“The Lost Chapters: Finding Recovery & Renewal One Book at a Time” By Leslie Schwartz

Actress Felicity Huffman started her prison sentence in Northern California this week, and it reminded me of how much I enjoyed reading this book. “The Lost Chapters: Finding Recovery & Renewal One Book at a Time,” by Leslie Schwartz is a memoir about a woman who was sentenced to a 90-day stay in a Los Angeles County jail after being found guilty of a DUI and assaulting a police officer. Following a decade of sobriety, Schwartz fell down the rabbit hole of addiction again, and through a series of alcohol and drug related black outs, she ended up being arrested and sentenced to time in prison. Once a successful writing teacher, she said goodbye to her husband and teenage daughter and headed to prison with the only things she knew would keep her sane: Books. Apparently in prison you can have books, and some facilities even let you receive new books from friends and family. The prison where Schwartz served her time allowed her three new books each week. Before Schwartz went to prison, she agonized over what books to take, and what books were worthy enough to replenish the ones she finished reading. Her titles included books by Maya Angelou, Laura Hillenbrand and Edith Warton. In between her time spent reading, Schwartz had to confront the daily life of being a prisoner. While the food is bad and the time away from her family is hard, she unexpectedly makes some close friends in jail despite its grim surroundings. Goodreads reviewed this book and described the writing as “vivid, unforgettable prose, The Lost Chapters uncovers the nature of shame, rage, and love, and how instruments of change and redemption come from the unlikeliest of places.” To purchase this book on Amazon click here.