Interesting letters to help a married prisoner read and imagine life experiences outside of the prison walls. And to have occasion to mention monthly contact with his wife and three boys to keep his focus toward reuniting with them after his seven year prison sentence ends.
"There was never yet an uninteresting life" Mark Twain
This book of letters to a male prisoner contains a wide spectrum of subjects about contemporary life, adventurous experiences and
personal interactions written to entertain and inform the reader with unexpected turns in events that makes it difficult to stop reading. At the same time, because it is a book of letters, the reader can pause after any letter and return to the next letter only to discover with pleasure he or she is ushered forward with content about entirely new subjects.
The reader is thorougly entertained by the private life of the writer and his experiences home and abroad, like Oklahoma, Russia, India, home life and more. An aspect of the book, including freehand drawings, was written to show we all live an interesting life if we take time to observe the joy in our lives. The author demonstrates how it is possible to write and fill many letters to a friend, or maybe a prisoner not met.
With the approach of the prisoner's release, after serving his prison term, a plan unfolds to help the man reunite with his wife and three boys. A relatively small mid-west church steps-up to fund a plan to provide assistance to the re-uniting of the family. The couple's personal communications plus letters of thankfulness to the church draws the book to a close with a successful ending.
Professional Reviews
Encouraging -- Review by Travleron (International airline pilot) Aug 31, 2013
I travel for a living and spend quite a bit of time in hotel rooms. Comparing this to being in prison seems grossly exaggerated, but there are often times when I do feel stuck and alone on the road--out of touch from friends and family. At these times, the thing I need more than entertainment or excitement is a taste of the familiar and the normal. I found Donn's book to be delightful and refreshing because it is full of his everyday experiences and observations. Even though they are unique to him, they have value and somehow feel familiar, especially when I miss home.
Additionally, the book has been a help and encouragement for me to write to those I love who I have left behind while I am away. Yes, I can always call, text, e-mail and even Skype or FaceTime them, but it seems that more than all of those things people enjoy receiving a hand-written letter in the mail. It is like a surprise gift, and one which is often kept by the recipient for years to come. This book has encouraged me to not only write more letters, but has given me many ideas about what and how to write. I hope it does the same for you.
With Post-it notes in hand -- Reviewed by suitedwelleron -- Aug 2, 2013
My Letters to a Prisoner I had not met is truly the opening of one man's everyday life to a stranger faced with isolation from the family and life he knew. I found the reading of this book to be inspirational in making me think of the everyday things I do or have done and how I could write those to someone who is lonely and away from family. It makes me think maybe my life isn't so everyday. Donn writes in an easy-to-read, artistic manner that is encouraging and meaningful to the reader. I would highly recommend this book.
Letters that make you smile -- Reviewed by Rosebudon Aug 2, 2013
Just as you can go to the Art Institute and stare at a picture and imagine a story that could go with the picture, Donn Ziebell draws the pictures of his daily life with words. It is the everyday adventure of living life and looking up at the blue sky and bright sun that we all take for granted. And he brings that everyday life to the world of a prisoner, so he too, can enjoy that sunshine and blue sky. And so, too, do we smile and enjoy the everyday activities that are all part of our lives as we walk with Donn through a day. His humor is sprinkled on every page and you find yourself smiling as you continue to read and wonder what the next project will be that he will describe. I had to laugh as I could picture his endless lists of post-its of ideas to be sure to write about in his next letter. It is surely a book that you will read and enjoy and want to pass on to a friend.
