Scan barcode
cathy1665's review
2.0
She was miserable, unhappy and constipated. But after 37 days she got to return to her beautiful home and family. Class, race, wealth made her luckier than the rest.
library_lurker's review
4.0
while there are some things about this book that annoyed or upset me, i think it's an important message. i enjoyed it partially because i've spent many years mailing books to people inside and it's nice to get some perspective on how meaningful reading can be while in prison. the themes of acceptance and surrender are things i really needed to hear. the author can be frustrating and i really dislike the way she talks about other women, esp. butches. but i was able to power through that and get to the point of the narrative--and it was a good point indeed.
also STFU to the reviewers (most of whom, i'm assuming, have never seen the inside of a jail in their lives) complaining BUt sHe OnLy SeRVeD 37 dAys wHo CaReS? literally the whole POINT of this book (one of the many) is that time is different on the inside. 37 days is definitely enough to change one's perspective forever. and yes it's unfair that she got a shorter sentence than many others due to her multiple privileges, but come on! you'd take the shorter sentence too! the fault lies not with the individual but with the system here. if you don't like it, work towards abolition, or donate money to those who do.
also STFU to the reviewers (most of whom, i'm assuming, have never seen the inside of a jail in their lives) complaining BUt sHe OnLy SeRVeD 37 dAys wHo CaReS? literally the whole POINT of this book (one of the many) is that time is different on the inside. 37 days is definitely enough to change one's perspective forever. and yes it's unfair that she got a shorter sentence than many others due to her multiple privileges, but come on! you'd take the shorter sentence too! the fault lies not with the individual but with the system here. if you don't like it, work towards abolition, or donate money to those who do.
booktally's review
3.0
It's so tough rating a memoir fairly. I enjoyed the audiobook, which is narrated by the author and something I love when authors narrate their own work! Especially if the work is personal and they are able to combine their own inflections with their experiences.
With that being said, my favorite part of the audiobook was the last hour - hour and a half. So that's maybe the final less than third of the book?
It's a quick read/listen but I just felt like something was missing. Like I said, it's hard to critique a memoir.
With that being said, my favorite part of the audiobook was the last hour - hour and a half. So that's maybe the final less than third of the book?
It's a quick read/listen but I just felt like something was missing. Like I said, it's hard to critique a memoir.
rosamund's review
5.0
A beautifully written book. Set against the backdrop of a not-that-great American prison, the Leslie Schwartz captures the comfort and escape reading gives you
mikolee's review against another edition
3.0
A far more erudite version of “Orange is the New Black”. White American woman incarcerated for dui and altercation with lapd. Her tale of survival (albeit a relatively short sentence) is dependent on her 3 books a week sent to her by her dedicated spouse. Perhaps I had a greater affinity to this author because I had read all of her book selections except the “AA Guidebook”. Her connection to the mostly WOC she was locked up with and her understanding of her place of privilege also made her more relatable.
More...