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Rating: 
Summary: Nothing New
Review: I bought this book knowing it was a marketing tie-in for HBO, so I suppose I shouldn't be disappointed. But I was. Augustus Hill's "journal" is really just an extended summary of Oz episodes, without any of the new stories or new insights I'd been hoping for. And because it's all told from Hill's point of view, some story lines (like the Beecher/Keller story that's a big draw for many Oz fans) are only treated very briefly. The writing style is almost painfully dull, which is strange given the relatively good writing of the show and the strong narrative voice the show gave to Hill's character. I also found the book's chronology very peculiar, perhaps because the events of Oz's short, 8-episode seasons had to be spread out into a continuous narrative.On the plus side, it's a handsomely produced book, on a nice glossy paper stock with plenty of photos. I liked the occasional sidebars about the real world of American prisons, though sometimes these felt a bit preachy (and I'm a liberal, generally in agreement with the politics of the show, and the book). It's a shame this book isn't better; it's not much of a farewell to a landmark show.
Rating:
Summary: This is how you reward fans?...
Review: I have been an Oz fan since day one. The characters, the storylines, the greatest collection of character actors ever assembled, the originality... Well, you know the rest if you've stuck by it as I have. As I write this, I saw that other people who bought this also liked wrestling books. I like wrestling. I loved Oz. I hate being deceived. This book is awful to an Oz fan, wrestling fan, or anyone with a brain, and some fans willing to spend money and be loyal do have them, Mr. Fontana. Other than the original poetry by Mums and the factual inserts that are predictable, not very much else here is original. To a fan, it becomes tedious to read because we've already been there, it doesn't even try to be clever, and is just plain boring. It almost reads like nothing more than a breakdown of episodes I could read on a chat line or the back of a video box. It is also carelessly edited. Do I really want to read basically the same exact paragraphs in different "chapters" about Clayton Hughes when I could be learning something original? A little thought here? Oz was so original a television show, but is such a boring book. Tom Fontana recently remarked that short stories might be in the future. I would have supported a series. After seeing what they produced for the fans the first time around, I'm going to have to think twice. Even if you're a fan, wait to get it used. Otherwise, you might feel used.
Rating:
Summary: This is how you reward fans?...
Review: I have been an Oz fan since day one. The characters, the storylines, the greatest collection of character actors ever assembled, the originality... Well, you know the rest if you've stuck by it as I have. As I write this, I saw that other people who bought this also liked wrestling books. I like wrestling. I loved Oz. I hate being deceived. This book is awful to an Oz fan, wrestling fan, or anyone with a brain, and some fans willing to spend money and be loyal do have them, Mr. Fontana. Other than the original poetry by Mums and the factual inserts that are predictable, not very much else here is original. To a fan, it becomes tedious to read because we've already been there, it doesn't even try to be clever, and is just plain boring. It almost reads like nothing more than a breakdown of episodes I could read on a chat line or the back of a video box. It is also carelessly edited. Do I really want to read basically the same exact paragraphs in different "chapters" about Clayton Hughes when I could be learning something original? A little thought here? Oz was so original a television show, but is such a boring book. Tom Fontana recently remarked that short stories might be in the future. I would have supported a series. After seeing what they produced for the fans the first time around, I'm going to have to think twice. Even if you're a fan, wait to get it used. Otherwise, you might feel used.
Rating: 
Summary: Never ceases to amaze
Review: I'm currently reading the book. It's good so far, but a lot WAS left out b-c it's only from Augustus' point of view. A lot of good stuff is missing. It's interesting seeing things from Augustus' view. It's good and I am able to understand better what Augustus means b-c I watched all 6 seasons.
Rating: 
Summary: Not quite what I was expecting.
Review: I've been a huge Oz fan for many years now and it greatly excited me to get this book, but I was sadly disappointed with it after reading the first 20 pages. This book is nothing but an extended episode guide, which is something you can find anyplace for free online. It also has detailed describtions of each episode until the end of Season 5, but unfortuanately, it looks like most of these describtions were just blatantly copied off of hbo.com and placed into this book. If even a die-hard Oz fan like myself didn't enjoy this, then I'm not sure you will either.
Rating: 
Summary: Behind the TV Series
Review: Those of you that are fans of the HBO prison drama "Oz" are familiar with the show's wheelchair-bound narrator, Augustus Hill. The show's creator, Tom Fontana, has written the posthumous publication of Hill's journals into the sixth and final season of the show. For the most part, the book is an extended version of Augustus Hill's philosophies and insights into prison life. The writing is much like the show's narration, but with enough structure built in to make for good reading. Hill reflects on many of the events that have occurred in the prison since he arrived there, many of which we remember from the show. However, you don't need to be a devotee of the show to enjoy the book -- it includes an episode guide of the entire show up to the fifth season finale (when Augustus Hill is killed). "Behind These Walls" is a nice mix of narration, photography, and miscellaneous sidebars, making it easy to flip back through and find something you may have missed before. There are character sketches of many inmates, prison writings (including verse by Poet), excerpts from other books about the American justice system, and plenty of interesting facts, statistics, and theories about prison life. It manages to be not only a chronicle of a television series, but also an interesting commentary about our penal system and the many injustices inherent within it. This book has a little something for everyone. For those who have never seen the television series, it's an educational and entertaining foray into the fictional Oswald State Penitentiary (while Oz is by no means an accurate vision of prison, many of the messages contained within it directly confront American prison life). For die-hard fans of the show, it looks like this is the last chance to be a voyeur into the lives of the characters we've come to know so well over the years. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Behind the TV Series
Review: Those of you that are fans of the HBO prison drama "Oz" are familiar with the show's wheelchair-bound narrator, Augustus Hill. The show's creator, Tom Fontana, has written the posthumous publication of Hill's journals into the sixth and final season of the show. For the most part, the book is an extended version of Augustus Hill's philosophies and insights into prison life. The writing is much like the show's narration, but with enough structure built in to make for good reading. Hill reflects on many of the events that have occurred in the prison since he arrived there, many of which we remember from the show. However, you don't need to be a devotee of the show to enjoy the book -- it includes an episode guide of the entire show up to the fifth season finale (when Augustus Hill is killed). "Behind These Walls" is a nice mix of narration, photography, and miscellaneous sidebars, making it easy to flip back through and find something you may have missed before. There are character sketches of many inmates, prison writings (including verse by Poet), excerpts from other books about the American justice system, and plenty of interesting facts, statistics, and theories about prison life. It manages to be not only a chronicle of a television series, but also an interesting commentary about our penal system and the many injustices inherent within it. This book has a little something for everyone. For those who have never seen the television series, it's an educational and entertaining foray into the fictional Oswald State Penitentiary (while Oz is by no means an accurate vision of prison, many of the messages contained within it directly confront American prison life). For die-hard fans of the show, it looks like this is the last chance to be a voyeur into the lives of the characters we've come to know so well over the years. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I have read
Review: With this book you enter the mind of Augustus Hill, a wheel chair bound inmate who is also the narrator. It clearly depicts life in a prison. OZ: Behind These Walls: Journal of Augustus Hill lets you become part of an experimental lab inside Oswald State Correctional Facility known as Emerald City. It is an accurate description of what goes on behind jail bars from rape to sex to murder and drugs. You will truly feel like you are amidst the inmates. It is written in such a way that you "get to know" each character. Everything from what they did to get into Emerald City to the day-by-day trials and tribulations that they face on a day-to-day basis. When something happens to one of the characters you feel almost as if it happened to someone in your family.
Leo Glynn is the warden at Oswald State and Timothy McManus runs and created Emerald City. They worked together because they wanted to make a better living environment for prisoners who had capabilities of rehabilitation. Sister Peter Marie is the psychologist that works with Father Ray Mukada to help rehabilitate the inmates. Gloria Nathan is the doctor for the inmates and creates jobs for them so they are doing something positive with their time.
The best emotion depicted in this book is FEAR. Fear of living, fear of dying, and fear of fear itself. Augustus explains this through his eyes with each word he writes. As a wish he asks to have this book published so people can see what goes on behind the walls of a prison.
I enjoyed this book because of how detailed it was and how well it was written. I didn't get the chance to watch the show on HBO so it was a privilege to read about it and imagine it in my own way. This book also gives out interesting facts about court cases and prisons that a lot of people wouldn't know about. OZ: Behind These Walls will keep you wanting more to the point you will not want to put this book down. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about prisons or prisoners. There is not another book like this and I think publishing this book made a great way to remember the show and keep its memory alive.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I have read
Review: With this book you enter the mind of Augustus Hill, a wheel chair bound inmate who is also the narrator. It clearly depicts life in a prison. OZ: Behind These Walls: Journal of Augustus Hill lets you become part of an experimental lab inside Oswald State Correctional Facility known as Emerald City. It is an accurate description of what goes on behind jail bars from rape to sex to murder and drugs. You will truly feel like you are amidst the inmates. It is written in such a way that you "get to know" each character. Everything from what they did to get into Emerald City to the day-by-day trials and tribulations that they face on a day-to-day basis. When something happens to one of the characters you feel almost as if it happened to someone in your family.
Leo Glynn is the warden at Oswald State and Timothy McManus runs and created Emerald City. They worked together because they wanted to make a better living environment for prisoners who had capabilities of rehabilitation. Sister Peter Marie is the psychologist that works with Father Ray Mukada to help rehabilitate the inmates. Gloria Nathan is the doctor for the inmates and creates jobs for them so they are doing something positive with their time.
The best emotion depicted in this book is FEAR. Fear of living, fear of dying, and fear of fear itself. Augustus explains this through his eyes with each word he writes. As a wish he asks to have this book published so people can see what goes on behind the walls of a prison.
I enjoyed this book because of how detailed it was and how well it was written. I didn't get the chance to watch the show on HBO so it was a privilege to read about it and imagine it in my own way. This book also gives out interesting facts about court cases and prisons that a lot of people wouldn't know about. OZ: Behind These Walls will keep you wanting more to the point you will not want to put this book down. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about prisons or prisoners. There is not another book like this and I think publishing this book made a great way to remember the show and keep its memory alive.
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