Orange Is the New BlackAudiobook review by Paul Fiander
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Written by: Piper Kerman
Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell Length: 11 hrs and 10 mins Publisher: Hachette Audio UK |
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Why Should I.....Listen to Orange Is the New Black
If you have seen the Netflix show then you know Orange is one of the best shows on TV. This is the source for the show but a surprise to me was how far it was removed from the narrative the show depicts. Obviously some things are dramatised but what I found from consuming this book is instead a look at the prison system in America from a first hand point of view. The book’s narration by Cassandra Campbell is clear and gives Piper Kerman’s voice a strong quality when needed but also hints at her vulnerability in many aspects throughout the narrative. At just over 11 hours this is a lengthy listen and when you are done there is a release that the adventure has come to an end. |
Review
The war on drugs is the reason this book exists, well part of the reason the other is someone who committed a crime. At the end of everything the books author Piper Kerman was a criminal, it may be a small crime to some but nonetheless a felony is just that a felony. There are points within the story where you get the impression that the author is playing down her crime these are few and far between so thankfully do not grate on people like me.
I have rather a hard line on drugs and honestly I was not sure what to expect when starting this book. I had already watched the TV show up to the present series but I was not expecting it to be a recreation of the book. This turned out to a correct assumption though it surprised me how far the show stepped away from the original text. As with most works of nonfiction there is a level of departure from the real story which is acknowledged from the outset, this mostly constitutes the change of names and characteristics from most other players in the story. Some though do allow their real names to be used and this helps to give the whole story a more truthful feel.
Piper Kerman of the book, was a young college graduate looking for some adventure and what she found was a drug operation run by a West African “Businessman” and a lover who drew her into a world of extravagance. There was no ambiguity on this point Kerman went into the world with full knowledge where the money was coming from though to begin with she took no active part in the operation. The real kicker is that her role was not that big but in the end it caused her downfall.
The oddest part for me was the nearly six years it took for her original arrest to lead to her incarceration. During this time the waiting seems to really get to her and it comes out in the writing throughout this period. The explanations of the effect on her family feel genuine as is the realisation of what she has done to herself. These are the points were autobiographical tales either win me over or lose me. I want to know how situations make the writer feel, I can get the facts from anywhere but real insight can only come from the person involved. A good autobiography needs this to succeed and OITNB definitely has this.
Her time in prison is filled with characters some of who you will know from the show though others have the same names but are completely different from their on screen representation. This helps the narrative to feel familiar however you don’t really know what is going to happen next which keeps the story fresh. Her time inside is interesting to say the least but the real kicker is the way she notices her treatment by the establishment when compared to others within the prison. This situation is repeated with others within the prison and shines a light on the way that the guards are human and their issues can make or break the very idea of justice. Its a strong idea that is explored though not in a deep dive situation.
The narration by Cassandra Campbell helps support the story that is being told. Her vocal performance is very strong throughout and she puts emotion into the story when needed. Thankfully she never overplays it but there are a few points where the self reflection does feel a little bit on the whiny side. This is to be expected especially considering the long drawn out case and eventual time in prison.
The end of the book oddly feels the most dramatised as Kerman gets her chance to see the result of her actions by supporting the drug trade (even if it was only in a small way). Her chance though of closure really is almost Hollywood. I’m not doubting its authenticity but all I can say is I don’t know if I would have the composure shown by Kerman as she gets to meet the catalyst for her rather difficult and eye opening journey.
I thoroughly enjoyed this listen, sitting on a beach in Cyprus allowed me to contrast the wide open space with the more enclosed (though never claustrophobic) feeling of the book. It does not replace the TV show just as the show does not replace the book. Instead they are both great stories that cast an eye on a rather overlooked subject that of women in prison.
I have rather a hard line on drugs and honestly I was not sure what to expect when starting this book. I had already watched the TV show up to the present series but I was not expecting it to be a recreation of the book. This turned out to a correct assumption though it surprised me how far the show stepped away from the original text. As with most works of nonfiction there is a level of departure from the real story which is acknowledged from the outset, this mostly constitutes the change of names and characteristics from most other players in the story. Some though do allow their real names to be used and this helps to give the whole story a more truthful feel.
Piper Kerman of the book, was a young college graduate looking for some adventure and what she found was a drug operation run by a West African “Businessman” and a lover who drew her into a world of extravagance. There was no ambiguity on this point Kerman went into the world with full knowledge where the money was coming from though to begin with she took no active part in the operation. The real kicker is that her role was not that big but in the end it caused her downfall.
The oddest part for me was the nearly six years it took for her original arrest to lead to her incarceration. During this time the waiting seems to really get to her and it comes out in the writing throughout this period. The explanations of the effect on her family feel genuine as is the realisation of what she has done to herself. These are the points were autobiographical tales either win me over or lose me. I want to know how situations make the writer feel, I can get the facts from anywhere but real insight can only come from the person involved. A good autobiography needs this to succeed and OITNB definitely has this.
Her time in prison is filled with characters some of who you will know from the show though others have the same names but are completely different from their on screen representation. This helps the narrative to feel familiar however you don’t really know what is going to happen next which keeps the story fresh. Her time inside is interesting to say the least but the real kicker is the way she notices her treatment by the establishment when compared to others within the prison. This situation is repeated with others within the prison and shines a light on the way that the guards are human and their issues can make or break the very idea of justice. Its a strong idea that is explored though not in a deep dive situation.
The narration by Cassandra Campbell helps support the story that is being told. Her vocal performance is very strong throughout and she puts emotion into the story when needed. Thankfully she never overplays it but there are a few points where the self reflection does feel a little bit on the whiny side. This is to be expected especially considering the long drawn out case and eventual time in prison.
The end of the book oddly feels the most dramatised as Kerman gets her chance to see the result of her actions by supporting the drug trade (even if it was only in a small way). Her chance though of closure really is almost Hollywood. I’m not doubting its authenticity but all I can say is I don’t know if I would have the composure shown by Kerman as she gets to meet the catalyst for her rather difficult and eye opening journey.
I thoroughly enjoyed this listen, sitting on a beach in Cyprus allowed me to contrast the wide open space with the more enclosed (though never claustrophobic) feeling of the book. It does not replace the TV show just as the show does not replace the book. Instead they are both great stories that cast an eye on a rather overlooked subject that of women in prison.
