Authors Den Book Review
By
Casey Potts
07-21-12
Roll Call
I just finished an intriguing read of a book called Roll Call by author Glenn Langohr. Now when I say intriguing, I need to be careful here because the book was also emotionally challenging as well…the type of challenge that we readers get when we can actually feel the lifestyle mistakes and coming disasters that experience and value based learning teach many of us to avoid, but make for a read that keeps us coming back for the “what’s next”
Langohr’s novel reads autobiographically and delves into the southern California drug culture (mostly marijuana initially, then of course the graduation to meth) and the uncomfortable nervousness that evolves when the movement of large quantities of dope and shady characters intermingle. Throw in the addictive capacity of methamphetamine and you have a true recipe for personal and professional disaster. You can feel the coming crash of an imperfect system of distribution, lying cops and less than honest friends. As a result …prison culture.
Prison culture is a pretty broad term, but what the reader learns from this book is the intricacies of that system. The hierarchy and para- military rank structure that issues orders, directs exercise, survival skills, punishment, coordinated attacks and ultimately…death orders or in the case of rapists and child sex offenders, capital punishment...prison style!
The ride of the novel continues and takes us through the convoluted legal system and the players that are involved. It was fascinating and frustrating at the same time. I can actually say that I have a better grasp of how the system works, or in many if not most cases doesn’t work. Truly an interesting read that grinds on the characters and reader alike.
732 pages
ISBN: 1-4392-4608-4
ISBN-13:9781439246085
Casey Potts
Authors Den Book Critic
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