I had already seen the Netflix series based on this book, which is strange for me — I almost always read the book first. But I really had no choice, as I basically mainlined the whole first season in a single day. This book is a memoir, mostly based on real-life events (some names and details were changed), while the series is kinda sorta based on the memoir.
Orange Is The New Black. photo via: http://comingsoon.net/nextraimages/orangeisblackheader.jpg
Many of the scenes that take place in the first season of Orange Is The New Black appear in the book in some form, and a lot of the characters are identifiable as pieces of characters in the book. I suppose you want to make the TV version as big a hit as possible, so you include the most provocative and intriguing personality characteristics, amalgamating them into bigger/better/bolder/brasher characters, and you leave out the stuff that’s a little more run-of-the-mill. A+ on making the Netflix adaptation as entertaining as it is, while staying true-ish (emphasis on the ish) to real life.
If you like reading non-fiction, sociological studies, or memoirs, you’ll probably find this book interesting. If you liked the show (and you’re excited out of your mind that the new season is out next week! I know I am!), you’ll probably find this book interesting. The book and the show are both interesting in totally different ways, if that makes any sense.
Put the Book Down 
