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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
I saw the movie long before listening to the book, and honestly I was worried the book would fall flat after watching Leonardo DiCaprio’s (always immaculate) performance in the role of Frank. On the contrary, I was absolutely delighted with the book, though the story line differs a bit from the movie, it was an utterly captivating audiobook, and I didn’t want it to end!
*listened to the audiobook*
A very fast, purely entertaining read. I recommend to anyone looking for a jump into the joys of nonfiction/memoirs.
My only complaint, and hence the 4 stars, is that it ends SO ABRUPTLY. I had a friend's paperback copy on my shelf and had to pull that out to double check and make sure that the library audiobook wasn't abridged or shortened or just plain broken.
Nope.
The physical book had an afterward that summed more things up, but the audiobook just ends, and not with any sort of actual conclusion. It's mid-escape and then you never know, from the book at least, how the rest of Abagnale's life ends up.
A very fast, purely entertaining read. I recommend to anyone looking for a jump into the joys of nonfiction/memoirs.
My only complaint, and hence the 4 stars, is that it ends SO ABRUPTLY. I had a friend's paperback copy on my shelf and had to pull that out to double check and make sure that the library audiobook wasn't abridged or shortened or just plain broken.
Nope.
The physical book had an afterward that summed more things up, but the audiobook just ends, and not with any sort of actual conclusion. It's mid-escape and then you never know, from the book at least, how the rest of Abagnale's life ends up.
This book is very uneven. The slang style is distracting and frankly stupid. I'm sure they were trying to put this in the voice of the teenage Abagnale, but it does not work at all. The most interesting parts were the clear descriptions of how Abagnale figured out and worked a con. Everything else was just boring and probably untrue. There is a kernel of stuff here to keep the book interesting, but I wouldn't recommend it.
Also, the ending sucked. Spielberg did a better job on that bit as well.
Also, the ending sucked. Spielberg did a better job on that bit as well.
This is one of those rare books that is as good as the movie if not better!
adventurous
funny
informative
fast-paced
Entertaining! Crazy to think that this took place before he was 21 and that he got away with all of his shenanigans for so long. Would recommend the book, would not recommend the lifestyle for what are hopefully obvious reasons.
Planning to watch the movie! The Q&A from the books says that Frank considers the movie to be about 80% accurate, which seems respectable.
Planning to watch the movie! The Q&A from the books says that Frank considers the movie to be about 80% accurate, which seems respectable.
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
2.5/5
Frank’s escapades and the amount of scams he managed to pull off were fascinating. The book felt incomplete as it jumped around from story to story, city to city, and eventually country to country. It wasn’t until Frank was in Sweden waiting to be extradited to a dozen other countries that we discover how many more places he actually travelled and deceived people. This highlight reel where nothing ever went wrong seemed fanciful at best and was likely a total exaggeration or fabrication at worst. There is no remorse and only occasionally a bit of morality.
The obsession and narrative about all the women was ridiculous. He made himself out to be the biggest (teenage) playboy of the 1960s. He claims to be obsessed with women but clearly didn’t respect them for all the times he used and duped them during his scams. One of the few instances that the movie is actually better than the book.
Frank’s escapades and the amount of scams he managed to pull off were fascinating. The book felt incomplete as it jumped around from story to story, city to city, and eventually country to country. It wasn’t until Frank was in Sweden waiting to be extradited to a dozen other countries that we discover how many more places he actually travelled and deceived people. This highlight reel where nothing ever went wrong seemed fanciful at best and was likely a total exaggeration or fabrication at worst. There is no remorse and only occasionally a bit of morality.
The obsession and narrative about all the women was ridiculous. He made himself out to be the biggest (teenage) playboy of the 1960s. He claims to be obsessed with women but clearly didn’t respect them for all the times he used and duped them during his scams. One of the few instances that the movie is actually better than the book.
Sexist. Repetitive. Far-fetched. Narcissistic. Movie so much more enjoyable than the book. Almost ruins the movie for me (But Tom Hanks! so it's okay).
Fascinating and entertaining read, especially for a criminologist (I especially loved the description of the French versus Swedish prison of course!).