The Long Prison Journey of Leslie van Houten

Life Beyond the Cult

De: Karlene Faith

Narrado por: Gabra Zackman

At the age off twenty-one, Leslie Van Houten was sentenced to death, along with Charles Manson and his other disciples, for the infamous murder rampage spanning two nights in August 1969. Leslie, who was present at the Rosemary and Leno LaBianca stabbings, serenely accepted her sentence, wishing only that she had better served Manson in carrying out his apocalyptic vision of "Helter Skelter." When the United States temporarily suspended its death penalty, her sentence for murder conspiracy was converted to life in prison. Today, at the age of 51, after three trials and with no parole in sight, Leslie has become a remarkable survivor of a living nightmare.

This work presents the first in-depth look at how this "girl-next-door" became one of Manson's "girls." It also tells about Karlene Faith's thirty-year friendship with Leslie, whom she met while teaching in prison. To everyone who encountered Leslie - including prison staff and television journalists - she was not the demon typically portrayed by the media, but rather a gentle, generous spirit who mourned her victims. But why didn't this intelligent young woman see the evil in the "messiah" who had sexually exploited her, preached a racist ideology, and ordered her to murder? Faith pieces together the puzzle, starting with Leslie's spiritual quest within the sixties counterculture and her immediate attraction to Manson during a chance meeting. We learn of Manson's ability to look into her mind and commiserate with her turmoil. We also see his own need to control women and how his brainwashing techniques enabled his followers to embrace him as God, giving them little choice but to obey.

Leslie's journey out of Manson's grasp is a riveting feminist and spiritual story of recovering one's self. Why this rehabilitated woman, long punished for one man's madness, has not been able to leave prison is another story Faith brings to light. Filled with accounts of political injustices, this powerful book moves the reader to rethink the meanings and limits of guilt and punishment.

Excellent Story. Leslie needs to be freed.

I've followed the Manson Murders for many many years. My friends are fascinated and a little unnerved about my knowledge of this case. It's time to let these woman out of prison. Ironically they let out Squeaky who is probably more dangerous than any of them even though she didn't participate in the murders but would have given the chance.

Leslie and Pat are truly remorseful and have spent their time in prison positively. Leslie has had only one minor violation and Pat has had none. We spend a fortune keeping them in prison when they are of no danger.

I am 59 and am in no way the same person I was when I was 20 years old, nor are these people. The families that have lost family members are almost all deceased now and those that are still protesting their release didn't even know the people they murdered. Time for forgiveness that is deserved.

A beautiful soul can do unspeakable thing

Amazing book. Karlene Faith digs deep to reveal the beautiful soul that is Leslie van Houten. No one including LVH herself excuses what she did, but live in the real world.... there are reasons things happen. Faith reveals both sides. I wished this book went on for another 1000 pages

Not what I thought....

I thought this would be more of the discussion on what Karlene did with working with Leslie, etc. It was a rehash of trials, news stories. You kept waiting for her to get to the actual story.

Disappointed

I was expecting so much from this book, but gained little. It's obvious the author is a friend and fan of Leslie, so I thought there would be more insight. Instead, you will hear every detail of every parol hearing, repetitive excerpts of letters, a recap of the crimes, trials, and a little bit about how she spends her time in prison etc.. This came across as more a book about how unfair the justice system is to certain individuals than a book about Leslie herself.

the narrator has a bizarre delivery

I'm obsessed with the Manson story, but this is so difficult to listen to. the narrator does a bizarre thing where she will start each sentence in a loud kind of scary voice and then going to a calm soothing voice. she will do this throughout the book it's extremely distracting.