In this âtoughly courageous, unflinching, and unapologeticâ (O, The Oprah Magazine) debut collection, Curtis Dawkins, an MFA graduate and convicted murderer serving life without parole, âtakes us inside the worlds of prison and prisoners with stories that dazzle with their humor and insight, even as they describe a harsh and barren existenceâ (Publishers Weekly).
In Curtis Dawkinsâs first short story collection, longlisted for the 2018 Andrew Carnegie Medal, he offers a window into prison life through the eyes of his narrators and their cellmates. Dawkins reveals the idiosyncrasies, tedium, and desperation of long-term incarcerationâhe describes men who struggle to keep their souls alive despite the challenges they face.
In âA Human Number,â a man collect-calls strangers just to hear the sounds of the outside world. In â573543,â an inmate recalls his descent into addiction as his prison softball team gears up for an annual tournament. In âLeche Quemada,â an inmate is released and finds freedom to be complex and baffling. Dawkinsâs stories are funny and sad, filled with unforgettable detailâthe barter system based on calligraphy-ink tattoos, handmade cards, and cigarettes; a single dandelion smuggled in from the rec yard; candy made from powdered milk, water, sugar, and hot sauce. His characters are nuanced and sympathetic, despite their obvious flaws.
The Graybar Hotel is âwell-written and worth reading for Dawkinsâs craft and insight, but itâs also an occasion to consider an industry that has little to do with rehabilitation, and that makes it nearly impossible for its participants to recuperate their livesâ (Chicago Tribune). Dawkins is an extraordinary writer with a knack for metaphor who gives voice to the experience of perhaps the most overlooked members of our society. âHis prison stories are insightful and well written, and they ring true. Dawkins possesses the acquired wisdom of a man whoâs been there, done that and, unfortunately, is staying thereâ (Houston Chronicle).