Rating: 
Summary: A compelling novel of prison life
Review: "White Man's Justice, Black Man's Grief," by Donald Goines, is a compelling novel about men in prison. The text's copyright date is 1973. This book tells the story of Chester Hines, an African-American man who is arrested during a police traffic stop at the beginning of the novel. The bulk of the book details his experiences in prison.Goines creates a vivid portrait of the lives of incarcerated men. He describes overcrowding, filthy conditions, violence, and other aspects of life behind bars. A major theme is the racially charged nature of prison life, with whites as an abused minority within the inmate population. Goines writes at graphic length about homosexual acts in prison; prison sex is always described in the most vile context. Goines' writing is crisp, and the story moves along effectively. His characters are memorable and disturbing. Some of the social protest (starting with the hit-you-over-the-head title) seems a little forced. But this is definitely not a white-bashing book; there are a couple of sympathetic white characters, and in fact the most abusive and twisted characters are black! Overall, a fascinating look at a "community" (i.e. the inmate population) that most people will probably never experience directly. For another literary work that offers a gripping view of life in a racially mixed prison, try Miguel Pinero's great play "Short Eyes."
Rating: 
Summary: His own worst enemy
Review: Chester Himes, the main character in this book (based on a real life author who wrote about serving time), is caught with a concealed weapon and is sent to jail. While the author goes to great lengths to point out the racial injustice in the penal system the main problem is this man's own behavior. Actually this book shows that crime doesn't pay. In a sense the main character got what he deserved, he killed his wife and got away with it but wound up spending the rest of his life in jail anyway. I'm not as convinced as some of the other reviewers that this book demonstrates the injustice of the penal system or is a "typical black man's experience". It does demonstrate that what comes around goes around. Chester Himes got what was coming to him.
Rating: 
Summary: White man's Justice Black Man's Grief was a phenomenal book!
Review: Donald Goines really brought the reader into the life of a prison inmate while reading the book. The story was well written, giving facts and situations about the prison system in america as well as telling you a story about two inmate friends and the wicked betrayal that tore the friendship apart. This is definately a must read!!
Rating:
Summary: OUTSTANDING
Review: I found this book hard to put down. Goines writes in a way to where you can relate with his characters. The book actually revolves around a relation between chester and a guy he meets in the county and against his better judgement builds a close relationship with him that ends up being a fatal decision. Definetly one for the collection
Rating:
Summary: His own worst enemy
Review: I just finished reading the book and WOW is all I have to say. This is not OZ this is some real sounding stuff here. There was nothing going on outside to these men, this book took place within the walls of the county jail for the most part and finally in a penitentary. it validates what most men say after their visits there. it was interesting how he spolighted some of the characters and told their story. everybody has a story there. it sounds weird to say that this is a masterpiece of prison life but it is. donald clearly knew his topic very well and brought some very interesting issues to light, particularly the bail bond issue. There were characters in there that I felt for and some unbearable characters which all added a sense of realism to this story. i often found myslef wondering which of the characters reflected the most of donald goines because he told this story with such grittiness it seemed like a memory. funny thing is most of the conditions at the time of this book remain the same. i couldnt see it having a happy ending, our main character was righteous at times but also very deeply affected by the way he had already led his life which undoubtedly would come back to haunt him.
Rating:
Summary: I FEEL LIKE I JUST GOT OUT THE JOINT
Review: I just finished reading the book and WOW is all I have to say. This is not OZ this is some real sounding stuff here. There was nothing going on outside to these men, this book took place within the walls of the county jail for the most part and finally in a penitentary. it validates what most men say after their visits there. it was interesting how he spolighted some of the characters and told their story. everybody has a story there. it sounds weird to say that this is a masterpiece of prison life but it is. donald clearly knew his topic very well and brought some very interesting issues to light, particularly the bail bond issue. There were characters in there that I felt for and some unbearable characters which all added a sense of realism to this story. i often found myslef wondering which of the characters reflected the most of donald goines because he told this story with such grittiness it seemed like a memory. funny thing is most of the conditions at the time of this book remain the same. i couldnt see it having a happy ending, our main character was righteous at times but also very deeply affected by the way he had already led his life which undoubtedly would come back to haunt him.
Rating:
Summary: A real-life look inside the judicial system
Review: In this story, like his others, Donald Goines succeeded in painting a clear, vivid, and lively picture of life behind bars from the black man's point of view during that time. If you really take in the message Goines gets across, you'll see it's much more than a man complaining about this, that, the man not giving him a break, etc. Chester (the main character) was fully aware of his crimes and knew he would be punished. The severity, however, is what got to him, and really set the story in motion. The supporting cast Goines brings is terrific; later on in the story Chester and a friend of his befriend a white inmate, and while everything is cool between the three of them, you can see the tension mount when it's time for two of them to go to the parole board and see about their releases. A story this authentic and true can only be told by someone who's either lived it, or has been around it, and Goines more than qualified to do the job.
Rating:
Summary: I liked it
Review: This book was down and dirty all the way to the end! This book told the truth about the prison system and what goes on behind prison walls. If you wanted to know anything about jail, read this book and you would know. Once again Goines holds nothing back and goes into detail. THIS IS ANOTHER MUST READ BY THE BEST AUTHOR!
Rating:
Summary: Hits with the impact of a shiv.
Review: This is a novel about life in county lock up by one of the better underground black authors of the 70's. Goines was a junkie and prisoner himself and cranked out about a dozen hard boiled novels about black street life before being gunned down in '73. In the last several years a new audience has discovered him as an author who provides a nihilistic view of inner city life. Anything by Goines is worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: A page turner!!
Review: This is the 5th book I have read by Mr. Goines. While this is not my favorite(Whoreson), this is still an excellent read. I was able to complete the book in 1 day! So often televsion shows and books sugar-coat prison life, this book is so real it makes you believe you are actually serving time with the others. Donald Goines has a way of dragging the reader into each book. It's sad that his collection only has 14 books. I must say he and Zane are neck and neck in the race of becmoing my favorite author!
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