Customer Reviews

Held Hostage: A Serial Bank Robber's Road to Redemption

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'm going to begin this on a more personal note than I normally do. I received this biography as an advance reader's copy, and I knew it was from a Christian publisher. Now, I grew up in a Christian household, I went to church every Sunday and from 8th grade to graduation I attended a tiny, private Christian school. I am tolerant, but sick to death of Christian testimony. Needless to say I was not thrilled about this book and I am now embarrassed to admit that.
The plot (if that is the right word) is fairly straight forward. Ken throws the reader in the deep end by starting with the bank robbery where it all went wrong, and then goes back to the beginning. The reader is taken at whirlwind pace through Ken's childhood, his first brushes with "joy juice", continued heartbreak that fed into his need for something more, the horrors of our prison system, and finally his discovery of God and his surrender to His will.
Ken Cooper's writing is no doubt engaging, the biography took me a day and a half to read, and though I was completely engaged, it wasn't until I came upon the story of Mr. Magoo that I found myself weeping on the couch where I read, that I realized this was so much more than an ex-convict's moment on a soap box. In those short 36 hours Ken had become a piece of myself. He won my heart through his honesty, and unapologetic love of Christ and I finished the book feeling like I was capable of anything with God behind me. Just as Ken felt a peace settling over his life, I felt a peace reading his words.
I'm unsure of how fair it is to rate a biography as you are not judging someone's story, but who they are and the life they have had, but Ken Cooper deserves five stars for all the above, despite the events that brought him to that fifth star. On the off chance that you ever see this Ken, I wish you all the best and at least for me, you will be "remembered for what you have written, not for what you have done".

This was quite a heavy read. It was not at all what I expected, but very fascinated. I could have done without the few curse words that were included. But, the story of how a man who went from seeming to have it all, to falling far into sin, then back out was quite interesting. This true story is definitely worth your time.

Funny, great plot/story/testimony, and increase your Faith type book when you need one for when you got a friend/family member locked up inside the wire. Get a copy for an incarcerated friend/family member, pray over it, give it to them, and you will never regret it.

Held Hostage opens with a riveting scene. Ken Cooper - a serial bank robber - is robbing a bank. Juiced up on `joy juice' (the natural flood of adrenaline into his system), Cooper feels invincible. Little does he know that this will be his last armed robbery. Segueing from being shot in his last hoist, he flashes back into childhood, where Cooper recounts the rebellion and sin in his life that escalated from childhood thievery to teenaged joy-rides to full-blown bank robberies as an adult.

Cooper's memoirs recount his journey into the depths of adrenaline addiction and crime, followed by being sentenced to 99 years in prison for repeated armed robberies and hostage takings. While living an externally acceptable life - wife, children, and a career in publicity for a Christian college - Cooper's addiction to danger fueled a dark, hidden lie of crime. It is only after a life-changing encounter with God in prison that Cooper's life is deeply transformed, and his release effected with only three short years of his sentence being served.

The promises hinted at in the first-person action filled introductory scene go largely unfulfilled in the remainder of his memoirs. Like the authors of many autobiographical efforts, Cooper's writing isn't his strong suit. He effectively conveys the horrors of the prison system, the Christian support, friendships, and ministry opportunities he found while imprisoned, and the challenges to his new faith believably. Cooper's descriptions of prison life are intense enough to convey the dangers and challenges inherent in the situation, while shielding readers from the foul language and explicit vileness that he no doubt encountered there.

However, the sharing of his relationship with his first wife (who died of cancer), his second wife (divorced), third wife (post-conversion), and his children ring hollow on the written page. He fails to convey the more tender emotions of the heart when it comes to relating to his family, though he does have some success in describing the Christian brotherhood he finds amongst prison ministry workers, volunteers and fellow inmates.
In addition Cooper leaves many loose threads. Whatever happened to his partner in crime, Jonathan? Did he turn Cooper in, did he get away, or was he also convicted? Also, whatever became of Cooper's daughter Becky, and his stepson Lee? What is his relationship like with them? They seem to disappear following the first third of the book.

The areas where Cooper succeeds are in sharing God's wonderfully transforming power, His provision, and His protection. Cooper doesn't pull any punches when describing the dangers encountered in the prison system as he narrowly avoids rape and abuse while serving as a sanctifying and transforming presence in his cellblock. Witnessing God's miraculous power made manifest in ways both small and large during Cooper's time in prison sent chills down my spine on more than one occasion.

As a result of God's grace Ken Cooper is now serving inmates affected by addiction through The Ken Cooper Prison Ministry, proving that God does indeed work all things together for the good of those who trust in Him.

This book is an amazing journey of a man who gave in to his sin nature, had positive things in his life even though he couldn't see them at the time, stole from banks, frightened people, lived a lie, was jailed, released from his spiritual shackles, then his physical ones, and lived to tell his story. He now helps other prisoners get back on their feet after they've been released.

Although I would have preferred to not have read the few curse words that were included, it did not distract from the seriousness of his life story. The details he shared about the horrors of jail life were pretty much expected, but to feel so much compassion for him wasn't. I guess realizing this is a true story really grabbed me and pulled me in. It's a very good book. I recommend it for those who want to read how God changes lives.

The first half of "Held Hostage" by Ken Cooper moves along quickly. It is there that he discusses his legitimate and criminal careers and his early, violent times in prison. The second half is devoted to his resurgent Christianity. There, the reading tends to become lost in the uninteresting minutae of his moral re-birth. I consider myself a good Christian but after the first half which described his bank robberies, even I had trouble picking up the book.

I sent this to a 25 year old friend in jail. He said it was excellent, and made some very good points. I haven't read it myself yet, but, the endorsement from someone in jail says a lot for it. It's reaching the ones it's supposed to.

Excellent book. So often we think that prisoners only pretend to turn to God in order to get softer treatment. This man has truly been changed by God. It was very well written and interesting.

I had the pleasure of meeting Ken Cooper at my church. He came in and he gave my whole church a copy of his book. He told us we could buy it if we wanted, but he gave it to most of us. He did a testimony in front of everyone and I was so amazed by him. I didn't think much until I read this book. It was wierd knowing all this about him after that night. He was very nice though and I loved his book. he even signed the copies he let us have.

Once you start reading the book, you will not be able to put it down. It is a wonderful story of redemption from a life of addiction and selfishness. You are also given insight into the life of men behind bars. It is a lesson on where our choices in life can lead us and what a wonderfully forgiving God we serve. God's Grace is greater than our sin. Halleluya!!