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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
What an insightful story from a Doctor of literature who taught Shakespeare to prison inmates. This book gives a peek at life in prison but also a closer look at the transformation of one inmate specifically. It shows us an interesting insight into psychology in a round about way and the power literature can hold in the hearts of mankind.
We all face consequences from poor choices we make. Some people make worse choices and do awful things, and they must face those consequences. But in opening the curtian and entering into the life of one prison inmate, like the author did, we get a peak behind the criminal. The pain and harsh background that may have been present in their lives as they committed crimes and the hope, insight, and healing that can be found in literature.
A quote from the inmate this book focuses on, Larry Newton—
“They associate their misery to the fact that they are in prison, and it’s not that. I think alot of my misery was me hating me, and hating me made me hate everyone else. I felt like such a punk. I felt so weak. I really was a coward. I never stood up for myself. I mean I stood up for myself in the way we associate standing up for yourself. Fighting and violence, but that’s not standing up for yourself. I mean standing up for myself like thinking for myself. Now I feel more okay with myself. I’m feeling stronger in my abilities everyday and the world just opens up. You really can do anything. You can shape your life the way you want it to be because prison isn’t the great prison. Prison is being trapped by those self-destructive ways of thinking.”
**content warning—some strong language present
We all face consequences from poor choices we make. Some people make worse choices and do awful things, and they must face those consequences. But in opening the curtian and entering into the life of one prison inmate, like the author did, we get a peak behind the criminal. The pain and harsh background that may have been present in their lives as they committed crimes and the hope, insight, and healing that can be found in literature.
A quote from the inmate this book focuses on, Larry Newton—
“They associate their misery to the fact that they are in prison, and it’s not that. I think alot of my misery was me hating me, and hating me made me hate everyone else. I felt like such a punk. I felt so weak. I really was a coward. I never stood up for myself. I mean I stood up for myself in the way we associate standing up for yourself. Fighting and violence, but that’s not standing up for yourself. I mean standing up for myself like thinking for myself. Now I feel more okay with myself. I’m feeling stronger in my abilities everyday and the world just opens up. You really can do anything. You can shape your life the way you want it to be because prison isn’t the great prison. Prison is being trapped by those self-destructive ways of thinking.”
**content warning—some strong language present
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Wow this changed my brain chemistry a little bit and made me humanize some of the prisoners mentioned in the book. Definitely worth the listen or read of!
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
I seldom give books a 5-star rating, and I'm not a Shakespeare "lover." However, this story was completely amazing! First, I couldn't get over how an adult prisoner with a fifth-grade education had the ability to read Shakespeare plays. Then he not only read them but understood them. And he went from understanding to analyzing. He didn't just analyze the literature - he analyzed himself. By understanding the what and why about himself, he was able to turn from the "bad" thoughts/actions and change to "good." He even developed the desire to help others change. Most Christians would say that is only possible through the grace of God, but there was no mention of God in this story, only Shakespeare. My only complaint is the same as some other reviewers: the author should have left out the parts about her own personal revelations and focused solely on the Shakespeare.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
I thought the beginning was very interesting and brought up a lot of good discussions about the American prison system
The author, who volunteers extensively in prison (particularly supermax), tells the story of her experiences there, what she sees in prison, of the life prisoners lead. Most notably, there is one prisoner in particular she talks about. A man who went to prison as a teenager and faces life without the possibility of parole. As a prisoner, he's committed violent acts in the past, but now the older version of this man is quiet, compassionate and intelligent, and devours Shakespeare with a passion the author only dreams of seeing in her ordinary college students.
To be clear, this book is about prison, not about shakespeare. Despite the author's fan of the subject, it's clear the inmate's passion for Shakespeare is simply due to them being utterly starved of any other intellectual distraction. Although it is interesting how the book will draw comparisons between situations faced by the characters in Shakespeare's plays and those faced by the inmates before they become prisoners, causing them to see those situations in a different light.
I am uncomfortable with how the author sometimes draws comparisons between her experiences and those of the inmates. For example, she on multiple occasions refers to having spent ten years in solitary confinement, when what she really means is she make weekly visits to the prison to volunteer.
Her accomplishments are definitely notable though. She spent a huge amount of time in a risky and intimidating situation, helping to educate prisoners. Although it did accord her some degree of fame, it had a negative impact on her career, in which "publish or perish" is the watchword. So she certainly made sacrifices for what she believes in.
The underlying narrative is clearly the mistreatment of people in prison. How we treat prisoners in ways that would be deemed torture and abuse in any other context. That we should think of imprisonment as a tool for reform, not punishment. Curiously, though, the author never actually comes out and says this. The closest is sharing the prisoner's own opinions on reform. Perhaps she felt the lesson would be more powerful if treated with a bit of subtlety.
I largely recommend this book so that we can all better understand the criminal justice system, and the unfairness and inefficacy thereof. This story makes it clear that criminal justice reform is greatly needed in the US.
To be clear, this book is about prison, not about shakespeare. Despite the author's fan of the subject, it's clear the inmate's passion for Shakespeare is simply due to them being utterly starved of any other intellectual distraction. Although it is interesting how the book will draw comparisons between situations faced by the characters in Shakespeare's plays and those faced by the inmates before they become prisoners, causing them to see those situations in a different light.
I am uncomfortable with how the author sometimes draws comparisons between her experiences and those of the inmates. For example, she on multiple occasions refers to having spent ten years in solitary confinement, when what she really means is she make weekly visits to the prison to volunteer.
Her accomplishments are definitely notable though. She spent a huge amount of time in a risky and intimidating situation, helping to educate prisoners. Although it did accord her some degree of fame, it had a negative impact on her career, in which "publish or perish" is the watchword. So she certainly made sacrifices for what she believes in.
The underlying narrative is clearly the mistreatment of people in prison. How we treat prisoners in ways that would be deemed torture and abuse in any other context. That we should think of imprisonment as a tool for reform, not punishment. Curiously, though, the author never actually comes out and says this. The closest is sharing the prisoner's own opinions on reform. Perhaps she felt the lesson would be more powerful if treated with a bit of subtlety.
I largely recommend this book so that we can all better understand the criminal justice system, and the unfairness and inefficacy thereof. This story makes it clear that criminal justice reform is greatly needed in the US.