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

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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: 2004-02-03 Studio: Harper Perennial
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Editorial Reviews: 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.
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Deeply Thought Provoking Book Comment: After having seen Wally Lamb during a book signing/reading, and having several of the women who are in his book there with him, I decided I simply had to read this book. And I'm so glad that I did! I've always had a certain misconception about what people who go to prison are like. I suppose this is based, like with most of us, on the fact that we haven't been in those shoes and can't really begin to understand who the person is that causes what they've done to bring them to the point of being imprisoned. This book put a whole different light on the subject for me. Of ourse it didn't make these women look "innocent" to me, because for the most part, I believe they were there because they did break laws. Unfortunately, some of them actually were driven to committing certain crimes because of the effect others had on them and the life situations they were in. Surprisingly to me, I actually got to like some of them because I read about WHO they were BEFORE they did the wrong that they did. Reading their stories, I got to see their inner makings, therefore, I also learned something very important about humanity itself - that being that certain things can happen to any of us. We don't "premeditate" various parts of our lives. Reading these womens' testimonies has drastically changed my view on prison life overall. Another important note to make is that when Wally Lamb first began volunteering at the prison with his writing program, he had a much higher number of women who turned up to his beginning sessions. Those women quickly lost interest, their violent ways would not have allowed them to become part of the writing healing process. That in itself speaks volumes about the type of women who are there - actually, the large number of them being this way. But the handful that remained faithful to his writing program, who healed in a way because of it, are the ones that I speak of as being perhaps "at the wrong place at the wrong time" in life, thus ending up where they were. Some have already left prison and are attempting living a decent normal life, being rid of the demons that put them into incarceration. Either way, this book is a window into the souls of individuals we'd normally not hear from, hear about or want to know about. Reading their soul-baring stories brings them to our own level, helping us understand that life can bring about pretty much anything, to any of us. None of us are exempt from it. I highly suggest everyone to read this book. It's well worth your time. And you'll walk away with memories of it that will last a lifetime. Customer Rating: Summary: I just can't like it! Comment: What a powerful book. I love that the prisoners were given a voice and an opportunity to use writing as catharsis and an opportunity to work through and past the things that shaped their personalities. I was glad to see each woman humanized, and it was easy to feel pity for them and to wish with them that they had made better choices. That said...the entire book came off to me as a big book of excuses. I know, I'm sure I'll be criticized for "Blame the victim" mentality. The fact is, I grew up in an abusive home where some of the things described in this book happened to me! I also made bad choices, but I somehow managed to keep from breaking laws and victimizing others because I was once victimized myself. People should be accountable for their actions. You are exactly who you choose to be, and that's all there is to it. I am glad these women were given a chance to be heard, and I hope that they are all better people today. But this does not lessen the crimes they committed against others. I know my opinion isn't a popular one, but I believe that once you choose to step outside the boundaries of the law and you choose to harm another person in any way, you should be punished. I just can't make myself feel like they were somehow justified or excused. So ultimately, I just can't make myself like this book. Customer Rating: Summary: Another must-read for just about anyone Comment: This book, and its partner "I'll Fly Away" by the same author, is at times both tough and uplifting. These are essays that women have worked on in a writing class inside the prison. They are their personal stories, which usually reveal so much about their circumstances and decisions that led them to incarceration. Some of it is rough to read, such as troubled family lives and things happening to them that we don't like to think about. You get a chance to see the real consequences of poor treatment and bad circumstances. It's must-see information so we can all be more empathetic and alert when it comes to how we treat loved ones, watch over our neighborhood, and care for the society at large. But beyond the painful histories, these essays reveal how these women are searching inside themselves to identify and correct troublesome thoughts and habits, and rehabilitating themselves in the process. In this respect it is very inspiring and uplifting. Most of us go through our days without thinking much about the deep things. In these essays we can follow the path of discovery with these women, some further along than others, and the progress they have made even in spite of their handicapped backgrounds and current incarceration. It can't help but motivate the reader to higher aspirations with his own circumstances. I could recommend these two books to anyone who is interested in: child care, teaching, psychology, dealing with challenges, religion, or caring about our fellow man. It was especially helpful in this book that the author includes a brief paragraph at the end of each essay identifying what the person was convicted of, which really helps the reader see how the life story connects with a crime. As an aside, I bought these books because I responded to an ad in our local paper looking for "weekend puppy-raisers". This prison has a program of training inmates to raise puppys for future life as an assistance dog to a handicapped person. The inmates work hard for the privilege, and dedicate themselves wholly to making the ideal dog for its future needy owner. On weekends, the dogs go home with a family to get socialized to life outside the prison walls. We signed up as a weekend family, solely because I missed having a dog, and with my work schedule, a full-time dog was impossible. What I didn't expect, was that I would begin to care as much about the inmate raising the pup as for the pup herself. The transformation that the woman is undergoing, as she works on herself and learns more about how her actions impact others and her own future, is actually very moving and motivating. I was surprised to find "real people" in prison, and so I got these two books to learn more about who they are and what led them to that point. We all have less-than-ideal life histories and personal choices, it's just a matter of degree, and I've found this helps me open my eyes to a world I avoided even thinking about - troubled families and people living in rough circumstances or making bad choices. It's good take off the blinders. I'll post the same review on the companion book. Customer Rating: Summary: Beautiful Voices Comment: I was honored to hear the voices of these women. The book was filled with turmoil, pain, hopelessness, redemption, and everything in between. The women should be commended for their courage to tell their stories so candidly to the public. Much thanks to Wally Lamb for assisting in the making of this book. Customer Rating: Summary: Honest and fascinating stories. Comment: Can't put it down since it arrived. already on the waiting list for the follow- up. Great stories written without excuses , just explanations about how and why they got to this point . If you've never felt any sympathy about someone being incarcerated , this might make you feel differently. More Reviews