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Prison Noir
"Reading the fifteen stories in Prison Noir is a sobering experience. Unlike most claimants to that much-abused term, this is the real thing...The power of this collection comes from the voices of these authors, voices suffused with rage ("3 Block From Hell," by Bryan K. Palmer), despair ("There Will Be Seeds for Next Year," by Zeke Caligiuri), and madness ("Shuffle," by Christopher M. Stephen)."
-- New York Times Book Review
"These are stories that resonate with authenticity and verve and pain and truth. Any collection edited by the National Book Award-winning author Oates ( them ; Blonde , A Love Story ) deserves attention, but the contributors are deft and confident, and great writers without her imprimatur....Authentic, powerful, visceral, moving, great writing."
-- Library Journal , Starred review
"A remarkable anthology of stories written by inmates of correctional institutions across America...Most importantly, this landmark volume amplifies the voices of the incarcerated."
-- Publishers Weekly , Starred review
One of BookRiot 's Must-Read Books from Indie Presses for 2014
"I gobbled it up. The voice in each piece is authentic...A fascinating read."
-- subTerrain Magazine
"A strong compilation of prison literature, varied, well-written and not always what might be expected."
-- Reviewing the Evidence
"No matter what side of the bars you live on, Prison Noir is worth doing time with."
-- Killeen Daily Herald
"Readers will soak up every line...There is no doubt that readers from all walks of life, especially those less knowledgeable about life in prison, will appreciate Prison Noir ."
-- Killer Nashville
"This is a collection of stories that you will want to take your time with, savor, and probably reread a few times."
-- Jenn's Review Blog
"There is an intensity and melancholy that shines through these fifteen short stories, all written by prison inmates incarcerated throughout the US, and edited by the inestimable Joyce Carol Oates."
-- A Lit Chick
"Affecting, powerfully written and arresting literature. Well worth seeking out."
-- BRSBKBLOG
Akashic Books continues its groundbreaking series of original noir anthologies, launched with the summer '04 award-winning best seller Brooklyn Noir . Each book is comprised of all-new stories, each one set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the respective geographic range of the book. This anthology, with stories set in different prisons across the US, presents an absolutely new perspective on prison literature.
From the introduction by Joyce Carol
" The blood jet is poetry --these words of Sylvia Plath have reverberated through my experience of reading and rereading the stories of Prison Noir . In this case the blood jet is prose, though sometimes poetic prose; if we go a little deeper, in some chilling instances, the blood jet is exactly blood . For these stories are not "literary" exercises--though some are exceptionally well-written by any formalist standards, and artfully structured as narratives; with a single exception the stories are stark, somber, emotionally driven cris de coeur...We may feel revulsion for some of the acts described in these stories, but we are likely to feel a startled, even stunned sympathy for the perpetrators. And in several stories, including even murderers' confessions, we are likely to feel a profound and unsettling identification...There is no need for fantasy-horror in a place in which matter-of-fact horror is the norm, and mental illness is epidemic. Vividly rendered realism is the predominant literary strategy, as in a riveting documentary film."
Featuring brand-new stories Christopher M. Stephen, Sin Soracco, Scott Gutches, Eric Boyd, Ali F. Sareini, Stephen Geez, B.M. Dolarman, Zeke Caligiuri, Marco Verdoni, Kenneth R. Brydon, Linda Michelle Marquardt, Andre White, Timothy Pauley, Bryan K. Palmer, and William Van Poyck.
-- New York Times Book Review
"These are stories that resonate with authenticity and verve and pain and truth. Any collection edited by the National Book Award-winning author Oates ( them ; Blonde , A Love Story ) deserves attention, but the contributors are deft and confident, and great writers without her imprimatur....Authentic, powerful, visceral, moving, great writing."
-- Library Journal , Starred review
"A remarkable anthology of stories written by inmates of correctional institutions across America...Most importantly, this landmark volume amplifies the voices of the incarcerated."
-- Publishers Weekly , Starred review
One of BookRiot 's Must-Read Books from Indie Presses for 2014
"I gobbled it up. The voice in each piece is authentic...A fascinating read."
-- subTerrain Magazine
"A strong compilation of prison literature, varied, well-written and not always what might be expected."
-- Reviewing the Evidence
"No matter what side of the bars you live on, Prison Noir is worth doing time with."
-- Killeen Daily Herald
"Readers will soak up every line...There is no doubt that readers from all walks of life, especially those less knowledgeable about life in prison, will appreciate Prison Noir ."
-- Killer Nashville
"This is a collection of stories that you will want to take your time with, savor, and probably reread a few times."
-- Jenn's Review Blog
"There is an intensity and melancholy that shines through these fifteen short stories, all written by prison inmates incarcerated throughout the US, and edited by the inestimable Joyce Carol Oates."
-- A Lit Chick
"Affecting, powerfully written and arresting literature. Well worth seeking out."
-- BRSBKBLOG
Akashic Books continues its groundbreaking series of original noir anthologies, launched with the summer '04 award-winning best seller Brooklyn Noir . Each book is comprised of all-new stories, each one set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the respective geographic range of the book. This anthology, with stories set in different prisons across the US, presents an absolutely new perspective on prison literature.
From the introduction by Joyce Carol
" The blood jet is poetry --these words of Sylvia Plath have reverberated through my experience of reading and rereading the stories of Prison Noir . In this case the blood jet is prose, though sometimes poetic prose; if we go a little deeper, in some chilling instances, the blood jet is exactly blood . For these stories are not "literary" exercises--though some are exceptionally well-written by any formalist standards, and artfully structured as narratives; with a single exception the stories are stark, somber, emotionally driven cris de coeur...We may feel revulsion for some of the acts described in these stories, but we are likely to feel a startled, even stunned sympathy for the perpetrators. And in several stories, including even murderers' confessions, we are likely to feel a profound and unsettling identification...There is no need for fantasy-horror in a place in which matter-of-fact horror is the norm, and mental illness is epidemic. Vividly rendered realism is the predominant literary strategy, as in a riveting documentary film."
Featuring brand-new stories Christopher M. Stephen, Sin Soracco, Scott Gutches, Eric Boyd, Ali F. Sareini, Stephen Geez, B.M. Dolarman, Zeke Caligiuri, Marco Verdoni, Kenneth R. Brydon, Linda Michelle Marquardt, Andre White, Timothy Pauley, Bryan K. Palmer, and William Van Poyck.
260 pages, Paperback
First published August 11, 2014
125 people are currently reading
1076 people want to read
About the author
Joyce Carol Oates
859 books9,686 followersJoyce Carol Oates is an American writer. Oates published her first book in 1963, and has since published 58 novels, a number of plays and novellas, and many volumes of short stories, poetry, and nonfiction. Her novels Black Water (1992), What I Lived For (1994), and Blonde (2000), and her short story collections The Wheel of Love (1970) and Lovely, Dark, Deep: Stories (2014) were each finalists for the Pulitzer Prize. She has won many awards for her writing, including the National Book Award, for her novel Them (1969), two O. Henry Awards, the National Humanities Medal, and the Jerusalem Prize (2019).
Oates taught at Princeton University from 1978 to 2014, and is the Roger S. Berlind '52 Professor Emerita in the Humanities with the Program in Creative Writing. From 2016 to 2020, she was a visiting professor at the University of California, Berkeley, where she taught short fiction in the spring semesters. She now teaches at Rutgers University, New Brunswick.
Oates was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 2016.
Pseudonyms: Rosamond Smith and Lauren Kelly.
Oates taught at Princeton University from 1978 to 2014, and is the Roger S. Berlind '52 Professor Emerita in the Humanities with the Program in Creative Writing. From 2016 to 2020, she was a visiting professor at the University of California, Berkeley, where she taught short fiction in the spring semesters. She now teaches at Rutgers University, New Brunswick.
Oates was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 2016.
Pseudonyms: Rosamond Smith and Lauren Kelly.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
July 15, 2016
Prison Noir is a collection of tales written by people who are or were prison inmates.
Shuffle: Shuffle is a short tale about a man in a segregated unit who unexpectedly gets a new cellmate. It's a tale of isolation, both forced and by choice.
I Saw An Angel: A woman with only six days until parole struggles to make the right decisions. Also, there's some smuggling of LSD into the prison via an orifice.
Bardos: When an old man dies just months shy of his release, another inmate ponders the nature of time and the Tibetan book of the dead. Of the first 20%, this one was easily my favorite. It's an interesting slice of prison life.
Trap: A first time inmate experiences jail and likens himself to a mouse on a glue trap. This one had some insight but I'm still waiting for a story with a little action in it.
A Message in the Breath of Allah: When he's convinced Allah isn't hearing his prayers, a prisoner finds another way to send Him his message. This story was pretty chilling and one of my favorites in the collection.
Tune-Up: An inmate tries to form a band with other inmates while avoiding the usual pitfalls of prison life. Another good story with a great ending.
Foxhole: An inmate learns that nothing is free in prison and winds up in the hole. This one was another of the good stories.
There will be seeds for next year: After a failed suicide attempt, an inmate returns to his usual routine. Shit, this was one powerful tale of hopelessness and broken dreams.
Immigrant Song: An illiterate immigrant flees trouble in Mexico, only to wind up in prison in Michigan. Another slice of prison life, this one with casual violence.
Rat's Ass: An inmate gets busted making prison wine and begs another inmate to help him get out of it. This was an interesting tale of eventually coming of age in prison.
Milk and Tea: A female inmate recounts the abusive relationship that led her to prison while talking about what prison does to a person. This was the best story in the collection so far.
Angel Eyes: A good-looking new fish gets targeted by Gorilla Black, a prison rapist. Things don't go as expected. This is the kind of story I've been waiting for since I bought the collection. Dark and brutal.
How eBay Nearly Killed Gary Bridgway: Mike's wife is nearly broke after he winds up in jail. Fortunately, the serial killer in the next cell's autograph goes for $400 on eBay. I didn't think there would be any funny stories in this collection but this one was fairly humorous.
3 Block From Hell: This is the tale of a prisoner who feels he's doing the world a favor when he kills other prisoners. It was one of the top stories in the book but contained an error. It was Violet who became a blueberry in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, not Veruca Salt.
The Investigation: Five inmates have to come clean about a murder. This one was a good note to end the collection on with it's talk of being a snitch and how no one sets out to spend decades of their life in prison.
End Thoughts: I picked this up for a buck ninety-nine and it was worth it. It wasn't quite like I thought. With the word 'noir' in the title, I expected more criminal acts and violence. It was still good, though. 3 Block From Hell, Milk and Tea, and Angeleyes were the best.
3.5 out of 5. I may have to give some of the other Akashic Noir books a look.
Shuffle: Shuffle is a short tale about a man in a segregated unit who unexpectedly gets a new cellmate. It's a tale of isolation, both forced and by choice.
I Saw An Angel: A woman with only six days until parole struggles to make the right decisions. Also, there's some smuggling of LSD into the prison via an orifice.
Bardos: When an old man dies just months shy of his release, another inmate ponders the nature of time and the Tibetan book of the dead. Of the first 20%, this one was easily my favorite. It's an interesting slice of prison life.
Trap: A first time inmate experiences jail and likens himself to a mouse on a glue trap. This one had some insight but I'm still waiting for a story with a little action in it.
A Message in the Breath of Allah: When he's convinced Allah isn't hearing his prayers, a prisoner finds another way to send Him his message. This story was pretty chilling and one of my favorites in the collection.
Tune-Up: An inmate tries to form a band with other inmates while avoiding the usual pitfalls of prison life. Another good story with a great ending.
Foxhole: An inmate learns that nothing is free in prison and winds up in the hole. This one was another of the good stories.
There will be seeds for next year: After a failed suicide attempt, an inmate returns to his usual routine. Shit, this was one powerful tale of hopelessness and broken dreams.
Immigrant Song: An illiterate immigrant flees trouble in Mexico, only to wind up in prison in Michigan. Another slice of prison life, this one with casual violence.
Rat's Ass: An inmate gets busted making prison wine and begs another inmate to help him get out of it. This was an interesting tale of eventually coming of age in prison.
Milk and Tea: A female inmate recounts the abusive relationship that led her to prison while talking about what prison does to a person. This was the best story in the collection so far.
Angel Eyes: A good-looking new fish gets targeted by Gorilla Black, a prison rapist. Things don't go as expected. This is the kind of story I've been waiting for since I bought the collection. Dark and brutal.
How eBay Nearly Killed Gary Bridgway: Mike's wife is nearly broke after he winds up in jail. Fortunately, the serial killer in the next cell's autograph goes for $400 on eBay. I didn't think there would be any funny stories in this collection but this one was fairly humorous.
3 Block From Hell: This is the tale of a prisoner who feels he's doing the world a favor when he kills other prisoners. It was one of the top stories in the book but contained an error. It was Violet who became a blueberry in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, not Veruca Salt.
The Investigation: Five inmates have to come clean about a murder. This one was a good note to end the collection on with it's talk of being a snitch and how no one sets out to spend decades of their life in prison.
End Thoughts: I picked this up for a buck ninety-nine and it was worth it. It wasn't quite like I thought. With the word 'noir' in the title, I expected more criminal acts and violence. It was still good, though. 3 Block From Hell, Milk and Tea, and Angeleyes were the best.
3.5 out of 5. I may have to give some of the other Akashic Noir books a look.
May 8, 2016
This review refers to the audiobook.
I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from Prison Noir going in. Were the stories actually going to be good in principle or only good for stories written by prisoners? Even though much praised by critics, I couldn't determine exactly where the bar was set. Of course, that Joyce Carol Oates as editor was somewhat reassuring and I since I apparently find stories about prison life strangely intriguing (see Orange is the New Black and pre-aging-pill Oz or the quite interesting True Notebooks ) I figured it couldn't be awful, but I have to say that Prison Noir is much much better than awful and that the praise lauded on Prison Noir is well deserved.
There were some amazing stories here and while there were a few so-so contributions, there was no truly bad story here. In all cases the writing ranged from good to great and the stories that didn't work for me tended to be the ones that seemed the most cliched and where I was pretty sure I knew where they were going and the “twist” ending wasn't very twisty. Happily, this only occurred a few times and generally the quality of writing keep the even those stories entertaining. Even though every story took place in prison, the subject matter never became tedious and the perspectives were quiet varied.
There are a few stories worth a special mention:
Trap by Eric Boyd and There Will Be Seeds for Next Year by Zeke Caliguiri were both excellent meditations of loneliness and desperation. The latter was particularly affecting and a knock-out story in any context.
Immigrant Song by Marco Verdoni – about a Mexican immigrant who ends up jailed in Michigan – is a wonderful exploration of freedom and responsibility. It also brings another dimension to the concept of culture shock.
A Message in the Breath of Allah by Ali E. Sareini is outstanding. The story is about an inmate desperate to have Allah answer his prayers to be released from prison and the lengths he goes to to make sure Allah is listening. Of particular interest was the discussion of prophets and relationship between the main character and his Christian charge.
There were not many entries by women prisoners, yet Milk and Tea by Linda Michelle Marquardt, a story about an abused woman who has spent far too long in prison, was one of the best in this collection.
I was really impressed by Prison Noir and found it better collected than many of the short story anthologies I read. Recommended.
A note about the audio version: As with many short story collections, different narrators read different stories in Prison Noir. Some are much better than others. In some ways, I feel that narration may have really boosted my positive interpretation of some stories and maybe exacerbated mediocre feelings. For example, one narrator read both his stories as if he were an old grizzled con right out of Shawshank Redemption. I think the stories would have worked better with a less obvious sort of reading. Yet, all of the narrators were solid and the varying voices made the stories nicely individuated.
You can also read this on my blog! Read or Die.
I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from Prison Noir going in. Were the stories actually going to be good in principle or only good for stories written by prisoners? Even though much praised by critics, I couldn't determine exactly where the bar was set. Of course, that Joyce Carol Oates as editor was somewhat reassuring and I since I apparently find stories about prison life strangely intriguing (see Orange is the New Black and pre-aging-pill Oz or the quite interesting True Notebooks ) I figured it couldn't be awful, but I have to say that Prison Noir is much much better than awful and that the praise lauded on Prison Noir is well deserved.
There were some amazing stories here and while there were a few so-so contributions, there was no truly bad story here. In all cases the writing ranged from good to great and the stories that didn't work for me tended to be the ones that seemed the most cliched and where I was pretty sure I knew where they were going and the “twist” ending wasn't very twisty. Happily, this only occurred a few times and generally the quality of writing keep the even those stories entertaining. Even though every story took place in prison, the subject matter never became tedious and the perspectives were quiet varied.
There are a few stories worth a special mention:
Trap by Eric Boyd and There Will Be Seeds for Next Year by Zeke Caliguiri were both excellent meditations of loneliness and desperation. The latter was particularly affecting and a knock-out story in any context.
Immigrant Song by Marco Verdoni – about a Mexican immigrant who ends up jailed in Michigan – is a wonderful exploration of freedom and responsibility. It also brings another dimension to the concept of culture shock.
A Message in the Breath of Allah by Ali E. Sareini is outstanding. The story is about an inmate desperate to have Allah answer his prayers to be released from prison and the lengths he goes to to make sure Allah is listening. Of particular interest was the discussion of prophets and relationship between the main character and his Christian charge.
There were not many entries by women prisoners, yet Milk and Tea by Linda Michelle Marquardt, a story about an abused woman who has spent far too long in prison, was one of the best in this collection.
I was really impressed by Prison Noir and found it better collected than many of the short story anthologies I read. Recommended.
A note about the audio version: As with many short story collections, different narrators read different stories in Prison Noir. Some are much better than others. In some ways, I feel that narration may have really boosted my positive interpretation of some stories and maybe exacerbated mediocre feelings. For example, one narrator read both his stories as if he were an old grizzled con right out of Shawshank Redemption. I think the stories would have worked better with a less obvious sort of reading. Yet, all of the narrators were solid and the varying voices made the stories nicely individuated.
You can also read this on my blog! Read or Die.
December 27, 2019
A collection of short stories that make you glad you don't have to experience life this way. Some of these stories are excellent. Some are so-so. But all of them are impactful in their own way. After reading a story before bed one night - I had a nightmare about being trapped in prison during a fire (not a spoiler, just what my brain concocted).
And I do believe criminals should be punished - but in the USA, does it have to be this bad? Prisons are supposed to be rehabilitative, and largely, they are places where the guilty (and non-guilty) are treated like caged animals. How does that help anyone get better? The introduction to this book revealed that: the USA is number one for incarceration per capita, which means that the USA locks up more of its citizens than any other nation; and that some institutions don't even allow their prisoners to write, or if they do, not about the prison system or crime. The editors received about 100 submissions for this book - 100 out of 2.2+ million potential prisoners' stories. Pretty sad.
Read for the 2019 Read Harder Challenge: A book written in prison
And I do believe criminals should be punished - but in the USA, does it have to be this bad? Prisons are supposed to be rehabilitative, and largely, they are places where the guilty (and non-guilty) are treated like caged animals. How does that help anyone get better? The introduction to this book revealed that: the USA is number one for incarceration per capita, which means that the USA locks up more of its citizens than any other nation; and that some institutions don't even allow their prisoners to write, or if they do, not about the prison system or crime. The editors received about 100 submissions for this book - 100 out of 2.2+ million potential prisoners' stories. Pretty sad.
Read for the 2019 Read Harder Challenge: A book written in prison
December 28, 2014
Many anthologies have their hits and misses, but these fifteen stories are all excellent. The authors are all prisoners or former prisoners in the United States. They vary in age and experience. Two are women.
It is not surprising that the stories deal with dark subject matter--there just isn't much light in a prison. Some deal with religion: "A Message in the Breath of Allah" is a strange and haunting tale. Some, especially those such as "Shuffle" that deal with crowded conditions and difficult cellmates, will have you raging for prison reform. "Immigrant Song" shows how tough the justice and prison systems are on non English speaking offenders. The seemingly benign title "Milk and Tea" is concerned with domestic violence and is one of the most disturbing to read.
The introduction by editor Joyce Carol Oates is interesting and informative but I wish I had read it after I read the stories. Not that she gives spoilers, but sometimes being told a story has a surprising twist is a bit of a spoiler.
The copy I read was from my local public library.
It is not surprising that the stories deal with dark subject matter--there just isn't much light in a prison. Some deal with religion: "A Message in the Breath of Allah" is a strange and haunting tale. Some, especially those such as "Shuffle" that deal with crowded conditions and difficult cellmates, will have you raging for prison reform. "Immigrant Song" shows how tough the justice and prison systems are on non English speaking offenders. The seemingly benign title "Milk and Tea" is concerned with domestic violence and is one of the most disturbing to read.
The introduction by editor Joyce Carol Oates is interesting and informative but I wish I had read it after I read the stories. Not that she gives spoilers, but sometimes being told a story has a surprising twist is a bit of a spoiler.
The copy I read was from my local public library.
December 21, 2014
I have often said that I could see sitting in prison, being able to just relax and read books for a while.
This book has changed my mind about that. Some of these stories have you feeling sorry for the individual, some have you hating the individual, but all are extremely well-written and there are a few that surprised me a lot.
You have images of men and women in prison who are probably not well educated or well written. Untrue according to these stories.
This book is filled with draw-you-in stories and some even leave you wanting to know the outcome for these prisoners.
This was very well done and edited perfectly by the great Joyce Carol Oates.
This book has changed my mind about that. Some of these stories have you feeling sorry for the individual, some have you hating the individual, but all are extremely well-written and there are a few that surprised me a lot.
You have images of men and women in prison who are probably not well educated or well written. Untrue according to these stories.
This book is filled with draw-you-in stories and some even leave you wanting to know the outcome for these prisoners.
This was very well done and edited perfectly by the great Joyce Carol Oates.
August 24, 2014
An excellent collection of stories. Some of the best prison writing I've read. If you enjoyed this I recommend Committing Journalism by Dannie Martin and Peter Sussman.
August 28, 2014
Wish it was longer. Great collection of short stories.
May 27, 2019
Some really excellent stories in this book. It speaks to my own prejudices that I expected to find journeyman level writing kept interesting by their subject matter. Definitely not the case, there is varying quality as with all anthologies, but in general these stories are really well written. "Bardo" especially was one of my favorites, with the regimented prison day shown as keeping inmates in a stasis of rote routine.
July 31, 2019
Book Riot Read Harder Challenge 2019 Task #20: A book written in prison
Part I: Ghosts in the Machine
***** “Shuffle” by Christopher M. Stephen (Federal Correctional Institution, Oxford, Wisconsin)
***** “I Saw an Angel” by Sin Soracco (California Institution for Women, Corona, California)
***** “Bardos” by Scott Gutches (Fremont Correctional Facility, Cañon City, Colorado)
***** “Trap” by Eric Boyd (Allegheny County Jail, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
***** “A Message in the Breath of Allah” by Ali F. Sareini (Coldwater Correctional Facility, Coldwater, Michigan)
Part II: Caged Birds Sing
***** “Tune-Up by Stephen Geez (Ryan Correctional Facility, Detroit, Michigan)
**** “Foxhole” by B.M. Dolarman (Oklahoma State Penitentiary, McAlester, Oklahoma)
**** “There Will Be Seeds for Next Year” by Zeke Caligiuri (Minnesota Correctional Facility, Stillwater, Bayport, Minnesota)
**** “Immigrant Song” by Marco Verdoni (Marquette Branch Prison, Marquette, Michigan)
*** “Rat’s Ass” by Kenneth R. Brydon (San Quentin State Prison, San Quentin, California)
Part III: I Saw the Whole Thing, It Was Horrible
***** “Milk and Tea” by Linda Michelle Marquardt (Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility, Ypsilanti, Michigan)
*** “Angel Eyes” by Andre White (Ionia Correctional Facility, Ionia, Michigan)
**** “How eBay Nearly Killed Gary Bridgway” by Timothy Pauley (Monroe Correctional Complex, Monroe, Washington)
***** “3 Block from Hell” by Bryan K. Palmer (Jackson State Prison, Jackson, Michigan)
**** “The Investigation” by William Van Poyck (Florida State Prison, Raiford, Florida)
Part I: Ghosts in the Machine
***** “Shuffle” by Christopher M. Stephen (Federal Correctional Institution, Oxford, Wisconsin)
***** “I Saw an Angel” by Sin Soracco (California Institution for Women, Corona, California)
***** “Bardos” by Scott Gutches (Fremont Correctional Facility, Cañon City, Colorado)
***** “Trap” by Eric Boyd (Allegheny County Jail, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
***** “A Message in the Breath of Allah” by Ali F. Sareini (Coldwater Correctional Facility, Coldwater, Michigan)
Part II: Caged Birds Sing
***** “Tune-Up by Stephen Geez (Ryan Correctional Facility, Detroit, Michigan)
**** “Foxhole” by B.M. Dolarman (Oklahoma State Penitentiary, McAlester, Oklahoma)
**** “There Will Be Seeds for Next Year” by Zeke Caligiuri (Minnesota Correctional Facility, Stillwater, Bayport, Minnesota)
**** “Immigrant Song” by Marco Verdoni (Marquette Branch Prison, Marquette, Michigan)
*** “Rat’s Ass” by Kenneth R. Brydon (San Quentin State Prison, San Quentin, California)
Part III: I Saw the Whole Thing, It Was Horrible
***** “Milk and Tea” by Linda Michelle Marquardt (Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility, Ypsilanti, Michigan)
*** “Angel Eyes” by Andre White (Ionia Correctional Facility, Ionia, Michigan)
**** “How eBay Nearly Killed Gary Bridgway” by Timothy Pauley (Monroe Correctional Complex, Monroe, Washington)
***** “3 Block from Hell” by Bryan K. Palmer (Jackson State Prison, Jackson, Michigan)
**** “The Investigation” by William Van Poyck (Florida State Prison, Raiford, Florida)
December 19, 2015
At first, I wasn’t going to review this, but I really did not like it. I’ve never read anything by prison inmates before, but this collection doesn’t really give me a good impression about them. For the purposes of this review, I’m going to discuss the collection as a whole, and not the individual stories. There were some individual stories that were amazing, but generally, I didn’t find the stories enjoyable. I guess that can be considered the downfall of collections in general, because critics and reviewers are going to compare the stories.
As stated in the introduction, the prose of the stories isn’t the main focal point. There were some awkward constructions here and there, but otherwise, the stories were pretty understandable. (In one, I found it irksome that there were apostrophes everywhere, and it disrupted the flow of my reading severely.)
Back to the plot. The story lines of the stories aren’t at all clear, but for some, that worked. They felt like memoirs more than works of fiction, something that they really observed in everyday life. Because of this, the characters were very vivid and real. They probably existed with different names.
Overall, this isn’t something I’d recommend to anyone, really. Sorry.
As stated in the introduction, the prose of the stories isn’t the main focal point. There were some awkward constructions here and there, but otherwise, the stories were pretty understandable. (In one, I found it irksome that there were apostrophes everywhere, and it disrupted the flow of my reading severely.)
Back to the plot. The story lines of the stories aren’t at all clear, but for some, that worked. They felt like memoirs more than works of fiction, something that they really observed in everyday life. Because of this, the characters were very vivid and real. They probably existed with different names.
Overall, this isn’t something I’d recommend to anyone, really. Sorry.
November 23, 2014
A collection of gritty stories of prison life. It started slow for me, but overall it was a good read.
Shuffle = 3
I Saw An Angel = 2
Bardos = 5
Trap = 4
A Message in the Breath of Allah = 5
Tune Up = 3
Foxhole = 5
There Will Be Seeds for Next Year = 5
Immigrant Song = 4
Rat's Ass = 5
Milk and Tea = 5
Angel Eyes = 3
How eBay Nearly Killed Gary Bridgway = 4
3 Block from Hell = 5
The Investigation = 4
Shuffle = 3
I Saw An Angel = 2
Bardos = 5
Trap = 4
A Message in the Breath of Allah = 5
Tune Up = 3
Foxhole = 5
There Will Be Seeds for Next Year = 5
Immigrant Song = 4
Rat's Ass = 5
Milk and Tea = 5
Angel Eyes = 3
How eBay Nearly Killed Gary Bridgway = 4
3 Block from Hell = 5
The Investigation = 4
September 8, 2019
JCO gets SJ points for this; but the actual writing, unsurprisingly, isn’t very good... there just aren’t that many Edward Bunkers around.
April 7, 2019
2019 Read Harder Challenge: 17/24
Task #20: A book written in prison.
It was surprisingly difficult to find a book written in prison, and not just about prison life or written by a former prisoner after they have been released from prison. Somewhere along the way I stumbled upon this collection of short stories by 15 different incarcerated individuals.
It's difficult to write a more eloquent summary and review of this collection than the introduction by editor Joyce Carol Oates. I found so much value in the introduction that I read it twice--once before and once after reading the 15 stories. As she discusses, it is very revealing that the call for stories did not restrict writers to any particular genre or subject matter, yet all submitted stories in a style she refers to as "memoirist fiction." What they struggle with every day is already wilder than any fiction, so the best they can do is give voice to their experiences.
This quote from the introduction really sums up how I felt about the collection as a whole:
In the end, there is nothing happy or fun or nice about reading this collection, but you will walk away with a deeper understanding of a facet of life most of us can only ever imagine. I felt sympathy for people who have committed horrific, unforgivable crimes. I felt rage for the quality of care of prison services. I heard the voices of those who are often silenced. It's worth the read.
Task #20: A book written in prison.
It was surprisingly difficult to find a book written in prison, and not just about prison life or written by a former prisoner after they have been released from prison. Somewhere along the way I stumbled upon this collection of short stories by 15 different incarcerated individuals.
It's difficult to write a more eloquent summary and review of this collection than the introduction by editor Joyce Carol Oates. I found so much value in the introduction that I read it twice--once before and once after reading the 15 stories. As she discusses, it is very revealing that the call for stories did not restrict writers to any particular genre or subject matter, yet all submitted stories in a style she refers to as "memoirist fiction." What they struggle with every day is already wilder than any fiction, so the best they can do is give voice to their experiences.
This quote from the introduction really sums up how I felt about the collection as a whole:
"It wasn't always a 'pleasure' to read this frequently raw, crude, and disturbing material, but it was definitely an engaging and illuminating experience."
In the end, there is nothing happy or fun or nice about reading this collection, but you will walk away with a deeper understanding of a facet of life most of us can only ever imagine. I felt sympathy for people who have committed horrific, unforgivable crimes. I felt rage for the quality of care of prison services. I heard the voices of those who are often silenced. It's worth the read.
April 7, 2024
Fan of Short Stories and Joyce Carol Oates
The idea of reading stories that focused on prison life written by persons who experienced it was appealing. The stories were very Joyce Carol Oateseque in mood and characters. I plan to read more from the Noir series.
The idea of reading stories that focused on prison life written by persons who experienced it was appealing. The stories were very Joyce Carol Oateseque in mood and characters. I plan to read more from the Noir series.
June 23, 2015
Many of the authors featured in this Joyce Carol Oates–edited collection are still in prison. Nonetheless, readers will soak up every line, receiving every bit of depth they deserve. Every word gives a face to the faceless and a voice to the voiceless while giving a creative outlet to those who need it most. “Prison Noir” allows readers unfamiliar with life within the prison system to see those within for what they are: people.
There is an unexpected eloquence in the writings. It is as if each word on each page was meticulously thought out and well planed. “Bardos” by Scott Gutches is a particular stand out. This story deals with the unfairness of death. In “Trap” by Eric Boyd, readers will be thrown for a loop when they read the first officer’s treatment of the main character. Caution, it will turn readers’ stomachs. Still, these writers grab readers’ attention and take them on fantastic journeys.
Each story in this impressive collection will cause readers to respond in different ways, and every story represents a different voice. There is no doubt that readers from all walks of life, especially those less knowledgeable about life in prison, will appreciate “Prison Noir”.
Reviewer: Hillary Martin is a student at a major Tennessee university. An English major, her interests include writing, reading and spending time with family and friends. She is a member of the Society of Technical Communication, and she is currently working on a few writing projects.
Killer Nashville's Book Review of Prison Noir
Killer Nashville's Past Book Reviews
There is an unexpected eloquence in the writings. It is as if each word on each page was meticulously thought out and well planed. “Bardos” by Scott Gutches is a particular stand out. This story deals with the unfairness of death. In “Trap” by Eric Boyd, readers will be thrown for a loop when they read the first officer’s treatment of the main character. Caution, it will turn readers’ stomachs. Still, these writers grab readers’ attention and take them on fantastic journeys.
Each story in this impressive collection will cause readers to respond in different ways, and every story represents a different voice. There is no doubt that readers from all walks of life, especially those less knowledgeable about life in prison, will appreciate “Prison Noir”.
Reviewer: Hillary Martin is a student at a major Tennessee university. An English major, her interests include writing, reading and spending time with family and friends. She is a member of the Society of Technical Communication, and she is currently working on a few writing projects.
Killer Nashville's Book Review of Prison Noir
Killer Nashville's Past Book Reviews
October 7, 2015
I really was expecting scary stories. These aren't scary as much as they are dark and full of despair, with the exception of a few that are hopeful.
It's very interesting to see through the eyes of a convict. Whatever each of these authors did (or didn't do) to land them in prison, I felt connected to each by the end of the story. So when I read the bios at the end of the book I was sad to learn that one was put to death between submission and publication.
The bios are interesting and make the writers seem like regular people who might have just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. The biggest thing I got from reading this is to stop being judgmental about the incarcerated. I don't know the circumstances and every human being can be remorseful and learn to be a better person. Crime is a tragedy for the victims and those who care for the victims. But the perpetrators often come from tragic backgrounds and, in their own ways, are usually victims as well. (Yes, I also know there are criminals from perfectly well-adjusted families and experiences. That's also tragic.) What a sad world we live in with all this tragedy. And it's only getting worse, it seems.
I think I need to pick a more upbeat book for my next read.
It's very interesting to see through the eyes of a convict. Whatever each of these authors did (or didn't do) to land them in prison, I felt connected to each by the end of the story. So when I read the bios at the end of the book I was sad to learn that one was put to death between submission and publication.
The bios are interesting and make the writers seem like regular people who might have just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. The biggest thing I got from reading this is to stop being judgmental about the incarcerated. I don't know the circumstances and every human being can be remorseful and learn to be a better person. Crime is a tragedy for the victims and those who care for the victims. But the perpetrators often come from tragic backgrounds and, in their own ways, are usually victims as well. (Yes, I also know there are criminals from perfectly well-adjusted families and experiences. That's also tragic.) What a sad world we live in with all this tragedy. And it's only getting worse, it seems.
I think I need to pick a more upbeat book for my next read.
November 23, 2015
One of my favorite stories "A Message in the Breath of Allah". I'm not a religious person, but looking at it outside of religion - this prisoner was doing the state a service. And he acknowledged this. By assisting those that are sickly to die - this saved the state money by not having to care for a sick inmate. And to find out that he had pancreatic cancer...what a shock.
Overall these stories pulled at me. I don't know what it is, but the perception I had about prison is definitely misconstrued. Some of these stories I really feel bad for the writer.
I also have two more favorite stories: "3 Blocks from Hell" by Bryan Palmer and "Milk and Tea" by Linda Michelle Marquardt. The former story pulled at me because once again, the prisoner was taking the state's matters into his own hands. If he believed someone did something atrocious, such as commit pedophilia, he would do what was necessary to rid of them. In "Milk and Tea" I felt bad for the author because she was a product of domestic violence. You hear about these stories in the news and elsewhere about victims lashing out against their abusers. It's sad that she couldn't receive help rather than sending her to prison.
Overall these stories pulled at me. I don't know what it is, but the perception I had about prison is definitely misconstrued. Some of these stories I really feel bad for the writer.
I also have two more favorite stories: "3 Blocks from Hell" by Bryan Palmer and "Milk and Tea" by Linda Michelle Marquardt. The former story pulled at me because once again, the prisoner was taking the state's matters into his own hands. If he believed someone did something atrocious, such as commit pedophilia, he would do what was necessary to rid of them. In "Milk and Tea" I felt bad for the author because she was a product of domestic violence. You hear about these stories in the news and elsewhere about victims lashing out against their abusers. It's sad that she couldn't receive help rather than sending her to prison.
June 5, 2016
This book was a good insight into prison, I just wish it could've been better. They were fictional pieces written by real prisoners, which was a fascinating twist, but I wasn't getting the noir. I wasn't getting much literary depth as well. Many stories felt like prisoners recounting what happened, terrible events, and then ending. I wanted more nuanced conflicts, more epic arcs or trivialized details, more metaphorical language. The book read like people who weren't authors wrote many of these pieces. And it was written for a prison audience. For these reasons, 6/10.
Also a couple of the pieces drifted into unintelligible writing, somewhat due to an overabundance of prison vocabulary and also bad writing. Didn't make for a great combo.
Also a couple of the pieces drifted into unintelligible writing, somewhat due to an overabundance of prison vocabulary and also bad writing. Didn't make for a great combo.
September 17, 2017
80. Prison Noir, edited by Joyce Carol Oates
The stories in this volume of the Noir series are all set in prisons, and written by prisoners. There are tales of revenge, remorse, blame taking and murder. One of the things that became most obvious in reading the writer biographies is don’t commit a crime in Michigan: not only are conditions deplorable, but there is no such thing as parole! The two by women were especially harrowing. Some of these stories may give you the creeps, but each one is a perfect capsule of what incarceration in the U.S. means. Read them slowly, one by one, as if you are in solitary, on death row.
The stories in this volume of the Noir series are all set in prisons, and written by prisoners. There are tales of revenge, remorse, blame taking and murder. One of the things that became most obvious in reading the writer biographies is don’t commit a crime in Michigan: not only are conditions deplorable, but there is no such thing as parole! The two by women were especially harrowing. Some of these stories may give you the creeps, but each one is a perfect capsule of what incarceration in the U.S. means. Read them slowly, one by one, as if you are in solitary, on death row.
November 22, 2014
This anthology of stories written by prisoners contains excellent writing. These are highly skilled story writers, and literary craftsmen. While the stories are dark and the themes uncomfortable, they are real and gripping. This is story telling at its finest.
July 2, 2014
Not always even in terms of writing quality, but always gripping reading, and some have surprising twists.
April 26, 2024
If you ask anyone who knows me, I am typically a prompt individual. I always show up to meetings, gatherings, parties, functions and to dinner arrangements on time. My guess is, I’ll most likely show up to my funeral promptly and dressed appropriately (whatever attire death mandates that day). Anyways, the point is, if I’m always prompt, then why’d I show up late to this Akashic Noir Series party? Well the answer is simply because I was never invited. In fact, I heard about this party from a friend of a friend of a friend. You see, there’s actually a story behind the whole ordeal. Upon deviating from my regular reading escapades, I stumbled on a lit-magazine called “Boulevard”. This magazine, which features an array of authors and poets (both well established and newbies to the craft), introduced me to a writer named, Joyce Carol Oates. Upon shaking introductory hands, Oates quickly tricked me into a waltz performance called, “The Suicide”—and in the words of Pulp Fiction’s Mia Wallace, “I said GODDAMNED!” After reading “The Suicide”, I was hooked and that is when I said, “I need to check out this Joyce Carol Oates”. So I put on my fedora hat, low enough to cover the top half of my face, my trench coat and fake mustache and stalked her every move. Let me tell you, that woman goes to many parties and dances a lot. During my stalking, I noticed her attend one of the Akashic Noir Series party…Prison Noir. I decided to attend it, late and uninvited. And-I-said-GODDAMNED, it was good. From Joyce Carol Oates’ intro to the last story—goddamned it was good.
Prison Noir is a collection of short stories about prison written by inmates across U.S. prisons. Our prison journey begins with a story called, “Shuffle” about an inmate in solitary confinement who is suddenly forced to share his solitary confinement with an unwanted guest. Our journey makes its way to a modern age angel of death, a jamming music band made up of different styled musicians, suicidal prisoners, another version of the angel of death, a fish that becomes a shark and finally a witness, who after decades of quietude, decides to tell it all. Prison Noir is well constructed and delivers what it promises—prison noir. I said it before and I’ll say it again, “GODDAMMED, it was 5-stars-goddamned-good”.
Note: If by any chance, Joyce Carol Oates is reading this review, or anyone who knows her, I want to make it clear that I’m not really stalking her. I don’t even own a fedora nor a trench coat. I do, however, own a fake mustache, which I wear for reasons that strictly pertain to self-ridicule. Having said that, I wouldn’t turn down an opportunity to meet her. In fact, being the aspiring writer I am, I’d love that.
Prison Noir is a collection of short stories about prison written by inmates across U.S. prisons. Our prison journey begins with a story called, “Shuffle” about an inmate in solitary confinement who is suddenly forced to share his solitary confinement with an unwanted guest. Our journey makes its way to a modern age angel of death, a jamming music band made up of different styled musicians, suicidal prisoners, another version of the angel of death, a fish that becomes a shark and finally a witness, who after decades of quietude, decides to tell it all. Prison Noir is well constructed and delivers what it promises—prison noir. I said it before and I’ll say it again, “GODDAMMED, it was 5-stars-goddamned-good”.
Note: If by any chance, Joyce Carol Oates is reading this review, or anyone who knows her, I want to make it clear that I’m not really stalking her. I don’t even own a fedora nor a trench coat. I do, however, own a fake mustache, which I wear for reasons that strictly pertain to self-ridicule. Having said that, I wouldn’t turn down an opportunity to meet her. In fact, being the aspiring writer I am, I’d love that.
May 5, 2019
(#20 - a book written in prison)
So, this is actually a series of short stories that were written by prisoners, but I think that this still counts toward this year's Read Harder Challenge.
Unsurprisingly, all of these stories were prison-themed. Some were darker than others, though all were pretty grim. It can be difficult for me to make my way through short-story collections, especially because I tend to want to read for long periods of time, keeping with the same cast of characters and the same motivations. The subject matter and the format, therefore, made this book harder to get through than some of the other books I've read this year. In fact, at one point, during a more stressful time last week, I actually had to put this book down for a few days, because it was only adding to my stress.
I am grateful for the point of view these stories gave, but also, it's heavy and messed up reading. You know why. I'm glad I made my way out of it, but I realize many of the story writers won't.
So, this is actually a series of short stories that were written by prisoners, but I think that this still counts toward this year's Read Harder Challenge.
Unsurprisingly, all of these stories were prison-themed. Some were darker than others, though all were pretty grim. It can be difficult for me to make my way through short-story collections, especially because I tend to want to read for long periods of time, keeping with the same cast of characters and the same motivations. The subject matter and the format, therefore, made this book harder to get through than some of the other books I've read this year. In fact, at one point, during a more stressful time last week, I actually had to put this book down for a few days, because it was only adding to my stress.
I am grateful for the point of view these stories gave, but also, it's heavy and messed up reading. You know why. I'm glad I made my way out of it, but I realize many of the story writers won't.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2019
As with most short story collections, I really liked some stories ("A Message in the Breath of Allah" and "Milk and Tea" being my favorites) and really did not like/ couldn't follow some of the stories.
My biggest complaint of this book has to do with the choice of who was published in this anthology. There are 15 stories in this, and as far as I could tell from the author bios, one was black, one Arab, and one was Indigenous (best guess based on his characters as he was writing under a pseudonym). There was only one story written by a (white) woman. Yet, the NAACP says that 56% of incarcerated people in 2015 (referring to prison incarceration, not immigration and detention centers) are black and Hispanic men. Why are all the contributors overwhelmingly white? This does not reflect our current prison system. If they had chosen an editor with a history in social justice/the American prison system I think the book might have had different authors and stories that more accurately reflect who is incarcerated in this country.
My biggest complaint of this book has to do with the choice of who was published in this anthology. There are 15 stories in this, and as far as I could tell from the author bios, one was black, one Arab, and one was Indigenous (best guess based on his characters as he was writing under a pseudonym). There was only one story written by a (white) woman. Yet, the NAACP says that 56% of incarcerated people in 2015 (referring to prison incarceration, not immigration and detention centers) are black and Hispanic men. Why are all the contributors overwhelmingly white? This does not reflect our current prison system. If they had chosen an editor with a history in social justice/the American prison system I think the book might have had different authors and stories that more accurately reflect who is incarcerated in this country.
December 21, 2022
I have begun reading these Noir series books with this one because it sounded the most noir. I entered a noir story contest and chose prison for my theme because that was the darkest thing I could think of. There stories aren’t really noir, not that I’d expect Joyce Carol Oates to understand that term as her specialty seems to be stories about getting diddled by an uncle. Many of the stories aren’t really even stories, to be perfectly honest.
The stories often are full of insight into prison life, but few of them stood out as short stories. Little happens other than getting a peek at the drudgery of life in a cell. There’s almost nothing in the way of character development or transformation, something I thought would have been an obvious part of stories written by inmates.
Maybe they needed some non-inmates to contribute. Maybe having a guard’s perspective would have been illuminating.
The stories often are full of insight into prison life, but few of them stood out as short stories. Little happens other than getting a peek at the drudgery of life in a cell. There’s almost nothing in the way of character development or transformation, something I thought would have been an obvious part of stories written by inmates.
Maybe they needed some non-inmates to contribute. Maybe having a guard’s perspective would have been illuminating.
June 5, 2018
This book plunged me into parts of life I hadn't dreamt of. The combination of fiction and non-fiction stories painted quite a picture of aspects of living in a prison and finding ways to survive. The points of view from these stories didn't contain anything resembling rebuilding one's life--it was frankly pretty pessimistic (or is that what noir is all about). The publisher has a large volume of noir books on various topics. I plan to read Seattle Noir. http://www.akashicbooks.com/subject/n...
February 4, 2019
“Perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise that so much well-crafted writing comes from the incarcerated when we consider that, hardly to our credit, the United States locks up nearly 25 percent of the world’s prison population, while having only 5 percent of the world’s overall population.”
This is one of the most poignant quotes to me, from the introduction. Some of these stories are harrowing and heartbreaking.
This is one of the most poignant quotes to me, from the introduction. Some of these stories are harrowing and heartbreaking.
September 25, 2018
I always enjoy noir, but this anthology, edited by Joyce Carol Oates, was outstanding! Also heartbreaking and devastating at times. All the writers are or were currently prisoners when the stories were written, and they are amazingly talented!
October 8, 2017
As with any short story collection, some stories are better than others but this is a solid collection.
October 12, 2018
3.5 stars
Some very good stories, some not so much.
Some very good stories, some not so much.
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