Don't Blame Me: The Convict Chronicles

by Jonathan Z. Queen

Book Overview

Prisons are a breeding ground for thieves, rapists and murderers to congregate and plot ways to become better criminals. This stereotype is glorified by many authors who write about the violent and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1434305643
• ISBN13: 9781434305640
• Release Date: May 2007
• Publisher: Authorhouse
• Length: 232 Pages
• Weight: 0.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

The Urban Book Source

Reviewed by Marquist UrbanBookSource.com Every so often, a new writer blazes onto the literary scene with an unforgettable debut book that is thrilling and intriguing. Jonathan Z. Queen is such a talent, and his raw, blistering tales of hard-bitten convicts make for the most exciting, authentic collection of short stories I have ever read. Jonathan Z. Queen's Don't Blame Me: The Convict Chronicles is a collection of short stories and poems about the trials and tribulations people go through which ultimately land them in prison. Each tale is so well written and descriptive that you will feel like you are actually in the prison cell with the convicts. This book evokes terror, laughter and compassion and will definitely leave a lasting impression on you after reading it. Each story is unique in its own way and takes you on a different journey. In the spoken word performance piece entitled "Next", you will witness the reactions of five inmates when they overhear the nurse at a correctional facility say one of the men tested positive for HIV. This story is very powerful and captures the various ways a person can contract this deadly disease. Other tales include a girl who is accused of killing her father; a very wealthy man who finds himself involved in a federal crime he didn't commit; there is a drive-by shooting that goes awry at the last moment; there is a miracle; there are several tragedies; and there are several life changing moments. Queen ends the collection with a story entitled "Don't Blame Me" which will leave you on the edge of your seat wanting more. Most of the stories in this book share certain themes: life in prison; a fascination with drugs and violence, even among men who aren't career criminals. A diverse collection of tales, Don't Blame Me: The Convict Chronicles is guaranteed to strike an assortment of nerves across a wide audience. Queen is a great example of how a person can change their life after spending years in prison. He spent his teenage years as a drug dealer. At the age of 23, he was labeled a career-criminal and sentenced to 10 years in a federal prison. Today, he is happily married and is dedicated to helping individuals and organizations excel through education, drug and alcohol abstinence, communication and self-improvement. What did you like about the book? I loved the quality of the writing in this book. At first, I had mixed thoughts when I received this book and didn't know what to expect. Fortunately, I was very pleasantly surprised and now I'm eagerly awaiting the next book. Kudos to the author for a job well done! What did you dislike about the book? The only thing I dislike about the book is the cover...it's very misleading and may cause people to walk right past it in a book store or library. What could the author do to improve the book? The author could use a different picture for the cover of this book.

Don't be fooled by the title!

This book will inspire, enlight, and intrigue. This talented young author will be a force to be reckoned with in the industry. I can't wait to read the continuation of the title story. I also had the pleasure of hearing this young man speak. He is a dynamic speaker with a testimony that could bring anyone to tears. He's humble, he's real, and he is on a journey to share his story with youth all over the world. This isn't your typical urban literature story. This writer knows his craft and executes his stories precisely, leaving you hanging on every word not wanting to put the book down. My hat is off to Mr. Queen. I can't wait to read the next one.

I LOVE IT

I picked up the book, and although I'm not finished with it, I'm amazed at how well written these stories are. I feel like I'm right there with the prisoners talking to each other in their cells. I feel like I'm in the living room with the teen age daughter and her father. This book is definitely a "must have"!

Only God Can Judge Me

When you think about a book written about prisoners and prison life, your first thought would be gritty tales of sex, drugs, and murder. In Jonathan Z. Queen's book, Don't Blame Me, you will be introduced to the lives of several men with stories to tell. Some were in the wrong place at the wrong time, while others were trying to do good by their families, but ultimately made bad decisions that got them locked up. Some find redemption in religion and a new sense of self and family while others just play the hand they were dealt. This is not your average jail house story. The lives of the inmates are told through poems as well as in short story form. I was pleasantly surprised by several of the stories. They were written so that you could feel a connection to the characters. Some had tales so shocking my mouth hit the floor. I found myself laughing at their joys and crying at their pains. I definitely cannot wait until the second book comes out. Reviewed by Shavon Williams APOOO BookClub