Rough Environment of Women’s Prison in the Book “Cela č. 33” (Cell No. 33)
We recommend the book Cela č. 33 for one simple reason: it uses a true story to show that the most important thing in our lives is freedom and friendship and that we should enjoy every moment to the fullest.
Cela č. 33 describes the prison environment where the main protagonist Hana is sentenced after several long months of not paying alimony. It is a true story based on letters sent by Hana in real life from the prison to the author. Copies of these letters are also part of this book.
Hana reflects back on her life before prison. Readers learn about how she lost her children, what she gained and most importantly learned from her stay in the prison.
“In the book Hana describes what freedom really means and how easy it is to take everyday things for granted. Only when you lose them can you understand their importance.”
Olga Malá is a pen name used by an author whose real name is Lenka Kostelecká.
“Olga is the first name of my grandmother and Malá was my mother’s maidenname. I chose this name as it holds a certain value for me,” explains the author of the outstanding book Cela č. 33.
Lenka Kostelecká has a degree in political sciences and took up writing thanks to the strong story of her friend. If you like the writing style of this new author on the Czech market in her debut Cela č. 33, we have good news for you. Olga Malá wants to continue writing and is planning a next volume that will deal with the life story of Hana after her release from prison.
Sample from Cela č.33:
“We are going up the stairs and then take a long dark corridor, I feel like I’m in a movie, with the small windows for food. I don’t want to admit that this is real and that this is my reality now. The guard slows down, takes out key, I wonder where we’ll stop and who is behind that door?
“Mrs. Hana, this is your cell”, and beckons me to enter. I keep my eyes on the floor. I’m afraid. Tears are falling freely down my eyes. But not as much as the first time. I don’t want to go inside, even though I actually know what it is like.”
