GoodReads Synopsis-- With a career, a boyfriend, and a loving family, Piper Kerman barely resembles the reckless young woman who delivered a suitcase of drug money ten years before. But that past has caught up with her. Convicted and sentenced to fifteen months at the infamous federal correctional facility in Danbury, Connecticut, the well-heeled Smith College alumna is now inmate #11187–424—one of the millions of people who disappear “down the rabbit hole” of the American penal system. From her first strip search to her final release, Kerman learns to navigate this strange world with its strictly enforced codes of behavior and arbitrary rules. She meets women from all walks of life, who surprise her with small tokens of generosity, hard words of wisdom, and simple acts of acceptance.
My Thoughts-- I wanted to love this book. I wanted it to be a fascinating look into life in the prison system. But sadly, I felt more like it was 1) a lecture on federal drug laws and mandatory minimums and 2) the author trying to convince us that she was a progressive, true friend to the downtrodden despite her upper-middle class background. It didn't quite seem sincere to me. It was a very interesting look into prison life, but not as great as I had hoped.
No comments:
Post a Comment