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Average customer rating:

Confusing, bewildering, and intense
Monster
Monster
my review for monster
Monster Review

Monster
Walter Dean Myers
Manufacturer: Amistad
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064407314
Release Date: 2001-05-08

Amazon.com

"Monster" is what the prosecutor called 16-year-old Steve Harmon for his supposed role in the fatal shooting of a convenience-store owner. But was Steve really the lookout who gave the "all clear" to the murderer, or was he just in the wrong place at the wrong time? In this innovative novel by Walter Dean Myers, the reader becomes both juror and witness during the trial of Steve's life. To calm his nerves as he sits in the courtroom, aspiring filmmaker Steve chronicles the proceedings in movie script format. Interspersed throughout his screenplay are journal writings that provide insight into Steve's life before the murder and his feelings about being held in prison during the trial. "They take away your shoelaces and your belt so you can't kill yourself no matter how bad it is. I guess making you live is part of the punishment."

Myers, known for the inner-city classic Motown and Didi (first published in 1984), proves with Monster that he has kept up with both the struggles and the lingo of today's teens. Steve is an adolescent caught up in the violent circumstances of an adult world--a situation most teens can relate to on some level. Readers will no doubt be attracted to the novel's handwriting-style typeface, emphasis on dialogue, and fast-paced courtroom action. By weaving together Steve's journal entries and his script, Myers has given the first-person voice a new twist and added yet another worthy volume to his already admirable body of work. (Ages 12 and older) --Jennifer Hubert

Book Description

FADE IN: INTERIOR: Early morning in CELL BLOCK D, MANHATTAN DETENTION CENTER.

Steve (Voice-Over)
Sometimes I feel like I have walked into the middle of a movie. Maybe I can make my own movie. The film will be the story of my life. No, not my life, but of this experience. I'll call it what the lady prosecutor called me ... Monster.

Customer Reviews:

Confusing, bewildering, and intense.......2007-06-26

One would think that these aspects make "Monster" a bad book. But they don't. They're what make "Monster" an original, heart-moving, emotional book. The style makes it stand out, once you remember the characters and what the little comments mean. A movie-script format? It's not dumb - it's interesting, original, and gets everything across.

"Monster", as you've probably seen, is about a teenage boy on trial for armed robbery and possibly second-degree murder. Throughout the book (which is almost always set in the trial, though occasionally we get flashbacks, and every once in a while we get a moment of Steve writing down his thoughts), Steve insists that he's innocent. Throughout the book, though, we don't really find out. The ending leaves the reader mystified and asking themselves so many questions.

Perhaps that's what sent other readers packing. On the other hand, what fun is a story if it doesn't make you think? "Monster" certainly made me think. I sat down and thought about the jury, about the lawyers, about the witnesses. I sat down and thought about the judge and other accused. I thought about if I was on the jury and had had this evidence placed before me, what would I pick? This book made me THINK.

It's an intense read. It's realistic, powerful, and emotional. I found myself crying during moments Steve was. I felt so connected to him, even though most of what we know is through speech and dialogue. I was drawn into this book so well.

This is a great read and a great buy. I highly recommend it.

Monster .......2007-06-06

Steve Harmon is on trial, and in jail for murder. Steve is only 16. Steve begins to realize the facts of the trial are very unbalenced.He also wonders, "Maybe the reason I'm is on trial is because of my rase." This book is a combination of Steve's journal entrees and a play written by Steve. This is a wonderful deep book that I enjoyed immensely! It descries Harlem and the raceisum Steve encounters. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about the real issues in the world.

Monster.......2007-06-06

Nichelle Ennis
Title: Monster
Author: Walter Dean Myers
Harper Collins publisher Inc.
Copyright 1999
Pages: 281

The wrong place at the wrong time could change your life. Steve Harmon is a sixteen year old African male in the violent streets of Harlem, New York. A clerk is dead, gunned down by robbers. All the judge needs is eyes and evidence, and Steve does twenty 4five to life.

All the parts in this book are pretty good, because it leads up to the end, which is the best part, to see if Steve is guilty or not. It's crazy, because your heart starts racing, like you have to be careful what you read, like words are important at that point of the book.

This book is really about adapting to change, pressure, and experience you shouldn't be experiencing until about twenty five years old. This is how a sixteen year old saw another side of his world.

I like different, and this book has that unique. It's good because in the end everything comes together. Flashbacks are involved to make you think. In my opinion everybody would like this book, I mean everybody, from jailbirds to grandparents. I wouldn't change anything about this book.

my review for monster.......2007-06-05

monster is about a sixteen yearold boy who is in jail because he is thought to be in a murder at a store. this author writes this book like a typewritting person in court. the boys name is steven. steven writes his life in jail and his life while he's in court. in this book it has many many different characters so you have to make up many voices for those characters. if you like books like with people in court and need to make many different voices and if you like murder mysteries this book is perfect for you. this book has twists and turns in it. the main characters are steven,king,bobo,the lawyers,and the judge. stevens life story is called monster just like the books title.

Monster Review.......2007-06-05

I thought Monster was a really good book and that it's an award winning book. It was about a boy who was sent to jail for murder and was facing court for the verdict of whether he was a free man or not. It was a good book mainly because, of how it was written and the fact that it was about a 16 year old boy who was sent to prison for being accused of murder and was going to court for his freedom. His part in the "crime" or murder was to check if the store was clear so that a murder could take place. After this event he was to face the judge and tell why he was not guilty and where he was at the time of the crime. I think this is a really good book to read because, it shows what can happen if you commit a crime and what it's like to be in jail. This book is very inspiring and interesting which is why I think it is a good also the fact that it tells why you should not commit crimes and murder or steal just by reading what happened to this boy Steve Harmon.

Average customer rating:

Not for females who need to survive
THIS BOOK IS A GREAT READ
This Book Tries to Do the Impossible
The impossible write
Terrible

Behind Bars: Surviving Prison
Jeffrey Ian Ross , and Stephen C. Richards
Manufacturer: Alpha
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0028643518

Customer Reviews:

Not for females who need to survive.......2007-06-13

There is some good advice in this book, but it is really only for men who face incarceration. There is a scant chapter devoted to women, which in my experience offers little useful info.

Of course, if one is facing incarceration, any good advice is very slightly comforting.

THIS BOOK IS A GREAT READ.......2007-05-04

KK REVIEWER' Guidebook to a Distant Country
Yes, you are a good person. But a relative or friend may not be so law-abiding. And stuff happens. Here is what to do if you are ever arrested (mostly what not to do) and what you can expect if put behind bars. Written by two professors of criminology one was a former correctional officer, and the other served eleven years in federal custody, including maximum security. They know what they are talking about, and they dispense their straight dope with surprising clarity and uncommon elegance and wit. (One chapter is called 'You've Got Jail!'). They've written a guidebook to a distant country and its alien customs and ways may you never arrive there. You get street-smarts from inmates and wise counsel from the Man. I rank my books by how dog-eared they are this one had nearly every page marked and underlined. This is one of the books you want to read before you need it.

This Book Tries to Do the Impossible.......2006-08-04

Prison is a mean ugly horrible place. The rules are all subjective until someone wants them to be otherwise. Prison is about politics not justice in America. Prison is about so much more than just what what happens in the court room.

There is NO book that can teach you to survive in prision because, life in prison is never a static picture. Prison life is just that LIFE. The minute you take an physical or intellectual snapshot of a living thing it changes in the next instant. The whole deal about surviving in prison is being able to adapt to change. Prison is an environment whose constantly changing factors are designed to keep newbie's and punks off guard. Prisons are run by the convicts with the help of the officers in ways designed to maintain many differing constantly shifting balances of power.

In prison Alliances needs passions angers and the power that goes with them are in constant play shifting ebbing and flowing to meet the needs of the moment. Survival in prison is all about making sure you know what the next game is BEFORE IT IS PLAYED by the officers or inmates. Each prison has its own heartbeat, culture and niches' that no one book could ever prepare you for. Simplistic answers to complex problems like to avoid rape fight for all you are worth in prison is stupid. Yes fighting will delay a rape but fighting alone is just posponing a rape in prison.

Surviving in prison is about fighting but also includes using your cunning to situate yourself in ways that give others reason not to see you hurt. Sometimes surviving prison is about being more brutal, cold hearted or creul than others. Smart people with skills can sometimes survive because, if you can write great legal breifs or have other other legal skills valued in prison you can work it to your advantage so you have protectors.

Develop non-sexual skills that help those with power in prison so they help you in return. Help strong respected inmates who have nothing but personal protection to offer you in return write, draw, learn to read or achieve some other life goal they want for themselves. I guess what I am saying is their is no one cut and dry way of surviving prison. What you must do to survive prison is learn to see opportunities that allow you to survive without being turned out before anyone else sees and takes advantage of them.

Funny as it seems there are some inmates who are tired of the stupidity of prison and they would protect from all harm someone who is teaching them. Prison is about learning how to see and exploit every opportunity to survive you can identify before it is detected by your fellow inmates or destroyed by prison staff \ administration. No book can teach you how to survive prison because surviving prison part instinct, part psychology, part bluff, part bare handed fight and part a sadistic will to do whatever it takes to survive. A book that hopes to teach you how to survive prison is obsolete the minute the words are written because, prison life changes in real time.

In prison you can get your head kicked in for just being unimaginative with your game because, if your game is lame it is considered a disrespectful insult to those you are trying to run it on and that can lead to a brutal fight. Read the book for fun and background but don't expect any book to prepare you for survival in prison because no matter how good a book is, prison life is so much more hellish and real than even the best intentioned man's words can convey.

Surviving prison has to be done in a way that conveys your own style because trying to follow a books advice on surviving prison is like thinking living in prison is a recipe you can copy. Surviving in prison is no recipe it must become part of who you are on the deepest levels of your psyche and soul because it it is not you will be beat down for being fake, not real. See if you think a book will prepare you for prison life you will be up hells creek without a paddle when that book runs out of ideas. This book will not have the right solution for every issue you will face in prison life. The book can not supply dynamic solutions and problems in prison are the most dynamic you will ever face because, change from moment to moment is how convicts and officers keep you off guard and ready to be used and exploited. Real inmates don't need no book to survive prison and that will be your down fall that will tell on you.

Use the book to get in touch with the person you are on the level of the most real and prepare that person for prison situations you see in this book. First rule of survival in prison is keep it real, if you can really fight fight, if you can really con then con, if you can exploit then do it but be true to your skills. There is no such thing as fair in prison anything that allows you to survive another minute in prison is as an intact man is always fair. Your job in prison is to survive by fighting to be and stay real without BS about your life and your dealings with others. See everything and say nothing. Never snicth and sometimes to avoid more beatings by knowing when to take a beating prison is filled with complicated decisions that no single book can ever deal with fully. Thats the problem with this book it answers questions but not in the detailed ways that take into considerations all the complexities of prison life.

You are a fool if you think prison inmates are not smart. Convicts are some of the smartest people alive they are in prison because they chose to employ their vast skills to antisocial tasks. No one single book will ever explain the complex nature of surviving prison life so read the book for insight but don't go inside thinking you KNOW prison life because this book could make you just smart enough to make dumb mistakes prison might not decide to forgive.

The impossible write.......2006-04-30

I picked this book up at a second hand store because the title intrigued me. The book appropriately and realistically interprets the legal & correctional system as a beast that is to be both feared and confronted. The authors pull no punches and blatantly discuss the dishonesty, apathy and agenda-driven decisions that taint the legal system. Individuals faced with the prospect of going to prison need to understand what they can expect, and more importantly what they cannot expect (expediency, fairness, empathy) from the legal system in America.

As a socio-political treatise on America's legal system this book is right on target. Although somewhat idealistic, the authors do more or less give the individual an idea of the intricacies he/she can expect to face at the hands of prosecutors, judges & prison administrators. This is where the practicality of the book ends. Potential buyers should understand that NO BOOK will actually prepare them for prison. The deprivation, brutality, violence and tension of prison are unique - no experience on the streets will prepare you for it. I suspect it's much like war in that respect.

Anyone preparing to go to prison would do well to concentrate on other issues besides reading this book. Two stars for its political outlook, but points detracted for its impracticality.

Terrible.......2006-03-13

I learned more in a upper class area San Francisco Drunk Holding Tank about prison life as a teenager, than I did reading this BORING BOOK!! To be honest I only got half way through....I read the other reader's thumbs down review of this book and I still bought it!!! Not to mention, its a really odd size book! Its almost a flat bible size book! Bizzare!! Pass on it is my recommendation... David

Average customer rating:

A must have :)
Great book
Prison Break Companion Book

Prison Break: The Classified FBI Files
Paul Ruditis
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1416538453

Book Description

Breaking Out Was Just The Beginning....

When Michael Scofield robs a bank in broad daylight, he has a plan -- to get sent to Fox River State Penitentiary where his brother, Lincoln Burrows, sits on death row. As a structural engineer with hidden, intimate knowledge of Fox River, Michael is the only person who can save his brother, an innocent man wrongly convicted of murder. His brilliant plan culminates in a prison break of unprecedented proportions, unleashing the "Fox River Eight" fugitives on an unsuspecting populace. As they struggle to prove Lincoln's innocence, Michael and his brother must stay one step ahead of the authorities who want to send them back to prison -- and those who simply want them dead.

Now, the files the FBI has been keeping on the fugitives, the prison break, and the subsequent manhunt are finally revealed. This classified and highly sensitive information includes:

Comprehensive profiles of the fugitives, accomplices, and prison personnel

Photographs of Michael Scofield's intricate tattoo and in-depth analysis of the information it contains

Schematics of Fox River Penitentiary and a detailed reconstruction of the escape plan

Reproductions of source material, including newspaper clippings, family photographs, and documents retrieved from Scofield's hard drive

An update on the manhunt for the Fox River escapees, including eyewitness interviews and known fugitive sightings

Postings from a mysterious blog about the conspiracy surrounding Burrows, which allegedly reaches the highest levels of government

Packed with full-color photos and in-depth, original content that fans won't find anywhere else, Prison Break: The Classified FBI Files is the ultimate insider look at one of the most daring and inventive shows on TV.

Customer Reviews:

A must have :).......2007-06-28

This is a must have for all Prison Break fans..book is in full color with lots of information plus you get a bonus dvd :)

Great book.......2007-06-26

I really loved this book. I am a major Prison Break fan and I think this book helped with a lot of information on the characters. If you are a Prison Break fan it's a must!

Prison Break Companion Book .......2007-05-27

If you love the show you're going to love this companion book.. It gives you details not seen on tv on each of the escapees and major characters in both seasons, as well as detail algain not seen on TV on the manhunt... This is one of the best companion books ever

OZ: Behind These Walls: The Journal of Augustus Hill

Average customer rating:

Augustus Hill's Diary
Not quite what I was expecting.
Never ceases to amaze
One of the best books I have read
Nothing New

OZ: Behind These Walls: The Journal of Augustus Hill
Augustus Hill
Manufacturer: HarperEntertainment
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060521333

Book Description

OZ: Behind These Walls is the secret journal of Augustus Hill, the show's wheel-chair bound main character. He's been keeping a diary about Oz for the past 5 years and wrote a letter requesting that if he should die, the book be published to show the world what goes on behind the walls of Emerald City.

In his book, Augustus postulates on all aspects of Oz life - the rapes, lies, sex, stabbings, drugs, lost time, love and murder. With each entry, he highlights major events that have happened and offers his particular take on it. As the publisher of his book, we've taken Augustus' journal and added our own editorial sidebars -- some on OZ itself, with R.I.P pages and Poet's poetry -- others on various prisons and prison policies from around the United States, to give the reader a more indepth view of real prison life.

The book also includes an Epilogue by Tom Fontana, creator of OZ, and an Episode Guide of the last 5 seasons of this groundbreaking show. Last but not least, the story behind the book is written into every new episode of the final season of OZ, making it not only a great fan keepsake, but a publishing event.

Customer Reviews:

Augustus Hill's Diary.......2005-06-29

I loved this book. I am a fan of Oz but not a huge fan. The book gave a strong voice to the show and I loved that way the diary of Augustus Hill illuminated the episodes and the shows without being a plain episode guide. It was well written and absorbing. I thought it was quite entertaining and led me to understand better. There are also non-fiction excerpts from books, newspaper articles, etc. which illuminate how the prison system in America functions. Good book. A good read.

Not quite what I was expecting........2003-11-09

I've been a huge Oz fan for many years now and it greatly excited me to get this book, but I was sadly disappointed with it after reading the first 20 pages. This book is nothing but an extended episode guide, which is something you can find anyplace for free online. It also has detailed describtions of each episode until the end of Season 5, but unfortuanately, it looks like most of these describtions were just blatantly copied off of hbo.com and placed into this book. If even a die-hard Oz fan like myself didn't enjoy this, then I'm not sure you will either.

Never ceases to amaze.......2003-06-20

I'm currently reading the book. It's good so far, but a lot WAS left out b-c it's only from Augustus' point of view. A lot of good stuff is missing. It's interesting seeing things from Augustus' view. It's good and I am able to understand better what Augustus means b-c I watched all 6 seasons.

One of the best books I have read.......2003-03-25

With this book you enter the mind of Augustus Hill, a wheel chair bound inmate who is also the narrator. It clearly depicts life in a prison. OZ: Behind These Walls: Journal of Augustus Hill lets you become part of an experimental lab inside Oswald State Correctional Facility known as Emerald City. It is an accurate description of what goes on behind jail bars from rape to sex to murder and drugs. You will truly feel like you are amidst the inmates. It is written in such a way that you "get to know" each character. Everything from what they did to get into Emerald City to the day-by-day trials and tribulations that they face on a day-to-day basis. When something happens to one of the characters you feel almost as if it happened to someone in your family.

Leo Glynn is the warden at Oswald State and Timothy McManus runs and created Emerald City. They worked together because they wanted to make a better living environment for prisoners who had capabilities of rehabilitation. Sister Peter Marie is the psychologist that works with Father Ray Mukada to help rehabilitate the inmates. Gloria Nathan is the doctor for the inmates and creates jobs for them so they are doing something positive with their time.

The best emotion depicted in this book is FEAR. Fear of living, fear of dying, and fear of fear itself. Augustus explains this through his eyes with each word he writes. As a wish he asks to have this book published so people can see what goes on behind the walls of a prison.
I enjoyed this book because of how detailed it was and how well it was written. I didn't get the chance to watch the show on HBO so it was a privilege to read about it and imagine it in my own way. This book also gives out interesting facts about court cases and prisons that a lot of people wouldn't know about. OZ: Behind These Walls will keep you wanting more to the point you will not want to put this book down. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about prisons or prisoners. There is not another book like this and I think publishing this book made a great way to remember the show and keep its memory alive.

Nothing New.......2003-03-15

I bought this book knowing it was a marketing tie-in for HBO, so I suppose I shouldn't be disappointed. But I was. Augustus Hill's "journal" is really just an extended summary of Oz episodes, without any of the new stories or new insights I'd been hoping for. And because it's all told from Hill's point of view, some story lines (like the Beecher/Keller story that's a big draw for many Oz fans) are only treated very briefly. The writing style is almost painfully dull, which is strange given the relatively good writing of the show and the strong narrative voice the show gave to Hill's character. I also found the book's chronology very peculiar, perhaps because the events of Oz's short, 8-episode seasons had to be spread out into a continuous narrative.

On the plus side, it's a handsomely produced book, on a nice glossy paper stock with plenty of photos. I liked the occasional sidebars about the real world of American prisons, though sometimes these felt a bit preachy (and I'm a liberal, generally in agreement with the politics of the show, and the book).

Book Description

Upon its publication in 1857, Little Dorrit immediately outsold any of Dickens’s previous books. The story of William Dorrit, imprisoned for debt in Marshalsea Prison, and his daughter and helpmate, Amy, or Little Dorrit, the novel charts the progress of the Dorrit family from poverty to riches. In his Introduction, David Gates argues that “intensity of imagination is the gift from which Dickens’s other great attributes derive: his eye and ear, his near-universal empathy, his ability to entertain both a sense of the ridiculous and a sense of ultimate significance.”

This Modern Library Paperback Classic is set from the text of the 1857 edition.

Download Description

This complex, sombre work, haunted by the symbol of the prison, is more than any other Dickens novel a study of society. George Bernard Shaw called it 'a masterpiece among many masterpieces' and claimed it converted him to socialism. Although many of the social conditions to which it refers have passed into history, Lionel Trilling asserted that 'Little Dorrit, one of the most significant works of the nineteenth century, will not fail to be thought of as speaking with a peculiar passion and intimacy to our own time.'

Customer Reviews:

Should Be Listed Among His Best.......2005-01-13

I'm busy reading the Dickens catalogue, chronologically. Despite the length and depth of "Little Dorrit," I read it in much less time than any other Dickens work thus far. So much is so good here: vivid narrative description, 3-D characters, subtle moral lessons, twisty plot with solid resolutions. When I first got to know Amy, my first thought was that she was too good and pure to live all the way through the novel. Then, as I came to know her better, I vowed that if Dickens did kill her off, I'd read no more of him! Needless to say, I was pleased with the way things turned around, so that Amy ended up back in the prison -- but in such altered circumstances! Recommended for experienced Dickensians.

Worth a Journey.......2004-10-23

Among the reasons to come to earth must surely be the chance to read this novel. Shaw called this novel a masterpiece among masterpieces. My opinion is that this novel is the greatest of the sixteen. It is less bland than Bleak House, more poignant than Copperfield. I started it desultorily, distracted greatly by events in my life. But gradually as I read it dawned on me that sentence by sentence Dickens was here at his most trenchant. I began to be charmed by the characters, some of the greatest in his oeuvre. For all the darkness in the conception--a girl born and raised in debtor's prison--Little Dorrit is a wonderful character. Arthur Clennam is a real man. I adore Flora's deranged speech and her tenderness. Fanny is a delight! And there are Doyce and Pancks--and the Meagles and Pet and Tattycoram--and there are so many secrets! And isn't Blandois the precursor of Fosco? Oh, I could go on. To the Circumlocution Office and Barnacles and Merdle - and Afferty and Flintwich and Mrs. Clennam--such a wonderful feast of characters--with the Marshallsea hovering over all.

How well Dickens uses dialogue to identify character; how amusing are their tics. The characters fall into strata. The main of them, characterized by Clennam, Doyce, and Pancks, are at the level of small businessmen, tradesmen. Below them are the destitutes. A little above them are Mrs. Clennam, Casby, the Meagles. And high above them the Merdles, Gowans, and the like. The novel finds its way at the lower levels--it's a novel of the lower middle class and the lower class and the poor--and down there is so much life and love and devotion. It was strong medicine for me, cognitively dissonant, for Little Dorrit to love with such devotion. And Clennam loves her so deeply though he had no love in his life to that point. Where did he find such love in himself?

Dickens does not just give the action. Unlike so many other writers (almost all), he lets the characters be themselves, revealing the plot from time to time as they get to it, but seldom hurrying. They are being themselves and leading their lives--of course caught up in the great machine of the novel; it's as though Dicken's characters' clothes get caught in the huge, creaking machinery of his plots which then tugs them along, or perhaps grinds them up...

The novel is too full of words. It's verbose. Many times I could not follow the sense. It's labored. There are plot shifts just for the sake of changing the experiment.

But as I finished the novel a benediction fell upon me--a moment that cannot be put into words.

Expose' -Speculators and Kind Hearts in the Victorian Era.......2004-06-16

Little Dorritt was born at Marshalsea-the debtors prison. Her father is something of an informal mayor (`father') of the place, and everyone imprisoned there pays him homage-and alms- for his long suffering good nature and the 'tone' he sets for the experience of being thrown in jail Indeed, Mr. Dorritt has raised self pity to an art form. Little Dorritt is small and wan. People continually ask her if she `has strength and can endure things.' She reminds them she was born in the poor house. Through the kind offices of `a friend,' Arthur Clennam, midway through the book, the family is released from prison, debts paid and they live the genteel life that Mr. Dorritt always assumed was his birthright. In a classic case of projection, Mr. Dorritt prattles to Amy (Little) Dorritt how she should not be morose, and she should forget life in the poor house. 'Put on airs for the sake of the servants so they would remember 'their place.' Mr Dorritt goes on to assure Amy `he has completely wiped the sad episode of living in debtors prison' from his mind. In order to secure his place in society, Mr. Dorritt seeks favor from an unseen Mr. Merdle who it seems has the economy of the entire world in the palm of his hand. Indeed, Fanny Dorritt, Amy's sister is also smitten with the Merdle clan and seeks the favor of Edmund Merdle, just so she can put on even more superior airs than Mrs. Merdle does. The circumlocutions of speech, especially those Mr. Dorritt and Mrs. Merdle use, when these characters talk to one other in itself is worth the price of admission. Amy is devoted to her father and shows little interest in social activities. She does however manage, through her needlework, to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Clemmens, Arthurs mother- that's how Arthur comes to learn of Mr. Dorritt's legal plight and thanks to Arthur they got away from Marshalsea, the debtor's prison. In time, Mr. Dorritt falls sick. He stands up at a dinner party to give his `welcome to Marshallsea speech, much to the embarrassment of all the high society types there present. Hence the contrast between the two societies, the debtors and the wealthy. Mr. Dorritt's disease in terminal and inevitably, we meet Mr. Merdle when he comes to commiserate with Fanny, his son Edmund and the other mourners. The mighty economic dynamo who has been the talk of the town-is oddly contrite. In leaving the wake, he asks in all humility, if he might have a pen knife...one of the wedding tokens from Edmund and Fanny's wedding. Mr. Merdle then privately kills himself.
All his financial wheelings and dealings were false and the family is busted. Arthur Clemmens is busted too, and Amy goes to find him at Marshalsea in her families old lodgings. She insists on helping him and he is ashamed as he believes he was not only instrumental in their release from Marshalsea but also in connecting the family with the notorious Mr. Merdle. Amy will have nothing to do with this all this pathos. She goes to plead Arthur's case with his mother who has money locked up in a vault. She has been paralyzed for a very long time and is unable to walk. The steward is furious that the family fortune should be spent to pay Arthur's debts as the steward believes and has tried to convince Mother that Arthur is a spendthrift playboy. The steward wants the money for his loyal service.
Mother rises from her chair and with assistance from Amy and her maid, descends the stairs and sees the steward open the safe, at which point the house collapses. Amy takes the money, frees Arthur and the two are married.
I give you a sketch of the plot in an effort to help the reader navigate through this book. Little Dorrit gives good service in depicting Debtors prison and paints a very Dickensian scene, as another reviewer commented, there is a sense of accomplishment in completing this read.

Teaching a lesson about Society.......2004-02-26

This was a mandatory reading for a Literary Theory class and I must say, at first, I was less than pleased. I have read Dickens a few times before tackling "Little Dorrit" (David Copperfield is my favorite) and his works aren't always "gripping." However, upon finishing the novel there was a great sense of accomplishment. This story reveals so much about the wrongs of high society and the importance of appearances. In this 800 page epic, Dickens gives us a love story that can actually be useful in, and comparable to, today's world.
I left this book feeling most glad that I had been "made" to read it because it has reminded me that times have not changed so very much when it comes to what's important in life.
In warning, it is not exactly quick in pace (considering it was written serially for periodicals over several months of time) but it does have an important message...and the characters are just quirky enough to make it interesting. Dickens even delves into the surreal once or twice, which makes for a nice twist.
A tip: If you find yourself in the middle of a harsh winter in, say Michigan, and you have some free time in your days, this book would perfectly fit the mood. Warning!: Do not take this one to the beach for leisure reading!!!

'To Be Always A Sacrifice'.......2003-12-09

With Little Dorrit, Charles Dickens touched upon a subject near and dear to his own heart; that of having a father who was incarcerated in Debtor's Prison. But Dickens extends this probing eye to include many different types of prisons that we either fall into by the fault or actions of others, or by our own actions.

Arthur Clennam returns home to London after many years away to find many things changed, and many the same. His mother, a recluse to the home that Arthur grew up in, remains a solitary figure, cast in shadows. Flora Casby Finching, the love of Arthur's youth, who married another and now finds herself alone; re-enters his life, and he finds himself wondering what he ever saw in such a flighty, chatty girl. Arthur also finds Jeremiah Flintwinch and his wife, Affery; in attendance to his mother. Jeremiah, a rough-edged, secretive man is a stark contrast to his meek, timid wife, who is plagued by dreams of augury throughout the story.

Also entering Arthur's life are the Dorrit's, the 'first family' of the Marshallsea Prison...Father William, the debtor in question, Amy; the caretaker and martyr of the clan, Fanny; the arrogant, self absorbed elder daughter, and Tip; the lazy, shiftless brother who, when given the chance and opportunity to strike out on his own and find a better life, wanders back to London to re-tie the family apron strings he was to break free from. Amy, employed to Arthur's mother as a seamstress; finds herself ever the voice of reason, the sacrificer, the kind and gentle soul....swimming in a sea of ingrates.

With typical Dickens flair; fortunes are reversed, lives are intertwined; secrets are kept, and revealed; and once again the reader realizes that nothing is ever what it seems on the streets of London. Numerous plot twists throughout the novel propel the story along at a very satisfying pace. Little Dorrit, after an unexpected windfall comes to the family; still finds herself in the same unenviable position in the family. Mr. Dorrit finds himself trapped by his prison background even after he is released, in the manner of trying to 'measure up' to society, and rise above his past. One particular point I found interesting was having Mr. Dorrit, in Book 2, settle his family into a large, virtually empty hotel to live...as if he could not leave the enormity of the prison, and all its rooms and inhabitants, completely behind.

The 'prisons' that Dickens visits in the latter half of the story are those of kept secrets; past transgressions; emotional obligation; and so many more that exist in our minds and memories.

While I only give the book four stars, it was a wonderful read. The characters are up to their usual flourish and flaw. But at times the plot devices were visible all the way from Marseilles to the Marshallsea, and seem to come from nowhere, really. While they help the story immensely, in terms of direction...they lack in credibility, and seemed a bit soap-operaish in their 'timely arrival'.

Nevertheless - I enjoyed immersing myself in Dickens' London once again..and walked away satisfied with the outcome. Even in Dickens' darkest tales, he usually delivers a silver lining.

A highly enjoyable read...

Prisoners of love: A guide for anyone wanting to cultivate, maintain and strengthen relationships with loved ones during times of incarceration
Average customer rating:
Prisoners of love: A guide for anyone wanting to cultivate, maintain and strengthen relationships with loved ones during times of incarceration
T. K Cyan-Brock
Manufacturer: Dreamcatcher Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0970707002

Product Description

Prisoners of Love is a self-help guide for the families, friends and other loved-ones of those who are incarcerated. It provides realistic information and guidance to help deal with the difficulties affecting those whose lives are tourched by the incarceration of someone whom they hold dear.

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What If I Go To Prison?
Michael G. Santos
Manufacturer: American Professional Services Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1591962005

Book Description

During the 16 years Michael Santos has served, he has written extensively about the prison system. He documents his experience and learnings in this book to help others who anticipate that they may become entangled with the criminal justice system. WHAT IF I GO TO PRISON? helps readers understand the different stages of the system, from arrest to serving time. Individuals who anticipate problems with the law should read this book in order to help them make better decisions when working with their defense attorneys, and when making decisions that will have a significant impact on their lives. Besides helping them move through the system, it also is an invaluable resource in helping individuals understand the complexities of imprisonment.

A Map Through the Maze: A Guide to Surviving the Criminal Justice System (Open Information Series)

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A Map Through the Maze: A Guide to Surviving the Criminal Justice System (Open Information Series)
Ned Rollo
Manufacturer: O P E N Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Federal Prison, Where Inmates Stay, and Convicts Run: A Survival Guide and Reference

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Great insights into the federal system
What happened? or How did I get here from there?
A Travel Guide to Where You Donýt Want to go

Federal Prison, Where Inmates Stay, and Convicts Run: A Survival Guide and Reference
Tracy W. Humble
Manufacturer: Edutainment Productions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Penology | Crime & Criminals | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Customer Reviews:

Great insights into the federal system.......2001-11-28

I purchased .... some time ago and loved it. The book has great
insight into the Federal System, .... along with the many
chuckles I received throughout. Don't think I will ever forget the Milkman
job. Still chuckle when I think about that one, and told my friend that he
ought to get a job as a milkman (or equivalent) if he can.... worked into
the meditation aspects beautifully. Something I am a dye hard believer in.
I truly want to thank you for writing this book. There are so many of us
that have a long time friends or loved one going to prison and don't know
beans about the system

What happened? or How did I get here from there?.......2000-10-24

A must read for people entering the world of the penal system including inmates, attorneys, family and friends. Know what to expect each step of the way and find out how you got there in the first place! Great reading for anyone interested in how we make our reality happen.

A Travel Guide to Where You Donýt Want to go.......2000-10-06

This is an insider's guide to federal prisons. Tracy Humble tells you exactly what to expect at Club Fed; what will happen and how to make the best of your stay. Then he goes on to describe and rate each of the federal prisons according to security level, capacity, staff size, housing, education opportunities, medical services, religious services and so on. There is a glossary of convict slang. This is a travel guide to unpleasant distant places.

This delightful book is great armchair reading-hopefully your armchair is outside the fence.

As the author of 113 books (including revisions and foreign-language editions) and over 500 magazine articles, I am very impressed with the way Tracy wrote and published his book under difficult (incarcerated) conditions. DanPoynter@ParaPublishing.com.

Who Moved My Soap? : The CEO's Guide to Surviving in Prison
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A Telling Parody of the CEO Cult

Nothing Boring about Borowitz

SLICK, HILAROUS CORPORATE SATIRE

Someone Give a Copy to Martha!

Perfect for the Corporate Crook in Your Life

Who Moved My Soap? : The CEO's Guide to Surviving in Prison
Andy Borowitz
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0743251423

Book Description

Attention, CEOs:

Finally, a book you don't have to cook!

If you're a CEO who's just been caught, this is the book you won't want to be caught without. Who Moved My Soap? The CEO's Guide to Surviving in Prison is loaded with helpful tips, including:

• How to go from "bitch" to "boss" in one week or less

• The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Prisoners

• Complete prison-slang/corporate-speak glossary

• Prison cell feng shui

• How to avoid getting back-stabbed -- literally

• The Zagat guide to fine prison dining

Customer Reviews:

A Telling Parody of the CEO Cult.......2005-05-21

Borowitz writes an understated book attacking the now-discredited CEO-as-god/You-Too-Can-Be-Rich genre. Some of this book is very funny, but it is funny because it is a straight-faced reductio ad absurdum of the corporate cheer leading that tried to justify the ugly 1990s financial bubble.

The reading will be slow going for those who have not read the trite school of popular business writing. The style of this book is a deadpan parody of such "classics" as THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE and the mountains of stupid books that tried to explain Sun Tzu's THE ART OF WAR to holders of MBAs. The humorous hook is the whole idea that (a) once-respected and worshipped hot shots are really criminals, and (b) that prison environments are actually the logical conclusion of how corporate management would operate--if they could get away with it. His almost verbatim exposition of how a prison business can follow of Jack Welch's Six Sigma bullying of employees shows just how destructive American B-school ideology is.

Finally, the admirable Alex Coolman, of Stop Prison Rape (SPR.org) attacks this book for making fun of the horrors of sexual assault; I respectfully disagree with Mr. Coolman. SOAP has no explicit or vicious writing (the style is too deadpan for anything vulgar). SOAP conflates two worlds of power--prison and corporate back stabbing--and finds both to be totally immoral.

WHO MOVED MY SOAP? is a tale that exposes our sorry times.

Nothing Boring about Borowitz.......2004-04-21

Borowitz has written a truly funny book, and it's extra special because it's a satire of another concept others have taken so seriously. It's not so funny, though, when you really get "surprised" from behind in prison, if you know what I mean.

SLICK, HILAROUS CORPORATE SATIRE.......2004-04-03

Modern corporate world is a sty reeking of corporate scandals. This, despite a whole deluge of corporate "gurus" and biz books dispensing truckloads of advice on how to better run your company, manage your time, manage your employees, etc etc.

Trust Andy Borowitz to rip the vacuity of almost 90% of such advisory tripe to shreds. He hammers home the drudgery of business cliches in an absolutely hilariously anti-establishment satire. It's an easy to read compilation, you could devour it in a couple of hours if you wish (and you mostly likely will).

The title itself is a funny play on "Who moved my cheese", a monumentally boring bestseller from a few years ago about change management. As one of the reviews suggests, change is something a lot of disillusioned CEOs like Martha Stewart have to cope with in their newfound abodes.

Pick up this gem for some pure, unadulterated, and occasionally even laught-out-loud humor. Pronto purchase material!

Someone Give a Copy to Martha!.......2004-01-30

This book is just hilarious! Borowitz hits the nail on the head with some of his "tips" for CEOs headed for prison. The funniest chapter was The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Prisoners. It just kept me rolling. If you're tired of CEOs' antics, pick this book up, it's totally worth it.

Perfect for the Corporate Crook in Your Life.......2003-12-05

My brother is a CEO and this is what I gave him for his birthday! He totally loved it. It is a truly hilarious book.

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