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Alcatraz
by
Darwin Coon
A powerful human tale of turning tragedy to triumph. He offers rare insight to the emotional journey he personally experienced while being an inmate inside Alcatraz.
Paperback, 145 pages
Published
2002
by New Desmas Press
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Whilst visiting the USA we toured over to Alcatraz for a day tour.
On occasions the authorities organise for old inmates of the prison to be on hand to talk with the visitors to describe what life was like inside. On the day that we visited Darwin Coon was sitting on the desk selling his book. I had never heard of him before but dad bought his book and I decided to read it after returning home to Australia. It was a fascinating read and gave a real insight into Coon's wayward youth, where he went...more
On occasions the authorities organise for old inmates of the prison to be on hand to talk with the visitors to describe what life was like inside. On the day that we visited Darwin Coon was sitting on the desk selling his book. I had never heard of him before but dad bought his book and I decided to read it after returning home to Australia. It was a fascinating read and gave a real insight into Coon's wayward youth, where he went...more
I feel like this book should be a lot longer than it is - three or four hundred pages, at least, instead of its actual one hundred and forty five. Coon has definitely led a life worth writing about; Alcatraz follows him as he goes through several prison stints, numerous jail breaks, lives a life on the run and, ultimately, ends up in Alcatraz.
That's really my only complaint: there's too much story crammed into too few pages (and the editing might be a bit lacking, too; the book reads like a high...more
That's really my only complaint: there's too much story crammed into too few pages (and the editing might be a bit lacking, too; the book reads like a high...more
Alcatraz by Darwin Coon was a very easy read. It went by so quickly a word of criticism would be the book should have been longer. It needed at least 3 to 4 hundred pages to truly tell his whole story. I would rate this book a solid 4 stars. A brief summary of the book was Darwin Coon was a convicted bank robber who spent four years at Alcatraz. He was and inmate there from 1959 through 1963. He was one of the last prisoners to leave the rock when it closed. This book covers most of his life sto...more
Like most, I picked this book up while doing a day tour on Alcatraz. It was my second trip, and I enjoyed it every bit as much as I did the first time. Last time I was there I picked up a copy of Battle At Alcatraz by Ernest Lageson, the son of a warden. This time, I thought I would read something actually written by a prisoner.
Alcatraz: The True End of the Line was simply written, direct and honest and straight to the point. I just wish it had been a little longer and a little more detailed, a...more
Alcatraz: The True End of the Line was simply written, direct and honest and straight to the point. I just wish it had been a little longer and a little more detailed, a...more
This is an interesting story about Darwin Coon who was one of the last groups of prisoners incarcerated on the island before it was closed. We actually got to meet him as he was doing a reading of his book at Alcatraz and he was a very interesting person. He was a convicted bank robery and sentenced to four years in prison. His life story is pretty much what you would expect, nothing out of the ordinary that most people don't deal with. But he had no direction and thought he would be able to mak...more
This was a quick read, and fascinating. Mr. Coon has lead a very interesting life, and reading about Alcatraz was the most interesting part of all for me. What made me give it 4 stars instead of 5 was that he repeated things a couple of times, so even though the wording may have been slightly different, it was still the same information all over again. However, it was still full of fascinating information about Alcatraz, and that made it a fun read.
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We visited Alcatraz a couple months ago and I met the author, Darwin Coon, who was there autographing books. He was a former Alcatraz prisoner, one of the last to leave in 1962. After finishing his sentence elsewhere, he turned his life around. He and his wife were foster parents to over 90 kids. Not the best written book, but it was fascinating to read after having had the prison tour and meeting the author.
Dec 04, 2008
Stacy
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone interested in knowing a little more about prision life
Recommended to Stacy by:
I bought it
I bought this book during my trip to San Francisco. My mom and I had just completed the Alcatraz tour where the authour Darwin Coon (former Alcatraz inmate) was in the gift shop on the island signing his book so I bought his book, and had him sign it.
It's an easy read, and very interesting. The one thing I didn't like about it was that he repeats himself a lot in this book.
It's an easy read, and very interesting. The one thing I didn't like about it was that he repeats himself a lot in this book.
1 like · like · see review
This book is interesting. It is clear that it was not written by a professional, but that almost makes to story all the more real to me. Having met Mr. Coon at Alcatraz made it even that much more interesting. This man really opens up and gives a powerful testimony in this book, showing that every human being is worth fighting for...even convicts.
A memoir of a man who spent several years on THE ROCK. There's no fancy authorial flourishes - just the straight forward story, with details of his early life, his run ins with the law, his bank robbing career, his years at Alcatraz and then his years as a doting husband and foster parent. A quick, interesting read.
I actually really liked this book - I wish there was more detail, as some of his experiences could have been books themselves! This was too short for me, and I wish there was more about his life after Alcatraz. But a good read nonetheless.
Very fast read, explains motivations of a bank robber and his time in several prisons, not just Alcatraz. More detail and fewer repetitions would make for a better book, but honest writing-style gives it appeal.
I enjoyed the book, but it was definitely just a prison story as opposed to a life story. Interesting, but I would have enjoyed more details about the author's crimes and his avoidance of the law. Still, I would recommend it to others,
This was an amazing story about Darwin E. Coon and his life at several different prisons. This book will make you feel like your next to a prisoner feeling what they are. It's an amazing story.
This book is written by a former Alcatraz inmate so it's not perfect writing by any means. However, I did learn a thing or two so as long as that is the case, I'll give it 3 stars.
I haven't really read this book, I'm putting this book on my shelves for the second time I read Alcatraz vs the Shattered Lens BY: BRANDON SANDERSON (Alcatraz #4).
Darwin Coon signed my book at an Alcatraz tour in early August. This was a quick read but it was very interesting. Not very hard to read though. Overall, I enjoyed it.
I actually got to meet the man, and get my copy signed by him...I like the way he wrote the book not glorifying or justifying what he did...just told the story....
very interesting...
I bought it when I visited Alcatraz in 2007, Coon was there signing the books with his inmate number...
I bought it when I visited Alcatraz in 2007, Coon was there signing the books with his inmate number...
Amazing autobiography, met the author and I got my copy signed in the jail. The true story of what went on inside the Island is amazing.
Bought the book because Coon was at Alcatraz when I was there touring. Quick read, interesting.
Nice one! :) But need to add some violence to make it better!
Good book. Wished it was longer and had more stories about other inmates too.
It was given as a gift by a friend who does his website for his bookstore.
Darwin's life story is fascinating, but the book is written like a high school essay. He really should've found a better writer to tell his tale. It could've had a lot more details about his personal life, life in the diff. prisons, etc. There were also a number of things he repeated without needing too, the grammar could've been better, etc., etc.
Darwin's life story is fascinating, but the book is written like a high school essay. He really should've found a better writer to tell his tale. It could've had a lot more details about his personal life, life in the diff. prisons, etc. There were also a number of things he repeated without needing too, the grammar could've been better, etc., etc.
We met the author, a former inmate signing books while touring Alcatraz. The book was interestig because I had just seen what he was writing about. It was hard picturing this elderly author as a bank robber!
Clearly written by an author with no prior experience. I did get a good impression of the lifestyle in the prison. Having been to Alcatraz and seeing some of the places he describes made be book much better.
Coon, convicted of armed robbery, spends four years at Alcatraz. His writing style is straightforward, and there are some interesting anecdotes about life behind bars, but no great revelations or analysis.
The literal conversatiosn between the inmates do the trick. Not a great book, but includes historical elements of what being in "The Rock" actually meant in a physical and mental manner.
Jun 01, 2007
Cassandra Ord
added it
I picked this book up while visiting Alcatraz. By dumb luck Darwin Coon was on Alcatraz for a book signing! I took a special interest in this book after meeting Coon.
Jun 07, 2011
Michelle
added it
I'm reading this book in between others. I'm more curious than captivated.
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Darwin E. Coon was a convicted bank robber who spent four years in the prison at Alcatraz. He was incarcerated there from 1959 through 1963 and was a member of the last group of inmates to leave the island prison when it closed.
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