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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
Super interesting narrative. Would that more prisoners of this period had told their stories. Such interesting tales of grand adventure.
It took me 4 months to finish this book, not because I didn't like it, but because my edition is really old and I didn't carry it around with me like I usually do. Matter of fact, it belongs to my grandfather who told me this was the book he found most hard to stop reading. And I can now see what he meant by that.
This book is so cleverly written that it seems you're having a conversation with a friend who is telling you what happened since you both last met.
Pappillon is a very charismatic character, which you can't help but root for. I know this book was written half a century ago, but I still can't feel comfortable with all the sexist and racist thoughts that went through this character's mind.
And that was the only downside of this reading. It's a great story, very entertaining and it was an interesting experience to know more about my grandpa by reading a favorite of his.
This book is so cleverly written that it seems you're having a conversation with a friend who is telling you what happened since you both last met.
Pappillon is a very charismatic character, which you can't help but root for. I know this book was written half a century ago, but I still can't feel comfortable with all the sexist and racist thoughts that went through this character's mind.
And that was the only downside of this reading. It's a great story, very entertaining and it was an interesting experience to know more about my grandpa by reading a favorite of his.
I just cannot deal with the fact that every messed up thing that the main character did is described as justifiable without any sort of reflection or criticism. The main character being the "hero" of the story (which fair, is his own life) is deeply problematic in the context of some of the things he does.
For example marrying children and engaging in sexual actvities with them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content, Murder
Não consigo descrever a felicidade que estou a sentir por finalmente ter acabado com isto.
It was an enormous achievement to read the whole book considering during the first few chapters I really doubted whether I wanted to continue. There were 2 main reasons to struggle with it Firstly although it is considered fiction these days[even if true fiction] it reads like a non fiction book I couldn't engage with the characters or feel any emotions towards them as despite some brutal and dramatic events they were told as a string of facts. With this lack of immersion into the story and the characters lives I found large portions of the book rather boring. Secondly, I didn't really like Henri Charriere himself. He lied a lot , used people to his own advantage and dumped them with little emotion when they were no longer useful to him. He believed all people who helped him were good and noble and those who didn't were evil. Even God [ who he professed not to believe in] was blamed for every bad thing that happened to him. Charriere was unable to take responsibility for anything he had done.and his thirst for vengeance was the driving force behind all he did
However I did make it to the end and so obviously I found it more interesting as I went along. Charriere did have some redeeming features . He had an irrepressible optimism that was undaunted no matter what crap was thrown at him and so deserves respect. He published this book I believe ,in the main, to highlight the inhumane and barbaric penal colonies used in the justice system of France. In this he succeeded and they were closed down . I won't be reading the sequel and neither will I recommend this to my friends but I am glad I read it- all of it.
However I did make it to the end and so obviously I found it more interesting as I went along. Charriere did have some redeeming features . He had an irrepressible optimism that was undaunted no matter what crap was thrown at him and so deserves respect. He published this book I believe ,in the main, to highlight the inhumane and barbaric penal colonies used in the justice system of France. In this he succeeded and they were closed down . I won't be reading the sequel and neither will I recommend this to my friends but I am glad I read it- all of it.
I just read Boy Swallows Universe, and this novel was mentioned in it. I then went to the bookstore and saw this book on sale. Did I like the tale much? It was mediocre. I think the story was ok, but I really disliked the character of Papillon. He seemed pompous and often blew his own horn too much. Although he claims he is innocent of the crime he was convicted of, he didn't seem to mind getting rid of people who got in the way of his plan for escape and ultimate freedom. For this reason, I found this novel a bit hard to take. The character never showed humility or seemed humbled, even when his friends who tried to help him, lost their lives because of him. For this, I give this a 3.5/5.
Captivating memoir that I can highly recommend for anyone looking for a great story on a convict who lives through horrific events and real adventures during his 10 years of imprisonment in South America.
Also, an eye-opener on how primitive the justice system was in those days (1930-1940) and how badly the prisoners were treated on several occasions.
Also, an eye-opener on how primitive the justice system was in those days (1930-1940) and how badly the prisoners were treated on several occasions.