You Need to Read: Orange is the New Black

With a career, a boyfriend, and a loving family, Piper Kerman barely resembles the reckless young woman who delivered a suitcase of drug money ten years before.

But that past has caught up with her.

Convicted and sentenced to fifteen months at the infamous federal correctional facility in Danbury, Connecticut, the well-heeled Smith College alumna is now inmate #11187–424 — one of the millions of people who disappear “down the rabbit hole” of the American penal system.

From her first strip search to her final release, Kerman learns to navigate this strange world with its strictly enforced codes of behavior and arbitrary rules. She meets women from all walks of life, who surprise her with small tokens of generosity, hard words of wisdom, and simple acts of acceptance.

Heartbreaking, hilarious, and at times enraging, Kerman’s story offers a rare look into the lives of women in prison—why it is we lock so many away and what happens to them when they’re there.

Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison, A Memoir

Piper Kerman

Did you know the Netflix hit Orange is the New Black is based off a book? I sure didn’t. I acquired a dog eared copy courtesy of Bunz Trading Zone, and decided to dive into it.

The base of the story is very much the same: Piper, a rather nice blonde, white woman winds up serving a prison sentence years after she assisted her female lover in the drug trade by moving money from A to B. She’s still dating a nice guy named Larry, and the drop off scene to the prison is familiar (and hilarious.)

I’m not going to post spoilers, cause I’m not one to ruin a book or a show, but there is definitely a difference between the two. However, that doesn’t mean I’m not in love with both. The show simply needs the action, the excitement, the cliff hangers, etc. etc. and that’s exactly what they did.

What about the characters? Well that’s where there is another difference. I’m not saying no one we know and love exist in the memoir, but the only true constants are Piper, Larry, and Pop (Red in the show). However, there are names and qualities of our favorites that shine through, and it was kind of fun trying to connect inspirations from book characters to TV roles.

When Piper was still on trial, her lawyer pushed her to remind the court of their own wife, sister, daughter, niece, etc. and Piper portrayed that so well throughout the entire memoir, that it honestly is a deep tug on the heart. She shows real struggles of being a female in the American prison system in a way very few could and would publicize.

The ending? What can I say. You’ll love it. I refuse to spoil but I’ll say I stretched that book out while I could but I flew through the irresistible conclusion.

I probably have to go re-watch the show soon, which I still love, and will watch with new eyes, knowing that Piper Chapman was created in the eyes of the real prison inmate Piper Kerman.

Links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6314763-orange-is-the-new-black

Bunz Trading Zone Halifax: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bunzhalifax/

Dartmouth Book Exchange: http://dartmouthbookexchange.ca/