"Christmas in Prison:" click here for short excerpt


"The brave writers whose work is represented in this volume have acted in good faith, faced their demons, stayed the course, and revised relentlessly. And in taking on the subject of themselves-making themselves vulnerable to the unseen reader-they have exchanged powerlessness for the power that comes with self-awareness."--Wally Lamb

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These powerful stories, testaments, hit us on all levels: we can't escape the power of their story, Let's reflect on anything and everything that comes to us as a result of reading them, INCLUDING the art of writing them.

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1. Wally Lamb begins his introduction explaining what goes on in editing, quoting different authors on the art of writing, and lists several techniques the authors in this book may have used. Are you familiar with any of these Writing Techniques? Let's keep an eye out for particularly good examples of the writer's craft.

2. "Grace and Favor:"
This story begins with and ends with religious grace, or the opportunity for the same. It begins with Pope John Paul's Proclamation of the Jubilee and a prison mass, and ends with the promises of the jubilee and the day of atonement from the scriptures.

In between, the author continually contrasts the hope with the reality. It's a very subtle story of contrast.

What are some of the contrasts you see in this piece, and what effect does each one have on the reader's understanding of what actually happens in prison?

How effective is this technique?

3. How would you characterize the tone of the piece?

4. Whose voice is this piece written in?

5. Describe some of the uses of irony in the essay and their effect on the whole.

6. What does "or if the receiver is being set up, there's probably a Buteterfinger or Baby Ruth in there too---" (page 179) mean?

How does the juxtaposition of church and state: the statement of reconciliation and those "in a state of grace" differ from the activities of some of the prisoners and why do you think the author chose to present this in this way, warts and all, and begin her story with this particular instance?

7. What does .... "the seasonal returnees" those emaciated women coming "home" to Niatic for the holidays (page 181) .... mean?

8. "The trees have disappeared, the roast beef dinner's endangered, and the 'presents' have been held up..." (page 182). What does the comparison between the "old days" and each subsequent Christmas in Prison indicate? What did you think Christmas in Prison would be like? Is this what you envisioned?

9. Was there any one thing that stood out for you the most in this essay? If so what was it and why?

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