Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I really wanted to like this book. When I read the jacket cover it seemed like it would bring some insight to prison life, delve deeper into the racial disparaties of the penal system...instead I found it to be Kerman's reminder to the world that while she did go to prison, she was still pretty, educated and White, and the most awesome person in there. I found her constant tales of how cool she was among the minorities to be insulting and annoying. She came off as smug, rather than thankful regarding her privilgaed situation. I rolled my eyes so many times at her stories of how down she was with the Hispanics (She called them Latinas at first) and Blacks, and she name dropped Daddy Yankee and Jay Z just to show how hip she was. I am sure if she ran into a Hispanic or Black she would instantly try to explain how she spent time in prison and knew their people. She constantly reminded the reader how many people thought she was hot, which from the picture on the inside jacket shows otherwise. At one scene she explained that she was picking out spinach from a spinach and iceberg lettuce mix, and almost started a fight after she explained "I don't eat iceberg." Girl, you in prison!! Not exactly time to be picky- i am surprised no one shanked her... Kerman thinks she is still too cool for school...despite being white and having gone to Smith, you still made stupid decisions and ended up in prison. If you want insight to prison life, don't bother. All you get here is some White girl's account of being the coolest, smarted, hippest chick in behind bars.