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esshgee's review against another edition
4.0
Fascinating read, I didn't want to put it down. I doubt I could handle the movie though, especially after reading Billy Hayes' comments about it
boludeandoando's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
tittypete's review against another edition
3.0
I seent this movie a couple times. I remember a dude gets busted at the airport trying to smuggle some hash out of Turkey. He goes to a Turkish prison and bites of a guys tongue, has consensual buttsex and escapes after killing a guard that tries to initiate non-consensual buttsex.
The book is pretty similar but there's no tongue biting. And he doesn't kill anybody (other dudes do). And nobody tries to force-buns him. And he escapes by getting transferred to a chill island prison and steals a rowboat, paddles to the shore, dyes his hair and takes cabs and buses almost all the way to Greece (which is super far), swims across a river and gets captured by Greek soldiers in a minefield.
The butt stuff isn't indulgent, FYI.
It's a pretty good read, you guys.
3.5
The book is pretty similar but there's no tongue biting. And he doesn't kill anybody (other dudes do). And nobody tries to force-buns him. And he escapes by getting transferred to a chill island prison and steals a rowboat, paddles to the shore, dyes his hair and takes cabs and buses almost all the way to Greece (which is super far), swims across a river and gets captured by Greek soldiers in a minefield.
The butt stuff isn't indulgent, FYI.
It's a pretty good read, you guys.
3.5
trayceebee's review against another edition
5.0
I watched the movie a few weeks ago, and I was so intrigued by this story, I had to read the book. As my library not only didn't own a copy of the movie, they also didn't own a copy of the book, I opted to listen to it on Audible. I'm so glad it did, since it was read by Billy Hayes himself!
I'd heard that the movie was greatly sensationalized compared to the book, and I agree that there were some things changed and maybe *enhanced*.... however, it's not untrue that Billy Hayes went through several beatings, was treated horribly, and he struggled for ages (unsuccessfully) to get help from his family, friends, and the American Consulate to win his freedom legally. It seemed clear to me that the only way he could ever hope to win his freedom was, indeed, by riding the Midnight Express! I'm so glad he did! There are times, when you're in the middle of a story and it gets really bad/scary/dangerous and you find yourself wondering, "Will he make it? Is there any chance he'll survive?" And I felt like such an idiot at those times, because he obviously did, or the story wouldn't have been told! But KNOWING he made it didn't ease the fear I felt for him as he described the challenges he faced along the way. This book is extremely intense, and I felt that, despite the ugly bits, the hurtful, painful bits, there were also many, many parts that were beautiful. Billy made some great friendships and he learned a lot about his inner self. Those, I think, were the sources of his strength--the things that helped him survive his time in the Turkish prison as well as his escape.
I'd heard that the movie was greatly sensationalized compared to the book, and I agree that there were some things changed and maybe *enhanced*.... however, it's not untrue that Billy Hayes went through several beatings, was treated horribly, and he struggled for ages (unsuccessfully) to get help from his family, friends, and the American Consulate to win his freedom legally. It seemed clear to me that the only way he could ever hope to win his freedom was, indeed, by riding the Midnight Express! I'm so glad he did! There are times, when you're in the middle of a story and it gets really bad/scary/dangerous and you find yourself wondering, "Will he make it? Is there any chance he'll survive?" And I felt like such an idiot at those times, because he obviously did, or the story wouldn't have been told! But KNOWING he made it didn't ease the fear I felt for him as he described the challenges he faced along the way. This book is extremely intense, and I felt that, despite the ugly bits, the hurtful, painful bits, there were also many, many parts that were beautiful. Billy made some great friendships and he learned a lot about his inner self. Those, I think, were the sources of his strength--the things that helped him survive his time in the Turkish prison as well as his escape.
princessleia4life's review against another edition
4.0
It was pretty interesting and scary. People always complain about our prison systems, but imagine anywhere but the U.S. prison system. Why scarier.
charlottekaas's review against another edition
2.0
If you're only going to read one book about a real-life drug-smuggler in a 3rd world prison, make it Marching Powder. Generally, stories like these are very similar. The writing makes the difference.
sloshydolphin's review against another edition
2.0
Spoil American gets caught smuggling drugs in a country where you don't want to get caught smuggling drugs then moans about it.
I did some reading about the book and Billy had actually smuggled numerous times (he was advised to only admit to doing it once for legal reason and to change other facts - which ones i could not find).
The conditions 50 years ago was not surprisingly horrific but the conditions of the foreign prisoners was reasonably good compared to the Turkish prisoners and not once was there really any epiphany it is his own fault and that he should do his time just constant how can i escape my punishment. If this was a Turkish man trying to escape a "luxurious" American prison i think the reaction would have been very different.
I did some reading about the book and Billy had actually smuggled numerous times (he was advised to only admit to doing it once for legal reason and to change other facts - which ones i could not find).
The conditions 50 years ago was not surprisingly horrific but the conditions of the foreign prisoners was reasonably good compared to the Turkish prisoners and not once was there really any epiphany it is his own fault and that he should do his time just constant how can i escape my punishment. If this was a Turkish man trying to escape a "luxurious" American prison i think the reaction would have been very different.