Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by chattypattyxoxo
Papillon by Henri Charrière
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.