Memoir: Delaware County Prison [Paperback]

Reginald L. Hall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2003

After committing credit card fraud at a local department store, 18-year-old Reginald Hall lands an eight-month sentence at the Delaware County Prison. What complicates his life as an inmate is his sexual orientation. In life, being gay is difficult enough; in prison, it can be a horrendous ordeal. Attempting suicide, taking drugs, and having illicit sex were only some of the self-destructive behaviors Reginald dabbled in. His only sanity came from family visits and frequent phone calls to relatives, especially his mother, his reaching out to God, and his few genuine friendships formed in jail, particularly with Lamont. This is not to say Reginald was an angel during his stay at DCP. He had plenty of jailhouse crushes, some of them inappropriate - like his infatuation with Teddy Cunningham. Teddy had it all: looks, money, respect, and a big love muscle that Reginald just lusted for.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Reginald Hall, a confident, outspoken advocate for gay rights, is most famous for his numerous guest appearances on popular television talk programs such as "The Ricki Lake Show."

Intelligent and self-assured, Reginald has an outgoing personality and remarkable writing talent well beyond most of his 20-something peers. ‘Reg,’ as he is known to his friends, grew up in West Philadelphia where he was raised by his mother and grandmother. He has won numerous awards for being "The Most Outstanding Advocate" in high school, while assisting many children in The Big Brothers and Big Sisters program of Philadelphia.

Memoir marks Reginald HallÂ’s literary debut. He is currently working on his next book, called Smoking Cigarettes.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Sam and I were going to dinner later that evening when I turned my head to notice the sexiest boy I have ever seen. I don’t usually like dark skinned guys but he was fine as ever. Ralf was his name. He was moving to B-block. I was so excited. I couldn’t wait to finish eating and get back to the block. He was tall, with wavy hair that looked as if he just had a shape-up done—so so cute. He had just turned eighteen, so he was moving up from the juvenile block. Sexy Chocolate was what I called him and I had to have him. He looked at me and I turned my head and blushed. Then he walked pass me and emptied his tray in the trash. Back on the block, I stared at him the whole night. Ralf was from Chester so he knew just about everyone, even A.J. Him and A.J. would have conversations through the gate and I watched. I didn’t want Ralf to know that I knew A.J. so I just stayed away when they were conversing. Tracy came on the block to speak to Ralf. That was my ticket to get to know Ralf a little better. Tracy introduced the two of us. Ralf got Tracy to give him two cigarettes. Tracy could see the glare in my eyes and he knew where I was going with it. I needed Ralf bad and he was on the same block with me so there was no reason why I couldn’t have him.

"He’s a freak," Tracy said. Hmm, I thought. What can I do to get him? The early part of the evening I spent my time writing a letter to Ralf.

Wassup Playa? I been checkin’ you since I first laid eyes on you. I think you are sexy as hell and I need you bad. I could just taste your satisfaction in my mouth right now. I would eat you as if you were a Snickers Bar and swallow you like Hot Chocolate. I’ll make you cum one thousand times. I know you want it too. But whatever you decide, let’s do it fast because I’m leaving the block tomorrow.

Sincerely
Reg --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 193 pages
• Publisher: Writersandpoets.com, LLC (December 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 097038033X
• ISBN-13: 978-0970380333
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #955,649 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Still hunger, April 29, 2004

By 

Readers Paradise "Book Club" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Memoir: Delaware County Prison (Paperback)

I am not sure how I came about this book. I believe I requested one book to review and somehow was given this one and another. Considering it was offered to me I felt compelled to read it and write a review.

I found Mr. Hall's debut to be quite interesting, but a slow story that never landed. While reading it I kept thinking something is going to happen but it never did. I am not sure what the authors attempt was. Maybe a memoir was not the way to go, possibly fiction?

I guess I expected something like this show on HBO called "Prisoner Cell Block H" gritty raw and ACTION PACKED. Memoir had no luster it lacked history and reasoning. I hope the authors next attempt "Smoking Cigarettes" has a much better story line.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars wish it had a little more-but killer nontheless, June 4, 2004

By 

Nat (Quinzee via Edgmont) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Memoir: Delaware County Prison (Paperback)

i had the chance to meet the author in one of the most unusual circumstances & found him to be a really nice guy. he gave me a copy of this book & when i started to read it, i couldn't put it down. how he speaks of the prison system & how they work things in there is right on point. the beatings, the unfair treatment because of color & sexual preference, and the lack of cooperation from the people who were suppose to be helping him made me want to cry for this guy. having had first hand experience with the prisoners & the prison itself, i felt kind of bad for the author. i don't care what he did to get in there (robbery maybe?), it doesn't make it right for him to be treated that way & besides, there are straight, white, rich men who do much worse & get much less time & punishment. the system sucks.
it was strange to see names that i recognized in the book as well as old friends. i just wish he would have wrote more about how he got in there & why he had the detainers. i'm hoping a second book comes out explaining what happened to him after he left the prison & how his life changed because of it. "Memoir" is not bad for a first book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very Disappointed, February 13, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Memoir: Delaware County Prison (Paperback)

I heard Reginald on the radio and I ran right to get his book and I was very disappointed with the book because he really didn't go into detail about what really happened while he was in Delaware County Prison. Because he is not really telling what went on in the prison as far as him talking about straight men that he turned out.