atehrani's review
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Murder, Animal cruelty, and Violence
Moderate: Vomit
jenbsbooks's review against another edition
3.25
Hmmm ... not sure how I felt about this one. It's always a little hard rating a non-fiction book. You can't really comment on the "story" per se, so it's more the organization and presentation, the overall feel. I generally like to note if a book is first person or third person and it's a little hard to define here. At times it's first person from the author's POV, then he's telling the stories based on interviews and such (3rd person) but then uses a lot of quotes and such (1st person) ...
This begins with an Author's Note ... I do think this was better at the beginning than afterward, as most author's notes are situated. As mentioned on the POV above, the author states "this is written from their points of view. Missing are the voices of their victims and the families who suffered" and so this does come across a little as a slant toward these murderers ... are we supposed to feel sorry for them? It does address the basic questions - were they "born bad" or can childhood abuse be blamed? Is prison for rehabilitation, or punishment? When can it be taken too far?
The sub-heading on the title ... "two inmates who changed the system" almost makes it sound like the change was for the better ... and I guess that depends on WHO it it better for. The change IS the move TO supermax and solitary, and no contact, which was deemed necessary as these two prisoners really didn't have anything left to lose. Why wouldn't they kill again and cause more problems in prison? Honestly ... I guess I am a death penalty gal. I just don't understand why prisoners like this shouldn't receive it. I need to read a story that makes me question the death penalty, this did not (except to ask why it wasn't an option).
I had a little trouble focusing on the "story" ... I went with the audio edition, but had the Kindle copy close by for reference. The narration was a little bland, and didn't set things apart as much as in print. In the Kindle copy, it was obvious it was a quote as the text was in italics and indented. In audio, it all blended together a bit more.
While the title states TWO men ... this seems to be Silverstein's story with Fountain more of a footnote. Mentioned at the start, then not again until Chapter 11, and taken under Silverstein's wing.
Plenty of proFanity (x51) and violence and gore ... feces was only in there 12 times? I could have sworn it was more.
Not really a book I'd recommend - just a lot of misery without really offering something to take away from the information given.
This begins with an Author's Note ... I do think this was better at the beginning than afterward, as most author's notes are situated. As mentioned on the POV above, the author states "this is written from their points of view. Missing are the voices of their victims and the families who suffered" and so this does come across a little as a slant toward these murderers ... are we supposed to feel sorry for them? It does address the basic questions - were they "born bad" or can childhood abuse be blamed? Is prison for rehabilitation, or punishment? When can it be taken too far?
The sub-heading on the title ... "two inmates who changed the system" almost makes it sound like the change was for the better ... and I guess that depends on WHO it it better for. The change IS the move TO supermax and solitary, and no contact, which was deemed necessary as these two prisoners really didn't have anything left to lose. Why wouldn't they kill again and cause more problems in prison? Honestly ... I guess I am a death penalty gal. I just don't understand why prisoners like this shouldn't receive it. I need to read a story that makes me question the death penalty, this did not (except to ask why it wasn't an option).
I had a little trouble focusing on the "story" ... I went with the audio edition, but had the Kindle copy close by for reference. The narration was a little bland, and didn't set things apart as much as in print. In the Kindle copy, it was obvious it was a quote as the text was in italics and indented. In audio, it all blended together a bit more.
While the title states TWO men ... this seems to be Silverstein's story with Fountain more of a footnote. Mentioned at the start, then not again until Chapter 11, and taken under Silverstein's wing.
Plenty of proFanity (x51) and violence and gore ... feces was only in there 12 times? I could have sworn it was more.
Not really a book I'd recommend - just a lot of misery without really offering something to take away from the information given.
swalk's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.25
An excellent and engaging study on the isolating life of men in maximum security prisons in the US and how it impacts a human, being kept in lifelong solitary confinement.
Following the life of Thomas Edward Silverstein with candid interviews and evidence that really gives an insight into his life. Silverstein is kept in a basement cell with no human contact in perpetuity, but how did he get here and is there a ‘cause’ that led him along this road, he has undeniably had a life of abuse at the hands of both the prison system and those that were supposed to protect him as a child, regardless of this his incarceration in this manner is nothing less than inhumane and at times torturous.
This book delves into his past, his relationships, changes throughout his life and what he has experienced through spending the majority of his life incarcerated. It makes pulls no punches no apologies for Silverstein’s behaviours, but in turn shines a glaring light on the failures and the extremely problematic systems used within the US Prison system. It was educational, shocking, abhorrent and terribly sad all at once. A fantastically researched piece of writing which kept me engaged throughout. As Silverstein himself said ‘You can’t put us in cages and treat us like animals, not expect repercussions’
The narrator was excellent and a good pick for this type of book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Torture, Violence, Murder, Racism, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Body horror
bxtskr's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this book before it’s publication in exchange for my honest thoughts and review.
This was a deeply heartbreaking, enrapturing read. This could have easily been a read in one sitting book if my schedule had allowed for it. I’ve read many nonfiction books about solitary confinement, the death penalty, and incarceration and this has to be one of the most rich texts breaking down all the ways that society failed two of the most influential individuals who find themselves at the center of this story. There is no forced forgiveness of the two at the center of this book but we find ourselves reminded over and over and over again that they are human. They are deeply flawed; have been completely failed by the education system, their families, and the justice system; and many might declare that they are simply evil incarnate. In future courses I hope to teach regarding incarceration, I will definitely center readings from this book. This is one I definitely intend to purchase a physical copy of because I intend to return to it time and time again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Addiction, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Racism, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Suicide, Rape, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Mental illness, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Hate crime, and Excrement
fkshg8465's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Certainly I believe there Justice been a lot of politics, hate, fear, and assumptions that led to Thomas Silverstein and Clay Fountain having lived the bulk of their lives in complete isolation under the most draconian conditions. The author doesn’t downplay the gruesome crimes these men committed or the damage that the affected families suffered. Nonetheless, he was able to humanize these men and invites his readers to look at them with compassion. And the shocking lives these men were living from the time they were little and very innocent children to and through the times of their imprisonment helps us understand how they became why they became. He avoids all the politics and systemic failures of the prison and “justice” systems (my quotes only) and tells several stories throughout the book to sell a compelling necessity for prison reform. Prison seems to animalize both the jailed and the jailers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Rape
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