Beyond All Reason: My Life With Susan Smith

Rating:
Summary: A highly recommended book re: the Susan Smith story ...
Review: With the recent Andrea Yates story being in the media, I couldn't help but think back on the Susan Smith story and recently read this book. It was an emotional book to read. I can remember so well watching Susan Smith on TV in 1994 and at first believing her story, but then I started doubting her. When she finally confessed, I was horrified for Michael and Alex Smith. The thought of two little ones dying in the cold water alone and crying for their mother, who put them there, is almost too much to bear. I feel such sympathy for David Smith. The story of his marriage is difficult to read at times ... the games that David and Susan played were just ridiculous, and both of them were unfaithful in their marriage. They were really two children playing at being married, I think ... they were very young when Susan got pregnant with Michael and had to get married. At Susan's trial, a lot about her life came out ... her father's suicide, abuse by her stepfather, a mother that didn't protect her, depression and earlier suicide attempts. The girl is clearly mentally ill. Now I've heard that two prison guards have been fired for having sex with her; the discovery was made when Susan visited the prison infirmary and was found to have a veneral disease. It is a very sad situation for both families of Michael and Alex Smith, and I know that both families miss those little boys every day. The other night I saw David Smith on CNN. He cried when he talked about Michael and Alex and said he will never forget them. He is happily remarried and has a new baby girl, and said that when she was born, he promised her he wouldn't be afraid to love her. I was very touched by that and hope he will find happiness and peace in his new life. I also hope that Susan Smith and her family will find forgiveness and peace, too.