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A review by jenbsbooks
The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom by Slavomir Rawicz
inspiring
tense
3.5
I originally read this back in 1990, in my first year of college. It was assigned in one of my psychology classes. I remember finding it fascinating, loving it. I'm fairly certain there was a re-read at some point, although I don't have it recorded. I ended up watching the movie inspired by the book (The Way Back) a few years ago. I found a copy of the physical book at a thrift store (bought it for the Little Free Library) and figured I'd do a re-read and review.
While some 35 years later, I still found it interesting and compelling, some revelations into the "truth" of it (records showing Rawicz was released, no big escape) and just questions of proof or even corroboration, the possibility of the events (crossing the Gobi without provisions, seeing a Yeti), just anyone remembering so much detail years after (attempting honesty in writing, but memories can be hard to trust), and the inclusion of so much dialog makes it feel so much more like fiction.
My initial read back in college - I'm trying to remember if it was a paperback copy, what edition (I don't think it was the big paperback I currently have). I don't remember there being any knowledge or discussion of this being ghost written; although that seems obvious to me now. I felt it was well written. Very conversational, organized. Dialog added, several similes to add descriptive visualization. In the Kindle, there was a foreword to the Polish edition (abridged?) and an afterward to the 1997 edition, which I found interesting to read. The Kindle and Physical had a foreword by Ronald Downing (reporter and ghost writer) which was interesting as well. The physical book had a map, which was good to have. The visual of the areas mentioned was helpful.
I appreciated the Table of Contents, with the headers included. I like just looking over it, and my memory being jogged as to the events occurring in the book. I suppose, if glancing at the TOC before reading, it could be seen as having some spoilers ...
1. Kharkov and the Lubyanka
2. Trial and Sentence
3. From Prison to Cattle Truck
4. Three Thousand Miles by Train
5. Chain Gang
6. End of Journey
7. Life in Camp 303
8. The Wife of the Commissar
9. Plans for Escape
10. Seven Cross the Lena River
11. Baikal and a Fugitive Girl
12. Kristina Joins the Partyy
13. Across the Trans-Siberian Railway
14. Eight Enter Mongolia
15. Life Among the Friendly Monguls
16. The Gobi Desert: Hunger, Drought and Death
17. Snake Meat and Mud
18. The Last of the Gobi
19. Six Enter Tibet
20. Five By-Pass Lhasa
21. Himalayan Foothills
22. Strange Creatures
23. Four Reach India
I wish I still had my college assignments ... to recall what was discussed about the book (I'm sure some psychology of prison, deprivation, moral questions, etc). I think I found quite interesting some of the words by Rawicz in the extras, his reasonings "I did not write my story for personal gain. It was done as a memorial to all those whose name is Million, and who could not speak for themselves. It is a warning to the living, and, I hope, a moral judgment for the greater good. I hope The Long Walk is a reminder that when lost, freedom is difficult to regain."
The title, while representative of the tale, is a little bland, and there are several books with the same title (makes it a little more difficult to find it). "The Way Back" ... the movie title, has the same issues. I really do NOT like the movie cover being added to the book though, on later publications (and on my Kindle edition).
Overall ... I had to drop the rating at this read (3.5* IS still good). While still interesting and compelling, and well written, the questions into whether it should really be labeled as nonfiction are hard to ignore. I didn't really find things I wanted to stop and highlight. At this point, I don't know that it's one I'd really recommend. It will always hold a special place in my memory though, for its first impact on me.
No proFanity.
While some 35 years later, I still found it interesting and compelling, some revelations into the "truth" of it (records showing Rawicz was released, no big escape) and just questions of proof or even corroboration, the possibility of the events (crossing the Gobi without provisions, seeing a Yeti), just anyone remembering so much detail years after (attempting honesty in writing, but memories can be hard to trust), and the inclusion of so much dialog makes it feel so much more like fiction.
My initial read back in college - I'm trying to remember if it was a paperback copy, what edition (I don't think it was the big paperback I currently have). I don't remember there being any knowledge or discussion of this being ghost written; although that seems obvious to me now. I felt it was well written. Very conversational, organized. Dialog added, several similes to add descriptive visualization. In the Kindle, there was a foreword to the Polish edition (abridged?) and an afterward to the 1997 edition, which I found interesting to read. The Kindle and Physical had a foreword by Ronald Downing (reporter and ghost writer) which was interesting as well. The physical book had a map, which was good to have. The visual of the areas mentioned was helpful.
I appreciated the Table of Contents, with the headers included. I like just looking over it, and my memory being jogged as to the events occurring in the book. I suppose, if glancing at the TOC before reading, it could be seen as having some spoilers ...
1. Kharkov and the Lubyanka
2. Trial and Sentence
3. From Prison to Cattle Truck
4. Three Thousand Miles by Train
5. Chain Gang
6. End of Journey
7. Life in Camp 303
8. The Wife of the Commissar
9. Plans for Escape
10. Seven Cross the Lena River
11. Baikal and a Fugitive Girl
12. Kristina Joins the Partyy
13. Across the Trans-Siberian Railway
14. Eight Enter Mongolia
15. Life Among the Friendly Monguls
16. The Gobi Desert: Hunger, Drought and Death
17. Snake Meat and Mud
18. The Last of the Gobi
19. Six Enter Tibet
20. Five By-Pass Lhasa
21. Himalayan Foothills
22. Strange Creatures
23. Four Reach India
I wish I still had my college assignments ... to recall what was discussed about the book (I'm sure some psychology of prison, deprivation, moral questions, etc). I think I found quite interesting some of the words by Rawicz in the extras, his reasonings "I did not write my story for personal gain. It was done as a memorial to all those whose name is Million, and who could not speak for themselves. It is a warning to the living, and, I hope, a moral judgment for the greater good. I hope The Long Walk is a reminder that when lost, freedom is difficult to regain."
The title, while representative of the tale, is a little bland, and there are several books with the same title (makes it a little more difficult to find it). "The Way Back" ... the movie title, has the same issues. I really do NOT like the movie cover being added to the book though, on later publications (and on my Kindle edition).
Overall ... I had to drop the rating at this read (3.5* IS still good). While still interesting and compelling, and well written, the questions into whether it should really be labeled as nonfiction are hard to ignore. I didn't really find things I wanted to stop and highlight. At this point, I don't know that it's one I'd really recommend. It will always hold a special place in my memory though, for its first impact on me.
No proFanity.