Inside Alcatraz: My Time on the Rock

by Jim Quillen

Each day we saw the outside world in all its splendour, and each day that view served as a reminder that we had wasted and ruined our lives. Jim Quillen, AZ586 - a runaway, problem child and petty thief - was jailed several times before his twentieth birthday. In August 1942, after escaping from San Quentin, he was arrested on the run and sentenced to forty-five years in prison, and later transferred to Alcatraz.

This is the true story of life inside America's most notorious prison - from terrifying times in solitary confinement to daily encounters with 'the Birdman', and what really happened during the desperate and deadly 1946 escape attempt.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook

Audible Audio

Published January 15, 2015

Reviews

[Kate Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly feel-good story about one of the inmates from Alcatraz told in his own words. Fast-paced and compelling, it gives you the sense of what it was like to be incarcerated at the infamous prison. Starting with his difficult childhood, the book tells the story of Jim, including his criminal career, days as a prisoner, and eventual redemption. If you are interested in history, true crime, and/or stories of redemption, I would recommend this book to you.

[Gregory Eakins · Rating 3 out of 5]

We were not free, no matter what we dreamed. Our lives were being lived as others determined. We had no right to decide what we could do or say. It was of no consequence what we thought because we had violated the law; being incarcerated at Alcatraz made us outcasts, at the mercy of the whims of those in authority.

A few years ago I did a tour of Alcatraz Island and the prison there, and then did a triathlon (the "Escape from Alcatraz") that gave you a taste of what the inmates here were up against. I felt like I was going to die in that cold water on the swim - and I had the advantages of nutrition, a wetsuit, and training that the inmates of Alcatraz never had. I can't imagine what it was like to be a prisoner here.

Jim Quillen tells his story of his time there, what led up to it, and what happened after he was released. He spent some time running from the cops before he was taken to The Rock.

After incarceration ended his life of crime, Quillen spends most of his time detailing escape attempts at Alcatraz. I supposed that, given the extreme level of boredom, these may have been the only events exciting enough to form any sort of memory in his mind.

You can tell that Quillen is not a writer. His story and time on the inside come out almost as a bullet pointed affair, and he doesn't do a whole lot of reflecting on his life or giving the details on what life was really like at Alcatraz. It is still a fairly interesting read, especially if you've been there, as you can see some of the places he mentions and feel just how violent this place once was.

[Paige Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting to read about someones journey from troubled child, to being incarcerated and a failed escapee at the most powerful maximum security prison in the USA, to a respected member and contributer in society, and their thoughts, feelings and reasons behind their actions.
Also very intriguing to read about Alcatraz from the inside having visited their myself recently.

[Roxanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting to read about Alcatraz from an inside source. Jim went though alot of hardships throughout his life, his determination to escape, and his mind set through various chapters in his life was changed due to positive influences and family.

[D. Wickles · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting more on Alcatraz but the first 1/3 of the book is his childhood. Not a bad book but not what I was looking for.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book because we were headed to Alcatraz. I started it a little late, so missed seeing some things i wish I would have noticed. Really enjoyed his story.

[Daniel Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast removing, sometimes shocking account of how a maladjusted childhood caused criminalisation and incarceration. A fascinating account of Alcatraz life and redemption. Excellent.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was just fine kind of boring at parts even though its a high tension moment in real life

[Leigh Gearing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book, tad boring and hard to read

[Joe Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insightful, interesting and moving.

My first book in the penology genre, Quillen's book details his time from a rough childhood, to adolescent criminal, to finally his incarceration in perhaps the most notorious prison in the world.

This book puts heavy emphasis on his direct witnessing of the infamous 1946 breakout attempt and subsequent siege by prison guards and marines.

I enjoyed this book and Quillen's entire redemption arch is moving, however, I felt at times that certain areas or aspects of prison life were too quickly bullet-pointed with not a lot of insight or substance for the reader. His interaction with Bob Stroud the legendary 'Birdman of Alcatraz' was succinct to the point that, other than one or two anecdotes, that he was basically there at the same time as him.

Furthermore, whereby prison life must be by it's very nature an exceptionally mundane affair, the author doesn't really give the reader a sense of the particulars of prison life beside the 1946 escape attempt.
That being said, it's a very moving tale of a man who has led an exceptionally interesting life. The evolution of prison life from 'inmates just wanting to serve their sentence without trouble' to the rise of prison gang culture in the mid 1950s was certainly something that could have been fleshed out more. It has certainly fostered a deeper interest in the subject but also reinforced just how horrendous prison can be on the human mind.

A good read, that had so much more potential to give 3/5 stars.