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csilvestrii's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Police brutality, Emotional abuse, Rape, Drug use, Dysphoria, Mental illness, Medical content, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Violence, Addiction, Confinement, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Toxic relationship
serendipitysbooks's review
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
I found Corrections in Ink to be a really interesting memoir. The author is a former top level ice skater and A grade college student who became addicted to heroin, did time in prison, and went on to become an award winning journalist exposing flaws and abuses in the prison system, thus improving the lives of many still behind bars. The style was upfront and open, with no effort to hide her crimes or evade responsibility. Several aspects of this book make it worthwhile read. The first is the way it highlighted the toll competing in top level sport can take on a young female athlete, especially one already suffering from poor mental health, and the lack of pastoral care when it comes to bumps in or the end of a sporting career. All too often young athletes are easily expendable once they no longer seem likely to bring sporting glory to their club or coach. The second is its exploration of the impact of an eating disorder, something in this case inexorably linked to the author’s sporting life. Third, and arguably the most far-reaching, is the exposé of the prison system, its total inhumanity, its utter lack of care for prisoner welfare, the vulnerability of prisoners to the capricious whims and abuses of often power hungry guards, and the failure of the system to do anything to enable prisoners to make a success of their life in the outside world following the end of their sentence. Such deficiencies cost society as a whole, although obviously the incarcerated suffer most. Finally, I really appreciate the way the author recognises and highlights they way her privilege, as a white woman from a relatively wealthy family, contributed to her being able to succeed outside of prison. Determination and hard work are obviously important but they are insufficient and the odds are stacked against former prisoners who are Black and brown, poor and or members of the LGBTIQA+ community.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse
pancakebatfish's review
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.25
well written, informative, important. another much-needed reminder that americas jails and prisons are broken beyond repair. thank you for your work, keri
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
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