Apparently, just like everyone else, I inhaled Orange is the New Black on Netflix. I zoomed through it and then I was left wanting more. MORE, NETFLIX, MOAR. So, I decided to read the memoir on which the show was loosely based. And not surprisingly, I quickly devoured that.
The book was well written and much different from the show. There are some similarities, obviously. But the show is much more dramatic -- obviously.
Piper is incredibly respectful of the women that she is incarcerated with and the juicy stories we see on the show are not in the book. What we do see are women that are just trying to get by and get past the things they have done. Piper is lucky to have a huge support system and she realizes how truly different she is than the other inmates. I know a lot of criticisms of the show have been how it's about a white woman that is on a short sentence with the intention of "growing," but the real Piper did recognize her privilege and I don't feel like it's a problem within the book.
Should you read it? Yes! Definitely. It was a good book and if you finish the series and need more, then this is the only way to go. If you have no interest in watching the show, this is still a good book and at least that way, you won't be totally clueless when people are talking about this show.
Labels: books, reviews
