Friday 9 November 2012

God bless Reading Groups



“It’s hard to train for freedom in a cage” is just one of the memorable quotes to be found in the Oxford History of the Prison edited by Norvall Morris and David Rothman.
Memories of what it is to be free recede as your sentence progresses, as you are forced to accept the rhythm of prison life. Of shower, facility time, work, servery, work, servery, association, bang up. Day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year.
As fellow prisoners will confirm the key to maintaining sanity inside a cell lies between your ears. “They can lock up your body but not your mind” is an oft heard phrase.
For most the staple in cell diet of TV, inane adverts, music and ‘news’ from the ‘real’ world,  along with, if you’re lucky, conversation with a really good pad mate will see you through bang up.
But for some this is not enough. Suddenly cast in to a regime bearing some comparison to that found in a monastery. Often forced to confront their own demons. It is no great surprise that some prisoners discover religious faith when they least expect it and some rediscover the pleasures of reading. An activity so often sidelined, certainly in my case, by the daily pressures of life on the outside.
Through my time at HMP the inspiring attitude of staff within the Library and the teachers within Education has not only kept me sane. It has also wrought changes upon me for the better.
In this context the monthly Reading Group requires special mention. The regular opportunity to sit down comfortably in a relaxed forum amongst my peers….To share opinions on books that I might not otherwise have read and even, on occasion, have the opportunity to converse with their author. Not forgetting coffee and sometimes cake or biscuits! This is a precious activity with long term benefits extending well beyond the time it occupies.
Before coming to prison it wouldn’t have crossed my mind to seek out membership of a local reading Group. Neither would I have realised the riches to be gained from seeing books through the minds of others and challenging my own preconceptions.
But now I have resolved to set aside at least an hour each day to reading and freeing my mind. I shall also, upon release, be seeking membership of a local reading group. It will be interesting to see how it compares.
Now go back to Give a Book

6 comments:

  1. Some quotes just leave a mark on your heart and soul, right? Yk for me that one quote is “For you, a thousand times over” of The thousand splendid suns by Khaled Hosseini. I mean it is so true when we are in that vulnerable position where we are ready to do anything for the other person, is just priceless. This blog is also as great as the above-mentioned quote! (Source: dissertation proposal writing service)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Blog comment
    there are more than 50 internet and cable provider in usa, its very difficult to decide which is better and good for reasonable price and good service. i think spectrum cable Tv is best. kindly give suggestion.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Pocket Is a FREE Shopping Tool That Applies Every Voucher Code Across the Internet in One Click. Save money on more than +3000 UK stores.
    By: equestrian shop near me

    ReplyDelete
  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on reading groups and how they bring people together! It's great to see how books can inspire connection and community. Speaking of connection, it's important to prioritize our health by seeking medical advice from qualified medical doctor. Online healthcare services like meri sehat.pk make it easier to find and connect with doctors who can offer medical advice and treatment from the comfort of your own home. It's a great resource for anyone looking for accessible and affordable healthcare.

    ReplyDelete
  6. ทางเข้าpg soft slots games มีเกมให้สำหรับทุกคน PG SLOT แล้วก็ทุกๆรสนิยม คณะทำงานของพวกเราได้ปรับปรุงฟีพบร์มากหลายแบบเพื่อตอบรับกับเกมเมอร์ทุกแบบเพื่อทุกคุณได้รับประสบการณ์ที่ดี

    ReplyDelete