The Dressmakers of Yarrandarrah Prison by Meredith Jaffe

 

This is an unusual and intensely interesting story of Derek, serving the final two years of his seven-year sentence for embezzlement in an Australian prison, whose dearest wish is to re-establish contact with his 21 year old daughter, Debbie. Derek had been married to Debbie’s mother, Lorraine, who had turned Debbie against Derek while he was in prison. 

Derek is in C wing of Yarrandarrah, a section where certain prisoners are given the choice of undertaking varying fields of self-improvement. Derek has joined a needlework group and become proficient at tapestry and sewing generally. Lots of prison inmates are introduced, some reasonable, some thuggish, one even sweet and loveable. The characters on the outside are all very well depicted with lots of different aspects of their lives covered.

Two different types of addiction are examined, and their root causes. Co-incidentally, the book I read before this one dealt, in part, with one of them: a shopping addiction arising from the issue of lack of self-esteem.

As usual, I don’t want to give anything away but this was a most enjoyable book with lots of humour interspersed with the dramas of life both inside and outside the prison and Meredith Jaffe has sprinkled the names of other Australian authors through the pages which is a nice touch.

As some of the prisoners say, their punishment was in being locked away. It is surely only right that they should be given opportunities to fill their time in creative, productive ways before going back into the world.

In summary: a thought provoking, serious, yet most entertaining book (with a beautiful cover!).

Published by Harper Collins