Turns out running Right to Write, Sarah Lawrence College’s prison writing initiative, at full tilt is a bit of a job. Writing about the experience while concurrently running the program at full tilt is turning out to be a questionable pursuit, but I’m entrenched in both already. So, damn.
In response to the stupidifying swamp of all things penal and disappointing and rage-inducing and heartbreaking that is my mental life right now, I decided to read a novel in a day and a half. For those of you who have never heard of her, Joshilyn Jackson is perhaps my new favorite brain candy. I recommend you read her blog, particularly her three part series about how she got arrested on suspicion of being a terrorist because the name on her social security card (her maiden name) did not match the name on her driver’s license (her married name)–hilarity and jail time and awful bureaucratic mix-ups ensue after she drives five miles over the speed limit once or something equally petty. It will make you laugh; it will make you cry. It will make you feel really good about the government and what it’s doing to protect us from terrorists and how it’s infringing on our civil rights more every day. (Did I mention the prison’s got me pissed?) Anyway, here’s a little taste of Joshilyn Jackson’s blog, wherein she relates her one phone call from prison, just to whet your appetite and convince that you must go read these blog entries:
I called her [Joshilyn Jackson's friend who has a very bad sense of direction] and I had to tell her like FIVE TIMES that I was in jail before she would believe me.
Me: Dude, I’m in jail. I need you to come get me.
Her: Dude, I know you are feeling pressure with this DEADLINE, but it is NOT jail okay? If you need to step away, come over and we’ll have lunch.
Me: DUDE, I AM IN PRISON! If I can’t get bailed out within four hours they transfer me to BIG GIRL JAIL. I CANNOT GO TO BIG GIRL JAIL.
Her: Oh poodle, it feels that way NOW, but the work is paying off! I am reading your new chapter four now, and you NAILED the part where—-
Me: DUDE! PRISON! ME! COME! GET!
Her: Okay. My editor sent me her notes, so I HAVE to work today. But later I could come out if you are seriously losing it and we can go have a cocktail?
Me: KAREN. *BAD WORD*ing listen to me. In Big Girl Jail I will be cavity searched and they will take my shoes and put me in PAPER SLIPPERS and a JUMPSUIT and NO. Just NO. COME GET ME.
Her: Wait. Are you being metaphorical?
ME: NO. AUSTELL JAIL HOUSE ON JOE JERKINS BLVD. Please do not get lost. Please bring great heaping fistfuls of cash. PLEASE COME GET ME.
Her: I’m on the way. If you are seriously NOT in jail tell me now because you sound like you are actually in jail. ARE YOU IN JAIL?
Me: PLEASE don’t get lost.
Based on the strength of reading Joshilyn Jackson’s blog, I bought gods in Alabama at the Strand over the summer. I read in a few days, and then Jeff read it in a few days. It is finely crafted and balanced–its marriage of form and content is rare and alluring. But it’s also kind of like an Oprah book, which is to say thoroughly enjoyable popular fiction about strong women.
Tuesday I finished Between, Georgia, her second book. Also super-enjoyable and deftly balanced and about strong women. Brain candy–but like candy with nuts, something protein-y to go along with the sugary goodness. Between, Georgia does not have that marriage of form and content that gods in Alabama does, but I can hardly fault it for that–I can think of very few novels that achieve that marriage–Margaret Atwood’s The Blind Assassin is the only other that comes to mind, but that colossus takes more than a couple days to read, making it unfit fare for me at my current junction. Now, if only that third book of Joshilyn Jackson’s would come out sooner I would have something to do for, oh, a day of my spring break. Or, now I’m thinking maybe I should reread The Blind Assassin . . .
2 Comments
9 March 2007 at 9:46 am
Read “Kafka was the Rage: A Greenwich Village Memoir” or “The Groucho Letters” by Groucho Marx. That’s what I recommend, I don’t think I can justifiably read a book by someone nicknamed “Joshua Jackson.”
9 March 2007 at 12:02 pm
1. Fortunately for you, her nickname is not Joshua Jackson. I googled to make sure that was true. However, I discovered a comment somehwere that she hates being called “Josh Jackson” and that the “Josh-” of Joshilyn is actually pronounced “Joss-” I’ve changed the one place where I called her “Josh” to “Joshilyn” to respect and reflect this preference.
2. I will at least google those titles. Thanks for the reccomendations.
3. Joshua Jackson = Pacey = Mighty Duck = HOT. thank you.
Leave a Reply