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This was a compelling read/listen. Blakinger‘s personal story is intense, trauma-filled, and privilege-aware, and it merits a content warning/quick check of The StoryGraph or similar if you avoid certain topics. Her writing is fantastic, and I‘ve recently enjoyed following her on social media due to her deep commitment to raising awareness about/promoting change within the incarceration system.

#UnpopularOpinion Ive seen many glowing reviews for this memoir but I never fully warmed to Keri. As a competitive pairs skater her life was full of discipline and determination yet the minute she was presented with a setback she did a complete 180. I had a difficult time understanding her decisions & mindset. I applaud her honesty and the ability to come back from the brink of hell and once again turn her life around.👇🏼

The author‘s life swings from successful teenage ice-skating, to drug addiction, to Cornell University then to jail.

This was a really interesting listen; I learned a lot about the prison system in the US, even though the author was very aware that her white privilege meant that her experience was better than most.

My only slight niggle was the jumpy timeline, perhaps more difficult on audio to figure out where in her life we were.

My IRL book group chose this one and all agreed it‘s harrowing and bleak. The author is from our hometown and some group members have connections to her family. If you love a memoir where the MC starts out privileged but bottoms out, then this is for you. Despite that, Blakinger has focus and drive amidst the chaos and is now an advocate for the (current or formerly) incarcerated.

Full review https://www.TheBibliophage.com #thebibliophage2022

🫣 This started off wild …

Initially I picked this up wanting another female POV for a behind bars themed program but it quickly became more than that. I have heard the term functioning alcoholic but hadn't considered the realm of a functioning drug addict. Straight from a promising athletic childhood into eating disorders and illegal drugs Keri had experienced a 180° pivot. Addressing not only privilege but also expounding on so many things wrong with the American...

Keri went from being a nationally ranked pairs skater and Ivy League student to heroin addict/dealer and felon. This is better than a typical addiction or prison memoir, though. While she digs deeply into her own memories and experiences, she also shares stories and insights from her years as a prison and death penalty beat reporter for two newspapers. Recommended!