Review by Tony Espinoza
When looking at the idea of justice in a civilized society, questions arise of what exactly defines justice. Especially when the people who are meant to help maintain that sense of justice and security in our world start to enforce some unjust behavior or activity towards those who are unable to speak-up or stand-up for themselves. One area of the justice system around the world has been scrutinized in more recent years is the prison system, and how criminals are treated while incarcerated.
In author William Tsung’s Dreaming in Chinese: Memoirs From a Taiwanese Prison, the author shares a personal and heartbreaking tale of his time within a Taiwanese prison. The author, a Taiwanese American living abroad, finds himself in prison and forced into a troubling system of neglect and abuse which delves into human rights violations. Through his book, the author not only hopes to start a conversation and movement of change for prison reform in Taiwan, but explores how we treat mental health, and identity in the process the wake of trauma such as his prison experienced.
The author did a remarkable job of weaving a thoughtful and visceral narrative which expertly brought his experiences to the forefront. The chilling nature of life in prison and the horrors the author was forced to endure showcase the pain and anxiety that coursed through the author’s veins, and did an incredible job of highlighting the tension and haunting atmosphere of the prison world in a natural and detailed way. The larger themes of not only prison reform and corruption within the justice system, but of mental health and how it impacts survivors of traumatic experiences, as well as how the stigma of mental health and emotions can negatively impact people as a whole, were so profoundly felt throughout this book and well represented within the context of the book itself.
This is the perfect read for those who enjoy non-fiction reads, especially those written in a memoir style and focusing on true crime and justice-related topics. The book also features an international setting, which allows readers to get a glimpse at the prison system from a non-American POV, and highlighted the differences not only within the prison system but in different cultures amongst the author’s family as well. This provided a much more well-rounded and enlightening read along with the author’s very personal story.
Haunting, captivating, and engaging, author William Tsung’s Dreaming in Chinese: Memoirs From a Taiwanese Prison is a must-read non-fiction book on prison reform and justice. The sobering reality of life in these prisons and what the author endured while incarcerated there, as well as the circumstances which put him in the path of law enforcement to begin with, highlights the levels of corruption and despair which dwells within the law enforcement of other nations. The culture and personal way the author wrote help elevate the book to new heights, and keeps readers engaged in a much more intimate manner.