Book Review: Redeemable: A Memoir of Darkness & Hope

It has been said that to know true redemption, one must first know true devastation or destruction. After taking a step into the world of Erwin James through the pages of his transparent and candid memoir, one would agree that he has truly known and experienced both. Redeemable: A Memoir of Darkness and Hope is the firsthand autobiography of Erwin James, convicted murderer and journalist. James’ memoir is an equally beautiful and gritty story of a life filled with uncontrollable circumstance and damning response, interwoven with the insights from a writer who injects portions of humanity and compassion into an otherwise dire tale. Redeemable is more than another book on life on the inside; it is a story of triumph, raw humanity, and the depths of the human soul — ultimate redemption placed against the cold and unforgiving backdrop of a prison cell. As memoirs can encompass a wide gamut of styles, tones, and forms, it is often more challenging to judge one as being “worthy” of a read. As it is a personal expression of life and experience, I find the highest criteria for this evaluation to be the humanity and authenticity of the work. Some prison writings can devote three-quarters of the text to defending the person on the inside, or it exists to incite a level of sympathy or even disgust. By the time I finished the first chapter, I knew this particular book about life in prison would not fit the stereotype. While he first spoke of his trial and initial incarceratio...
Source: Psych Central - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Alcoholism Book Reviews Disorders Family General Grief and Loss Loneliness Memory and Perception Personal Stories Policy and Advocacy Psychology Spirituality Treatment books about murder books about prison criminal background Source Type: news