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Diary of a Prison Officer: A gripping novel about friendship, finding love and fighting discrimination in a women's prison
This novel explores issues around discrimination, Black identity and the failure of the prison system to rehabilitate women. "I cannot recommend it enough. Aside from everything that is happening around ‘Black Lives Matter’, I would say this book is a must read." Preetha Leela Chockalingam, author If you enjoyed the T.V series Orange is the New Black, or the book Girl, Woman, Other you’ll love this novel. I could not put down ‘Diary of a Prison Officer’. Set in Holloway prison in the early part of the 21st century, ‘Diary of a Black Prison Officer’ is essentially a story of women directing their lives through the racism and sexism of the prison environment. Amber Campbell, a young black prison officer in her early twenties is the main character and protagonist. The present centres around Amber traveling through places like Nairobi, enjoying herself, being on the road and becoming horrified at the reactions of her fellow tourists towards certain aspects of local African culture. The past centres around her journey in the prison, her friends, the welfare of the prisoners, falling in love and trying to prove herself amidst a world that is highly prejudiced and often very stark. I enjoyed reading the back stories of the prisoners and couldn’t wait to see what developed between Amber and her main love interest Mr King.The chapters in the prison as well as the travelogue contained so many relatable instances for me that I found myself in a reflective mood long after I had read the book. I really loved this book. I cannot recommend it enough. Aside from everything that is happening around ‘Black Lives Matter’, I would say this book is a must read. You will want to read further to see what develops. When you read a book, you like, you want the world to discuss it with you. I want my friends and family to read this book. Preetha Leela Chockalingam Author and Creative Writing Lecturer Josie Channer, author of Diary of a Prison Officer, says "I wrote the novel because I felt that the stories from the women of Holloway Prison needed to be told. From the prison governor, officers and prisoners, they all have a story to tell of love, heartbreak and triumph”Book It’s 2003, Tony Blair is still Prime Minister and a shy loner from London, Amber Campbell, joins the prison service searching for purpose. Behind the walls of the women’s prison Amber is determined to prove that she has what it takes to become a tornado officer. She makes a pact with two close friends to support each other no matter what. However, the three Black women struggle when they experience discrimination and disappointment at every turn. Amber reflects on the prison system in her blog and takes an emotional journey off the beaten track through Africa to find love.We follow the story of a prison officer who embarks on a journey of self-discovery through the vast and diverse continent of Africa. As a Black woman she has faced many challenges and struggles in her life. However, through her travels, she learns about the resilience and strength of the African people and their rich cultural heritage.Along the way, she confronts her own biases and preconceptions, and learns to embrace the beauty and diversity of Africa. Through her encounters with people from all walks of life, she gains a deeper understanding of herself and her place in the world.This book is a powerful exploration of identity, culture, and self-discovery, and an inspiring journey for anyone looking to break free from the chains that bind them.
269 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2020
9 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 12, 2020
The Diary of a Prison Officer is one of those books that once you pick it up you are pulled in and want to keep reading. I enjoyed the diary format and how you progressed through Amber's career from when she started at HMP Holloway Prison and met a wonderful selection of people who became friends and the people that she knew had her back when she needed it the most.
A story that is particularly poignant in the current climate and highlights many of the injustices as well as racial prejudices that have taken place throughout the history of both female and African/American prison officers. With HMP Holloway being the largest European Women's Prison this story packs a real punch as you are reading, it makes you ponder what it means not to be a British White prison officer and what impact does this have on your career and potential. It makes you really stop and reflect as to what life is really like for both the prison officers and the inmates, it highlights the fragile relationships that exist and the destructive behaviours that often to lead to frequent reoffenders.
I liked the reflection through Amber's blog posts and her trip to Africa linking back to her ethnic roots as she meets with different tribes and learns more about the history of Africa. This is a passionate story full of hope and determination, the descriptions are vivid and leave little to the imagination and this all helps shape the story and increase the lasting effect the story will have on the reader.
A story that I found gritty and enlightening, it's great to really sink your teeth into a story and with the diary layout I flew through this book and found it captivating from beginning to end.
A story that is particularly poignant in the current climate and highlights many of the injustices as well as racial prejudices that have taken place throughout the history of both female and African/American prison officers. With HMP Holloway being the largest European Women's Prison this story packs a real punch as you are reading, it makes you ponder what it means not to be a British White prison officer and what impact does this have on your career and potential. It makes you really stop and reflect as to what life is really like for both the prison officers and the inmates, it highlights the fragile relationships that exist and the destructive behaviours that often to lead to frequent reoffenders.
I liked the reflection through Amber's blog posts and her trip to Africa linking back to her ethnic roots as she meets with different tribes and learns more about the history of Africa. This is a passionate story full of hope and determination, the descriptions are vivid and leave little to the imagination and this all helps shape the story and increase the lasting effect the story will have on the reader.
A story that I found gritty and enlightening, it's great to really sink your teeth into a story and with the diary layout I flew through this book and found it captivating from beginning to end.
October 12, 2020
I have a bit of a confession to make. Yes another one. For some reason, I have this fascination with true crime and with prisons. Now I know ‘Diary Of A Prison Officer’ isn’t a true crime book but as it deals with prisons, I grabbed a copy and settled down for what I was hoping would be a riveting read. I wasn’t wrong either because ‘Diary Of A Prison Officer’ really was a riveting read and I thoroughly enjoyed it but more about that in a bit.
I did feel for the character of Amber Campbell. She is a bit of a loner. She decides to join the prison service. Amber is a lovely lass, who is keen to make a good impression. However, she doesn’t have the easiest of experiences since she has to deal with other people’s prejudices as Amber is a woman of colour. Amber has to make her way in a world that is traditionally male dominated and she is treated differently to others on account of the colour of her skin. That’s just how I see it. Amber tries not to let things affect her and she does have a few friends at the prison, but there are also some people, who are just downright nasty towards her and some experiences do leave their impressions on her. Amber then goes on a journey to discover more about her roots and to discover more about herself too.
It didn’t take me long at all to get into this story. I was drawn into this story right from the very start. I think part of the attraction was the fact that the main part of the story was set in a prison and I love reading anything to do with prisons. I managed to read this book in one sitting, which is good going for me, since I usually have the attention span of a gnat and I am easily distracted. I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough and at one point the pages were turning that quickly that the page numbers became a blur. I was desperate to find out what happened to Amber and what she discovered when she went to Africa.
‘Diary Of Prison Officer’ is superbly written. The fact that the author is a former prison officer herself makes this story seem that bit more authentic. She is clearly comfortable writing about the environment in which she once worked. I loved the author’s writing style, which is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. Josie writes so realistically and so vividly that I felt as though I was in prison myself! Hopefully reading books such as this one will be the nearest I will ever get to being in prison. Although I did once have a tour of HMP Durham and loved every minute of it. I have to be honest when I say that I don’t think that I could ever be a prison officer as the prison world, which fascinates me also scares the crap out of me. Josie is brutally honest in her story and she doesn’t pull any punches.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Diary Of A Prison Officer’ and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Josie’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I did feel for the character of Amber Campbell. She is a bit of a loner. She decides to join the prison service. Amber is a lovely lass, who is keen to make a good impression. However, she doesn’t have the easiest of experiences since she has to deal with other people’s prejudices as Amber is a woman of colour. Amber has to make her way in a world that is traditionally male dominated and she is treated differently to others on account of the colour of her skin. That’s just how I see it. Amber tries not to let things affect her and she does have a few friends at the prison, but there are also some people, who are just downright nasty towards her and some experiences do leave their impressions on her. Amber then goes on a journey to discover more about her roots and to discover more about herself too.
It didn’t take me long at all to get into this story. I was drawn into this story right from the very start. I think part of the attraction was the fact that the main part of the story was set in a prison and I love reading anything to do with prisons. I managed to read this book in one sitting, which is good going for me, since I usually have the attention span of a gnat and I am easily distracted. I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough and at one point the pages were turning that quickly that the page numbers became a blur. I was desperate to find out what happened to Amber and what she discovered when she went to Africa.
‘Diary Of Prison Officer’ is superbly written. The fact that the author is a former prison officer herself makes this story seem that bit more authentic. She is clearly comfortable writing about the environment in which she once worked. I loved the author’s writing style, which is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. Josie writes so realistically and so vividly that I felt as though I was in prison myself! Hopefully reading books such as this one will be the nearest I will ever get to being in prison. Although I did once have a tour of HMP Durham and loved every minute of it. I have to be honest when I say that I don’t think that I could ever be a prison officer as the prison world, which fascinates me also scares the crap out of me. Josie is brutally honest in her story and she doesn’t pull any punches.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Diary Of A Prison Officer’ and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Josie’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
January 31, 2021
Diary of a Prison Officer is a combination of diary entries and blog posts from fictional character Amber Campbell and which draws on the author’s real life experiences as a prison officer.
The story starts in 2018 as Amber is taking a tour of East Africa to explore a deeper understanding of her identity as a black woman of caribbean heritage living in London. As she travels Amber reads some of her diaries from her time as a prison officer starting in 2003. While she is reading she hopes to remind herself of why her job once meant so much to her, and also how she fell in love with her husband. It was interesting to follow Amber’s travels to the different African countries each with their own different cultures, landscapes and way of life.
The diary entries give a fascinating insight into the role of a prison officer at women’s prison, HMP Holloway, but particularly the difficulties of a black female prison officer starting at the bottom and trying to rise through the ranks. She and her fellow black colleagues are constantly overlooked for promotions, treated like ‘gophers’, bullied and rejected and if they complain are told they have an attitude problem. She wonders why 100% of cleaning staff are black but 0% of senior officers? As Amber becomes more confident in her role, she becomes an advocate for her friends and slowly starts to see some change.
She not only advocates on behalf of her BAME colleagues but also on behalf of the prisoners. She sees a vicious circle of drug addiction and reoffending and a frustrating lack of support for mentally ill and disabled prisoners. She really cares and goes above and beyond her duties to try to help these women while she herself struggles with dyslexia and shows the detrimental effect this has on her career. Amber also becomes involved in local politics and encouraging the black community to use their vote as she is alarmed to see the rise of the BNP party in her borough.
With several unnerving stories of life within the prison as well as on Amber’s African travels this was an entertaining yet thought provoking read with some emotional scenes. It’s so sad to read about women who are trapped in the cycle of drug addiction, broken homes, prostitution and crime and a probation and rehabilitation service that just doesn’t work. I thought that Amber was an inspirational character fighting back against institutionalised racism in the prison service and I was rooting for her throughout to receive the recognition she deserved.
I would recommend this interesting and timely story in light of the BLM movement and the current popularity of vocational memoirs, but I do feel that a little bit of editing would improve the flow of the book and really help it to stand out.
The story starts in 2018 as Amber is taking a tour of East Africa to explore a deeper understanding of her identity as a black woman of caribbean heritage living in London. As she travels Amber reads some of her diaries from her time as a prison officer starting in 2003. While she is reading she hopes to remind herself of why her job once meant so much to her, and also how she fell in love with her husband. It was interesting to follow Amber’s travels to the different African countries each with their own different cultures, landscapes and way of life.
The diary entries give a fascinating insight into the role of a prison officer at women’s prison, HMP Holloway, but particularly the difficulties of a black female prison officer starting at the bottom and trying to rise through the ranks. She and her fellow black colleagues are constantly overlooked for promotions, treated like ‘gophers’, bullied and rejected and if they complain are told they have an attitude problem. She wonders why 100% of cleaning staff are black but 0% of senior officers? As Amber becomes more confident in her role, she becomes an advocate for her friends and slowly starts to see some change.
She not only advocates on behalf of her BAME colleagues but also on behalf of the prisoners. She sees a vicious circle of drug addiction and reoffending and a frustrating lack of support for mentally ill and disabled prisoners. She really cares and goes above and beyond her duties to try to help these women while she herself struggles with dyslexia and shows the detrimental effect this has on her career. Amber also becomes involved in local politics and encouraging the black community to use their vote as she is alarmed to see the rise of the BNP party in her borough.
With several unnerving stories of life within the prison as well as on Amber’s African travels this was an entertaining yet thought provoking read with some emotional scenes. It’s so sad to read about women who are trapped in the cycle of drug addiction, broken homes, prostitution and crime and a probation and rehabilitation service that just doesn’t work. I thought that Amber was an inspirational character fighting back against institutionalised racism in the prison service and I was rooting for her throughout to receive the recognition she deserved.
I would recommend this interesting and timely story in light of the BLM movement and the current popularity of vocational memoirs, but I do feel that a little bit of editing would improve the flow of the book and really help it to stand out.
October 13, 2020
Well, I would be lying if I didn’t tell you that at many times throughout this book, my mouth hung open in disbelief on many occasions – I had no idea about all the dramas and mayhem that prison officers face in their day to day jobs, especially in a women’s prison.
I didn’t expect to it to be all sunshine and flowers, but I do realise that women, typically tend to go to prison for lesser crimes than a man, but I felt so naive regarding the levels of havoc and violence within the walls of a woman’s prison.
I loved the diary format of the book, this is one of my favourite styles of books to read, it’s like easy “chunks” of relevant story with no unnecessary “filler”.
The narrative switches seamlessly from the current day, of Amber on a self-discovery holiday to various African nations and back to the diary stories of her prison officer days, which was another nice touch and very well balanced, never staying too long in each part, that you forget where you are in the story on the other timeline.
The book deals with some hard hitting themes such as identity, belonging, race, and the human need to feel accepted in society.
In the African timeline, Amber is searching for roots, an understanding of her Jamaican ancestry, which is obviously traced back to Africa, but like Amber, my family are of West Indian/Caribbean heritage in Dominica, and like her my ancestors are likely to be traced back to West Africa, although it could in theory be South Africa or any other part of this vast continent, so I could identify with her frustration of not knowing for sure.
Her pilgrimage across Africa, was so inspiring, it gave me a sense of wanderlust, and I hope one day, I can make a similar journey to find out more about where I come from.
Don’t worry, this book is not all doom and gloom, as there were some laughs and fun in the book, I particularly liked the New York Trip with Mariah & Miss Hall which started off a bit rocky, but taught Amber a lesson in friendship, that was a sweet moment.
Within the Prison Officer timeline, the amount of systematic racism & sexism within the prison system to their own staff is absolutely appalling and I can only hope that the situation has vastly improved.
I felt so sorry for the prisoners with mental health issues that seemed to have very little support.
These issues, amongst others, are highlighted in this book.
This book is very well written and is definitely as educational as it is entertaining.
It’s a the perfect read for Black History Month, so grab a copy now…
I didn’t expect to it to be all sunshine and flowers, but I do realise that women, typically tend to go to prison for lesser crimes than a man, but I felt so naive regarding the levels of havoc and violence within the walls of a woman’s prison.
I loved the diary format of the book, this is one of my favourite styles of books to read, it’s like easy “chunks” of relevant story with no unnecessary “filler”.
The narrative switches seamlessly from the current day, of Amber on a self-discovery holiday to various African nations and back to the diary stories of her prison officer days, which was another nice touch and very well balanced, never staying too long in each part, that you forget where you are in the story on the other timeline.
The book deals with some hard hitting themes such as identity, belonging, race, and the human need to feel accepted in society.
In the African timeline, Amber is searching for roots, an understanding of her Jamaican ancestry, which is obviously traced back to Africa, but like Amber, my family are of West Indian/Caribbean heritage in Dominica, and like her my ancestors are likely to be traced back to West Africa, although it could in theory be South Africa or any other part of this vast continent, so I could identify with her frustration of not knowing for sure.
Her pilgrimage across Africa, was so inspiring, it gave me a sense of wanderlust, and I hope one day, I can make a similar journey to find out more about where I come from.
Don’t worry, this book is not all doom and gloom, as there were some laughs and fun in the book, I particularly liked the New York Trip with Mariah & Miss Hall which started off a bit rocky, but taught Amber a lesson in friendship, that was a sweet moment.
Within the Prison Officer timeline, the amount of systematic racism & sexism within the prison system to their own staff is absolutely appalling and I can only hope that the situation has vastly improved.
I felt so sorry for the prisoners with mental health issues that seemed to have very little support.
These issues, amongst others, are highlighted in this book.
This book is very well written and is definitely as educational as it is entertaining.
It’s a the perfect read for Black History Month, so grab a copy now…
November 1, 2020
Written in a diary entry format, Josie Channer's Diary of a Prison Officer, is hands down one of the most eye-opening books I've read in 2020.
As Amber Campbell, goes on a cross-country trip across Africa in search of her Jamaica roots, she reminisces her time as a young and aspiring prison officer in London's Holloway by reading her diaries. Little did she know about the trials and tribunals she would have to face to become a riot officer in spite of her rigorous training camps and her talents.
As the book goes back and forth in the past, Josie Channer deconstructs Amber's struggles in the prison facility. First, the outright racism that both the prisoners and the officers had to face. From the presence of institutional racism that prevented Amber and the other POC officials from getting promoted to being mistreated by the prisoners themselves just because of their skin colour. It also showed how the white officers were being mean and racist, but brushed those insults off in the name of 'jokes'. The microaggression shown in the book no doubt brings out the sad reality that exists in workplaces as well.
Second, Josie Channer also brings in the necessity of mental health advocacy in prisons. Through many small but vital incidents in the story, she throws light upon how policemen and prison officers have not been trained at all to handle prisoners with mental health issues. Even our protagonist Amber being a dyslexic prison officer needed to fight against discrimination for her rights.
Third, I really love how the author shows women friendship and how Amber and her two closest friends in the prison bond and are each other's support. The book gives importance to not just racism or mental illness, but also gives us a glimpse on how prison facilities usually work. The riots, the fights, and the attempts to self-harm amongst prisoners, to the whole prison system.
Contd... https://www.diaryofabookgirl.in/2020/...
As Amber Campbell, goes on a cross-country trip across Africa in search of her Jamaica roots, she reminisces her time as a young and aspiring prison officer in London's Holloway by reading her diaries. Little did she know about the trials and tribunals she would have to face to become a riot officer in spite of her rigorous training camps and her talents.
As the book goes back and forth in the past, Josie Channer deconstructs Amber's struggles in the prison facility. First, the outright racism that both the prisoners and the officers had to face. From the presence of institutional racism that prevented Amber and the other POC officials from getting promoted to being mistreated by the prisoners themselves just because of their skin colour. It also showed how the white officers were being mean and racist, but brushed those insults off in the name of 'jokes'. The microaggression shown in the book no doubt brings out the sad reality that exists in workplaces as well.
Second, Josie Channer also brings in the necessity of mental health advocacy in prisons. Through many small but vital incidents in the story, she throws light upon how policemen and prison officers have not been trained at all to handle prisoners with mental health issues. Even our protagonist Amber being a dyslexic prison officer needed to fight against discrimination for her rights.
Third, I really love how the author shows women friendship and how Amber and her two closest friends in the prison bond and are each other's support. The book gives importance to not just racism or mental illness, but also gives us a glimpse on how prison facilities usually work. The riots, the fights, and the attempts to self-harm amongst prisoners, to the whole prison system.
Contd... https://www.diaryofabookgirl.in/2020/...
October 15, 2020
Riveting and meaningful, Diary of a Prison Officer is undoubtedly an important read about a topic often not touched upon. This is a wonderfully important read to add to your bookshelves.
Diary of a Prison Officer is a vital narrative in detailing the experiences of a Black woman during the early noughties. From both the overt and systematic racism she faces from her co-workers, to the more political events of 12 BNP councillors being elected, this is an important novel. It shows us not only have times changed so little, but also that there is so much more that non-Black people can do to change things for the better.
The story is told in a divided timeline, between Amber’s time as a Prison Officer and her time backpacking in Africa. This made for such a well-rounded reading experience, and I really loved reading about the reflections that Amber makes about the former time during the latter. Amber’s search for identity and belonging on her travels makes for a meaningful contrast to the life she lived whilst working in England. But overall, Channer’s writing style in general makes for a really smooth read – something that I really appreciated given the changes in timelines.
This book is a must-read for anyone looking to gain a new perspective on a topic that is not talked about often enough – even more so if you want to support and uplift Black writers and their stories!
Thanks so much to Josie Channer and Rachel’s Random Resources for a free review copy of this novel!
Diary of a Prison Officer is a vital narrative in detailing the experiences of a Black woman during the early noughties. From both the overt and systematic racism she faces from her co-workers, to the more political events of 12 BNP councillors being elected, this is an important novel. It shows us not only have times changed so little, but also that there is so much more that non-Black people can do to change things for the better.
The story is told in a divided timeline, between Amber’s time as a Prison Officer and her time backpacking in Africa. This made for such a well-rounded reading experience, and I really loved reading about the reflections that Amber makes about the former time during the latter. Amber’s search for identity and belonging on her travels makes for a meaningful contrast to the life she lived whilst working in England. But overall, Channer’s writing style in general makes for a really smooth read – something that I really appreciated given the changes in timelines.
This book is a must-read for anyone looking to gain a new perspective on a topic that is not talked about often enough – even more so if you want to support and uplift Black writers and their stories!
Thanks so much to Josie Channer and Rachel’s Random Resources for a free review copy of this novel!
October 13, 2020
WOW. If you’ve been following me for a while you will know that true crime and anything about prisons I LOVE. It’s just really interesting to me so I knew this was right up my street.
I loved the lay out of the whole story. It is written in diary entries from the past of her time working in a prison to the present where she is touring Africa. It does feature a lot of race issues and some political situations too. It’s honest. Part’s are brutal. It gives you a really good view into life working in an all womans prison. The ending was huge and had me holding my breathe to see the outcome. It also highlights how important friendships are.
An easy read, page turner. Very interesting and I look up to this woman! Amazing for everything she went through and stood up for. Highly recommend. A well deserved four stars from me.
I loved the lay out of the whole story. It is written in diary entries from the past of her time working in a prison to the present where she is touring Africa. It does feature a lot of race issues and some political situations too. It’s honest. Part’s are brutal. It gives you a really good view into life working in an all womans prison. The ending was huge and had me holding my breathe to see the outcome. It also highlights how important friendships are.
An easy read, page turner. Very interesting and I look up to this woman! Amazing for everything she went through and stood up for. Highly recommend. A well deserved four stars from me.
October 7, 2020
This book is written in the format of a diary which quickly sucks you in to an honest account of Amber's experiences. It contains strong characters and lots of emotion. It is dramatic and very raw. It is incredibly topical on a range of issues not just racism and contains lots of depth. In particular I was unexpectedly drawn in by the tourism aspects. I did find that I had to read it in separate sittings due to it's format but I did enjoy it, one where you can really feel the characters grow and change with experience.
I must add however, that I have absolutely no experience with our prison system and wouldn't be able to vouch for it's validity in that sense, however to me, it felt real and a true account.
I must add however, that I have absolutely no experience with our prison system and wouldn't be able to vouch for it's validity in that sense, however to me, it felt real and a true account.
October 15, 2020
I really enjoyed this book although it wasn't what I expected! I expected a book purely about prison life and the tales of the prisoners but instead it was a journey of prison life, self-reflection, racism and politics which are very relevant topics in the current climate. I read a lot of medical memoirs and it was nice to read the memoirs of another profession.
This book is set over two different timelines and I found it difficult at times to get into the 'current' timeline (I don't want to give away any spoilers) but I loved the timeline set in the prison and enjoyed reading about all the different characters. The ending was a tad abrupt but left me wanting more!
This book is set over two different timelines and I found it difficult at times to get into the 'current' timeline (I don't want to give away any spoilers) but I loved the timeline set in the prison and enjoyed reading about all the different characters. The ending was a tad abrupt but left me wanting more!
October 12, 2020
What intrigued me most about this book was the blurb and I knew it was a book that I had to read. The book is written in blog entries and the main character is Amber Campbell. The book follows two timelines, the later blog entries relate to Amber’s personal journey of discovering who she is whilst backpacking through Africa. During this journey she learns more about her origins as well as attempting to connect with the people she meets both on a cultural and personal level. It also gives her time to reflect on her time in the prison sector. The earlier blog entries relate to Amber’s time as a prison officer at HMP Holloway and also her friends Maria and Ms Hall.
The book is very poignant and very relevant to the current issues relating to the Black Lives Matter movement. There were some parts that were uncomfortable to read but it showed clearly the struggles Amber and her friends faced. I was shocked by the treatment that Amber and her friends/colleagues of Black or Asian heritage received from their fellow workmates and how many of them were not treated as part of a team. The book deals with issues of discrimination, racism, sexism, domestic violence and highlights the hierarchy and politics present in the prison industry. However, from the outset Amber is determined to succeed in her role as a prison officer. She is conscientious and endeavours to progress in her role, despite the setbacks she faces along the way both professionally and personally. She tries to do what she can to help prisoners seeing them as people and not just someone who has committed a crime.
A thought provoking read which is highly recommended.
I received a gifted copy of this book for an honest review.
The book is very poignant and very relevant to the current issues relating to the Black Lives Matter movement. There were some parts that were uncomfortable to read but it showed clearly the struggles Amber and her friends faced. I was shocked by the treatment that Amber and her friends/colleagues of Black or Asian heritage received from their fellow workmates and how many of them were not treated as part of a team. The book deals with issues of discrimination, racism, sexism, domestic violence and highlights the hierarchy and politics present in the prison industry. However, from the outset Amber is determined to succeed in her role as a prison officer. She is conscientious and endeavours to progress in her role, despite the setbacks she faces along the way both professionally and personally. She tries to do what she can to help prisoners seeing them as people and not just someone who has committed a crime.
A thought provoking read which is highly recommended.
I received a gifted copy of this book for an honest review.
November 29, 2021
Fantastic author
I don't normally review what I read but this book really draws you in. I loved the way the characters were so vividly written. The friendships were so warm.
The injustice of racism was so heartbreaking, it really made me think.
It makes you feel that you want to do something more to change it all.
I don't normally review what I read but this book really draws you in. I loved the way the characters were so vividly written. The friendships were so warm.
The injustice of racism was so heartbreaking, it really made me think.
It makes you feel that you want to do something more to change it all.
October 11, 2020
“Diary of a Prison Officer” is an enjoyable, educational read, shining a light on a failing prison system in desperate need of reform.
My full review: https://whatrebeccasread.wordpress.co...
My full review: https://whatrebeccasread.wordpress.co...
September 26, 2020
Review to follow
March 16, 2024
Interesting Personal account
I've been a prison officer and many of the incidents ring true, especially the self-harm sadly. I enjoyed the book
I've been a prison officer and many of the incidents ring true, especially the self-harm sadly. I enjoyed the book
October 24, 2020
I found 'The Diary of a Prison Officer' a humbling and moving view of what doesn’t work well in the prison system, including the impact on some of those detained in high security facilities. Her strong themes of equality were set against the backdrop of this system and a backpacking trip in Africa.
Written in a diary format, the shifting timelines and settings did become confusing at points, especially as there was no obvious connection in moving between them other than to show that there is life beyond the work. That said, there was a strong sense of purpose and finding oneself again after years of discrimination, false promises and unkind words.
Channer’s central character is a black, female prison officer, Amber Campbell, who works hard in a high security jail. Despite this, the male dominated system does not align to provide her, or her close friends, with a voice or opinion. Events take a turn and Amber steps in, showing herself to be both capable and able. As a reader you are left feeling frustrated that opportunities to demonstrate this were not afforded to her earlier.
This is a good, thought provoking story that gives rise to more questions than it answers. I would recommend it to anyone else who is interested in what actually goes on behind those high prison walls.
Written in a diary format, the shifting timelines and settings did become confusing at points, especially as there was no obvious connection in moving between them other than to show that there is life beyond the work. That said, there was a strong sense of purpose and finding oneself again after years of discrimination, false promises and unkind words.
Channer’s central character is a black, female prison officer, Amber Campbell, who works hard in a high security jail. Despite this, the male dominated system does not align to provide her, or her close friends, with a voice or opinion. Events take a turn and Amber steps in, showing herself to be both capable and able. As a reader you are left feeling frustrated that opportunities to demonstrate this were not afforded to her earlier.
This is a good, thought provoking story that gives rise to more questions than it answers. I would recommend it to anyone else who is interested in what actually goes on behind those high prison walls.
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