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Library hosts events about ‘Orange Is the New Black’ 

OrangeNewBlackIn partnership with Cuesta College, the Paso Robles City Library is offering new programs centering around the book Orange Is the New Black by Piper Kerman.

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. Heartbreaking, hilarious, and at times enraging, Kerman’s story offers a rare look into the lives of women in prison – why it is we lock so many away and what happens to them when they’re there.

Join in the discussion with the library

  • Thursday, March 20, the Paso Robles Library Book Group will be discussing the book. The Book Club meets 7-8:30pm. in the Library Quiet Room.
  • If you are a member of another book group, check out the “Book Group Kit” featuring ten copies of the book plus discussion questions, and feature the book at your group.
  • Wednesday, March 26, at 7:00 p.m. the library will be showing a film featuring the story of Barbara Graham, prostitute, party girl, perjurer, bad-check passer, petty criminal. She’s all this and more…but is she a murderer? Susan Hayward won 1958’s Best Actress Academy Award for her “sensational, nerve-shattering performance” (Los Angeles Times) in this harrowing tale that will leave you breathless with suspense.
  • Thursday, March 27, at 7 p.m., join readers at the library for a discussion of women in the prison system, featuring Cal Poly lecturer and author Dr. Kathleen Cairns. Dr. Cairns has written several books exploring imprisoned women, including her book Proof of Guilt about the real Barbara Graham. She will be discussing the issues and difficulties facing women in these circumstances, including a discussion of cases she has personally studied and written about in her books Hard Time at Tehachapi and The Enigma Woman.

 

The Paso Robles City Library is located at 1000 Spring Street and is open Monday – Friday 10-8, and Saturday 10-5. For more information on library programs and events, please call 237-3870 or visit www.prcity.com/library.

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About the author: Publisher Scott Brennan

Scott Brennan is the publisher of this newspaper and founder of Access Publishing. Follow him on Twitter, LinkedIn, or follow his blog.