Orange Is the New Black in Overdue Podcast

Dec 27, 2014 Tiffani rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: memoir, nonfiction, read-in-2014

I'm not sure what to say about Orange is the New Black. Like many people I traveled for the winter holidays. I had brought a book but just couldn't get into it so I went to the bookstore and picked up this book that I have heard so much about. I know there is this a Netflix series and eventually plan to watch it, but being a book person I figured I would read the book first. It was a good pick for the holidays - short and intriguing but I have to admit I'm a little less interested in the show no I'm not sure what to say about Orange is the New Black. Like many people I traveled for the winter holidays. I had brought a book but just couldn't get into it so I went to the bookstore and picked up this book that I have heard so much about. I know there is this a Netflix series and eventually plan to watch it, but being a book person I figured I would read the book first. It was a good pick for the holidays - short and intriguing but I have to admit I'm a little less interested in the show now.

Most are probably familiar with the basic outline of Kerman's story: As a young woman she got involved in her girlfriend's drug business, mostly transporting large sums of money across country borders. She wised up quickly, got herself out of the situation, and got on with her life. She was in the process of building a pretty good life, complete with a promising career, an awesome boyfriend, and plenty of friends and family. Then out of the blue her youthful transgressions came back to haunt her when federal authorities came knocking on her door. Kerman pleaded guilty and went to prison for a little over a year. Orange is the New Black is largely about Kerman's time in prison.

I'm not sure what I expected, except not quite this. It is all about Kerman, which I suppose should be expected since it is a memoir. Still I wish she had connected her experience to something larger than herself. At times the book reads a little like I did this bad thing and look how I grew, aren't I great? Then again, maybe I'm being unfair. This is Kerman's story after all. Still I can't help but wonder how her experience would have differed if she was not so blond, pretty, and relatively privileged. It would have been interesting if Kerman had interviewed other woman who were in a similar situation as hers and included their perspectives in the book or if there was more about the prison system in general. I guess I wanted more social commentary. Without it, the book sort of seemed like a story that might be told at a dinner party - entertaining but ultimately forgettable and meaningless. ...more

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Jan 29, 2022 Valeriia Arnaud rated it liked it

Shelves: usa, _memoirs

Ужасно не люблю строить свои отзывы на основе сравнения книги с сериалом, но здесь без этого никак. Оценить в вакууме не получится, но зато я точно получила что хотела – возможность выяснить что было вымыслом, а что - нет, познакомиться с прототипами любимых персонажей, и вспомнить забытые события и прочие мелочи. Не думаю, что с чистого листа книга меня бы как-то зацепила, но на впечатления от полюбившегося сериала легла очень хорошо.
А еще во время чтения словила интересный комфорт от того, что ...more

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Oct 12, 2013 Kelsy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: biographies

After watching the first season of the Netflix series, I was really interested in reading the book to see what had been altered, added, and left out of the show. I thought it was a very good book and very revealing about the prison system and life on the inside. Some reviewers say they feel like Kerman is giving herself a pat on the back with her memoir, but to me it definitely sounds like this book is her way of revealing how ineffective she finds the prison system and how the prisoners, and co ...more

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Sep 16, 2019 Emily rated it liked it

Shelves: audiobook

Interesting but not like the show.

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Oct 09, 2017 Elizabeth rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I enjoyed the audiobook a lot since I'm a huge fan of the TV show. While not perfect, I still appreciated the author's telling of her journey. A worthwhile read. ...more

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