Shakespeare Saved My Life
Books | Biography & Autobiography / Criminals & Outlaws
4.1
Laura Bates
A female professor, a super maximum security prisoner, and how Shakespeare saved them bothShakespeare professor and prison volunteer Laura Bates thought she had seen it all. That is, until she decided to teach Shakespeare in a place the bard had never been before—supermax solitary confinement.In this unwelcoming place, surrounded by inmates known as the worst of the worst, is Larry Newton. A convicted murderer with several escape attempts under his belt and a brilliantly agile mind on his shoulders, Larry was trying to break out of prison at the same time Laura was fighting to get her program started behind bars.A testament to the power of literature, Shakespeare Saved My Life is a remarkable memoir. Fans of Orange is the New Black (Piper Kerman), A Place to Stand (Jimmy Baca) and I Couldn't Help Myself (Wally Lamb) will be be inspired by the story of the most unlikely friendship, one bonded by Shakespeare and lasting years—a friendship that would, in the end, save more than one life.What readers are saying about Shakespeare Saved My Life:"I was tremendously moved by both the potential impact of Shakespeare and learning on human beings and the story of this one man.""This is one of the most extraordinary books I've ever read.""I have never read a book that touched me as much as this memoir.""It is a challenging and remarkable story.""I loved this book so much. It changed my life."What reviewers are saying about Shakespeare Saved My Life:"You don't have to be a William Shakespeare fan, a prisoner, or a prison reformer to appreciate this uplifting book. "Shakespeare Saved My Life" also reveals many important truths ... about the meaning of empathy in our dealings with others"—Finger Lake Times"Shakespeare Saved My Life touches on the search for meaning in life, the struggles that complicate the path to triumph and the salvation that can be found in literature's great works ... An inspiring account."—Shelf Awareness"Opening the mind's prison proves enormously gratifying, not to mention effective ... brave, groundbreaking work"—Publishers Weekly"An eye-opening study reiterating the perennial power of books, self-discipline, and the Bard of Avon."—Kirkus"A powerful testament to how Shakespeare continues to speak to contemporary readers in all sorts of circumstances."—Booklist
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More Details:
Author
Laura Bates
Pages
304
Publisher
Sourcebooks, Inc.
Published Date
2013-04-02
ISBN
1402273150 9781402273155
Ratings
Google: 3
Community ReviewsSee all
"Hmm. The murderer of a college student comes to a greater knowledge of himself, and resolves to never kill again after being exposed to <br/>Shakespeare in prison. I greatly admire Laura Bates' courageous dedication to her incarcerated students, and I think she makes a good argument for better educational opportunities for inmates. I also agree that the liberal arts are potentially far more life changing and contribute more to success than "practical" job or vocational programs. And I would certainly agree that men who have experienced killing and solitary confinement can bring unique insights to the characters of Macbeth or Claudius or Richard II beyond that of the typical coddled suburban undergrad.<br/><br/>And yet, and yet... I was not convinced that studying Shakespeare promoted any personal growth in these men, nor did I see evidence that Larry, the central protagonist was as intellectually gifted as Ms. Bates believes. And whatever his scholarly gifts, where is the moral anguish over taking a young innocent life? Although Larry declares firmly that he will never kill again, there is little sense of remorse or a need to make amends, and Larry remains thoroughly self -centered.<br/><br/>The most hopeful chapter by far described performances and Shakespeare lessons Bates and Larry prepare for troubled high school kids. While I don't feel that literature, or education in general are "wasted" on inmates, how much better would we all be had they been given the chance to wrestle with these spiritually and intellectually challenging texts earlier in life, before it all went irretrievably wrong?<br/><br/><br/>"
Lesley Williams
"I read this for the Big Library Read.<br/><br/>I feel like Bates was trying to convince me to feel sympathy for Larry because he was, after all, a good person. Well, good people don't kill other people. Was Larry just a victim of circumstances? No, he was not. He might have gone through a ton of terrible things in his life, but that doesn't mean he couldn't have chosen to not be stupid. My sympathy lies with the victim and his family, and Bates didn't even address the fact that her "son" had killed in cold blood. She wanted me to believe that Larry should be given a chance for parole. Well, no. He didn't deserve that. I'm glad he found Shakespeare and that it changed him, but he still has to pay for what he did whether or not he became educated.<br/><br/>The book was dry, a bit disorganized, the dramatic ends to the chapters weren't dramatic at all. It was a waste of time."
Nadia Despain