Aftermath: A Memoir

by Anthony S. Giarratano

I did over 50 months in New Jersey State Prison as a first-time offender with no priors. I went in a couple weeks before my 26th birthday and was released two months after turning 30. When I was 18, I was diagnosed and treated for leukemia. I beat the cancer, but developed heart failure from the chemotherapy. An opioid addiction followed, and a few years later, I robbed a Walgreens pharmacy with a knife. No one was injured. I bailed out of county jail, and I went to long-term inpatient rehab. After completing, I started working full time. I was out on bail for over 2 years, with no new arrests/charges, working full time, and clean the entire time. Nevertheless, I was ultimately sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison on August 30, 2013. I don’t know anyone personally who had ever been to prison before. It was entirely foreign to me. Entirely. I was released from custody in November 2017, and two months later, I was pardoned by Governor Chris Christie.

After being pardoned, I bought a one-way ticket to Asia, where I’ve been traveling ever since.

When I was in prison, I kept a daily journal, which I adapted into my debut book, Aftermath, during my travels. It contains my daily activities and reflections while incarcerated as a first time offender, just trying to figure it all out. I never intended my journals to be read, but having gone through hell and back, I wanted something positive to come from what happened to me.

Today, I have almost 11 years clean. I hope I can be of service. I’d love to chat and support those in the struggle any way that I can! Feel free to reach out to me.

Anthony.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

258 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 3, 2021

About the author

Anthony grew up in the small town of Monmouth Junction, New Jersey.

Diagnosed with leukemia and heart failure at age 18, he soon after developed an addiction to opioids. After committing robbery at a local Walgreens pharmacy during his addiction, he was later sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison. Told through the private journals he kept while incarcerated, Aftermath is his debut book.

A graduate of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, he has been clean since May 2011 and has spent the last few years traveling throughout Southeast Asia.

Reviews

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

My full review (and author interview) can be found here: https://thereadingwife.com/aftermath/

[Courtney Laramore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Anthony, for sharing your story. I also knew someone that went to prison and so many of your stories sounded like his. Congratulations on your amazing recovery and keep fighting!