Papillon

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Summary: Epic story of the fight for freedom
Review: This book was excellent. It was easy reading and made you feel like you were with Henry on this quest. I strongly recommend this book to everyone. The story brings to light how scary it can become when an innocent person in prosecuted and branded as quilty. Hats off to Henry for having the will to keep going while most would give up. A must read for anyone that likes true stories!

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Summary: Papillon is a genuine monster !
Review: At first, forget about the film. I like Steve McQueen's Papillon too, but the real book is something totally different. Papillon, as the story is almost unbearably heavy and emotionally devastating to the reader. The book is a genuine monster of juxtaposition of Human and the World (that is both the human community and the nature) in the most extreme sense. I cannot raise the question of whether the story is all real and if Papillon went through the horrors that exceed imagination of a human of developed world like me. The narration simply does not allow for that, because the author has put so much of personality into his account and described the events and images so vividly. What though is most astonishing to me is the truthfulness and the solid bear reality. There is no attempt to amaze the reader, both the little aspects and the elevated emotional and moral phenomena are narratively presented in a clear and ordinary style, but with an unquestionable essence of purity and truth behind them.

It is also essential to apprehend the grand values that Papillon discovers, appreciates and highlights in his account. As a little example, the regular delivery of the little slip of paper from Dega and Grandet to Papillon in his solitary confinement cell on the Iles du Salut saying that they "are with him, will try to help and do hope" is essential. The reader realizes the incredible weight and importance of human support and friendship when one's in trouble or in loneliness. In normal life of a european, I find myself ignoring virtually millions of such little stimuli, for which Papi was so greatful and which kept him alive. I must admit I feel ashamed for this foolish nature of humans to ignore such small gifts when living in the relative luxury of the developed world.

From a literary point of view, the book is written in a very simple language, that does not employ any sophisticated linguistic devices. The language of Charriere is such due to him not being a writer. I feel though, that this factor is what makes the story so incredibly pure and substantial.

Henri Charriere has become a great teacher to me. Now that I have experienced possibly the greatest story of human experience, suffering and gradual purification of soul, my approach to every next minute of my life will be much more thankful. The values of friendship, reliability, absolute groundbreaking will AND honest truthfulness have been permanently engraved into my personality.

It is hard to imagine that many people of the world do not even know of Henri Charriere. It is sad to realize how many of them could become better people by experiencing his life story. Nevertheless, I deeply encourage you to read Papillon, no matter what your age or status. You will never regret it. Matej

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Summary: Simply the greatest book ever written.
Review: This book is always within easy reach on my shelf. For those of you that can read French, the French/original version actually has many stories that were shamelessly edited out when translated into English. Also throughout the book many descriptions are simply shorter in the English version since many words were cut out. There were many beautifully described adventures in Georgetown that the non-French reader will never know. The translation into American English is quite accurate in feeling. So if you're an American, make sure you get the version translated into American English since there is a strong difference. As an American I can't really appreciate the British English translation that was done to it to make it palatable to British tastes.

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Summary: papi
Review: i know this book maybe for 5 years and last year i bought a yacht and named it "papi".

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Summary: Great book... who cares if it might not be true?
Review: The authenticity of this book came into question soon after it was published and "Pappy" swore that all of it is true. All these years later and its still a source of controversy with the experts still doubting the truth. Is it true or not? I think that Charriere totally beleived in everything he wrote. What may not be true is that all of this didn't personnaly happen to him... he's telling the stories of men long forgotten in his own way by placing himself in their shoes and living it. Too good a read to pass up because it might not all be true.

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Summary: one to read again and again
Review: this is a book that's up there with the godfather, similar actually, in that it's a story of an exceedingly macho yet modest guy. this is an adventure extraordinaire, and it's got the good moral overtones - you want to see this "wrongly accused criminal" get free. i do wonder, though, did this guy actually do what he was convicted of??? for many years, however, papillon, the man that is, as told through the book, has been a role model of mine (i rather hate to admit it), the guy who's so tough inside that nothing can beat him, no prison can chain him down forever, etc. ...[B]ut i would say, if you haven't read this, DO!

Rating:
Summary: Great story
Review: The man was a low life, no doubt about it...but he couldn't help what he was, he could only help what he'd become.

He had a tenacity for life. He proves the point that adventure is seldom fun while one goes through it.

If you like the style of this book, I recommend Slumblord! by Albert Lee. It is also a true story written down to earth with humor. Very different story but the tough minded characters are very similar in their approach to life and dealing with hardship.

Rating:
Summary: best book I ever read
Review: I am interested in buying this book, but if possible I would like to get a spanish version (it has to be a used book).If there is anybody out there who knows of a copy of Papillon in spanish please leave me an e-mail <[e-mail]>.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting story but.....
Review: I actually really enjoyed reading the book. Its 400+ pages passed by without a lull though after reading it a while I started doubting some of the stories. Not that the ordeal was too unbelieveable just that everything he did he was the best at it. He was the best gardner, the best fisherman, the best animal hearder, the best you name it! When the wardens of all three of the penal islands got together and summoned Papillon to tell THEM how to handle goverment inquieries into a failed prison revolt was the topper. He states he had lucid dreams while in solitary confinement and I wonder if some of the stories weren't imagined episodes made real by such isolation. Any Psych majors out there? So if you look at it as a work of fiction it is a VERY enjoyable book but if you look at it as a 100% true story you'll feel like you're being taken for a ride.

Rating:
Summary: True or Not, a Grand Time
Review: I could care less whether what Charriere relates is entirely factual or not. He's an ex-con, after all, so we may take a lot of what he says with a grain of salt. Does this means the story suffers as a result of a con's artifice? I think not. The story was written when Charriere was 63. He probably did add a lot of imaginative detail, but he also led a far more interesting, eventful, and courageous life than 99.9% of the book's readers have. Anyone who could come up with these incidents is a natural-born storyteller at any event. The book's sold more than 5 million copies and has been translated into over 20 languages. I don't in the least consider myself fooled, I consider myself enriched for having read it, Believe it or Not.