Title: Corrections in Ink: A Memoir
Author: Keri Blakinger
First published June 7, 2022
336 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9781250272850 (ISBN10: 1250272858)
Rating: 4.29
Overview
Corrections in Ink: A Memoir by Keri Blakinger is an eye-opening and powerful story of a young woman’s journey from a competitive figure skater to a life of addiction, and ultimately to the newsroom. Keri’s life spiraled out of control after her skating career ended abruptly, leading her to a life of drugs and sex on the streets.
She was arrested and spent nearly two years in the correctional system, where she saw firsthand the brokenness of the justice system and the impact it has on society’s most vulnerable. After her release, Keri became a reporter determined to expose the injustices she witnessed.
Her memoir is a raw and honest account of her struggles and triumphs, and a call to action to fix our flawed prison system. Corrections in Ink is a must-read for anyone interested in social justice, second chances, and the power of redemption.
About the Author
Keri Blakinger is a talented writer who has written a memoir titled Corrections in Ink. Her book delves into her own struggles with addiction, incarceration and her journey towards rebuilding her life.
As a day job, Keri is currently employed as a staff writer at The Marshall Project. This non-profit news site is dedicated to providing coverage of the criminal justice system.
Keri’s work is focused on uncovering the most troubling aspects of American prisons and highlighting the flaws in the country’s criminal justice system.
Before joining The Marshall Project, Keri worked as a journalist covering prisons and prosecutors for The Houston Chronicle. Her work has been published in noteworthy publications such as VICE, BBC, The New York Daily News, The New York Times and more.
Keri was part of the team at The Houston Chronicle whose coverage of Hurricane Harvey in 2017 was named a finalist for the prestigious Pulitzer Prize. Two years later, Keri wrote an article for the Washington Post Magazine’s Prison Issue, which won a National Magazine Award.
Keri Blakinger currently resides in Texas and continues to contribute her writing skills towards shedding light on the dark corners of the American criminal justice system.
Editoral Review
Corrections in Ink: A Memoir by Keri Blakinger is a stunning work of literary nonfiction that paints a vivid and unflinching portrait of the American prison system. Blakinger, a journalist and former inmate, recounts her experiences as a drug addict-turned-prisoner, providing a searing critique of the many injustices and flaws within the criminal justice system.
The memoir is written in a highly personal and engaging style, with Blakinger’s voice coming through loud and clear in every page. She is a keen observer of human behavior and the power dynamics at play in prison life, and she is unafraid to tackle some of the most difficult and uncomfortable aspects of incarceration, from violence and abuse to addiction and mental illness.
At its core, Corrections in Ink is a deeply human exploration of the ways in which people can be caught up in the machinery of the prison industrial complex. Blakinger introduces us to a wide range of characters, each with their own backstory and struggles, and she expertly weaves their stories together to create a rich tapestry of life behind bars.
One of the strengths of the memoir is Blakinger’s ability to connect her personal experiences to larger social and political issues. She is acutely aware of the ways in which race, class, and gender intersect with the criminal justice system, and she is unafraid to take on controversial topics like the death penalty and the war on drugs.
Her analysis is both insightful and thought-provoking, and she does an excellent job of keeping the reader engaged throughout. Another standout feature of Corrections in Ink is Blakinger’s exceptional writing style.
She is a skilled wordsmith, able to deftly craft sentences that convey emotion and meaning with precision and elegance. Her descriptions of prison life are vivid and visceral, and she has a gift for conveying the nuances of human relationships with sensitivity and nuance.
While there are no major flaws in Corrections in Ink, some readers may find the subject matter difficult or triggering. Blakinger does not shy away from describing instances of violence and abuse, and her frank discussions of drug addiction and mental illness may be uncomfortable for some.
However, these are important topics that deserve serious attention, and Blakinger’s willingness to tackle them head-on is one of the book’s greatest strengths. Overall, Corrections in Ink is a powerful and compelling work of memoir and social commentary that is sure to leave a lasting impact on readers.
It is a must-read for anyone with an interest in criminal justice reform or the human experience in all its messy, complex beauty. The Washington Post gives it a glowing recommendation and a score of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
