Making the rounds at a prison.
353448
These were for a prison library.  Very helpful for the inmates.  Helps with chess and negotiation.
1572794
Holly Pasuts personal account of her time spent in federal prison reveals much more than the daily life of a white-collar, professional inmate.  Using wit, humor, solemnity and spiritual references, her story challenges readers to examine their own lives, explore other perspectives, and be optimistic and less judgmental. After all, some of us create our own prisons in life.
4810042
Very well written.  Gives an incite to the struggles of those family members left outside the prison.
3629209
A well-done science fiction story that questions what is justice and what is justified in incarceration. Kane goes to Petra for a tour to advise his world's government on whether to contract with the prison system that is Petra. On Petra, the world is the prison and administration and the warden are safe behind the walls. Safe until the prisoners break in. The inmates, headed by a dissident that Kane met 15 years ago, who was presumed to be dead, see this inspection as the opportunity to get the word out to the public of what is really happening on Petra. Kane, who sympathizes but isn't sure he wants to lose what he has accomplished and he believes in fighting from inside the system. Now, he must make choices because more is going on than he ever consciously realized.

The writing is well done. The characters are developed. Technology and world building are accomplished and understandable without any technobabble. The plot moves along at a good pace. The underlying question of how this reflects our own system of incarceration, including the for-profit prisons, comes to mind, but those who don't like moral questions in their stories can easily ignore it.
2945229
This book reminded me a little of the movie Prisoners. I'm not usually one for books about serial killers, but I thought this one was well done. I
885500
A firsthand glimpse into the lives of corrections workers who also happen to be executioners. Interesting read with many anecdotes about executions, inmates, and life behind bars. The author does tend to delve into the politics of the death penalty a bit too much, however. Worth a read!
2776825
I enjoy prison novels and think they are an under appreciated art form.  To me,  the prison novel should have no lower limits and yet also tell a story with the same themes and problems that exist in non-prison society but exaggerated because of the lack of boundaries found in prisons.  This novel succeeds at those things and also offers some excellent writing.

There is a a conversation between a religious teacher and an inmate in this novel that is some of the finest writing I have seen in a long time.

The plot occasionally is confusing and the main character seems to make some strange career choices (I was saying out loud as I was reading-"Just quit your job!) but I may have missed the point of how she was imprisoned as well.  After all how many of us do work we hate and make moral and ethical choices daily we would not make other than for a paycheck.

I look forward to the author's next book and appreciate his talent.
2536474
works well.  A bunch were bought by inmates at the rehap clinic.when I was there
3969544
Well written look into day to day life in prison. Kerman keeps your attention as she tells her story without holding back.
1100520
Some of the scenes between the prisoners on the ship are surprising for their day.  This is a very well made film that is somewhat unbelievable, except it is based on a true story.
1598577
This book made me realize that some of the Prisons in the USA are no better from those we hear about in South America or the Middle East.  The read was very informative, with a cast of characters that will keep you turning pages.
2975638
The prisoner thinks of escape often - he knows the door to liberation lies between the couch and the window.  Out there are birds, lizards, trees, other cats.  The stuff of dreams...the stuff of freedom.  He remembers life out there - it's been years since he roamed in that cool air, amongst the lush green grass, bark and rocks beneath his paws, but he remembers.  He vows to leave his carpeted cell and squeeze on out...one of these days.

He's made it a few times actually.  When the captors aren't watching closely.  When their arms are full and he's lured them into docility.  That's when he strikes.  But so far, they've always managed to grab him back up, shove him back into their beige walled cage.

He'll admit...it's not all bad there.  There are lots of comfy things to lie on, lots of toys to ignore.  But it's not the same, and he knows it.

Still, though, he has one major weakness: he might be held captive by the humans, but he is positively enslaved by his stomach.  And the humans know this and use it against him.

Yesterday, they brought something new.  It's a machine...he recognizes it as one of their foul pieces of technology.  It came out of one of the boxes - one too small for him to claim and hide in, unfortunately.  After about 3 minutes of scrutinizing the manual and messing with it, the female warden plopped it in front of him and made it squeal and grind...AND OMG, IT POPPED OUT A TREAT!  Quickly he forgot the machine's foul artificial nature and stared at it intently, waiting to see what it would do.

And it squealed again!  Popping out another 5 or 6 crunchy treats.  He scrambled for more, then sat and meowed at it.  Forget the captors, now a new source of food had been found for his ever vacant and demanding hunger.

But it stayed stoically silent...refusing his begging cries.  So he tried violence.  He knocked it over, chewed on it with his teeth, but could not so much as score it.  Still, the warden got concerned quickly and hauled it off.

The next day, it reappeared...this time mounted high on the wall.  He ignored it...he knew it was there, but thought maybe if he didn't look at it...

Later, another chance at freedom!  The captors went to the door, poised to open it, and he was poised too.  But then the machine squealed and ground and he heard treats hitting the floor!  And he ran to it, escape forgotten until after it was too late and the door had closed once more.

(Review: I absolutely love it.  I did have to wall mount it since my cat would surely have broken into it otherwise...putting it on the floor just invites the animal to maul it, even though it is fairly durable and doesn't pop open that easily.  But cat was literally trained after the first time.  Remote works across the apartment, calls the cat into the kitchen immediately.  Assembly was easy.  Manual isn't 100% obvious when it comes to adjusting the treat size and all, but machine is not that hard, so no worries.  Light colors used to indicate on and battery status - does require the manual to decode that.  Works well with feline greenies, except that it dispenses anywhere between 1 and 6 at a time.  There is some adjustment but not enough to control it better than that.  Looks like an AC adapter could plug in the back but that was not included.  Still, the sound and action trains pets easily and gets them to transfer their food focus to something other than you...or lets you distract them into the other room.  Use as you will!  This wasn't even something I knew I needed, but I'm really thrilled with it)
3691572
A decent Aussie crime flick with some unfamiliar looks inside Oz prison life or at least the inside of one their prisons.
51788
This is a true look inside a women's prison. I believe we can learn a lot from this book and make some changes in the system.
3691224
This is a good book from a young man currently in prison.  It is his first book but the story is compelling.  I could not wait to turn the page to see what happened next.  There are a few grammatical and spelling errors but they do not deter from his story.  It is easy reading and you can finish the book in one setting or a long plane ride.
4758651
Very interesting to see what all of these inmates had to say, and eat on the last day of their lives. Also, what landed them in the spot they are at. Whether you're for or against the penalty itself, this book is very informative, and non-bias.
296943
This puzzle book was sent to an inmate & she found it to be very entertaining. Also, she received in very timely manner. Thank you!!