- Paperback: 368 pages
- Publisher: ReganBooks; Reprint edition (1 Feb 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 006059537X
- ISBN-13: 978-0060595371
- Product Dimensions: 22.8 x 15.3 x 2.1 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 293,802 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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THE TOY DEPARTMENT AT THE DURABLE STORE SOLD two blackboards. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
THE TOY DEPARTMENT AT THE DURABLE STORE SOLD two blackboards. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am a fan of Wally Lamb and I am forever checking to see if he has brought out another book. I didn't even take time to see what this book was about, just bought it instantly when it was on the Amazon website. Although I paid almost £20 for it, I don't regret a single penny, even if there is only a couple of pages actually penned by Mr Lamb himself.
I am just glad that Wally Lamb being associated with this book, introduced me to the stories of these women. It is not hard to see how some of the women end up in a correctional institution, but to hear how easily it is to fall on hard times and for those to become a downward spiral in your life is very scary. I am glad that once again I am more aware of suffering in this world thanks to Wally introducing it in such a wonderfully non-judgemental way. This time I have been introducted to the women of the institution, but previously to mental health among other issues in my person favourite 'I know this much is true'.
Thank you not only to the woman who have shared with us, but to Wally for making sure their stories are told.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A book that is dripping in deep suffering and the understanding of this suffering; the stories are shocking, distressing and deplorably sad, they are laden with heart wrenching abuse of a diverse group of women, who happen to be prisoners. A book that should not be ignored; read it, but really read it, listen to these women and you'll understand who they are and also why they are who they are.
To me it speaks of the total ineptitude in today's society of addressing the issues of abuse (on all levels) and the link between this abuse and the future prison population. Furthermore, that in essence the individuals who find themselves imprisoned by the state continue to be punished by their abusers. Thank goodness people like Wally Lamb exist and choose to devote their time in helping to change the lives of these women, who have most often been the victims of deplorable crimes themselves, which have gone unpunished; whilst they, due to their painful memories and abusive existence cannot help but to walk upon a particular path of pain. Thankfully, through the art of creative writing these brave women have been able to transform their lives, either inside or outside of prison. The crimes that they committed of course cannot be denied, but the understanding of the origin of crime is surely the key to not only offering and receiving forgiveness, but in turn the true means to transform a person.
I cried with every one of these beautiful women's stories. I understand their pain and in their prose I have come to understand the root causes of suffering.
To me it speaks of the total ineptitude in today's society of addressing the issues of abuse (on all levels) and the link between this abuse and the future prison population. Furthermore, that in essence the individuals who find themselves imprisoned by the state continue to be punished by their abusers. Thank goodness people like Wally Lamb exist and choose to devote their time in helping to change the lives of these women, who have most often been the victims of deplorable crimes themselves, which have gone unpunished; whilst they, due to their painful memories and abusive existence cannot help but to walk upon a particular path of pain. Thankfully, through the art of creative writing these brave women have been able to transform their lives, either inside or outside of prison. The crimes that they committed of course cannot be denied, but the understanding of the origin of crime is surely the key to not only offering and receiving forgiveness, but in turn the true means to transform a person.
I cried with every one of these beautiful women's stories. I understand their pain and in their prose I have come to understand the root causes of suffering.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
51 reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
One of the best books I've read in awhile
8 Dec 2005
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I must confess, I did not open this book without some bias. I volunteer at a prison and have a deep interest in women's issues, and after reading the other Amazon.com reviews, I was pretty sure I would love this book. (I was right.) What I didn't expect was a strong desire to share it with just about everyone I know. Don't get me wrong, this is no "Chicken Soup for the Soul" -- there are some hard stories in this book. But the writing is outstanding, and in reading each story I was captivated by the author's personality, struggles, hopes, and essential humanity. This book was, for me, a powerful aid to compassion and understanding. I recommend it highly.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Good Job Mr. Lamb
31 July 2005
Format:Paperback
First off, I was fascinated to hear a little recap of Wally Lamb's life. Just a flash, and not full of flash - but still interesting (especially to find how he came involved with female prisoners for this novel).
Lamb did an incredible job of telling the lives of these women who were not always prisoners. They were once little girls, awkward teenagers, young and old women. What I appreciate is that Lamb let these women tell their stories, which were quite interesting, without glorifying their crimes. In fact, their crimes are just a foot-note on the side.
You are left with no decisions on if they're victims or monsters, just their stories.
Lamb did an incredible job of telling the lives of these women who were not always prisoners. They were once little girls, awkward teenagers, young and old women. What I appreciate is that Lamb let these women tell their stories, which were quite interesting, without glorifying their crimes. In fact, their crimes are just a foot-note on the side.
You are left with no decisions on if they're victims or monsters, just their stories.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Disturbing but often hopeful
23 May 2006
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am glad that I read this book as it gave me a bit of an insight to what life is like in prison for woman incarcerated at a maximum prison. This book certainly helped me to appreciate the freedoms that most of us take for granted on a much larger scale of understanding. I usually keep my reviews pretty short, but I have to add that these short stories these courageous women wrote in this book are very worth while reading and I learned quite a lot from these woman who were willing to share their lives with us. Being someone who worked at a maximum facility for men, I always wondered what the female experience in jail would be like, and I believe that this book gives you a pretty good idea. None of the incarcerated women make any excuses for their crimes, they accept full responsibility, and then give us a bio of their lives, as far as what may have led up to their crimes. Yes it was disturbing for me to read at times, but yet a book I just could not put down. What disturbed me was clearly hearing about how much violence these woman as children sadly grew up with, and how no one was there to help them, or assist them out of the nightmare of child abuse, and domestic violence. The beginning of the book is interesting as well as Wally Lamb talks about his life just a little bit and what led up to his other book, "She's Come Undone", which is another book if his I couldn't put down.
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