Orange is the New Black. Sounds intriguing, doesn't it? And a bit political. But this book, this memoir is not about politics or oranges. In fact, it is about a women's prison and American justice system. Great, right? But let me tell you what the book is about and whether it is worth reading or if it is just another over exaggerated story of mean people in prison.
First of all, the book was written by Piper Kerman in 2010. It is her story of how she went to prison in 2004 for a crime that she committed in 1993. What happened is that she helped her girlfriend Nora Jansen with a drug-trafficking business. One of the most probable reasons she wanted to do it is adventure. Many people like to feel in charge and adventurous. That is not bad but there is always a certain line between adventurous and illegal. Kerman crossed it. And this crime caught up with her a few years later, when she already had a successful job, a loving boyfriend and was no longer a lesbian. The federal policemen came after her and said she was under arrest for drug-related crimes. Of course, they didn't take her to prison at that same moment in handcuffs like it happens in movies - everything is not so simple. Piper has to wait for 6 more years to go to prison because the police still has to find and prosecute another guy from the operation. But all good things end and Kerman goes to prison called Danbury in Connecticut for 15 months. If she went on trial, it would be a risky bid, because she might have gotten over a decade years in prison.
Once Piper arrives to prison, surprisingly she makes many friends. Her loving fiance, family and friends all send her letters, books, visit her and generally care about her in every possible way. The prison does have racism - not as bad as people might think, but people still care and look out for their own there. Piper made some really good friends, many of who have more than 50 months on their sentences, that the most important thing is to stay sane and be humane to other people.
The book has some hilarious moments but it also has some infuriating ones as well. For example, it explains (partly) how the American justice system works. It shows us that the system is cruel and does not care about the people that are incarcerated. I researched the Danbury prison and saw that in 2008, just 3 years after Kerman's release, a married correctional officer was arrested for having an affair with a prisoner. And then, he wanted to hire a hitman in prison, which is another charge! He is now in prison, of course, for 90 years (the rest of his life).
Overall: this is a deep book and it certainly makes you think about topics you never found yourself thinking about. Definitely would recommend to a friend.