After several colleagues started book clubs in their facilities, I decided to give it try at my facility. Working with two novels by Wally Lamb and his experiences working with female offenders in New York State institution, I found that the ladies really enjoyed reading, connecting, and sharing their experiences as they related to the novels.

In searching for new books for the club, I stumbled upon two at a Barnes and Noble one afternoon and knew that I had to give them a try. The two that I discovered were Tweak by Nic Sheff and Beautiful Boy by David Sheff. The former is a memoir by a son whose life and youth has been taken away by methamphetamines and the latter is a memoir by the father. At first, I was nervous that the ladies might not take the books as they are the experiences of men – a colleague told me that the books relating to women couldn’t be “sold” to male offenders at all. After assigning the first reading, however, all of the women were in my office the next day having completed the first 150 pages and ready to move on.

I have found the reaction to Tweak and Beautiful Boy to be unlike any other book we have worked with. Regardless of each offenders particular addiction issues, they connect with the son on many levels. As many are parents, they connect with the father as well. As we continue with these novels, the women are writing letters to the authors sharing how much the book impacted their lives. This was their idea! There is a correctional unit in Richmond, VA full of women clamoring to read these novels that are both eloquent and powerful memoirs of addiction and the journey to sobriety and love.