Orange Is the New Black in Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge

Aug 18, 2015 Cindy rated it liked it · review of another edition

I have mixed feelings about this book. I found it to be an interesting look at the relationships between the women; how they formed their friendships and maintained them and how they changed due to circumstances. But I found Kerman to be a little whiny.

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Feb 28, 2014 Jeff Scott rated it liked it

Shelves: memoir, audiobooks, non-fiction, prison

Orange is the New Black is obviously very different from the television show. If the show were to adhere more closely to the memoir, it would be more of a documentary than entertainment. However, it’s in this entertainment that a larger message is shared about prison life, bad choices, and the confusing way people are punished for mistakes if they are related to drugs. There are several other works that have come out in the last few years that examines the War on Drugs and its connection to pris Orange is the New Black is obviously very different from the television show. If the show were to adhere more closely to the memoir, it would be more of a documentary than entertainment. However, it’s in this entertainment that a larger message is shared about prison life, bad choices, and the confusing way people are punished for mistakes if they are related to drugs. There are several other works that have come out in the last few years that examines the War on Drugs and its connection to prison overpopulation. Many of those imprisoned, portrayed both in Kerman’s book and the show, and would be better off in drug rehab, counseling, or getting some sort of assistance. Without any kind of net, it’s easy for these people to fall through the cracks. This memoir shines since it doesn’t just take into account Kerman’s experience, she sees everyone’s. It is better than having a reporter go in to examine the conditions; it’s being immersed in it as one of them.

Piper Kerman is about to be married and start her life, when two custom agents show up to her house and informed her she is being prosecuted for a drug offense from six years ago. While everyone has that rebellious streak either during or after college it's rare for someone to pay for those indulgences. Piper had a relationship with a known drug dealer, Nora. She thought she was in love with her and agrees to carry drug money to Brussels. She lives the high life for a while, but realizes that she has cut herself off from her real friends and family. She thought by breaking things off with Nora and her group, it would be forever. Drug laws in this country are not so forgiving.

After ten years in limbo, Piper Kerman self surrenders to the Ashbury Federal Minimum Security prison. Many of these aspects of the book are mirrored in the show. The names are different and who said what is different, but the stories are very similar. I do appreciate how the show takes the memoir and tells fictional back stories of the women in the prison. It emphasizes the fact that many are there for bad circumstances or bad choices, but that many shouldn't get prison time for what they have done. The memoir speaks of this as well. Minimum sentences for drug crimes have overpopulated prisons and mostly in a discriminatory way. It takes a woman who would appear (both in the show and the memoir) out of place to emphasize that fact.

The memoir is highly entertaining as Piper acclimates to her new environment. It isn't as dramatic as in the show. I did find it interesting how she goes from observing prison life to taking part of it. What is introduced to her earlier in the story becomes part of her vocabulary later on. Some of my favorite parts are near the end when her minimum security stay is compared to maximum. She has to be transferred to testify in court and must fly via ConAir (as if she is some sort of super villain) and is subjected to life in a maximum security prison with terrible conditions, uncertainty, while she has to contend with her ex-lover Nora and her past . Her epiphany comes to her that only she is responsible for her actions. She is the reason she is in prison not Nora. Taking that responsibility and perspective really elevated the memoir for me. That she acknowledges she must take responsibility for her actions and that many of her actions earlier in her life may have contributed to putting these women behind bars.
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May 29, 2017 Debbie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Convicted on a drug charge from ten years in her past, Piper Kerman is sentenced to 15 months in prison. This is a memoir where she recounts her experiences and tries to find a larger meaning in those experiences.

As a wealthy, well-educated white woman with an amazing support system at home, Piper isn't a typical inmate and has a relatively easy time, both during her time in prison and when she returns to civilian life.

The TV version of Piper's story uses her memoir as a jumping-off point, but ...more

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Jan 30, 2015 Laurie rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2015

This started out unevenly written, but finally grabbed me with its look at a very unseen world. I liked how it moved towards a call for prison reform.

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Aug 13, 2014 Jennifer rated it liked it

Shelves: non-fiction, book-club, donated, memoir

3.5 stars. It was interesting to read about women's prison, and the author's experiences there, but I felt that it was a little sanitized. As brought up by the author, her experience probably isn't typical, but I still felt like things should have been a little tougher. Overall, though, I'm glad I read it. ...more

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