I LOVE television. I’ve always loved television, and there are many MANY shows I watch religiously. However… I’ve failed to join the masses around the world who have become fans of Orange is the New Black. I watched season 1, but wasn’t interested enough to go back for more.
I’m conscious that season 4 has just finished amid the usual online hubub so it seems it’s as popular as ever. And I’m assuming it’s that popularity which has led to the publication of this memoir… taking us back to where it all started.
Out of Orange: A Memoir by Cleary Wolters
Published by HarperOne
on May 3rd 2016
Source: Harper Collins
ISBN: 0062376144
Pages: 320
Goodreads
The real-life Alex Vause from the critically acclaimed, top-rated Netflix show Orange Is the New Black tells her story in her own words for the first time—a powerful, surprising memoir about crime and punishment, friendship and marriage, and a life caught in the ruinous drug trade and beyond.
Fans nationwide have fallen in love with Orange Is the New Black, the critically acclaimed and wildly popular Netflix show based on Piper Kerman’s sensational #1 New York Times bestseller. Now, Catherine Cleary Wolters—the inspiration for Alex Vause, Piper’s ex-girlfriend, friend, and sometimes-romantic partner on the show—tells her true story, offering details and insights that fill in the blanks, set the record straight, and answer common fan questions.
An insightful, frustrating, heartbreaking, and uplifting analysis of crime and punishment in our times, Out of Orange is an intimate look at international drug crime—a seemingly glamorous lifestyle that dazzles unsuspecting young women and eventually leads them to the seedy world of prison. Told by a woman originally thrust into the spotlight without her permission—Wolters learned about Piper’s memoir in the media—Out of Orange chronicles Wolter’s time in the drug trade, her incarceration, her friendships and acquaintances with odd cellmates, her two marriages, and her complicated relationship with Piper. But Wolters is not solely defined by her past; she also reflects on her life and the person she is today.
Filled with colorful characters, fascinating tales, painful sobering lessons, and hard-earned wisdom, Out of Orange is sure to be provocative, entertaining, and ultimately inspiring.
I have in my hot little hands, well on a shelf in my apartment, TWO copies of this memoir to give away to two readers. All you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post and you’ll go into a random draw.
However, it would be great if you could tell me why you enjoy watching OITNB, or try to convince me why I SHOULD be watching it!
***** COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED *****
Out of Orange – A Memoir by Cleary Wolters was published in Australia by Harper Collins on 1 July 2016. (RRP $24.99)
A huge thanks to Harper Collins for providing copies of this book for my giveaway!
July 8, 2016
I have to admit I’ve never watched the show either! It’s been on my ‘must sit down and watch that’ list for ages because everyone just raves about it…I always feel so out of the loop! This sounds like an interesting read though.
July 15, 2016
I know so many huge fans!
July 8, 2016
I have never watched the show and would like to just read the book. I like to either read book or watch show as i find the shows usually dont have enough info in them
July 15, 2016
I don’t know much about the original story Margaret so this might prove interesting.
July 8, 2016
There are 52 episodes running for about an hour each of ‘Orange is the New Black’ (Thanks Google). There are 320 pages in the book. Wanting to read the book is a matter of considered efficiency 🙂
July 15, 2016
Ha! Hadn’t thought of that! Very efficient!
July 8, 2016
I’ve only seen the first two seasons, thought we do have season 3 on DVD – I just haven’t seen it yet. I think OITNB is a good show…but I don’t know if it’s an enjoyable show. I find that it’s stressful to watch and I can only watch it in small doses. Also, season 2 of OITNB reminds me of Order of the Phoenix.
July 15, 2016
I watched the first season only and ‘think’ I meant to go back for more but never just got around to it and it really didn’t grab me enough.
July 9, 2016
I love the relationships between all the women, the psychology of it… Sure, I know it’s dramatisation, and there’s certainly “there but for me, go I” moments.
July 9, 2016
Oh yes, I hadn’t thought of that element! Although I’ve always been pretty ‘good’. I do have a recurring dream about being caught doing something and know I’m being sent to prison though. It’s almost like a relief in my dream… like… “This is rock bottom, no can expect anything of me from here and I can’t disappoint anyone more than I’ve disappointed them now!”
Am sure a therapist would have a field day with that one!
July 10, 2016
I’m mid-way through Season 2 and really need to get back to it, as I enjoyed watching it a lot. I don’t know how realistic it is, but I find it fascinating if that’s what it’s like in a women’s prison. The relationships between the different characters and how quickly things can change makes for great viewing. I love Red, as played by Kate Mulgrew but I don’t know if it’s just because she was in Star Trek: Voyager!
July 10, 2016
Ha! Yes… I disliked the Alex character cos she was in something else that I hated her in – and I can’t even really remember what that was now (she was blonde at the time I think!).
July 10, 2016
I would really enjoy reading this book!
July 11, 2016
Good to hear Jenna. Good luck!
July 13, 2016
OITNB is my guilty little pleasure when the kids are in bed and the hubby is out. I love all the back story lines behind the characters and how they got to be in prison. And it always has some twists and turns that I don’t expect to come!!
Jump on the OITNB bandwagon – you wont regret it
July 14, 2016
I have to admit Nicole, in skimming some of the seasons’ trailers I note they go from being about Piper (?) but seem to focus as much on the other characters down the track.
July 13, 2016
I have binge watched every season of OITNB, i love watching the relationships and the psychology of it all.
it’s not normally the type of show I’m drawn to but this has seemed to strangely sucked me in and I’m finding myself pining for the next season.
It has always intrigued me that it was originally based on a real scenario, I’d love to read this book. To get some answers and find out where it all began
July 14, 2016
Yes.. the real life Alex apparently Claire. Good luck!
July 13, 2016
It’s a good show, but as always the book would naturally be better. I can’t convince you either way whether to watch it or not, everyone has different tastes. BUT this said, give it a shot, an episode or three, and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised (unless you’re a ‘Wentworth’ fan, then you’ll be dismally disappointed!!).
July 14, 2016
I’ve actually heard good things about Wentworth Ern… I wonder if it’s made its way overseas.
July 14, 2016
I am another person who hasn’t watched it but would love to! The book would be great to read as well!
July 14, 2016
Yes indeed Bridget… to see where it all started.
July 14, 2016
A prison seems an unlikely place to explore both the nuance of female dynamics as well as the seemingly eternal wellspring of feminine strength. But that’s part of Orange’s unlikely charm:
July 15, 2016
Very true Angela. And I gather that’s getting stronger each season.
July 15, 2016
I love the show and watching each Characters development, rise and fall, but was unaware that the show was inspired by Alex. This book looks very intriguing and would be a great read, thanks for the chance to win!
July 15, 2016
Thanks Julia and good luck!
July 15, 2016
I love OITNB because I’ve never watched a show like it before based on a woman’s prison so it’s a nice change for me. There are also really important issues and friendships by it also has a lot of comedy which can lighten it. Also it’s best to binge watch a whole season because it plays out like a long movie as they’re released as a full season so you spend a whole weekend immersed in it and it’s excellent!
July 15, 2016
I have to admit I always love bingeing on TV on DVD (or online if I had Netflix or similar) so you can really entrench yourself into a series.