Billy Hayes (1) (1947–)

I watched the movie a few weeks ago, and I was so intrigued by this story, I had to read the book. As my library not only didn't own a copy of the movie, they also didn't own a copy of the book, I opted to listen to it on Audible. I'm so glad it did, since it was read by Billy Hayes himself!
I'd heard that the movie was greatly sensationalized compared to the book, and I agree that there were some things changed and maybe *enhanced*.... however, it's not untrue that Billy Hayes went through show more several beatings, was treated horribly, and he struggled for ages (unsuccessfully) to get help from his family, friends, and the American Consulate to win his freedom legally. It seemed clear to me that the only way he could ever hope to win his freedom was, indeed, by riding the Midnight Express! I'm so glad he did! There are times, when you're in the middle of a story and it gets really bad/scary/dangerous and you find yourself wondering, "Will he make it? Is there any chance he'll survive?" And I felt like such an idiot at those times, because he obviously did, or the story wouldn't have been told! But KNOWING he made it didn't ease the fear I felt for him as he described the challenges he faced along the way. This book is extremely intense, and I felt that, despite the ugly bits, the hurtful, painful bits, there were also many, many parts that were beautiful. Billy made some great friendships and he learned a lot about his inner self. Those, I think, were the sources of his strength--the things that helped him survive his time in the Turkish prison as well as his escape. show less

True story of captured Hash smuggler Billy Hayes. It details his time in the Turkish prison system from his arrest to his eventual escape. The story is well written and a nice easy read but for me it just fell a little flat at times. I know it is a true story so only the events that happened can be detailed, but it just didn't really seem all that much of an adventure? The life in prison was nowhere near as harrowing as other books I have read and I struggled to empathise for Billy. He show more always seems to be type of person that doesn't really take responsibility for his own actions, and over the years of his incarceration I still got the same impression that no matter how much others would try to help he was always selfish enough to ignore their efforts.

A good book but just one where I struggled to root for the author, which I think in a prison/escape story you really need to. show less

Just OK. It's a very quick read and mildly entertaining. I would have given it three stars except for the fact that I read an interview with him in a Las Vegas magazine (after I finished the book, I wanted to see what he did with his life after this experience (not much)) and there are revelations in that interview that aren't included in the book and I lost a certain amount of sympathy for him.

70-Νομίζω ότι θα είχα απολαύσει περισσότερο αυτό το βιβλίο αν δεν είχα δει ήδη την ταινία, η οποία τώρα ξέρω ότι ήταν αρκετά δραματοποιημένη.
Τα περισσότερα από τα συναρπαστικά περιστατικά στην ταινία, όπως φαίνεται, δεν συνέβησαν ποτέ στην πραγματικότητα. Μεγάλο show more σοκ.
Συνολικά, το βιβλίο ήταν πολύ καλό στο να απεικονίζει τη ζωή και τις απολύτως άθλιες συνθήκες στο τουρκικό σωφρονιστικό σύστημα, αλλά δεν συμβαίνουν πολλά στην πραγματικότητα. Πολλές αντιπαραθέσεις με δικηγόρους και προσωπικό πρεσβειών, αλληλεπιδράσεις με άλλους ξένους κρατούμενους, περιστασιακά ξυλοδαρμούς, αλλά κατά τη γνώμη μου, ήταν κάπως αργό.
Το τέλος, το οποίο περίμενα να είναι σπαρακτικό, ήταν απλώς μια ανακούφιση. show less