SEINFELD BLOG

Couldn't Keep It to Myself: Wally Lamb and the Women of York Correctional Institution (Testimonies from our Imprisoned Sisters)

Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 810.809287086927
EAN: 9780060595371
ISBN: 006059537X
Label: Harper Perennial
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 368
Publication Date: 2004-02
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Release Date: February 03, 2004
Sales Rank: 4374
Studio: Harper Perennial

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Editorial Review:

Product Description:


In a stunning work of insight and hope, New York Times bestselling author Wally Lamb once again reveals his unmatched talent for finding humanity in the lost and lonely and celebrates the transforming power of the written word.



For several years, Lamb has taught writing to a group of women prisoners at York Correctional Institution in Connecticut. In this unforgettable collection, the women of York describe in their own words how they were imprisoned by abuse, rejection, and their own self-destructive impulses long before they entered the criminal justice system. Yet these are powerful stories of hope and healing, told by writers who have left victimhood behind.



In his moving introduction, Lamb describes the incredible journey of expression and self-awareness the women took through their writing and shares how they challenged him as a teacher and as a fellow author. Couldn't Keep It to Myself is a true testament to the process of finding oneself and working toward a better day.



Amazon.com Review:
Any book that can give voice to the voiceless should be celebrated. No one feels this more strongly than Wally Lamb, editor of Couldn't Keep It to Myself, a collection of stories by 11 women imprisoned in the York Correctional Institution in Connecticut. Teacher and novelist Lamb was invited to head a writing workshop at York Correctional Institution in 1999. His somewhat reluctant acceptance soon turned into steadfast advocacy once the women in his charge began to tell their stories. Lamb maintains that there are things we need to know about prison and prisoners: 'There are misconceptions to be abandoned, biases to be dropped.' However, as heartfelt as his appeal is, nothing speaks more convincingly in this book than the stories themselves.

Those collected here are disturbing and horrific. They reveal, often in graphic detail, the worst kind of abuse: incest, drug addiction, spousal violence, parental neglect, or incompetence. They're also testimony to what social workers and health care professionals have confirmed for years--that those who populate our prisons are often victims first themselves. Thus, the telling of these stories serves as a form of therapy. They are also sad accounts of the brutalities many suffer, yet few discuss: 'One day I figured out a dying little girl lived inside of me, so I threw her a lifeline in the form of paper and pen.' Considering the degradation the contributors have experienced both in and outside prison, the courage, candor, and honesty with which they speak truly make these stories, as difficult as they are to read, 'victories against voicelessness--miracles in print.' --Silvana Tropea




Rating: - Deeply Thought Provoking Book
After having seen Wally Lamb during a book signing/reading, and having several of the women who are ... Read More

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Rating: - I just can't like it!
What a powerful book. I love that the prisoners were given a voice and an opportunity to use writing ... Read More

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Rating: - Another must-read for just about anyone
This book, and its partner "I'll Fly Away" by the same author, is at times both tough and uplifting. ... Read More

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Rating: - Beautiful Voices
I was honored to hear the voices of these women. The book was filled with turmoil, pain, hopelessness, ... Read More

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Rating: - Honest and fascinating stories.
Can't put it down since it arrived. already on the waiting list for the follow- up. Great stories written ... Read More

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Copyright ©2003, Mark Carey.