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Falling: Hard Lessons and the Redemption of the Woman Next Door
Falling is Orange is the New Black on steroids-terrifying and heartbreaking-funny and humanizing. - Kate Hopper, Author of Ready for Air and Use Your Words It was just one drink after a long day of skiing, and she wasn't driving anyway. But when Karen Campbell saw her husband, Tom, stumble as he opened his car door, she knew he'd had too much to drink. That's the last thing Karen remembers until she wakes in the hospital days later. What she doesn't know is that Tom and another innocent woman were killed when she was behind the wheel. That glass of wine turned an accident into felony manslaughter, and Karen was sentenced to over six years in prison. Falling is the gripping story of a family torn apart and of a woman who must learn to live with her fatal mistake while she navigates the uncertain and sometimes terrifying terrain of a medium/maximum security women's prison. Karen must learn the ropes of prison to stay safe and sane while she grapples with her own guilt and the damage she has inflicted not only on her own family, including her teen daughters, but the family of the innocent woman she killed. Falling will make you question what you thought you knew about the prison system in the United States. Falling is part Karen's story and part the tragic stories of the women she meets and befriends while incarcerated. Ultimately, this memoir will make you see the humanity in each of us.
435 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 8, 2020
13 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 11, 2021
I enjoyed the book, it gave insight into a world I hope I never encounter. Karen gave us a glimpse of humanity behind the sorrow and regret. There is much reform needed in our prison system.
June 2, 2021
Falling is an intense read
I felt what she was saying. As a person that voted for that law I learned what the true result are. The truth of what she wrote helped me understand my son better. He works for DOC and it is not always easy for him. He can't share his work with us. This was a view into not only Karen's reality but my son work reality. Thank you Karen
I felt what she was saying. As a person that voted for that law I learned what the true result are. The truth of what she wrote helped me understand my son better. He works for DOC and it is not always easy for him. He can't share his work with us. This was a view into not only Karen's reality but my son work reality. Thank you Karen
March 14, 2022
I had never heard of this book until one of the women in my Book Club recommended it to all of us. We decided it wasn't one we would discuss, but did agree that it was one we all should read at some point. I was lucky enough to get a copy pretty quickly from my local library. I am indeed glad that I read it, it is a sad and eye-opening book about prison life in Coffee Creek Correctional Facility here in Oregon.
Karen Andrea Campbell spent the day skiing on Mount Hood with friends. Her husband Tom, was tired and told her he would meet her at a bar in town when she was finished. Karen made it to their meeting place, enjoyed a glass of wine, and then they decided to head home. Once they get to their car, she watches her husband lose his balance walking around the car and realizes that he is drunk. He starts the drive down the mountain, but at some point on their drive home, they must have switched drivers. Days later, she wakes up in a hospital, and finds out that her husband died as well as another woman in another car that she hit while she was driving. This is the story of her 6 years spent at Coffee Creek, and how she was able to survive the time there while also trying to retain a relationship with her 2 daughters, the rest of her family and friends.
It's definitely not an easy read but I would still recommend it.
Karen Andrea Campbell spent the day skiing on Mount Hood with friends. Her husband Tom, was tired and told her he would meet her at a bar in town when she was finished. Karen made it to their meeting place, enjoyed a glass of wine, and then they decided to head home. Once they get to their car, she watches her husband lose his balance walking around the car and realizes that he is drunk. He starts the drive down the mountain, but at some point on their drive home, they must have switched drivers. Days later, she wakes up in a hospital, and finds out that her husband died as well as another woman in another car that she hit while she was driving. This is the story of her 6 years spent at Coffee Creek, and how she was able to survive the time there while also trying to retain a relationship with her 2 daughters, the rest of her family and friends.
It's definitely not an easy read but I would still recommend it.
September 25, 2021
Falling: Hard Lessons and the Redemption of the Woman Next Door is an eye opening book. I first sought this book out because of a connection to coffee creek quilters and I wanted to learn more. But I was captivated by Karen Andrea Campbell's journey through her journey through a prison sentence for DUI. It also is a book that shares how prison life and release processes are not roads that always gives those convicted a chance to make it on the outside.
February 25, 2021
But for the grace of God!
A suburban mom's harrowing journey navigating over 6 years in a woman's prison. Heartfelt, humorous and terrifying, I challenge anyone to read this book and not be inspired by the courage it must of taken to write it.
A suburban mom's harrowing journey navigating over 6 years in a woman's prison. Heartfelt, humorous and terrifying, I challenge anyone to read this book and not be inspired by the courage it must of taken to write it.
June 14, 2024
Very well written and a great memoir but not exactly my genre. I read this book with my grandma and we enjoyed it quite a bit as we are also Oregonians. It opened my eyes to how American prison is really like.
March 7, 2022
Hard to put down
Such well written descriptions of prison and the women inside. You made it real Thank you Karen for sharing your story.
Such well written descriptions of prison and the women inside. You made it real Thank you Karen for sharing your story.
October 26, 2022
Amazing memoir and I’m better for having read this..
February 29, 2024
A stark look at how much change needs to happen in our criminal justice system if we truly want/expect AIC to be able to return to society. If we all knew their stories it might change our hearts.
June 12, 2024
Best book in the whole world
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2024
The author grew up in my hometown. Learned a lot about women incarcerated in our state.
December 13, 2025
Excellent memoir. Thank you to Karen Andrea Campbell for the time, thoughtful condolences, consideration of others and love she brought to telling her story.
December 29, 2020
A book well worth reading: A well-written, compassionate, gritty account of life behind bars in a women’s correctional facility
I enjoyed this book very much. Karen Campbell reveals life in a women’s prison with candor, empathy and accountability. If you liked “Orange is the New Black,” you might enjoy this as well.
This is a well-written book, which grabs and holds your interest from the very beginning. I liked how she juxtaposed her outside life with her inside, which gave the book balance and a measure of humanity which is often omitted from other similar accounts. It’s a tear-jerker in places, as well.
As a retired police officer, I was initially put off a bit by some of the names she gave her guardians, and also by her reference to them as “cops,” which is a misnomer. They are corrections officers, as a rule, although various institutions may have their own assigned titles. Cops, though, refer to those who work within police depts, not within correctional institutions.
Notwithstanding the above, I very much appreciated the humanity and balance she gave to all the “characters” in this book, both inmates and corrections. Very well done...
I enjoyed this book very much. Karen Campbell reveals life in a women’s prison with candor, empathy and accountability. If you liked “Orange is the New Black,” you might enjoy this as well.
This is a well-written book, which grabs and holds your interest from the very beginning. I liked how she juxtaposed her outside life with her inside, which gave the book balance and a measure of humanity which is often omitted from other similar accounts. It’s a tear-jerker in places, as well.
As a retired police officer, I was initially put off a bit by some of the names she gave her guardians, and also by her reference to them as “cops,” which is a misnomer. They are corrections officers, as a rule, although various institutions may have their own assigned titles. Cops, though, refer to those who work within police depts, not within correctional institutions.
Notwithstanding the above, I very much appreciated the humanity and balance she gave to all the “characters” in this book, both inmates and corrections. Very well done...
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews