Title: Orange is the New Black

Author: Piper Kerman

Genre tags: non-fiction, auto-biography, memoir

Who is(are) the protagonist(s)? What are some words you would use to describe them?

Piper is the protagonist, obviously enough, as well as the narrator. She's pretty different from in the TV series; this Piper is more reflective and repentant, kinder to people who are different from her, and generally open and friendly.

What are some themes that the book explores?

That actions have consequences. the problems with the prison system and how it fails a lot of its inmates.

How does the book handle gender? Does it pass the Bechdel test?

It most certainly does pass the Bechdel test, easily! But I suppose that's a benefit of memoirs; they're about real life so they pretty much need to pass the Bechdel test. The book certainly had some examples of the uniquely bad gender dynamics that can arise with male guards in a women's prison.

Are there any other groups represented in the book? How does the book handle that?

Yup; because it's a woman's prison, the characters are from diverse backgrounds, and the influence of those backgrounds is explored.

What did you think of the style of the author's writing? Were there any things that you think author captured particularly well?

It wasn't bad. Nothing was really exceptional about the prose, but it conveyed its meaning well enough.

Did this book surprise you or introduce you to any new ideas?

No, but it provided me with some concrete examples of stuff I already knew about.

What were your overall impressions of the book?

Not like my new favorite book, but I enjoyed it as a light read.