Synopses & 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.
Review
"In his introduction, Lamb calls the workshop 'a journey rich with laughter, tears, [and] heart-stopping leaps of faith.' To the credit of Lamb and his authors, this book, the end product of the workshop, is as well." Publishers Weekly
Review
"One truth this book affirms is the capacity for people to change....It is in this change that hope resides; lying next to and rising out of despair, hope permeates the book. Why, in the end, does Lamb want us to care about 10 women in prison? Perhaps because in noticing the humanity of others, we become more human ourselves." Kathy Boudin, The Los Angeles Times
Synopsis
Lamb once again reveals his talent for finding the humanity in the lost and lonely a group of incarcerated women at the York Correctional Institution where he taught writing. His powerful Introduction describes the incredible process by which these women found their true voices, and how they challenged him as a teacher and as a writer. Photos throughout.
About the Author
Wally Lamb is the author of four previous novels, including the New York Times and national bestseller The Hour I First Believed and Wishin' and Hopin', a bestselling novella. His first two works of fiction, She's Come Undone and I Know This Much Is True, were both number-one New York Times bestsellers and Oprah's Book Club selections. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, Christine. The Lambs are the parents of three sons.
Table of Contents
Notes to the reader --Couldn't keep it to ourselves /Wally Lamb --The true face of earth --Orbiting Izzy /Nancy Whiteley --Thefts /Carolyn Ann Adams --Hair chronicles /Tabatha Rowley --Three steps past the monkeys /Nancy Birkla --Hell, and how I got here /Brenda Medina --Christmas in prison /Robin Cullen --Faith, power, and pants /Bonnie Foreshaw --Puzzle pieces /Barbara Parsons Lane --Motherlove /Michelle Jessamy --Snapshots of my early life /Diane Bartholomew --Bad girls /Dale Griffith.