Customer Reviews

Time of Grace: Thoughts on Nature, Family, and the Politics of Crime and Punishment

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Rehabilitation or punishment? Which serves the innocent public better? Let alone the offender. And what of the other victims - the families of the offender?

In Ken Lambertons previous books of essays from prison he focused on seeing prison through the eyes of a naturalist. I almost said naturist - which would actually make for a, perhaps, more compelling read. At least there would be no concealed weapons on such an inmate.

In this book he speaks of the natural environment as observed from an environment that is, by its design, very un-natural. But he also meditates on crime, punishment, the crime of punishment and rehabilitation remorse and regret.

Most of these guys are going to get out some day and walk among us. How we treat them in there has a direct effect on how they they will act out here. The innocent masses have a stake in how the guilty few are treated behind those walls and razor wire. Humanity is in our self interest. Ken Lambertons case is a strong one and is spoken from an insiders (12 years behind bars) perspective. The book not only makes a compelling argument but is also an interesting and well written peek into a world that most of us will never see and probably don't want to see. But we have to see it. Out of sight out of mind doesn't work here. What goes on in there very much affects those of us out here.

Just the other day I heard an AM radio commentator describe how all sex offenders (of which Mr Lamberton is one) should be locked up forever. Easy to say but not very pragmatic and perhaps not very humane. The reality is we have more prisoners in this country per capita then any other nation. We can't lock everyone up.

This is, in my opinion, the most compelling of Mr Lambertons "trilogy" of prison books (including his award winning book "Wilderness and razor wire"). If you like this one then read the others but if you only read one naturalist sex offenders meditations from prison book this year then this has to be it!

I found the book to be a compelling, sometimes gut- wrenching tale of how society has twisted justice into a system of retribution and punishment. The tale is a prime example of what happens when overzealous proscecutors and coerrectional? staff have free reign to impose their personal concepts of justice on those who have used poor judgement. It seemed to me, while his actions were irresponsible, they did not seem to be criminally inspired. A tale of courage, of his, and of his family.

Ken Lamberton was sentenced to 12 years in an Arizona prison for running away with one of his 14 yr old science students. While in prison, he attended a Creative Wrting class and began to develop his own style and skills, combining his biological knowledge with a newfound way to express it through writing. I think he calls it "wildness in prison." Nature continues to live in the prison and gives Lamberton a way to escape the drudgery of prisonlife by observing natural life. His writing is beautiful, perhaps akin to Annie Dillard or other spiritual/nature writers. He intersperses the natural with the story of his wife, who stays with him, and his dealings with the prison system. I found many of his personal comments unhelpful, but that is his feeling. I would have liked to have read more about his personal growth, but that is largely unspoken. Twice he explicitly takes responsibility for his actions, but not much more beyond that. Prison is punishment, he says, and quotes approvingly, "who guards the guards?" He now lives with his family and continues his writing. It will be interesting to see what direction he takes next.

This book was handed to me by a friend who serves with me as a volunteer in our local jail. We both read it, in part, to better understand the guys we meet inside, and hopefully, by seeing more clearly, to be more present to them. As always, it's not that easy. I spent much time in Tucson, including the years the author was incarcerated there - I saw the same sunrises, reveled in the same holiday snowfalls, walked under the same stars. As a landscaper I know the same plants, watch the same birds, and experienced the same seasons. But from the outside.

I'm not surprised any more at how awful our justice system is, but it still stings to read the stories. I appreciate this writing for it's raw honesty. I think the author provides a valuable model for doing time. I could not put the book down - only wanting to meet the author, shake his hand, and thank him for this gift.