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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
Great memoir about how quickly bad decisions can spiral and the reality of doing time in prison. Only quibble was that I found some of the time skips slightly confusing in audiobook format.
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I’m not usually into memoirs, but this book kept me riveted. Real and vulnerable.
3.5 stars. Excellent writer. No surprise that her writing has appeared in multiple papers, etc. I’ve read a multitude of memoirs (many regarding addiction) and I cringed for a good bit of this. I was so terrified for the author and I’m just relieved she’s still alive. By the fickle finger of fate, she ended up not being murdered and hacked to pieces or dead by Hepatitis/AIDS/(include a slew of other life-threatening ailments here), but my goodness, she sure liked to cut it close. I found myself thinking about her dog and it reminded me of that scene from A star is born and it tugged at my heart. Thankfully, she had parents who cared and others who took care of the little doggy.
Holy cow! What an epic memoir - Keri Blakinger is doing great work as a journalist covering the so-called "corrections" industry, and it's well-informed. This is a pretty harrowing story about her addiction and incarceration. Gripping and well worth the read.
Initially I picked this up wanting another female POV for a behind bars themed program but it quickly became more than that. I have heard the term functioning alcoholic but hadn't considered the realm of a functioning drug addict. Straight from a promising athletic childhood into eating disorders and illegal drugs Keri had experienced a 180° pivot. Addressing not only privilege but also expounding on so many things wrong with the American justice system it lights a fire under me for those who find themselves in the endless roulette riddle of day to day life as a woman behind bars. I'm disgusted all over again (started with Period Power and Orange Is The New Black) by how menstruating humans can be on view and treated when attempting to care for themselves. But not only that but the barriers set in place likey to change with any whim of staff. I can't promise you this is a light read, but it's worth it. And as a voter, to be aware of the role of County Sheriff's behind bars.
“Locking hundreds of traumatized and damaged women in together and threatening them constantly with additional punishments is not rehabilitation. It is not corrections. It is not public safety. It is systemic failure.”
Nothing more needs to be said.
Nothing more needs to be said.
Outstanding and gripping memoir
I heard about this on NPR and tore through it in 2.5 days. It’s a well written, engrossing, largely self aware memoir of a woman who grew up in a somewhat privileged middle class home but had a strong self destructive streak. After a battle with addiction and a stretch in prison, she was able to put her life together and help incarcerated people through her journalism. Truly one of the best nonfiction books I’ve read in ages.
If you like this, I strongly recommend the podcast Ear Hustle.
I heard about this on NPR and tore through it in 2.5 days. It’s a well written, engrossing, largely self aware memoir of a woman who grew up in a somewhat privileged middle class home but had a strong self destructive streak. After a battle with addiction and a stretch in prison, she was able to put her life together and help incarcerated people through her journalism. Truly one of the best nonfiction books I’ve read in ages.
If you like this, I strongly recommend the podcast Ear Hustle.
Rating: 4
“An electric and unforgettable memoir about a young woman's journey—from the ice rink, to addiction and a prison sentence, to the newsroom—and how she emerged with a fierce determination to expose the broken system she experienced.” GR
This was a well written memoir that felt so honest and emotional. I would definitely recommend checking out the content/trigger warnings before you read this one. It can definitely be heavy at times and what you read will make you upset but hopefully it will make you want to help make changes for the better. This book really teaches you how important it is to check in with people. Some people might seem totally fine on the outside but on the inside they could be struggling with their mental health. It doesn’t hurt to ask if people are okay or if they need something. People who don’t receive support typically turn to self harm or drugs. I would definitely recommend this memoir and I think it is one that most people would benefit from reading. There is a lot more I could say but I think you need to experience it directly from the source.
“An electric and unforgettable memoir about a young woman's journey—from the ice rink, to addiction and a prison sentence, to the newsroom—and how she emerged with a fierce determination to expose the broken system she experienced.” GR
This was a well written memoir that felt so honest and emotional. I would definitely recommend checking out the content/trigger warnings before you read this one. It can definitely be heavy at times and what you read will make you upset but hopefully it will make you want to help make changes for the better. This book really teaches you how important it is to check in with people. Some people might seem totally fine on the outside but on the inside they could be struggling with their mental health. It doesn’t hurt to ask if people are okay or if they need something. People who don’t receive support typically turn to self harm or drugs. I would definitely recommend this memoir and I think it is one that most people would benefit from reading. There is a lot more I could say but I think you need to experience it directly from the source.