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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
Well, I don't think I'll ever be able to think of the word plan in the same way again!
This is a very interesting and well-written memoir of escaped con Henri Charriere. Convicted of a crime he didn't commit, he is sentenced to a life of hard labour in a French penal colony, from which he makes multiple escape attempts, finally succeeding 14 years later. I'd previously watched the Steve McQueen film as a student, some 15 years ago now, and reading this showed that I remembered pretty much nothing from the film!! (Note to self: must re-watch!)
I found this book incredibly readable, if a bit long. He covers some areas, such as this first escape, in great detail (it covers almost half the book, detailing a period of 7 months), whereas some other areas, such as his final escape, are barely touched upon.
The message of this book is very much a critique on the harsh conditions that the French penal colonies placed on their inmates, and the lack of humanity that this reflects on 'civilised' society. I absolutely loved how Charriere portrays the Venezualan and Guajiran communities - the kindness of these people that were considered 'uncivilised' at the time, and the message that empathy and warmth of heart is the true mark of humanity.
This is a very interesting and well-written memoir of escaped con Henri Charriere. Convicted of a crime he didn't commit, he is sentenced to a life of hard labour in a French penal colony, from which he makes multiple escape attempts, finally succeeding 14 years later. I'd previously watched the Steve McQueen film as a student, some 15 years ago now, and reading this showed that I remembered pretty much nothing from the film!! (Note to self: must re-watch!)
I found this book incredibly readable, if a bit long. He covers some areas, such as this first escape, in great detail (it covers almost half the book, detailing a period of 7 months), whereas some other areas, such as his final escape, are barely touched upon.
The message of this book is very much a critique on the harsh conditions that the French penal colonies placed on their inmates, and the lack of humanity that this reflects on 'civilised' society. I absolutely loved how Charriere portrays the Venezualan and Guajiran communities - the kindness of these people that were considered 'uncivilised' at the time, and the message that empathy and warmth of heart is the true mark of humanity.
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
After seeing the movie "Papillon" (Steve McQueen, awesome), I wanted to read the book. It was OK, but not as compelling as I had expected. Plus, as it turns out, though the book was billed as autobiographical, it probably wasn't. At best, it may have been a loosely realistic account of events experienced by a number of prisoners with whom the author associated while in French prisons.
It covers a fourteen-year period in Papillon's life dating from when he was wrongly convicted of murder. His punishment was life at hard labor at the notorious Devil's Island penal colony, but he was also imprisoned (and attempted escapes) at numerous locations. At least one of his escape attempts was temporarily successful, but his desire for revenge against the authorities led him back into their hands. Punishment for his escape attempts was often solitary confinement for years at a time.
After his final escape from devil's Island, Papillon was ultimately released, obtained Venezuelan citizenship, and thereafter, fame for his escapes.
Charrière originally submitted his manuscript to the publisher as a novel, and the publisher persuaded him to call it an autobiography. I probably wouldn't have read it had I known that at the time...my interest was in true accounts of escapes. Nevertheless, the descriptions of the various escape attempts, of the horrendous conditions under which the prisoners lived, and of the indomitable spirit of the man to be free again made it a reasonably good read.
It covers a fourteen-year period in Papillon's life dating from when he was wrongly convicted of murder. His punishment was life at hard labor at the notorious Devil's Island penal colony, but he was also imprisoned (and attempted escapes) at numerous locations. At least one of his escape attempts was temporarily successful, but his desire for revenge against the authorities led him back into their hands. Punishment for his escape attempts was often solitary confinement for years at a time.
After his final escape from devil's Island, Papillon was ultimately released, obtained Venezuelan citizenship, and thereafter, fame for his escapes.
Charrière originally submitted his manuscript to the publisher as a novel, and the publisher persuaded him to call it an autobiography. I probably wouldn't have read it had I known that at the time...my interest was in true accounts of escapes. Nevertheless, the descriptions of the various escape attempts, of the horrendous conditions under which the prisoners lived, and of the indomitable spirit of the man to be free again made it a reasonably good read.
adventurous
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Fantastic brilliant
adventurous
fast-paced
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
The blurb did intrigued me enough to pick it up but didn't think I would care much for it but surprisingly enough it was hard to stop listening to. An story that was hard to put down and even as it's not an happy book it was definitely a book that I've been thinking about a bit after finishing it
I should have stopped reading when he wrote about a 12 year old trying so hard to seduce him that he finally had to give him to make his “wife” happy 🤢 The racism was very difficult to stomach, as was the homophobia.
It’s maybe 30% true (being generous) and sometimes interesting but I was done with reading his egotistical ramblings. Lots of people have covered how ludicrous it is that he’s told a story of everyone adoring him and sacrificing themselves to help him over and over again.
I wouldn’t recommend this book at all, I think it had its time and there are now much better adventures out there to read.
It’s maybe 30% true (being generous) and sometimes interesting but I was done with reading his egotistical ramblings. Lots of people have covered how ludicrous it is that he’s told a story of everyone adoring him and sacrificing themselves to help him over and over again.
I wouldn’t recommend this book at all, I think it had its time and there are now much better adventures out there to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Gore, Homophobia, Racism, Violence
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-paced