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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
emotional
medium-paced
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Mark Salzman shows the importance of humanizing the dehumanized by his detailed observations (and amazing essays written by his students) at juvenile hall. I'd also like to read his novel about nuns frequently mentioned throughout this memoir.
I loved this book! I don't even know how I came about reading it or where the book came from--I just found it on my bookshelf.
With this book, Salzman and his writers/juvenile criminals lifted me by the feet and shook up my beliefs and ideas that I thought were pretty firm in their place. What a mess they are now! Salzman isn't preachy and I'm not sure what his message is....I admire that he admits that he doesn't know either. He gives a sincere account of his experiences and lets the reader share them for what its worth...
This book caused me to explore my beliefs and my own approach to volunteer work. I'm inspired by his dedication--I've faced similar annoyances in my own work such as arriving to class on schedule to find that they're on lock-down and he made the trip for nothing--but handled them with much less grace and let these setbacks rationalize my decision to quit. He, however, never lost sight of the commitment he made to his kids. I respect his honesty in sharing embarrassing moments and making himself completely vulnerable to us and to his kids who try so hard to harden themselves---he is a true role model. Kevin's north star poem at the end had me sobbing at my kitchen table. My feeling now is a longing to find out what's become of the subjects of this book---I'm especially attached to kevin and Francisco Javier....I want them to really know how much their writing has affected me.
With this book, Salzman and his writers/juvenile criminals lifted me by the feet and shook up my beliefs and ideas that I thought were pretty firm in their place. What a mess they are now! Salzman isn't preachy and I'm not sure what his message is....I admire that he admits that he doesn't know either. He gives a sincere account of his experiences and lets the reader share them for what its worth...
This book caused me to explore my beliefs and my own approach to volunteer work. I'm inspired by his dedication--I've faced similar annoyances in my own work such as arriving to class on schedule to find that they're on lock-down and he made the trip for nothing--but handled them with much less grace and let these setbacks rationalize my decision to quit. He, however, never lost sight of the commitment he made to his kids. I respect his honesty in sharing embarrassing moments and making himself completely vulnerable to us and to his kids who try so hard to harden themselves---he is a true role model. Kevin's north star poem at the end had me sobbing at my kitchen table. My feeling now is a longing to find out what's become of the subjects of this book---I'm especially attached to kevin and Francisco Javier....I want them to really know how much their writing has affected me.
This book really moved me. What makes it so moving is the spare, unsentimental way Mark Salzman tells the story. I haven't read any of Salzman's other books but I see mention of Zen in a couple of the titles. This does not surprise me at all, because there Salzman is such a clear observer. This is the kind of book that makes you want to get involved, somehow, anyhow in prison reform/outreach. I highly recommend it.
About ex-gangbangers in jail in a creative writing class. Would be corny if it weren't true. Still a little corny but enjoyable and not so uplifting as to cause nausea.
3.5 ⭐️
I didn’t plan on reading this. I was just trying to figure out what to read next and I picked this up off my shelf. After reading the first chapter and laughing out loud I said I had to read it.
You follow the author Mark Salzman in the year 1997. He goes to a juvenile hall and is a teacher of a writing class. He helps these young men learn more about themselves and the world. Morals, mistakes, goals, etc. Its a real eye opener.
I really enjoyed this book. The writing the boys produced was so beautifully written. While reading I felt like I was in that library two days a week with them. Laughing and cracking jokes. You really see these men grow from scared or tough boys to men. Like I said they learn a lot about themselves. With Mark coming to see them twice a week it showed them that somebody cared for them. They weren’t “useless”, “a jailbird” or “never going to amount to anything” Mark showed them that they had potential which they realized after the first couple of writing classes.
I really suggest people read this because it gives you a taste into the minds of these prisoners.
I didn’t plan on reading this. I was just trying to figure out what to read next and I picked this up off my shelf. After reading the first chapter and laughing out loud I said I had to read it.
You follow the author Mark Salzman in the year 1997. He goes to a juvenile hall and is a teacher of a writing class. He helps these young men learn more about themselves and the world. Morals, mistakes, goals, etc. Its a real eye opener.
I really enjoyed this book. The writing the boys produced was so beautifully written. While reading I felt like I was in that library two days a week with them. Laughing and cracking jokes. You really see these men grow from scared or tough boys to men. Like I said they learn a lot about themselves. With Mark coming to see them twice a week it showed them that somebody cared for them. They weren’t “useless”, “a jailbird” or “never going to amount to anything” Mark showed them that they had potential which they realized after the first couple of writing classes.
I really suggest people read this because it gives you a taste into the minds of these prisoners.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
I really enjoyed this book (well, enjoyed might not be quite the right word since the topic is dark). Regardless of your beliefs on crime, the justice system, gangs, etc., this book will make you sit back and think. I think the author did an excellent job of capturing the feeling of living in a youth detention center by interweaving the writings of his students with his own experiences at that location. I highly recommend this book to everyone!!!