Max Porter is a former bookseller and editor. His first novel, Grief is the Thing with Feathers won the Sunday Times/Peter, Fraser & Dunlop Young Writer of the Year, the International Dylan Thomas Prize, the Europese Literatuurprijs and the BAMB Readers’ Award and was shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award and the Goldsmiths Prize. His second book, Lanny, was published in 2019 and long-listed for the Booker Prize. Max was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2020.
Max’s recommendation is also featured in this month’s Finding a Good Read, in the national newspaper for prisoners, Inside Time. Finding a Good Read is a monthly column written by Prison Reading Groups (PRG), to help readers with remote orders. We adapt it as a handout that can be included with library deliveries or made available on the wings.
‘Loretta Thurwar and Hamara “Hurricane Staxxx” Stacker are the stars of a highly-popular, highly-controversial, profit-raising program in America’s private prison industry. It’s the return of the gladiators, and prisoners are competing for the ultimate prize: their freedom.
This book blew my mind. A brutal and disturbing indictment of American society, racism, the prison system and violence as entertainment. Also hugely entertaining and ultimately very moving.’
Thank you, Max, for choosing this book!
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Photo Credit: Francesca Jones