Rating: 
Summary: Couldn't Keep It To Myself
Review: Love Wally lamb...Hated this book! The intro was good (because it was written by Lamb) but the rest of the book read like a junior high school writting class project. I know Lamb wanted to dispel any rumors that prison is a fun place to spend a relaxing 10-12 but I believe he accomplished that in the intro without dragging us through chapter after chapter of abuse. (ours and theirs)Sorry, I wouldn't recommend this to anyone.
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing short of a Masterpiece!!!
Review: Sure, Wally Lamb has written two of the greatest books of all time and lent his expertise to the stories of the women in this book, but these women did a fine job on their own. The stories of these women are heart-wrenching, but at the same time inspiring. They are about as far away from victim-hood as one can possibly get. A great book leaves it's mark on the reader and this one has surely left a mark on me. This is a book I will remember forever. Yes, these women are all in prison, or have been in prison for doing terrible things, but they are not terrible people, they have all come to terms with their life and found peace through their writing. Get your hands on a copy of this book, read it and pass it along to your friends and family, you won't be disappointed!!
Rating:
Summary: Compelling portraits from perspectives not often published
Review: Thank you, Wally Lamb, for helping to give these women's voices to the world. If every new writer could look as deeply and write as truthfully as these participants in his workshop at a Connecticut prison, there would be a lot more books worth reading. Many of these women have a very natural gift for language, and their stories (mostly nonfiction, but some fiction) are as honest as writing gets. The first two essays alone make the book a worthwhile purchase; I hope some of these writers go on to publish more.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't Keep It To Myself:Testomonies From Our Imprisoned S
Review: The best essay in this book was "Thefts", it was a heart rendering, true story. It made me realize how much society fails the children in our country who are victims of sexual abuse. I still remember Jon-Benet Ramsey, and the unsolved murder of this innocent 6 year old. Carolyn Adams's story stole my heart.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting but..
Review: The book held my attention for the most part and I had it finished in 2 days. I have mixed emotions, however. My curiosity about the reality of prison life is what made me buy this book. This book portrayed prison life as a lot LESS harsh than I had imagined. In this book the prison seemed like a social club for wayward women. Being in prison seemed to actually improve the lives of some of them who had been used to harsh street life, abuse and a daily battle with society but now have three warm meals a day, shelter, clothing, social time, schooling and no responsibilities. Nothing surprised me concerning the lives of these women. What happened to them was pretty typical in stories you hear of women in the system..child abuse both sexually and physically, neglect, lack of security, no financial stability, etc, etc. I found some of the stories to be monotonous because of this and got tired of how nearly every story went from their childhood to adulthood, childhood to adulthood..back and forth, back and forth..each one so similar. The stories..in my opinion...were very predictable and it doesn't help that you don't know why, specifically, some of these woman are in prison. You hear what drove them there socially and psychologically, but not the exact crime they committed..understandably hidden in some cases because of laws that have to be kept concerning writing about crimes, but these type of stories needed more of that information so you weren't left hanging. It doesn't tie together and flow..you are suddenly jerked to a stop at the end of each story wondering what on earth this person had done to land in jail. A brief excerpt at the end of each woman's story stated matter-of-factly why they were there but the story itself doesn't lead up to each crime..you don't understand what's going on. I kept reading partly because I thought it would pick up my interest the further I delved but that didn't happen. Sure, it has a few touching stories but I wasn't that impressed as a whole. One thing that really bothered me is how nearly every woman was sexually abused as a child but it was almost spoken of lightly..the abuser wasn't turned in...nothing was done..almost like it's an accepted fact and a part of life. I found it deplorable that it was spoken of so generally and almost in an acceptable manner. All in all to sum it up in one sentence: it was a background on a bunch of women who had hard lives, like millions of us, but they went over the edge.
Rating:
Summary: Wally Lamb brings us the gift of powerful voices.
Review: The writer's job is "to turn the unspeakable into words--not just into any words, but if we can, nto rhythm and blues"- Anne Lamott. In this somewhat controversial collection of stories, the authors have fulfilled the mission that Lamott sets for writers, above. Wally Lamb, prize-winning "Oprah" author of "I Know This Much Is True" and "She's Come Undone" has acted as teacher, mentor and inspirational leader at a writing workshop in a women's prison in Connecticut. He's compiled an anthology of stories from 10 incarcerated in prison, and a woman who teaches in the prison. To say that the collection is stunning is an understatement. Wanting to keep in tune with Connecticut's "Son of Sam" law, that does not allow writers to profit from writing about their crimes, Lamb successfully keep their focus on the tales of their early lives, and each woman's coming face to face with what she did and what her life will be like in prison. There are no sad-sack, pity me stories here. What you will learn is that there are painful incidents in these women's childhoods, that they are finally able to face on paper. They hold themselves accountable for what they've done, and they use their craft to provide not only their own inspiration, but inspirational thoughts for women everywhere. "Orbiting Izzy" - one of two stories from former inmate Nancy Whitely is the piece that sold the idea to Lamb's publisher. Whitely may have the freshest voice of all the authors represented, but you will find evocative moments in each woman's tale. Following the story, there is an information piece about each author, and it is astounding that these women have all found not only their voices, but their hopes for the future in all of the accomplishments they've made while incarcerated. This collection is not to be missed by anyone who has struggled to find themselves as an adult-- it is a gift of faith and humility for us all. From author Brenda Medina: "Beyond the steel door, there's a mourning
Grief for misplaced innocence.... Past the bright light, there's a longing
One that will not go away ..." The collage cover of the book was also made by inmates as replicas of the Mona Lisa. It is a testament to women who's lives were shattered, coming together to make a perfect illustration of the wondrous words inside this book.
Rating:
Summary: Inmates are people first, prisoners second
Review: This book has already caused a stir for all the wrong reasons. Various victims' rights groups have taken issue with this book for the following reasons: (a) that Wally Lamb would devote his time to, of all things, a group of criminals; and (b) that the stories in this book humanize their writers rather than focuses on the victims of their crimes. It is undisputed that the women who wrote these memoirs did a variety of illegal, immoral and awful things. However, if you read these stories, you will begin to wonder who the victims really are. The women's stories are uniformly heartbreaking; nearly all the authors were victims of sexual abuse. Nearly all grew up poor. Nearly all had minimal or questionable parental support. And about half wrote about abusive romantic relationships. Several of the authors are in prison for killing their abusive spouse and/or significant other. While it was wrong for them to take their husband's lives, it is also understandable once you read their harrowing tales. I was especially moved by Bonnie Foreshaw's "Faith, Power and Pants" and Diane Bartholomew's "Snapshots of my former life." Both went from unbearable childhoods to atrocious marriages. Both are clearly angry with a system that has failed them. Yet both write of finding hope despite all the indignities life has thrown at them. As a final indignity, Bartholomew developed cancer while writing her memoir. Only then was she paroled for the murder of her abusive husband. It is clear that she was only paroled because the State of Connecticutt did not want to pay her chemotherapy bills. This book can be harrowing to read but it left me with a sense of hope. Beautiful women exist underneath the prison fatigues, who have survived despite the brutal conditions of the penitentiary system. Each story in this collection moved me in a different way. I can say that about very few books.
Rating:
Summary: Behind the bars and into the hearts
Review: This book was amazing. I first heard of Wally Lamb through Oprah (big shock) and loved his previous two books. When I saw this one on the shelves I purchased it without even realizing how different it would be. This book make me cry, it made me smile but most of all it made me think. Before I picked up this book I was numb to our sisters who are locked up, now I feel like a little part of me is there with them. Thanks Wally for giving all of us a glimpse into these brilliant minds, I just wish you would have included a way to contact these women and help them!
Rating:
Summary: Gives A New Perspective
Review: This was a wonderful book. Wally Lamb is inspiring in that he helps these women not only bring out the eloquent author in themselves, but also provides an invaluable form of therapy. I enjoyed this book SO much. It really made me look at these women in a different light. Best book I have read in a long time! Thanks.
Rating:
Summary: This is an amazing book
Review: This wonderful book has changed the way I have viewed women in prison. Most of the women in this book suffered from one or several of factors like drug and sexual abuse, domestic violence, low self esteem, and even the loss of a loved one. The amazing thing is that every woman in this book has achieved their individual aspirations and goals while in prison or upon her release. I loved the story of Nancy Birkla who was convicted of drug dealing and served 7 years in York Correctional Institition. What is remarkable is what she acheived after her release. She earned a college degree with a perfect 4.0 grade point average in human services. She later worked as a coordinator for an agency that provides life skills counseling, housing and job opportunities to adults with developmental disabilities. I enjoyed reading the story of Barbara Parson Lane who was convicted of killing her husband after he sexually molested his step grand daughter. She became involved in a variety of interesting pursuits while incarcerated like working in a program in which inmates train Labrador retrievers to assist adults and children with special needs. This incredibly ambitious woman also studies computers, journalism, and yoga. I loved the story of Brenda Medina who was convicted for her participation in a gang related killing as a teenager. She has become a bilingual tutor and has taught Hispanic inmates to read, speak, and write English. Brenda also serves a reporter, photographer and editor for the inmate newsletter. Bonnie Foreshaw was the first person convicted for the murder of a pregnant woman in Connecticut which was an accident. She actively supports and is involved in anti violence and literacy groups. The story of Diane Bartholomew is very moving too. She was physically, emotionally, and sexually abused through her twenty four year marriage. She later experienced a breakdown which led her to shoot and kill her husband. However her life did not end there. She later earned a bachelors degree in social work with hopes of becoming a mental health counselor Diane even fought a courageous battle with breast cancer while in prison. This book is filled with hard luck stories about women who have endured great adversity in their lives. It is written so truthfully as each story tugs at your emotions. I enjoyed it very much.
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