazing detail, care, and grace. I know she has learned from her growing pains, this horrible nightmare. May her future be blessed.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved that she narrated her own story. No one else could have done this justice. Bravo, Amanda.

Didn't follow the story until now

Where does Waiting to Be Heard rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is the first non-fiction true crime book I have listened to on audible. I really enjoyed the fact that it was read by the author, I feel like I really got to hear her side of the story. I did not follow this story at all when the events first occurred. Up until I read this book I had absolutely no opinion whatsoever on the case. I feel that if readers go into this thinking Amanda is guilty, then they may not enjoy the book as much as I did.

What did you like best about this story?

Being someone who has never had any run ins with the law, other than the occasional speeding ticket, I have a lot of faith in the justice system. I believe that as long as you are innocent, you'll be okay. This book really points out just how wrong I was. It illustrates the very different perspectives of Amanda and the Italian government officials. It is scary to think that someone can be convicted with absolutely no physical evidence because of the way they were acting.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I really felt Amanda's frustration when she was speaking with the police. She has done an excellent job of expressing her fear and frustration, and although I have never been in that situation before, I feel that I understand what she was going through, I almost felt as though I was going through it with her.

Very captivating

I was captivated by Amanda Knox’s story when it was happening, as she and I are the same age. I’ve watched documentaries and the made for TV movie that detailed her experience. I really felt for her then and I still do. I really liked that she narrated her memoir. I liked hearing her perspective on her experience instead of what was portrayed through the media.

Insight and Emotion only Amanda could provide

Amanda did an exceptional job creating this memoir from her personal notes, court documents, memories. What was, clearly, a horrific experience was told in such a way that I could barely stop listening to sleep, shower and eat. Of the thousands of books I’ve read, I’ve never taken the time to review a book before but I feel this one deserves it. Amanda let’s us into her emotions, thoughts, embarrassing and personal moment…everything. You can hear anguish, confusion, frustration and triumph through Amanda’s voice. We’re finally given the truth about her ordeal and you can hear the (forced?) growth that she experienced throughout her time in Italy and since leaving. Thank you for sharing this with us, Amanda.

Interesting story

Good story told by the woman who suffered. Not a professional reader, and a bit flat, but consistent with the story and medium. She suffered inappropriately because of immaturity, foolishness, and youth, but those weaknesses did not make her deserve the suffering, stress, and loss of freedoms. The author and victim telling with her own voice is quite appropriate.

I hear you, Amanda

First of all, it is horrifying that this happened to an innocent person, but it definitely happens, and also happens far too often in this country.

Her explanation of why she admitted to things that didn’t actually happen is dead on. It is so hard for the average person to understand why a normal, intelligent, honest, well-behaved person would say things that aren’t true when put under police pressure. The tactics the police use are not as effective as they would like to admit. Too many wrongful convictions in the world. Let’s face it, police officers are NOT trained in psychology, and do not have to get a PhD, so why are they in a position to determine if someone is lying or telling the truth?!

Amanda’s story/experience highlight the need for change. This is more than just a memoir. It is an eye opening account of just one of the MANY wrongfully convicted people in the world. You never think it could happen to you, but trust me, it can. And the saddest part is the innocent have nothing to hide, so they put so much trust in a system that fails them to the worst degree.

Overall, the book is written in a compelling manner, easy to follow along despite many names and places. Her reading is very helpful in conveying the emotion. I’m sorry this ever happened to Amanda Knox.

Well done, Amanda

Any additional comments?

She's a very, very good writer with a detailed, disturbing, ultimately inspiring story to tell. What more do we need in a memoir? (She's obviously innocent; if people think otherwise they don't understand how impossible it would be for her to have killed her friend and left no DNA at the scene.) I've read some comments from people whose knowledge of what happened comes from tabloids, and I have to say I hope she's able to ignore them. Most of us would have collapsed under the weight of what she faced; she didn't.

Hats off to her parents and step-parents, too. The saddest part of this whole thing, for me, is her description of sitting in prison after three years, thinking about how isolated she was going to be from these people, even if she somehow got out and got home again. She knew there was always going to be a giant space between herself and others -- which is an insight anyone who's lived through a long trauma will recognize as the truth. She's an extraordinary person.

Her side

I just finished Knox's book and was pleasantly surprised. Not only does the book do a credible job of presenting Amanda’s side, Amanda does a surprisingly credible job of narration. The only part of the book causing me a little irritation was her repeatedly referring to feces as “poop”. My daughters stopped referring to “poop” when they were 10 years old.
This is a story of an incredibly naïve American girl set adrift in a foreign country she claimed to know but really didn’t. While her flatmates clammed up and got lawyers she continued to “help” the Italian police without a lawyer’s protection. The Italian Police thought her actions strange when in fact they were the actions of typical American teen. The real evil here is the murderer of Kercher, Guede, and the two prosecutors Mignini and Comodi who cared more about “keeping face” than finding and convicting the real murderer.

Bottom line, Knox’s book is an excellent listen.

Great listen! Poor girl was screwed!

Would you consider the audio edition of Waiting to Be Heard to be better than the print version?

Absolutely.....Her reading her book made all the difference to me!

Which character – as performed by Amanda Knox – was your favorite?

Well, Amanda of course!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not really....I like taking breaks and this story required me to do so.

Any additional comments?

I once wanted to go to Perugia and study where Amanda was studying.....I had visited before and loved the place! I'm chosing Spain this summer instead of Italy. I was so furious at the Italian justice system or lack of.....