Redeemable: A Memoir of Darkness and Hope

"This book has a very positive, hopeful message - that everyone, as the title says, is redeemable.
It is a testament to all those working in the prison service that offer support and encouragement to people at a time in their life when they most need it. There are times when it becomes quite repetitive, as patterns of behaviour emerge and are described in great detail. I would have liked to know a bit more about the victims, beyond the small newspaper clipping included. Acknowledging them as people would remind the reader of the seriousness of the crimes committed and help the book avoid becoming self-indulgent." AB

"This book charts the life of the author as a general miscreant who ends up jailed for murder. The book plots his sad and often violent backstory and slow decline into the inevitability of a life of crime with an horrific conclusion. It then charts his rehabilitation through the prison system and eventual emergence, through much self-help and expert guidance, as a “redeemed” individual who understands why he got to where he did…. And became a Guardian journo to boot! So, in theory a good and worthy read. The only trouble is that I just didn’t enjoy it: I couldn’t relate to the back story and it went on for far too long, whereas the “redemption” piece about life inside, which was much more interesting to me at least (and I guess is covered in his journalism) was skated over in the last 70 or so pages (out of 344). I am afraid that the litany of awful home life scenarios (that were ultimately somewhat repetitive: not the author’s fault, but I think a degree of selection rather than covering a complete timeline with equal weight would have been better) laid out in great detail for much of the book left me just not engaged or interested enough. Rather a conundrum this, because clearly the exposition of those is completely necessary to explain his redemption! Readers, however, who enjoy “misery” books might get more out of it than I did! All in all I feel rather guilty that I didn’t get more out of this than I did because the author’s “journey” is ultimately a life affirming one that needs to be celebrated, but curiously not one that was particularly life affirming for me as the reader." MS

"I found this an enthralling book telling as it does of how a damaged childhood had a profound effect on that person’s life and as a consequence on their victims and their relatives lives, although very little of the latter was commented on. It made me reflect on the concept of forgiveness and if a convicted murder should be forgiven. The story is very moving and sad and I felt that the author explained honestly how he had ended up serving a life sentence. It was also a testament to the skill of trained counsellors and their role in helping individuals see their worth. Finally I felt that in certain circumstances perhaps a second chance in life is acceptable and that yes some individuals are redeemable." AH