What do You think about God Of The Rodeo: The Quest For Redemption In Louisiana's Angola Prison (1999)?
Mixed emotions about this book. Although it starts out generally as an investigation into the life of some prisoners involved in an on-site rodeo and the work of a warden, it quickly morphs into a work something akin to muckraking. It is hard to find that much sympathy for these murderers (although to some extent you do), and the author tries to maintain a distance (though he doesn't). You almost get the feeling that he isn't telling the whole truth, that he sounds at times almost like his subjects (not in degree, of course, but there is a sense that he is defending himself too much), who generally can't be believed. Did anyone else have the feeling that he was trying to tease out some sensational info, but the result still fell flat. I am jaded a bit, perhaps, since I worked as a guard in a juvenile facility, and truthfulness was not something I found in great supply among the inmates. Still, he raises legitimate complaints and points out some problems, though even there he falls far short of a true investigation, as you also get the feeling that he didn't do his groundwork and was more interested in being impressed (at first) and awed, than really going in with a critical eye. But stuff jumps up and smacks him, nonetheless. As a southerner, how is it that the corrections field is so burdened with corruption and nepotism? I have seen men like Cain, at different levels, who profit from their positions. I am amazed everytime I hear about a guard selling drugs, or turning his back, or having sex with prisoners--it disgusts me. And I know the job is tough---the average stay of a new guard was less than six months (almost all of my training class was gone within a year). Even more troubling is the lack of adequate government oversight (except the courts). In the end the book becomes less about prisoners and more about the author and the warden. If you want to read a better account of prison work, read NEWJACK or YOU GOT NOTHING COMING.
—Jim
