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Guilty Hearts — World of Prison Relationships, Caroline Giammanco, Author

Guilty Hearts - true stories of families of inmates in Missouri penitentiaries

True stories of prison relationships — men incarcerated while women are left to keep the home fires going. Caroline Giammanco, author of Guilty Hearts – The World of Prison Romances and two other related books lives and works in the Ozark Mountain region of Southwestern Missouri. Personal experience with the penal system of Missouri led her to compile the stories of families who were willing to share a view of their lives. These stories are primarily the statement of women in Missouri who inmates close to their hearts. Some are wives, some mothers and others are sweethearts.

The narrative includes statements from the inmates as well. Readers must see for themselves how families and inmates move forward with their lives. Many obstacles in their path make any move difficult and should not be there?

If you see a link in my posts or pages — assume it is an affiliate link (frequently Amazon). If you click on any links and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission…your purchase cost will not be affected.

In Guilty Hearts — The World of Prison Romance, eleven families with one penitentiary inmate, let the reading world look into their life ‘fishbowl’. Very little is pretty. There is intense loyalty and love that has to be sustaining to the inmate. Conviction for crime is intended to punish and shame in the isolation of prison. In isolation, the view can become of one having no one to care. To have a mother, wife, girlfriend, children or extended family who say, “We still love you” is valuable substance.

There are too many facets of prison relationships that go far beyond a romance. Mothers, wives, sweethearts and children are all part of relationships with inmates.

Guilty Hearts which aren’t guilty

Most of the people on the outside experience feelings of punishment for the crime along with the inmate. Family responsibilities are no longer shared. Those include companionship, financial needs and perhaps children. The family faces rejection in the community, whether real or perceived. Having an inmate spouse or child can cost the wife or mother a job, increasing the financial burdens. Other family members or acquaintances cruelly try to separate the people on the outside from those who are inside the walls.

Will anyone care or be kind?

Most of the families have, to the time of publication, managed to maintain their stand behind their incarcerated spouse or son. (The inmates are men in the state penitentiaries of Missouri, USA) The families make sacrificial efforts to physically visit the prison. Finances are stressed by the cost of traveling to visit and paying some of the expenses of prison.

Having someone who will be accepting and listen without judgement is a social scarcity. Many of the wives and mothers do not talk about their experience openly in the community. There is a definite stigma surrounding incarceration within the working society on the outside. This can make employment difficult from beginning to end. Family experiences the stigma during and after the term while finding employment after release can be difficult for the former inmate.

Not only do released inmates face stigma, they’ve been lost in time and technology while they were isolated from the working world. Employable skills deteriorate when they aren’t used or updated through employment.

Painful surprises never end

Yes, they should have thought about that.

Some of the families interviewed were blindsided by ‘criminal events’ that were impulsive. There wasn’t an underlying plan to break the law. So,’ no, they didn’t think about it’ and decide to take the chance. Some were ‘flirting’ with risky behavior, as were peers who didn’t get caught. If they ‘thought about it’, they didn’t think much.

The cost of that situation will fall on them, their families and on society with the loss of productive people because of selfish, risky or impulsive actions.

Clearly, some people were frustrated by the severity of the sentence and its enhanced punishment when prisoners are housed a great distance from family who would visit and care for them. Still in their heartbreak, no one was pressuring or ‘playing’ readers. Nor did I sense an effort to make use of the story to gain tangible support.

Seeking support would be tempting, either :

help me get out
help me get better conditions
help my family pay the bills

Respect, Compassion, and Civility

What all wanted was a chance at respect. In the penitentiary, there is little to no self-respect tolerated. Prisoners prey on one another, sometimes violently. Too many staff personnel are uncaring, cruel, or corrupt.

Too much mismanagement results in unreasonable conditions: People in the outside community are inclined to shun the entire ‘convict tribe’ — prisoner and family. Or practice cold, ‘you should have thought of that’ indifference. Inmates and their families, across the board would appreciate some respect.

overcrowding
nasty (worse than low) nutrition
deteriorated facilities

I am a person ‘out in the community.’ Reading this book as an observer; I am not acquainted with these families or any other family in a similar situation. The book and the families moved me; I recommend the book and their bravery in permitting me to learn about them. I’ve reviewed the book at CardinalBluff.com in the post: Guilty Hearts: Women in Prison Relationships

Take away on a good book

I would find some similar testimonies from women inmates of interest. Perhaps there is another book in the works.

The hurting people are braver than they even understand. As a reader you will come to the same opinion, I am sure. I hope that you will read and have compassion and respect for others. That you may come to be interested in at least paying attention to the way things DON’T work well in the Missouri Penal System and use your votes wisely.

Author, Caroline Giammanco, has two other books revolving around the penitentiary system in Missouri. Because of her personal involvement and interest, she was in a position to build trust with the families whose stories are in Guilty Hearts. In her other books, Bank Notes – True Story of the Boonie Hat Bandit and Inside the Death Fences — Memoir of a Whistleblower, Giammanco tells the story of her married life when her spouse is an inmate.

She is a very active woman who manages to juggle several ‘plates.’ The author:

writes these profound books
is a teacher
maintains a small acreage home on her own AND
keeps an eye on politics regarding conditions in Missouri’s penitentiaries.
Additionally, she has a beautiful relationship with immediate family; she has two grown sons while her husband brings two adult daughters to this active family dynamic.

My Cardinal Bluff view of Bank Notes — Story of the Boonie Hat Bandit. as well as my Ozarks Mystique view of Bank Notes. And my thoughts on Inside the DEATH FENCES — Memoir of a Whistleblower

I purchased a digital copy of Guilty Hearts. While I am a neighbor and friend with the author, I was not required to write a review from either positive or negative view.

Rice in the Ozarks

If you see a link in my posts or pages — assume it is an affiliate link (frequently Amazon). If you click on any links and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission…your purchase cost will not be affected.

I really love my rice — all varieties. Basmati, Jasmine, Brown, White…doesn’t matter to me.

Ozarks Mystique -- Rice talk — Tasty Rice

Well, I take that back…I don’t particularly care for black rice. No matter what the claims are for tasty black rice, our house doesn’t see the appealing presentation!

Rice Grows in the Ozarks

Rice is grown in the Ozarks, both in Missouri and Arkansas. Martin Rice Co. is a family owned farm in Bernie, Missouri raising white long grain and jasmine rice. MartinRice.com

Riceland mill and farm is located near Stuttgart, Arkansas. Riceland products are available online, supermarkets and especially Ozarks supermarkets. The ‘neighbors’ enjoy shopping local. Riceland.com

Big or little bags of rice are available in every food store for our choices. I’ve noticed that Jasmine rice seems to be a favorite in our community. This variety is offered in small bags and VERY large quantities.

Cooking Rice without Disaster

This memory dates me, but I recall when putting rice in boiling water, covering the pan, then simmering for 20 minutes was a new wrinkle for my mom! This technique seemed like a miracle for rice compared to the mess she had hated for years.

Have you tried sauteing rice in commercially packaged products such as RiceARoni?

Now, don’t be ‘hatin’ on processed box dishes like this. I have to appreciate them for introducing me into the saute methods. Sometimes they really come in handy! There is no doubt that superior nutrition wouldn’t recommend eating this package often. But, for the times when it is a package or nothing, the box will do the trick!

Recently I began sauteing all my rice in a pre-cooking process. The rice is hot in a saucepan or skillet before the water is added. I prefer a skillet for the amount I usually cook.

My current favorite rice, Jasmine, can be temperamental in the cooking process. No matter which variety I choose, I’m finding longer, plumper grains when I saute the grains.

My ‘New’ Tip for Cooking Rice

You will need:
1 skillet with a lid that holds 5-6 cups
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 1/2 cups of rice
3 cups of water
1/2 teaspoons of salt

Heat the oil in the skillet till it begins to shimmer. Add the rice and stir constantly with a fork or spatula till it is all heated through. If it begins to brown, you will have toasty flavored rice. When the rice is heated, add the water to the skillet. The rice and oil will steam up impressively. Add the salt and bring the ingredients to a rolling boil. Then, put the lid on the pan, turn the heat down to low simmer for 20 minutes. This makes a large batch of rice that can be used in recipes or eaten as a side with meats or salads.

How Do You Take Your Rice?

Do you use rice as

an ingredient in a main dish mixture such as Spanish rice, enchiladas, risotto, or pilaf? When I was growing up, my mom made her version of Spanish rice with rice, hamburger and canned tomatoes! We weren’t very spicy, but the dish was this kid’s favorite.
a side dish replacing potatoes or noodles? We didn’t use rice as a side dish in our youth. It takes some ‘rethinking’ to get the diners at this house to do so now.
a dessert like Sticky Rice or Rice Pudding? Sticky Rice is a favorite at our house. Another popular choice is very simple — add some milk, cinnamon and sugar to the rice for a very basic dessert.
the base for a dessert or salad such as Glorified Rice? This is my husband’s favorite.

Tell me about your rice favorites in the comments.

Break or Breakdown

A good walk is better for the mind A regular break away from the desk for a walk with the dog is important for both physical and mental health maintenance. Fortunately, we live in a remote, agricultural area and have space where we can walk around in solitude. We have a maze of ‘trails’ on our property and a field next door that give us the steps without going out on public roads which could prove dangerous to the dog.

Breaks are planned for times of the day when missed calls can be returned when we get back to the desk. Phones are not permitted on breaks unless family calls are in order. Morning stroll is usually exactly that unless we have some mail to go out. Then, we head for the gravel road and the mail box. Good Dog Sandy takes her ‘down/hold’ position in the grass while I walk across the road to put the outgoing mail in the box. I flip the red flag up to wave at the mailman and come back to continue our short break. In the afternoon, we stroll directly to the mail box, repeating our routine in reverse when we check for the day’s mail. In summer, unhindered by a coat, sometimes the stroll includes some ‘walking yoga/upper body training moves.’ I don’t need a talking stick or cane for balance, but often have a walking stick along. Who knows we may have to face off a vicious mouse or snake traveling through the grass.

Other shorter breaks include an hourly reminder that pops up to tell me to stand-up and move, even a little bit. A similar reminder tells me I’ve been looking at the screen for more than 20 minutes and should look somewhere else. In reality, neither of these reminders are consistently on the money. I am NOT that organized! They do get the point across and sometimes they are exactly right. Too much time is about to happen where I’ve been sitting in the same position, looking at the screen.

I’ve read where the computer chair is the new cigarette posing as a quiet enemy to health. The breaks and walks keep circulation going. Breathing fresh air oxygenates our brains making us smarter, wiser and more patient when we return to the tasks at hand.

Breaks Can Be Hard To Find

Recently , our walk time found a car parked along the country road. We watched, but wondered if someone needed a little help. I walked up to the car to ask. The lady in the car told me she is a traveling nurse. Her clients needed to talk to her ‘right now’ and her car was her office! She was probably parked along our road for an hour. Read about working virtually on the road at Bar JD. Virtual & Mobile Along Country Roads That break more than made my day…I seldom meet other virtual people by accident!

When you are working virtually, work smart. Take a break so you don’t breakdown at some point. Virtual work can go on into retirement years with many rewards if we will take care of ourselves. And determine to live long beyond retirement.
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British Mystery Books — Better Than TV

Death by drowning — a young man who was partying with friends along the banks of an English Country river. Tragic accident? Or entangling mystery threatening the country, the community and leading to more deaths? Accident-close quickly — higher-up instructions.

Small discrepancies get the case assigned to DC Smith whose experience on the force and in the military help him to observe even more. A quick close will also move D.C. Smith closer to retirement. Colleagues have already been pushed toward choices to leave the force. Never assume accident or coincident. Joined by a young, newbie officer, Waters, and a former colleague, D I Reeve, who is now a superior, DC Smith follows the clues to find the true crime and the truth about the ‘accidental’ death.

If you like to watch the British mysteries on TV, you will enjoy working with DC Smith. He is highly observant and better trained by life and experience that others are willing to credit him. His young officer partner learns fast and shows a lot of promise. That doesn’t surprise Smith when he learns Waters’ father had been on the force in the early days.

The gentle pace of this book will surprise you sometimes when the action pops up. There is much more to D C Smith than we expected. After going down bunny trail after bunny trail with this team, learning who was a bad guy and who wasn’t, I found the ending to be the best part when we saw even another surprising facet of DC Smith’s abilities. The book has quite a twisting plot in its quiet British way. While the gentle pace took awhile to get started. Once things began to roll, my attention stayed with the story. I appreciate this style that doesn’t insist on trying to distract me with romantic trysts or other asides.

Peter Grainger has other books in the D C Smith Investigator series that would be well worth your reading time.

A German Memoir – Pre-Hitler till Today

Memoirs with some good color as remembered when growing up German after World War I , through the Hitler era and World War II.

Teicher’s family was comfortable and not poverty stricken. His story of growing up when times were tough for everyone be today’s measurement. People shared housing, uncomfortable conditions. Families observed unusual social expectations and rules. Teicher’s story indicates he was always as valued as any child would have been during that era. Yet the etiquette required seems very strict. Even though there was employment, there was incredible deprivation because resource lack. Housing was not easy to get or afford.

As a youth, Teicher was included in the growing political activities for young people. He was an incredibly efficient, effective young person, Today his youth would amaze yet given responsibility for managing youth camps all over Germany.

More than the details of a family in Germany between the wars, Teicher’s book is not scandalous or written in a scintillating style, but simply chronicles his life in a compelling manner. While writing memories of activities of the time, this young man seems to have a less than enthusiastic opinion of the 3rd Reich. That lack of enthusiasm became intent on his own survival during combat in Italy as the war was ending. The attitude carried on with assertive entrepreneurial activity as a prisoner of Allied forces and a part of German society during recovery. Teicher was always active in little deals so he could earn on the side.

Memories of 20th Century German Life

As an avid reader and collector of literature, both fiction and nonfiction, featuring the Holocaust, I wanted to read the recollections of a common person in Germany. From tender childhood to venerable veteran and philosopher, Teicher dwells on moments in time, remains cheerfully vague about some activities, while offering detail about things he did to survive. One escapade involved avoiding Russian checks when he traveled into Dresden to visit his mother after WW II ended. His life may literally have depended upon the deceptions that he had to practice to get safely back into Frankfurt and Allied areas.

Written with Intent to Inform over Intent to Entertain

As an older man, Teicher was encouraged to tell his experiences. He does represent the common German citizen who lived and grew-up during some very trying times in German history. Thoughtful recall from the author’s earliest memories. Candid admitting that there are blank spots in his recall. These were times of incredible stress. It is not unusual for a person to blank out some of the times. When the author began the project he thought he would recall very little. As his work continued, the recollections increased to his pleasant surprise.

The author waxes philosophic toward the end of the book,. He tries to understand and explain changes and what was going on in the mind of an everyday person during that time. We can’t expect the same perceptions that we might have in our country today. We have great to speak out, no matter how tiresome others might find us. This is a relatively rare situation for people anywhere. Open expression certainly wasn’t a healthy practice in Nazi Germany nor in the 2-3 decades before Hitler came to power.

I perceived the book was written to inform more than to provide entertainment. We commend Teicher’s candor; he doesn’t tell finest details in some events, but he doesn’t kid either himself or his reader. Editing for market is almost a mystery. I have read other books in a similar style which are very popular and well received by the people who have the opportunity to read it.

At First Sight, The Historic Story Will Catch Your Imagination

At First Sight — Parris Afton Bonds, Author Christmas comes to a difficult time of life for a lovely, brave young woman, a strong treacherous man, a struggling New World and plenty of folks in between.

Even though the throb of revolution hasn’t begun in 1649, the conflict between philosophies, doctrines, politics and grasping intentions adds to what seems to be a harsh life. There are adventurers, others who flee for their lives and those who would with ‘righteous indignation’ deliver those fearful ones up for ‘trial’. There is an amazing amount of ridiculous judgment on the day to day level. Christmas is definitely something to be done on the ‘sneak’ and with great subtlety, even in a seemingly distant forest location.

I could appreciate the solitude of the Virgin Queen Tavern away from the ‘maddening crowds’ even though danger lurked at every turn.

Through all of this, the author weaves a romance that seemed doomed by that hunted and hunter aspect. Justice and mercy win out to bloom into one of those ‘at first sight’ romances which dreams are made of. And in the face of criticism and possible legal punishment, Christmas comes and brings a promise of future Christmases.

The only thing I would have done differently would be to have more…there is so much story to be pressed into a novella! Using a different slice of past time than you might expect in historical fiction, this book brings a little passion, little violence, profanity and is generally flinch-free. A good pleasure read from an author I’ve become ‘virtually’ acquainted with.