Emma ’s Comments (group member since Mar 22, 2017)

Emma ’s comments from the OITNB group.

Reflecting on Pipers story through prison, i have learned that even in drastic times of being stuffed into a cell with random strangers, things can still be looked at in a positive aspect. Piper has made many friends along her journey, connecting with people such as "little Janet" for example, who can relate to her situation. Piper has not only found joy through others but joy within herself. She powerfully states while
looking at herself in the mirror "Most of the accumulated varnish of the five unhappy years spent on pretrial was gone. I had resembled the girl who had jumped off that waterfall more closely than i had in years" (pg. 192). Ultimately, when you think of prison, you picture it as a cold, dark, and horrific place. However Piper truly found her happiness that she had lost in the beginning through the power of others. She closes with "There was no way to give them all the things i now carried in my head and in my heart" (pg. 294). This goes to show everything is not what it seems. A terrifying sentence to prison may be one of the best things that Piper will have ever experienced. I myself however, don't know if i would have the same attitude as Piper, and may have lived in fear (lol)

I agree with Anna on the fact that it did take time, but Piper eventually came to accepting herself for who she is. Being in this situation, it took her a while to submerge herself into the state of incarceration. When she first arrives at the prison she professes being uncomfortable and stand-offish by stating things such as "I realized that my attire made it glaringly obvious that i was new" (pg.41). As the weeks go by she eases into her surroundings which is clearly shown by stating "By now I felt like I was pretty firmly established in the Camp's social ecology. I didn't mess with other people.. and hence other people treated me with respect" (pg.142). Piper was truly shaped by this experience, learning more about herself everyday and taking a different perspective life. In the end she says, "What i discovered was that i am emphatically not alone" (pg.292). This was one of the most valuable and impactful things she had learned through prison because the people she had the chance to meet and the happenings in which she witnessed, truly shaped who she has become and is something she will never forget.

The people Piper encounters defiantly plays a major role on her writing style. As she describes the various people she has met you can really see how nonchalant she truly is, though the fault of being in Danbury. For example, Piper describes Nina as "funny as hell." Other people she meets, such as Janet, remind her of herself however Piper states "...although she still seemed to think i was strange for being friendly" (pg. 64). This shows piper really takes in all her surroundings, excepting where she is and what she is going to face, making her time worth while. Instead of living in fear, she interacts with others and makes herself comfortable, which is what makes her writing styles enjoyable and witty. "And if you resisted finding a place in prison society, you were desperately lonely and miserable" (pg.156).

Piper first begins her story with a general background of her life to where she is at now. As she falls in love with Nora she begins to adventure and take more risks, even those she doesn't feel comfortable doing. This is noted through her shifting tone from excitement to displeasure by "i could not even remember being so happy" (pg. 9) to "i knew i had to escape" (pg. 15). Although Piper realizes all that glitters is not gold and leaves Nora and all criminal actives behind her, it comes back to bite her in the end. The use of syntax really jumps out at the reader, making them feel the tension. "i blinked at him silently, and the veins in my temples suddenly pounded as if i run miles at top speed" (pg. 19). Pathos also draws me in further, feeling sympathy for Piper as she states "All i felt was that i has willfully hurt and disappointed everyone I loved the most and carelessly thrown my life away" (pg. 21). All this so far makes me realize how dumb mistakes can turn into serious situations and affect not only you, but everyone surrounding you as well. Do you think if Piper wasn't blinded by love she wouldn't have made these decisions?

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