OITNB discussion
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Orange Is the New Black
Don't Judge a Book by its TV Show - Thread 1
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I loved this book and hated the show for a long time bc the two are so diametrically opposed (i like it now, but treat it as a completely different story). In fact the book's major claim is against exactly what the show is about. So... no worries if you watched the show bc much of what you think is actually the complete opposite. Be careful, bc it is quite easy to get wrapped up into the compelling plot lines, but that is not your job (not if you want a 100). Watch the choices that the author makes, language, devices, rhetorical appeals, etc.
I did watch the show and from the little bit I've read in the book so far, I can tell it's completely different. It really kind of is like her personal journal, and I like knowing all of her perspectives and emotions a lot more since totally curious. On the topic of how this will affect myself and others reading in this group, I feel like it's going to be (obviously) more realistic and true than the show and therefore more eye opening. If the rest of the book continues as a memoir style, I really feel that we will experience how being in Piper's situation is. Since we can tell her emotions and like Julianna said, she has a similar status to Kings Parkers, reading the book probably going to even be unsettling. We've all done that one stupid thing (or probably are going to in the future) that made us think "I wish I could go back and change what I did" and the reality is you never can and what you do follows you, especially in our generation. To get to the point, Piper, a middle class young adult who has a great education did that one stupid thing, and everyone's worst fear came true, she got caught. Reading OITNB will definitely give us privileged white kids a new perspective on how the world is going to be when we're out on our own in the real world being adults. It's really scary to think about how that one dumb mistake you made when you were younger will detrimentally affect your future and who you become
Wow Val you took the words right out of my mouth. Luckily for everyone else, I still have some things left to say! I think for the most part the authors writing style will be what pulls the reader in the most (along with the plot of course). The repetitive questions and simple sentences will make one wonder about their own lives and question "could this happen to me?". This ties into the authors purpose, besides a hell of a story, could the author be trying to warn society through her language and tone? Does the types of sentences and word choice have an affect as to how we view the situation or even certain characters? All of these questions I'm hoping to be able to answer at the end of the novel. I'm excited. That's all I have to say for now but I'm curious to see how others respond!
As for me i have not seen the TV show, but i feel as if when i'm finished reading the book will have affected me in a way that leaves me fascinated (and relieved that I've never been to jail). Her writing style most likely contains pathos to draw the reader in and really give them a feel of her experience. Personally, I'm a sucker for pathos so i believe i will really enjoy this read not only for that, but also because the plot is first person based. Likewise to what Val and Annaclaire said, im going to be constantly questioning myself and praying i do not make a idiotic decision in the future that will impact my life immensely
Well for starters, I only watched the first episode of OITNB and I honestly don't even remember it so it won't affect me when reading the novel. I think the book will resonate with me simply because Piper's one mistake ruined her reputation, and resulted in her serving time. Hopefully, I never have to experience the events that take place in this book for myself! Also, this year I took criminal justice and visited the Suffolk County Jail in Riverhead, so I have a better understanding of the looks, and disgusting smell that comes from the inside of a prison
I actually never saw an episode of OITNB LOL but I heard some good things about it! I think that due to the fact that this is a first person narrative it will be pretty neat to see an inside look on an all women's prison. I hope that this book has some really nice qualities to it, and isn't too politically biased (lol @cruickshank)but i feel that the content portrayed in this novel will be somewhat personalized on a level due to the fact that it's a narrative, but that can be better when the setting is so unique and detailed..
I very much look forward to reading this novel! I've heard only good things about the show, and as a teenage white boy from Long Island, it should change me!
I haven't read the book just yet, but I'm actually scared to see the truth of how different the show's foundation is from it. I am a HUGE fan of the show in its entirety. No joke. Personally I can already tell there is a great divide between the two, as after just the first season of the show the perspective changed from not solely Piper, but all the other characters too (Like Poussey my absolute fave). The book remains only in Piper's perspective to my knowledge. Praying I won't lose interest in my favorite show! Love OITNB <3
I've only seen a few episodes of OITNB but from what I can tell the book does have some similarities plot wise but it is very different. I think the book is gonna open me up to a new genre of books because I usually don't read first person narratives about such real and serious issues, or with that amount of vulgar language. I've only seen the first two or three episodes but I think that the book isn't gonna have as much nudity as the show and that it's going to go into more detail of the crimes Piper committed and from what I have read it does go into more detail about the drug ring. I also think that it's going to solely be about Piper's story and won't go into much detail about the other prisoners and their lives and back stories. I think that the setting of the prison will influence Piper's writing because she most likely picked up on prison slang and she most likely will use it throughout the book. I agree with Anna and Val that reading this book will have me hoping I don't make poor choices and get arrested.
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missing 1 member's post... also maybe update this now that we have read.... (we finished by now, right?)
Now, I know at least a few of you will have already watched OITNB on Netflix, but for this assignment I really want you guys to pretend as if you're reading a completely different story- remember TV is usually totally dramaticized! BTW, I only watched 5 episodes, so I'm pretty unbiased!
ANYWAY! OITNB is a style of writing we don't commonly see in school- first person narrative, some vulgar content, elements of nonfiction. How do you expect this book to impact you as a student reader based on its unique qualities that we're not really exposed to in our school environment? For those of you who've watched the show, how do you expect the actual narrative to be different? Also- what are your predictions about the style of writing Piper will be using in comparison to the content? Do you think the harsh reality of Piper's situation and the prison setting will have any influence over the writing?
Super long intro, but that's usually how I talk. Hey, just trying out Piper's first person narration! Have fun with your theories, but remember to make some academic predictions!!