Prisons have been such an accepted part of life that I, prior to reading Boy Swallows Universe, neither questioned nor even considered their presence in society. Roses are red, violets are blue, people who break the law go to jail or get fined. Just Mercy, with it's numerous personal vignettes of death row cases, had a greater emotional impact on me by far. Notes on an Execution, through its excellent prose and use of second perspective, also had a greater impact. 

Of all of the books I've read this year (seeing as I started with the Count of Monte Cristo), this has been the most cerebral experience and the most strictly non-fictional. It was incredibly informative, but at the same time it makes me realize that I respond better to appeals to emotion in that emotional appeals have a longer lasting impact. The more I learn on this subject, the more I'm aware of how little I know, which is something I hope to amend.

This novel was my introduction to the prison abolition movement. I suppose I've been priming myself with my prior reads to open my mind to such an "extreme" solution. Had I stumbled upon this audiobook merely three months ago, I can't say for certain that I wouldn't have disregarded it as a radical position with no basis in reality. To have discovered it recently was a blessing.

Of course, I find the prison industrial complex to be revolting. I accept that it is, in effect, a continuation of slavery under a new name. Corporate interest in vulnerable populations is not surprising, but at the same time the role of prisons as a financial investment did not cross my mind prior to this. It was especially disgusting to hear how Retin-A owes its existence in part to inhumane human experiments performed on unconsenting inmates as I myself am a retinol user.

My education on this topic will not end here. This was a good overview of the basis behind the movement, but little time was devoted to solutions. I would like to learn more about prisons, prison labor as an alternative to child labor/slave labor, and how I as an individual might help further the movement. With growing corporate interest and prisoners already being an invisible population it is difficult to have hope in positive change, especially given the man in charge currently.