Maximum Security Book Club: Reading Literature in a Men's Prison by Mikita Brittan
4.5 stars
This author has spent several years teaching classes inside a maximum security prison outside of Baltimore and also organized a book club for a smaller group of men in order to focus in on particular books. The books she chose to write about include Heart of Darkness, Lolita, Junkie, and other shorter stories. The men in the group range in age and race but are all violent offenders. I thought this book a fascinating mix of book critique and exploration into prison life. The men offered interesting insights into the books and I thought there discussion on Lolita especially highlighted how one book could be seen so differently through diverse perspectives. I also thought her ruminations on what the book club meant to her versus the prisoners very compelling. At times, I wasn't sure how uncomfortable I should feel about her positive impressions of men who indubitably have victims or at least people affected by their crimes still alive, however, I think for the most part she handles it very well. I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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