The Lost Chapters: Finding Recovery and Renewal One Book at a Time

The author lacks self awareness and is very mean. As someone who “fancies myself a writer” doesn’t read a lot of Memoirs because they are filled with so many exaggerations. I am sure if I ever wrote one I would not tell the story the same as someone else would. The writer also knows this possibility in her reference to Kingston that “the only way to be true to ones story is to invent and blur the lines of what ‘really’ happened. Police do that too.” I have to imagine that is the case in her story that I am not quite sure is hers alone. Schwartz lost me at the Tiffany character. What a terrible thing to read —-Their intimate experiences amounted to the author as basic worthlessness besides comedic affect—so saddened by this. Clearly the experience wasn’t either of their cup of teas! The alcoholic sounds like a very manipulative person and yet seems unaware of it while being aware of it in the other "women who [know] how to get what they [want]." pg 189 Talk about a power trip! She seems to be better and smarter than everyone she encounters inside--even the other addicts although she is one herself. The author just can’t seem to admit her own privilege, racism and jealousy that is what I got out of her jail experience book . maybe the two frenemies chose the same book to read (Beautiful Ruins) because they are extremely alike and in that novel the characters experience a time warp initialing flashbacks and lessons. I wonder is Tiffany represents an earlier version of Leslie maybe revealing a lot "by stinking" My personal experience in jail happened with a bit more tears so it’s hard to believe that Schwartz only cried once. Even if she blended characters together for a better story she certainly made herself seem great. My favorite parts of the story are with the apple tree and how you never know when someone you hurt can come back around an help you --that is to me a general life theme that really would make the world a better place , also I loved Wynells and Leslies friendship and how it is true that connection trumps race. All in all it was a strong feeling provoked by the book and I shouldn’t really be surprised. Its made For some good contemplation and healing perhaps but I don’t plan on recommending the book! one thing is agreed from the text “justice isn't justice its personal” pg 136 and the real Judge in the end is ourselves. Someone knows where the honesty lies between multiple stories The message I received from this book is that shame and guilt are powerful motivators in the conversation on systemic racism, cyclical incarceration and the dominance held by our captors is the power we choose to give away--