With her career, live-in boyfriend and loving family, Piper Kerman barely resembles the rebellious young woman who got mixed up with drug runners and delivered a suitcase of drug money to Europe over a decade ago. But when she least expects it, her reckless past catches up with her; convicted and sentenced to fifteen months at an infamous women's prison in Connecticut, Piper becomes inmate #11187-424.
From her first strip search to her final release, she learns to navigate this strange world with its arbitrary rules and codes, its unpredictable, even dangerous relationships. She meets women from all walks of life, who surprise her with tokens of generosity, hard truths and simple acts of acceptance.
Now a major original television series, Piper's story is a fascinating, heartbreaking and often hilarious insight into life on the inside.
Orange is the new black
If you're anything like me, you came to this book well after having devoured the first season of the cult tv show. You will not be disappointed. While personal details have been changed and certain aspects of Piper's (Kerman in the book, Chapman in the show) life have been modified for dramatic effect, the book still has all the things that made the show great. There is pain, humour, pathos and not a small amount of love for the reader to enjoy as we experience, through Piper's eyes a life behind bars.
Reviewed by 42bj
QBD, 31/10/2014
