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shannonscotteditorauthor's review against another edition
5.0
A must-read!!!
Even after reading this book, I cannot fathom the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual torture Woodfox, Wallace, and King underwent due to decades of solitary confinement. I can't even say the U.S. justice system failed these men. It worked exactly as intended, which is even worse.
Even after reading this book, I cannot fathom the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual torture Woodfox, Wallace, and King underwent due to decades of solitary confinement. I can't even say the U.S. justice system failed these men. It worked exactly as intended, which is even worse.
tidoublegarrr's review
3.0
"Modern-day slavery is alive and well in America but it has taken on a different form—from the plantation to the prison. . . . A case in point are my two comrades—Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace who are now serving their 40th year in solitary confinement—and tens and thousands of others who have also been unjustly convicted but remain in prison in America in slavery."
This book was eye-opening account by Woodfox who spent 40 years in solitary after being framed for murder he didn't commit, most likely because he became a member of the Black Panther Party while in prison. The systemic racism in prisons is brought to light and the horrible and unjust conditions. It was heartbreaking. The first half of the book was much more engaging when he talks about his backstory and experiences in prison, but I had trouble getting through the second where he goes into the details of his legal battles and the timelines got convoluted (which is why I only give it 3 stars). I wish he would have gone more into his life back in society after his release. He's someone with an indomitable spirit, and I admire his will to spread his message and educate himself, educate others, and advocate for better prison conditions while he was incarcerated, and now that he's out.
This book was eye-opening account by Woodfox who spent 40 years in solitary after being framed for murder he didn't commit, most likely because he became a member of the Black Panther Party while in prison. The systemic racism in prisons is brought to light and the horrible and unjust conditions. It was heartbreaking. The first half of the book was much more engaging when he talks about his backstory and experiences in prison, but I had trouble getting through the second where he goes into the details of his legal battles and the timelines got convoluted (which is why I only give it 3 stars). I wish he would have gone more into his life back in society after his release. He's someone with an indomitable spirit, and I admire his will to spread his message and educate himself, educate others, and advocate for better prison conditions while he was incarcerated, and now that he's out.
ashezbookz's review
3.0
This was... a lot ... this hurt my brain, this made me sad, this had some information in it that I never even knew existed, however, it was very very slow in parts and I found myself wandering in thought rather than wanting to continue the story
tablereader234's review
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
kirsten0929's review against another edition
5.0
[2019. National Book Award Finalist.] Albert Woodfox’s memoir tells of the forty years he spent in solitary confinement for a crime he didn’t commit. How could something so unbearable to read, be bearable. Just when I thought he (or I) couldn’t possibly take any more it got worse. But it never, ever breaks him. A real immersion experience. Star rating to come.
milliebot_reads's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
I don't really know what can be said about a person's firsthand account of being not only wrongly imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit, but kept in solitary confinement for almost all of his 40+ year sentence. Thinking about a person spending all his teen and adult life behind bars, in the absolutely disgusting, degrading, and inhumane conditions of a Louisiana prison is just gut wrenching. Especially when you consider he should have had a relatively short sentence for the crime he did commit, but then he was so blatantly wrongly accused of murder - the state stole his life, if you ask me.
Yet, Woodfox remained hopeful during his stay and it comes through in his writing. He's truly an inspiration, once you start reading all he went through and the outlook he maintained and the true friendships he formed both in and outside prison.
This is one of those things I just can't write eloquently about. If you think our prison system "ain't so bad" - you should really read this book. Woodfox's stay covers the 70s right into 2016 - conditions haven't improved all that much. If you're already disgusted with the American Prison Industrial System, you should still read this book because it's wild, and because Woodfox really put himself into it and I think it's important to read first hand accounts of these experiences.
Yet, Woodfox remained hopeful during his stay and it comes through in his writing. He's truly an inspiration, once you start reading all he went through and the outlook he maintained and the true friendships he formed both in and outside prison.
This is one of those things I just can't write eloquently about. If you think our prison system "ain't so bad" - you should really read this book. Woodfox's stay covers the 70s right into 2016 - conditions haven't improved all that much. If you're already disgusted with the American Prison Industrial System, you should still read this book because it's wild, and because Woodfox really put himself into it and I think it's important to read first hand accounts of these experiences.
lhenric22's review against another edition
5.0
This book is...so many things. A memoir. An exposé on the pitfalls of our (and Louisiana's especially) criminal justice system, not only before but AFTER conviction. A story of friendship and loyalty persisting under terrible circumstances. A testament to the endurance of the human spirit and dignity despite decades of daily dehumanization. It deserves a much larger readership. I will remember Albert Woodfox and his struggle forever.
mariahistryingtoread's review
5.0
TW: prison abuse, medical neglect, police brutality, male on male rape (discussed but no graphic descriptions and Woodfox is never raped)
If you were looking for a sign to support prison reform: this is it. Solitary is an eye-opening glimpse at the lengths the system will go to, to exact retribution from you over imagined slights.
It's not just the fact that Albert Woodfox was punished for a crime he didn't commit that makes this so harrowing a tale; it's the fact that even after society, became 'enlightened' as to the deep disservice being done to Black people in America, those in power took pains to penalize him to the nth degree. Even when it was abundantly clear the prison system was in the wrong, when it was clear that a deep injustice was being inflicted every day, when it was clear human rights were being violated at every turn, they still chose their pride over doing what was morally right. A decades long grudge against a man for daring to ask for fair treatment was more important than doing the right thing.
It goes to show that we have not come nearly as far as they want us to think we have.
If you were looking for a sign to support prison reform: this is it. Solitary is an eye-opening glimpse at the lengths the system will go to, to exact retribution from you over imagined slights.
It's not just the fact that Albert Woodfox was punished for a crime he didn't commit that makes this so harrowing a tale; it's the fact that even after society, became 'enlightened' as to the deep disservice being done to Black people in America, those in power took pains to penalize him to the nth degree. Even when it was abundantly clear the prison system was in the wrong, when it was clear that a deep injustice was being inflicted every day, when it was clear human rights were being violated at every turn, they still chose their pride over doing what was morally right. A decades long grudge against a man for daring to ask for fair treatment was more important than doing the right thing.
It goes to show that we have not come nearly as far as they want us to think we have.