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  • Orange Is the New Black

  • My Time in a Women's Prison
  • By: Piper Kerman
  • Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
  • Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (146 ratings)

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Orange Is the New Black cover art

Orange Is the New Black

By: Piper Kerman
Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
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Publisher's Summary

A new original series from Netflix

"Not just a tale of prisons, drugs, crime, or justice; it is, simply put, a beautifully told story about how incredible women can be" (Elizabeth Gilbert, bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love.)

With her career, live-in boyfriend and loving family, Piper Kerman barely resembles the rebellious young woman who got mixed up with drug runners and delivered a suitcase of drug money to Europe over a decade ago. But when she least expects it, her reckless past catches up with her; convicted and sentenced to fifteen months at an infamous women's prison in Connecticut, Piper becomes inmate #11187-424.

From her first strip search to her final release, she learns to navigate this strange world with its arbitrary rules and codes, its unpredictable, even dangerous relationships. She meets women from all walks of life, who surprise her with tokens of generosity, hard truths and simple acts of acceptance.

Now an original comedy-drama series from Netflix, Piper's story is a fascinating, heartbreaking and often hilarious insight into life on the inside.

©2010 Piper Kerman (P)2012 Tantor, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"A bighearted book that depicts life in a women's prison with great detail and - crucially - with empathy and respect for Piper Kerman's fellow prisoners." (Dave Eggers, bestselling author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius)
"A fantastic tale from the Siberia of America's war on drugs and a rippingly fun read right down to the unexpected moment of closure." ( Elle magazine USA)

What listeners say about Orange Is the New Black

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

very good

loved the story, nice narrator. I know it's a good book when I'm sad that it's ended

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A somewhat interesting insight

What started out as an interesting insight into the prison system turned into a somewhat boring storyline at times.

It would have been interesting to compare and contrast her life before and after this experience however this was not part of the story unfortunately.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Reb
  • 19-03-2022

HIGHLY RECOMMEND but not to everyone

If you loved OITNB on Netflix and like me you are curios about the real Piper's story, you will LOVE this.

I recommend watching it first then reading this because then you can "match up" the characters with the real life people. The narrator did an amazing job distinguishing each person with their own "sound / voice." This comes across very professionally and naturally. I really loved it.

Will YOU love this more than the Netflix series?

THAT depends on you. If you love watching more than reading then maybe not.
If you want MORE drama and love the emotional rollercoaster of TV then you may not like this.
The Netflix series was based on this, and I found that really well done, however to really "sell it" as entertainment AND very importantly to inform and educate the viewers and raise awareness of prison life and it's many injustices - inspiration was used from women in other prisons. There is no riot here, however there WAS in other (mens) prisons. So these are based on historic events and some characters are based on real life people within those historic events. The purpose is to demonstrate the reality of prisons in the USA specifically. In that regard Netflix serves as a tool to raise awareness and inspire change while this books is simply Piper's story within her time in prison - not a full life autobiography.
If you understand that real life is not that entertaining and you just want to understand Piper's story (leading up to prison and ending at her release) then you will appreciate this book.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Narrater a bit bland!

the narrater i found to be a bit mono tone except when doing other characters voices. The story was a little boring compared to the tv series. Was go to read the story that was actually what happen but wouldn't listen to it again.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Boring!! Watch tv show

So so boring and self indulgent. Kinda has that dullness that eat pray love had.

Watch the tv show. Story is 100% better as are the characters.

Piper is not interesting in the book. They just bought these rights as chaching.. execs knew they could turn into tv and make $.

Piper Kerman. Shame!

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Boring!

I couldn't finish this book. Nothing unpredictable, dangerous or humorous about it. Definitely not hilarious. Thoroughly tame, tedious and disappointing.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Not as good as tv series

It was a good story, very easy to listen to and narrator was very good. I think I went into it with a really high expectation because I loved the series so much. It’s a good book but you can’t compare it to the series because they are nothing alike. Totally different.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

just watch the show

it is distinctly average.
to be honest it was a bit of a waste of time to listen to it. the story is very boring and their are much more interesting memoirs out there.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

Very little plot, a bit repetitive and classist, quite transphobic. Pretty well narrated. Disappointed overall.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

a good listen

Narrated well, easy voice to listen to. Great story - prison system scary at times.

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