Curtis Dawkins

I went into reading The Graybar Hotel without much knowledge of the book. I read the pitch and thought it sounded interesting and requested the ARC without much else going in. I am not a huge fan of short story collections, but this is definitely the best I have read. The stories were interesting and the writing was great. The details about what life in prison is like had me captivated and interested. I found myself thinking about them weeks after finishing the story. One in particular, about a man who would spend his days randomly calling phone numbers until someone answered, really resonated with me.

After finishing the book and reading more about Curtis Dawkins, I love this book even more. I gave The Graybar Hotel four stars, but only because the pacing in some of the stories was a bit slow for my taste. I definitely would recommend this book.
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This collection of fourteen stories, centers around life in a penitentiary. Most are presented in the first person and the reader is taken along as the prisoner makes his way through his daily grind, living behind bars. There are two big surprises here: First off, I was amazed at the author's high level of craftsmanship. The writing is strong and fluid. It is introspective and laconic, with flashes of well-needed humor. The second revelation, is that the author, is serving a life sentence for murder. Dawkins earned an MFA, from Western Michigan University in 2000, but had always struggled with substance abuse issues. One night, in 2004, he smoked crack and was involved in a botched robbery and shot and killed an innocent man. He expresses his deep remorse in the acknowledgments.
I am very glad to have discovered this collection and I hope to spread the word.… (más)

This book first caught my attention because it's written by a convicted killer, serving life in prison. And so the stories hold a bit of voyeuristic intrigue, allowing a glimpse behind those fences and gray walls.

Curtis Dawkins is a gifted writer. There is beauty in his words, despite the darkness of the pictures he paints for us. I was prepared for a visit to a violent world. What I didn't expect was Dawkins' powerful portrayal of the utter boredom and what it does to the mind. We also see the inability to escape the chatter of people with whom you're forced to live in close contact, despite the fact that you'd probably never choose to hang out with them if given the choice.

These stories could be fiction, fact, or a mixture of both. They all have a strong component of realism, along with a surprising amount of depth. Curtis Dawkins shows us the humanity within the cold, uncertain world where we lock away our problems.

*I receive an advance ebook from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.*… (más)