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Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison by Piper Kerman -- Summary, Review & Analysis
This is not the actual book Orange Is the New Black by Piper Kerman. Do not buy this summary & analysis if you are looking for a full copy of this fascinating book, which can be found back on the Amazon search page.
Instead, we have already read Orange Is the New Black and pulled out some of the key points, story lines and insights to give you a comprehensive chapter-by-chapter summary & review . In doing so, unfortunately we do not have the space to include all of the many important ideas and anecdotes found in Orange Is the New Black . To get it all, you should first order the full book. Packaged together in an engaging and easily digestible format, this concise summary & analysis works best as an unofficial guide or companion to read alongside the book.
As a naive 24-year-old looking for adventure, Piper Kerman got into a romantic relationship with a woman 10 years her senior who was running a heroin smuggling operation. For a short time, being the girlfriend of an older woman who was a drug smuggler seemed exciting and risqué to Piper. Puppy-like, she followed her girlfriend around the world and played the role of the "kept woman" in all sorts of exotic Bali, Belgium, France, and Switzerland.
Although Nora didn't ask anything illegal of Piper in the beginning, the day came when Nora asked Piper to carry a suitcase full of cash into Brussels. Piper agreed to help. Several years later, when Piper was living in New York City, working as an art director and dating her future husband Larry, federal agents knocked on her door.
In this summary, you will
•The prison work system, where inmates are often paid about as much for their labor as people who work in factories in developing nations.
•Most of her new neighbors in Prison Dorm B were African-American; spending time with them helped Piper to recognize and overcome some of her more subtle racial prejudices.
•Sometimes inmates would flirt with male officers; other times, male officers would give unwelcome and uninvited sexual attention to the women.
•Most federal prisoners, both at the time of Piper's incarceration and today, are non-violent drug offenders.
•Piper finally admitted fault and revealed a sense of remorse for her actions when she described herself as a party to the drug addictions of some of her incarcerated friends.
You will get all this and much more!
FROM START-TO-FINISH IN JUST 30 MINUTES!
Here's your chapter-by-chapter guide to Piper Kerman's Orange Is the New Black that you can download right now!
Instead, we have already read Orange Is the New Black and pulled out some of the key points, story lines and insights to give you a comprehensive chapter-by-chapter summary & review . In doing so, unfortunately we do not have the space to include all of the many important ideas and anecdotes found in Orange Is the New Black . To get it all, you should first order the full book. Packaged together in an engaging and easily digestible format, this concise summary & analysis works best as an unofficial guide or companion to read alongside the book.
As a naive 24-year-old looking for adventure, Piper Kerman got into a romantic relationship with a woman 10 years her senior who was running a heroin smuggling operation. For a short time, being the girlfriend of an older woman who was a drug smuggler seemed exciting and risqué to Piper. Puppy-like, she followed her girlfriend around the world and played the role of the "kept woman" in all sorts of exotic Bali, Belgium, France, and Switzerland.
Although Nora didn't ask anything illegal of Piper in the beginning, the day came when Nora asked Piper to carry a suitcase full of cash into Brussels. Piper agreed to help. Several years later, when Piper was living in New York City, working as an art director and dating her future husband Larry, federal agents knocked on her door.
In this summary, you will
•The prison work system, where inmates are often paid about as much for their labor as people who work in factories in developing nations.
•Most of her new neighbors in Prison Dorm B were African-American; spending time with them helped Piper to recognize and overcome some of her more subtle racial prejudices.
•Sometimes inmates would flirt with male officers; other times, male officers would give unwelcome and uninvited sexual attention to the women.
•Most federal prisoners, both at the time of Piper's incarceration and today, are non-violent drug offenders.
•Piper finally admitted fault and revealed a sense of remorse for her actions when she described herself as a party to the drug addictions of some of her incarcerated friends.
You will get all this and much more!
FROM START-TO-FINISH IN JUST 30 MINUTES!
Here's your chapter-by-chapter guide to Piper Kerman's Orange Is the New Black that you can download right now!
- GenresMemoirNonfiction
Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2013
10 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 13, 2020
When was the last time named Piper was in prison? The book tells us about her experience. She gives us some insights. For example, early in the book she defines the core of "prison" as a tool to keep you from the people who mean the most to her. That statement is shown through out the book.
She is in a minimum prison in a women's facility in Connecticut (close to where she lived)n for her role in a white collar crime. She got lowered time (11 months) because she testified against her partner in the crime.
The majority of the book is a description of day-to-day life in the minimum prison. Some of the narrative shows how women are treated in prison. Unfortunately, she uses lots of short pieces and seldom provides details. The end of the book, when she about the be released, gives us a big more about how the system works.
She is in a minimum prison in a women's facility in Connecticut (close to where she lived)n for her role in a white collar crime. She got lowered time (11 months) because she testified against her partner in the crime.
The majority of the book is a description of day-to-day life in the minimum prison. Some of the narrative shows how women are treated in prison. Unfortunately, she uses lots of short pieces and seldom provides details. The end of the book, when she about the be released, gives us a big more about how the system works.
August 14, 2023
this book was such a gentle reminder of what I personally think is what an EASY time in prison would be like. it’s humbling to be reminded that in a place where everyone is equal your more willing to talk to someone you may not have encountered ever in another circumstance. reading about unfairness with pay, getting commissary, how guards treated some, how some prisons literally didn’t even have an outside for their prisoners… how they couldn’t enroll in GED programs or read books because the prisons didn’t give them these opportunities. a good book that shows just a small tip of the iceberg in my opinion
March 20, 2015
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A nice little read, recommended to me by a work friend. When I began reading the book I hadn't yet seen any of the TV episodes, so was unaffected by the warping of story line or characters.
It was interesting, very factual. Not much embellishment, so it was a strain to read at times simply because there were several rather drawn out episodes to her prison life. But one thing that remained constant was her complete devotion to Larry, which was nice I suppose.
Once I was almost complete, I then began watching the episodes. It frustrated me at first as the series is very little like the book but then......it had to be made exciting I guess?
I think, and I rarely say this, watch the TV version over the book.
A nice little read, recommended to me by a work friend. When I began reading the book I hadn't yet seen any of the TV episodes, so was unaffected by the warping of story line or characters.
It was interesting, very factual. Not much embellishment, so it was a strain to read at times simply because there were several rather drawn out episodes to her prison life. But one thing that remained constant was her complete devotion to Larry, which was nice I suppose.
Once I was almost complete, I then began watching the episodes. It frustrated me at first as the series is very little like the book but then......it had to be made exciting I guess?
I think, and I rarely say this, watch the TV version over the book.
September 26, 2014
Very disappointed in this book. Had a difficult time completing it and read three other books before I finished this one. I know it was a bestseller and there is a television show based on it but I found it boring. The author had little remorse for her crimes and she acted entitled. I actually believe she feels she is doing something beneficial for the judicial system or inmates with this writing but all that will happen is she will make money on the experience while we paid for her meals and housing for the thirteen months she was in jail. Go figure!
December 16, 2013
I haven't seen the television series generated by this book, but I understand it's hilarious. That's not the case here, this is a serious and highly introspective account of one young woman's experience with the Federal penal system. No sex, no violence, just quality narrative that will leave you wanting to change the system.
February 12, 2014
I knew it wouldn't be like the tv series; nothing ever is. But I wanted to read it well before the show came out. Well-written. But if you're wanting sex and violence (like the tv series), you'll be disappointed. Instead, it's a thought-provoking look at the waste of lives and a broken-down penal system.
September 9, 2014
It was hard to put the book down. There's a lot to learn about life behind bars and the way our prison system works. The people who work there could do a lot more to help incarcerated women who are there doing their time. They inmates find ways to help each other and make the best of the situation.
July 25, 2014
Really interesting look at prison system. Was curious how the tv series followed the book. There was definitely dramatization on the series which wasn't in the book but there are definitely stories straight from the book as well. Definitely worth a read!
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February 18, 2014رواية جميلة جدا أنصح الكل بقرائتها
June 1, 2014
Audiobook...great narrator
June 30, 2014
Not your typical Smith graduate!
July 21, 2014
Very eye-opening. You have to admire her soul-searching and strength. It's a very sad commentary on our penal system, however.
Currently reading
July 27, 2014I watched the first two seasons on Netflix and thoroughly enjoyed it which motivated to read the book. So far so good.
August 8, 2014
Terrific. But it's only a story because she a Smith grad. If not, she's just another felon. I can see that the TV show is probably great. Audio.
October 7, 2014
Quick and interesting read, even if you don't watch the show on Netfix. Obviously you have to have some interest in our Federal legal system, poor youthful choices, and non-fiction:)
September 16, 2014
I enjoyed it. It wasn't what I expected.
October 23, 2014
I thought this book would be much better than it was. I did not like her life style when she was carrying drugs which she seemed to like ALOT!
I found her description of prison life unrealistic .
I found her description of prison life unrealistic .
December 31, 2014
Too much bad language.
March 13, 2015
Great read.
July 8, 2015
Very good read. I really enjoyed this book.
July 19, 2015
2015-07-16 started. 2015-07-19 finished
July 18, 2015
Not what I was expecting with all the hype from the Netflix show. Now that I have the background I may give the show a try.
July 4, 2016
Please do not judge this book by its TV projections. Fantastic read, not X rated.
October 23, 2016
The summary is really not necessary. The book is short enough and it's worth reading the entire text.
May 29, 2014
Really interesting, as well as entertaining, book.
October 11, 2017
this is of course only one woman's experience, but it brings to light some of the issues with the American prison system in a very personal way.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews