Take a photo of a barcode or cover
sunny_reader_girl's review
3.0
I read this book as part of my "Epic 52 Week Book Challenge" for the category, Read a Book and Then Watch the Movie; Discuss Which is Better. Usually I'm on the side of the book because, well, the book is usually better!! In this case, it's a tough call. Considering that it's a true story and the book was a memoir written by the man who experienced all these things himself... and then the movie (2017 version) brought it to life in a way I'm sure he could have only imagined, both were great in their own way.
I was mesmerized by the book and then also by the movie about a man imprisoned by France in their penal colonies in South America in the 1930s and his subsequent escapes (yes, escapeS plural). (Side note: my first choice was to watch the 1973 version of the movie but that wasn't the 'free' option on Amazon Prime TV.) ;) When reading the book, I noticed that the pace changed throughout. It was written as if the man, Henri Charriere, was re-living it all moment to moment. That meant that at times the writing was fast-paced and to the point, and others it was slower paced and more reflective. I felt that throughout the book, though, no matter the pace, Henri (called Papillon or Papi because of a butterfly tattoo on his chest) spoke directly from his heart. Even though he was quite the thug before prison and then while in prison (if not just to defend himself and the lives of his friends there), my heart went out to him. He endured great trials and suffering, specifically 7 total years of solitary confinement.
The movie didn't include all events, of course, and changed some of the sequence and detail of events. But I know that Henri was a consultant for the 1973 version of the movie. I like to think that he would be okay with the changes that were made. The movie really was beautiful, if not gruesome and heart-wrenching at times. It didn't hurt at all that Charlie Hunnam stars as Papillon. I'd probably say he did a good job for any part he plays ;) but really, he had an amazing way of portraying all kinds of emotion in this movie- hope, desperation, discouragement, defeat, and humility.
When getting ready to read the book, be prepared for that change of pace throughout. But stick with it. And in watching the movie, definitely watch without the kids and enjoy.
I was mesmerized by the book and then also by the movie about a man imprisoned by France in their penal colonies in South America in the 1930s and his subsequent escapes (yes, escapeS plural). (Side note: my first choice was to watch the 1973 version of the movie but that wasn't the 'free' option on Amazon Prime TV.) ;) When reading the book, I noticed that the pace changed throughout. It was written as if the man, Henri Charriere, was re-living it all moment to moment. That meant that at times the writing was fast-paced and to the point, and others it was slower paced and more reflective. I felt that throughout the book, though, no matter the pace, Henri (called Papillon or Papi because of a butterfly tattoo on his chest) spoke directly from his heart. Even though he was quite the thug before prison and then while in prison (if not just to defend himself and the lives of his friends there), my heart went out to him. He endured great trials and suffering, specifically 7 total years of solitary confinement.
The movie didn't include all events, of course, and changed some of the sequence and detail of events. But I know that Henri was a consultant for the 1973 version of the movie. I like to think that he would be okay with the changes that were made. The movie really was beautiful, if not gruesome and heart-wrenching at times. It didn't hurt at all that Charlie Hunnam stars as Papillon. I'd probably say he did a good job for any part he plays ;) but really, he had an amazing way of portraying all kinds of emotion in this movie- hope, desperation, discouragement, defeat, and humility.
When getting ready to read the book, be prepared for that change of pace throughout. But stick with it. And in watching the movie, definitely watch without the kids and enjoy.
chattypattyxoxo's review against another edition
5.0
First thoughts--
It reads like propaganda. Everyone he meets outside the French penal system has this idyllic self-sacrificing smile on.
It smacks of the Homeric. I’m reminded of Odysseus, who was himself something of a criminal, a con man. In that regard, Papillon is more honest than him. Although one gets the feeling that Papillon’s entire bio is a grand fish story...
Midway--
It’s almost becoming surreal! Every turn, every escape is followed by another prison. One begins to suspect the world itself is just a giant matryoshka doll of prisons, each one opening unto another, larger, weirder prison. In the face of this, Papillon is this dazzling almost quixotic character. Why can’t you just accept your fate, Papi!? He can’t! He just goes on and on and his absurd determination is becoming infectious...
Near the end--
What is this? A character study on honesty and absurd optimism? There is no way this is a true story, although it’s so wonderful I don’t care. I am filled up with hopeful grit. I’ll never stop plotting breakouts, Papi! Never give in to the complacency of my island prison! Better to be torn to pieces in the shark-infested waters than live a stunted unjust existence in someone’s cage!
“At daybreak he reined in. The sun rose: he gave me a piece of cheese as hard as a stone and two biscuits, six leaves of coca and (as a present) a special waterproof bag to carry them in, hung from one's belt. He clasped me in his arms, thumping my shoulders as I had seen him do with Antonio, got on his horse again and galloped off at full speed.” - eh I forget the page#
Would recommend to anyone who likes Don Quixote, The Odyssey, The Inferno, or really anyone who finds themself in some sort of prison (whether external or internal). A real upper! 5/5.
It reads like propaganda. Everyone he meets outside the French penal system has this idyllic self-sacrificing smile on.
It smacks of the Homeric. I’m reminded of Odysseus, who was himself something of a criminal, a con man. In that regard, Papillon is more honest than him. Although one gets the feeling that Papillon’s entire bio is a grand fish story...
Midway--
It’s almost becoming surreal! Every turn, every escape is followed by another prison. One begins to suspect the world itself is just a giant matryoshka doll of prisons, each one opening unto another, larger, weirder prison. In the face of this, Papillon is this dazzling almost quixotic character. Why can’t you just accept your fate, Papi!? He can’t! He just goes on and on and his absurd determination is becoming infectious...
Near the end--
What is this? A character study on honesty and absurd optimism? There is no way this is a true story, although it’s so wonderful I don’t care. I am filled up with hopeful grit. I’ll never stop plotting breakouts, Papi! Never give in to the complacency of my island prison! Better to be torn to pieces in the shark-infested waters than live a stunted unjust existence in someone’s cage!
“At daybreak he reined in. The sun rose: he gave me a piece of cheese as hard as a stone and two biscuits, six leaves of coca and (as a present) a special waterproof bag to carry them in, hung from one's belt. He clasped me in his arms, thumping my shoulders as I had seen him do with Antonio, got on his horse again and galloped off at full speed.” - eh I forget the page#
Would recommend to anyone who likes Don Quixote, The Odyssey, The Inferno, or really anyone who finds themself in some sort of prison (whether external or internal). A real upper! 5/5.
alongapath's review
adventurous
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.0
I never expected a rough journal memoire to be a lesson on the power of kindness, but this is exactly what Henri Charrière's book teaches. Being kind and telling the truth opened hundreds of doors for Papillon on his route to freedom.
In Paris 1931, after a bungled investigation with false witness testimony which framed Charrière as a murderer, he was handed a severe life sentence of hard labour in a prison camp called La Bagne de Cayenne in French Guiana. At only 25(?) years old at the time of the sentence, he simply wouldn't accept this punishment. In the end, he was imprisoned for 14 years of that life sentence.
Papillon used every opportunity to get to know his fellow prisoners, the guards, the wardens and the locals to gain information about the various prison camps he was sent to, as well as to garner key intel about the best sort of work to be assigned, ways to secure decent meals and the lay of the land and sea surrounding the camps.
This info gathering was done through his immense approachability and his willingness to work together with anyone to plan escapes. He used his money stash (suppository) to buy people's interest and loyalty - mostly through tobacco - and to finance his many escapes.
Over the 14 years of his imprisonment, he made at least 11 escape attempts - many of which succeeded. He was ingenious in his creativity, never replicating a previously tried escape. Some were escapes by boat, raft or tide; others were explosions, runaways and assault; and others included faking illness or mental stability.
The conditions of some of the prison camps, especially his 2 years of solitary confinement, were gruesome. There was one where the sewage-filled tide rose into the dungeon prison cells to the height of his thighs every six hours. There was another where he was starved to the point of losing teeth to scurvy.
There is information now that says these stories are not Papillon's alone, but instead a collection of stories he learned from other prisoners over the years. No matter to me. Storytelling is what keeps us all alive and if he was inspired and/or outraged by the tales of others and wanted to include their descriptions as part of his own then, in my mind, it is part of his story.
The only part I had real issue with was where he escaped to and then welcomed into a remote village of native Venezuelans (which he called indians!). During his 7 month respite there, he "married" two sisters, got them both pregnant and then left before the children were born, for no reason except that he wanted to return to society. When he was caught after this escapade and re-imprisoned, I thought it was deserved. What a tool.
It is hard to imagine what Carrière's life was like after such torture, adventure and fervour during his incarcerations. It is an excellent tale and I will remember him for his kindness and humanity despite the soul-crushing conditions he had to endure.
In Paris 1931, after a bungled investigation with false witness testimony which framed Charrière as a murderer, he was handed a severe life sentence of hard labour in a prison camp called La Bagne de Cayenne in French Guiana. At only 25(?) years old at the time of the sentence, he simply wouldn't accept this punishment. In the end, he was imprisoned for 14 years of that life sentence.
Papillon used every opportunity to get to know his fellow prisoners, the guards, the wardens and the locals to gain information about the various prison camps he was sent to, as well as to garner key intel about the best sort of work to be assigned, ways to secure decent meals and the lay of the land and sea surrounding the camps.
This info gathering was done through his immense approachability and his willingness to work together with anyone to plan escapes. He used his money stash (suppository) to buy people's interest and loyalty - mostly through tobacco - and to finance his many escapes.
Over the 14 years of his imprisonment, he made at least 11 escape attempts - many of which succeeded. He was ingenious in his creativity, never replicating a previously tried escape. Some were escapes by boat, raft or tide; others were explosions, runaways and assault; and others included faking illness or mental stability.
The conditions of some of the prison camps, especially his 2 years of solitary confinement, were gruesome. There was one where the sewage-filled tide rose into the dungeon prison cells to the height of his thighs every six hours. There was another where he was starved to the point of losing teeth to scurvy.
There is information now that says these stories are not Papillon's alone, but instead a collection of stories he learned from other prisoners over the years. No matter to me. Storytelling is what keeps us all alive and if he was inspired and/or outraged by the tales of others and wanted to include their descriptions as part of his own then, in my mind, it is part of his story.
The only part I had real issue with was where he escaped to and then welcomed into a remote village of native Venezuelans (which he called indians!). During his 7 month respite there, he "married" two sisters, got them both pregnant and then left before the children were born, for no reason except that he wanted to return to society. When he was caught after this escapade and re-imprisoned, I thought it was deserved. What a tool.
It is hard to imagine what Carrière's life was like after such torture, adventure and fervour during his incarcerations. It is an excellent tale and I will remember him for his kindness and humanity despite the soul-crushing conditions he had to endure.
p0llyw0lly's review
5.0
One of the best adventure stories you'll ever read. It's a story of perseverance and friendships and to never give up. Truly a page turner that will not let you put it down
22halo's review
4.0
truly jaw dropping scenes in here. this is the white frenchmans biomythography i don’t even care if they have speculations about the validity of his story…. this romp through the colombian wilderness ending in two wives??? the tiny chinese pig that led him across quicksand???? how the sharks ate his friend……???? it’s a brutal life in the bagne but he spins it up so well. and it is quite fun to get spun around with him too
kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review
1.0
Up until I got bored with it, the writing was good. But some of the "adventures", I have to say - Yeah, righ. Male Wish Fullment.
dream_sequence's review
5.0
This book taught me the true meaning of resilience, courage and determination. Papillon is a truly admirable story.