Scan barcode
aribel2805's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
it’s a true story so i can’t judge the plot much and the writing is nothing wow but the story is nice and easy to follow. It makes you care for the people in it.
sweetramona's review against another edition
3.0
This book gets 3 stars from me, even though I think it is a very flawed book, because the basic subject matter is so interesting that I am glad I read it anyway. The author chronicles about a year or two of attending book club meetings in 3 men's prisons in Ontario, and discusses the responses of the men to the different books she reads.
Part of the introduction to the book details an assault upon the author that occurred several years prior to these events, and which made her very leery of participating in the groups. This could have been a very interesting frame for the story, as could the author's relationship with her father, but she doesn't pursue either of them with much vigor. She touches on them very briefly and fairly regularly, but doesn't explore either in any depth. The book seems full of these missed opportunities.
The author, a journalist, has a very dispassionate, almost cold, writing style; despite this, it is possible to engage with some of the prisoners, and their remarkable insights into the books are very much worth reading. The book succeeds in changing perceptions about the inmates, and in making a strong case for the book clubs themselves. I'm glad I read it for that reason, and that's why I am giving it 3 stars instead of 2.
Part of the introduction to the book details an assault upon the author that occurred several years prior to these events, and which made her very leery of participating in the groups. This could have been a very interesting frame for the story, as could the author's relationship with her father, but she doesn't pursue either of them with much vigor. She touches on them very briefly and fairly regularly, but doesn't explore either in any depth. The book seems full of these missed opportunities.
The author, a journalist, has a very dispassionate, almost cold, writing style; despite this, it is possible to engage with some of the prisoners, and their remarkable insights into the books are very much worth reading. The book succeeds in changing perceptions about the inmates, and in making a strong case for the book clubs themselves. I'm glad I read it for that reason, and that's why I am giving it 3 stars instead of 2.
thevagabondlawyer's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
emjay2021's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to like it more than I did. Too bad! There's an interesting story to be told here, but not in this book. Well-meaning concept but limp narrative.
smitchy's review against another edition
3.0
This book is one for the literature lovers (particularly American lit). The blurb intrigued me so I made this one my Christmas break read. It was not entirely what I was expecting: I guess I was expecting more about the effects of the books and less about the books themselves. All of the novels actually discussed at the prison book clubs are looked at in depth which while interesting, didn't exactly thrill me. But that could just be me. It would be interesting to revisit the Prison book clubs and their members in a few years to take a look at the ongoing effects and results.
It certainly seems to be a worthy charity and provides interest and contrast to otherwise dull prison lives.
One thought I had while reading this book was: At one point one of the prisoners admits a new member to the book club because he is educated and would provide interesting discussion points (which he does) but by doing this the book clubs attract / admit only the more educated of the inmate population and must thereby exclude inmates who perhaps are more in need of the effects / encouragement of the book club.
Also If the charity donated books to the facility library rather than the inmates in the book club there could be multiple book clubs going in the prison at the same time reading from sets and therefore you could have more prisoners involved.
It certainly seems to be a worthy charity and provides interest and contrast to otherwise dull prison lives.
One thought I had while reading this book was: At one point one of the prisoners admits a new member to the book club because he is educated and would provide interesting discussion points (which he does) but by doing this the book clubs attract / admit only the more educated of the inmate population and must thereby exclude inmates who perhaps are more in need of the effects / encouragement of the book club.
Also If the charity donated books to the facility library rather than the inmates in the book club there could be multiple book clubs going in the prison at the same time reading from sets and therefore you could have more prisoners involved.
jaydeereading's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
3.0
juliette_d_03's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
snoutling's review against another edition
Not quite a 3. I couldn't quite get past the books selected for the prison book club because they weren't what I would select! I also got upset when the inmates wanted to read Sci-Fi and the book club matriarchs choose H.G.Wells. Nothing wrong with H.G.Wells, but there's also nothing like a bit of J.G.Ballard to get a book group talking.
heshanid's review against another edition
4.0
This book definitely grew on me.
At first I thought this book was poorly executed but had great content.
But around midway, I got used to the way Walmsley narrated the story and the content shone through more.
I'd probably give it 3.8 if I could but for the sake of rounding up it's a 4 :)
At first I thought this book was poorly executed but had great content.
But around midway, I got used to the way Walmsley narrated the story and the content shone through more.
I'd probably give it 3.8 if I could but for the sake of rounding up it's a 4 :)
daniellemgee's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyed the discussions about the books read and insights from the prisoners. The book was fine but not anything riveting or to rave about.