In the Sanctuary of Outcasts: A Memoir (P.S.)

What a beautiful, heartwarming, sometimes tearjerking, sometimes hilarious and yet other times horrific look at the not so distant past and how we treated our sick and inform...and how one man in prison learned valuable lessons from these throw-aways of society.Neil White takes us along on his enlightening journey of a year in Carville, which was the last remaining leper hospital cum prison. Going in, White was used to wearing neatly pressed suits, had a beautiful home, loving family, and did not worry about money. You can imagined the culture shock he endured going from that to prison where he had to wear their uniform, was limited to 2 rolls of quarters, watched his family slowly suffer financially from the inside and need to ask for help just to buy food.But then he starts to see other people not only in wheelchairs, but missing limbs - arms, legs, fingers or toes - and some even without noses or other facial deformities. Someone finally clues him in that those people have leprosy. He's not sure at first how to handle this. Should he stay away from them? Are they contagious? When he gets released, can he get his children sick?One day, a man with only a thumb offers him his hand to shake and he refuses it. What else was he to do? Another woman roams the halls in an old fashioned wheelchair, she smiles at him every time she passes by. Should he smile back and encourage conversation?By the end of the book, Mr. White has not only figured out these answers but has learned some very valuable lessons about life - and himself - from people he never expected, and never would have looked twice at had he not gone to prison. Interestingly, in the acknowledgments, he thanks the judge for sending him there.Not all of the lessons are easy to come by, and he doesn't win all of his wars, nor is this a "happily ever after" book. But it is fabulous, and I wish I'd read it sooner. It's a keeper for my bookshelf!

This is a surprising story of both the author's personal journey and discovery, and the history and cruelty toward (some shockingly recent) victims of leprosy in Louisiana and the United States. It prompts the reader to want to learn more about the disease and those who are afflicted. The relationships formed are vividly described and the reader gets a real sense of each person, whether patient, inmate or other. Some aspects of the story are left less well defined, which in some ways is intriguing but in other ways a little frustrating. Still, a compelling book, one I could not put down.

I often buy books that interest me long before I get around to reading them. I bought this book in January of 2019 and didn't open the cover until a few days ago. I didn't have any memory of what this book is about until I started reading.In the Sanctuary of Outcasts is a book about a young man who is sent to prison for a white collar crime and ends up in what was a leprosy colony. Or, I should say a hospital for people with Hansens disease. How it became a prison and the home of patients is a most interesting story. And, the people who occupy this former plantation are an even better part of this memoir.Whether or not I like the author has no bearing on how much I enjoyed this book. I am sure there were/are many, many unlikable very successful and famous writers. That doesn't have anything to do with whether or not they had interesting stories to tell that they wrote beautifully. Neil White's story is fascinating and I will definitely recommend it to others.

What a fantastic book! I knew about Carville from reading Miracle at Carville when I was young. This memoir of a man who went afoul of the law and was sentenced to serve time at the leprosarium is a truly great book. Very well written, fast reading, and shows compassion and humor.

Most interesting scenario, placing a federal prison in the same quarters (although separated) in a leprosarium in Carville, Louisiana. The hospital was established over a hundred years ago and by the 1990's the hospital's population had shrunk to a little over 100 residents. The was (is?) the last leper "colony" in the United States.I enjoyed this book written by Neil White, a federal inmate convicted of bank fraud. The "story" of the prison inmate living side by side with hospital inmates as well as the guards and nurses was fascinating and humanizing. There was some little interchange between the two groups. The author did manage to get to know several of the patients and claims to have had a special friendship with an old disabled woman that he says changed his thinking.I was left to wonder about the character of Neil White.

This is another odd book that had possibilities. I read a lot of them. But this one was good. It was well written. The content was very interesting. I had to keep reminding myself that it took place in the 1990's. It feels like it should be a century earlier. Some of the self confession did drag a bit. But watching the author learn and grow was wonderful. I hope that he did really grow,, because he became such a better person.n It took me to a place I still don't quite understand in the twentieth century.

This book is an incredibly rich read and is based on a true life story of the author. Read it in two sittings and still think of the characters from time to time. Highly recommend!

I loved this book. What a great storyteller, and a great writer. I have always been interested in "Hansons Disease" as I have been to Molokai where there are still residents there. Although it wasn't the main focus of the book, but his experience with inmates and patients. I don't always love autobiographies but would recommend this book to anyone who does. I did become close to one of the characters although I felt I did get to know the others . . I didn't find he was all into himself like some autobiographies. I couldn't wait to pick up this book. . . I actually sobbed when I finished (in a good way) I couldn't even talk about this book to my husband I was so emotional. I wasn't sure I wanted to read this book because I didn't think it got a lot of good reviews I am so glad I didn't listen to them .

An incredibly well written novel. High recommendation

In the late '80's just before Carville was made a federal prison, we spent six transformative weeks at Carville. The residents made such an impression on us as did the facility itself. It was their home and community. Neil White is right, he could leave and so many others, patients who were there because of leprosy, either against their will or by choice, could not. They changed his life forever in the same way they changed ours. Their stories have been told many times but have never gained the attention in the wider world that IN THE SANCTURARY OF OUTCASTS has.

interesting book

Incredible story. The transformation form fraud to honest man not 100% credible but insightful noentheless.