My husband and I visited San Francisco just after Christmas 2011. On that trip we visited Alcatraz. It was not something I anticipated enjoying; I mean, it's a former prison.

I was pleasantly surprised to find the tour very informative and interesting. The tour guides were really good and tried to keep the spirit lighter than one might expect from such a dreary location.

While visiting Alcatraz we met a former inmate who was there signing the book he recently published. It was very interesting to meet him. I purchased a copy of his book and he signed it for me.

The book is a quick and easy read. Luke put a lot of effort into recounting his story and has included appropriate details without giving more than necessary.

He appears to be a reformed man. In the book he tells of a moment of thoughtful clarity in which he realized he was there in Alcatraz completely by choice. From that point forward he attempted to live differently. He never speaks of a conversion experience so I do not believe he found Christ or came to any other kind of life-changing conclusion other than that he needed to make a change.

His wife was with him at the book-signing and seems to be a very supportive and loving companion for him. He's a lucky man to have lived through such things and to have redeemed the time he had left. ( )