Allison’s Comments (group member since Oct 07, 2013)

Allison’s comments from the Reader with a Cause group.

I was really frustrated by this part of the book. The fact that it was on the line of the jurisdiction felt like it was close enough to let the tribe handle the ruling. It did not appear they could have done a lot to enforce a ruling however so maybe that was not the best option either.

Without knowing what it is like in a minimum security prison from experience, I think she did an excellent job. There is a lot more camaraderie than I expected. The way they all took people things when they first got there and helped newbies learn the rules runs counter to how prison life is usually portrayed.

I really liked the book. It was very enlightening. I did not realize how much time the inmates had to roam around freely. It was also interesting how little they prepare people for the outside world. There is so much time and opportunity to teach them skills to equip them for the outside but instead they set them up for failure.

I think classicism is playing the biggest role in re-entry and treatment by the guards here. Piper has many resources and supportive people on the outside while those in different classes have less. If Piper was in the situation of using the same resources available to those in a lesser class than hers, I don't think she would fare much better than they do. It did not seem like the guards treated the eminemlettes any better than anyone else and they were white I believe.

I thought Pop was an interesting character. I also liked Miss Natalie and wanted to know more about her story and how things turned out.

Ashley I totally agree with your thoughts on the book!

I think he fits basically in with my idea of Nick so it seems like a good fit to me.

I liked nick. Even when diary amy was saying things against nick I had a hard time believing it and felt somewhat vindicated when it turned out to be lies. He certainly had his faults but I found myself rooting for him throughout.

It was somewhat shallow. At no point does it seem she acts like herself. All of the things she says come back to the way she is acting to make a situation go the way she wants.

I was disturbed by both I think. While some I it resonated with me I also felt

I did not see the ending coming at all! Once I realized what she had done and that he was not really the person depicted in the "diary" I was a little disgusted. I felt like the character of Amy was a stereotype that women often get. I especially felt like it displayed an instance of women trying to fake domestic violence to get back at a man which is counterproductive. I think that is the main reason I disliked this book once I was done with it. I suppose it is true that some women are like this but would prefer it was not broadcasted in a book making it more standard than it should be.

Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes is a fantastic book and very relevant for this group. It is a fictional book but feels like it is the perspective of a domestic violence survivor. Profoundly affected me.

I have read it and did not love it. While it kept me wanting to finish it I also loathed one character and it left me feeling dissatisfied with the book as a whole.

I finally started it this weekend. I didn't want to put it down. So far so good. I love the characters also. I agree with Janet regarding the pair being interesting.

Kathy wrote: "Hi, I'm Kathy and I'm the communications specialist for the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence. I read mostly nonfiction: memoir, biography, history, nature and science, and ot..."

I recently read Gone Girl also. I would like to discuss it also. It was not at all what I expected.

My name is Allison and I am the CFO at the Illinois Coalition against Domestic Violence. I love to read and mainly focus on mysteries but I enjoy all genres.