Perception vs. Reality

A very important theme throughout the memoir is perception vs. reality. This theme begins in Piper’s association with Nora. Although Nora appeared to live a lavish and carefree life, she obtained her money through drug trafficking and was actually trapped in an operation she wanted to escape. Like Nora, Piper was drawn to drug trafficking by the glamorous people involved and learned the harsh reality of the business after being exposed to the terrible effects drug addiction can have on human lives.

The theme is then continued through Piper’s experiences in Danbury. As a white, middle-class, college educated woman, Piper did not fit the typical stereotype for a prison inmate. As the narrator of the memoir, she is able to serve as an example of the common misconceptions of those in prison.

From the beginning of her sentence, Piper was very surprised to find...