Picking Cotton

Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption

By: Jennifer Thompson-Cannino, Erin Torneo, Ronald Cotton

Narrated by: Richard Allen, Karen White

Jennifer Thompson was raped at knifepoint by a man who broke into her apartment while she slept. She was able to escape and eventually identified Ronald Cotton as her attacker. Ronald insisted that she was mistaken - but Jennifer's positive identification was the compelling evidence that put him behind bars. After 11 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. In their own words, Jennifer and Ronald unfold 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.

©2009 Jennifer Thompson-Cannino and Ronald Cotton (P)2009 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Injustice and redemption are overused words, but this heartfelt joint memoir justifies its subtitle." ( Kirkus)
"Touching" ( Library Journal)

Powerful

Powerful book on forgiveness, perseverance, and redemption. Demonstrates that sometimes you can experience the worst, turn it around and help others.

Great Witness of Reconciliation and Forgiveness

What did you love best about Picking Cotton?

I liked that each chapter presented the different stories of Jennifer Thompson-Cannino and Ronald Cotton.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ronald Cotton's sprituality and patience were very attractive. I cheered at each step of his journey to personal freedom.

Which scene was your favorite?

I liked when Ronald Cotton met Jennifer's children.

While it may have been tense, the scene when Ronald and his new wife first met with Jennifer was a well reported chapter.

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

It was moving to see Ronald as he learned he was to be set free.

Any additional comments?

Reconciliation is much needed in today's world. Ronald and Jennifer showed us all the way and that it is possible.

Required for a class..

but so didn't feel like it! This book is beautiful, such a beautiful story! And I love how half of it is a man reading and half is a woman!

Excellent Read!

Great story and very well told. This story and the stories within it opened my eyes to the reality of the common failures of our system. This was a required read for me but it is excellent and I highly recommend it.

Picking Cotton

I thought this book was very interesting and it kept me intrigued throughout the story. It really enjoyed how it was told from both perspectives.

Read for School- loved it

I read this book for Forensic Psychology and thought it was amazing. I got choked up several times and think this is a wonderful story of forgiveness. It shines a light on the faulty aspects of the legal system and how well meaning police can accidentally lead victims to give incorrect eye witness testimony.

Great Book!!!

Ron has a great heart!!! I really loved the fact Jennifer went to meet Ron when she was wrong. It's nothing like understanding someone else who is hurt.

Amazing Book - Sad Story, Good Ending

Black people are often treated wrongly in this world, especially by white people. I’m glad this story turned out to be a good one, but many do not. I appreciate the efforts of the white woman after she realized what she did was wrong, but it cost a man 11 years of his life.

Story and reading are layered and complex

If you could sum up Picking Cotton in three words, what would they be?

Heart-wrenching, heart-warming, layered

What was one of the most memorable moments of Picking Cotton?

The description of Ronald Cotton's decision to not use a shiv in prison on an intended enemy. Based on advice from his father.

What does Richard Allen and Karen White bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Richard Allen's voice is mellifluous and entrancing. He does a first-class job of presenting that his character is flawed but innocent and that he retains hos hope and dignity through and unjust system and process.

Karen White makes her character - whom readers could so easily dismiss as an antagonist - a hero in her own right. She helps us to understand how a very "good" person could be the principal agent in assisting something "bad" to happen.

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

I listened to this book while training for a long-distance walking event and could literally forget about the 100 degree heat and sweltering humidity and walk for 2, 4, even 6 hours entranced in the story.

Any additional comments?

This book explores very complex issues that arose from a true-life situation that can only be described as a no-win situation for its victims involved. But these people gutted it out and survived to go on and find true happiness and friendship together. I cried in sadness, anger, fear, and ultimately in heartfelt cheer. Who needs fiction when we have such rich and layered true life stories. Stories everybody should hear and know.

i like the idea of this memoir

but the writing wasn't engaging, and i found the book relies on the potentially shocking story. i appreciate the sentiment though.