Customer Reviews

Banco the Further Adventures of Papillon

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Unlike some of the other reviewers who did not care much for "BANCO", I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Now, I confess not to have yet read "PAPILLON". So, my critique of "BANCO" is not reflective of what "PAPILLON" was about.

"BANCO" takes up from where "PAPILLON" left off. The author has escaped into Venezuela. He is deeply embittered and finds it difficult at first to readjust to life on the outside. He is set on revenge for he feels that he was framed for a crime he did not commit. As a way of working out his anger, the author becomes involved in an elaborate plan to stage a big robbery so that he can not only enrich himself, but also return to Europe and exact his revenge. While set on his plans for revenge, however, the author finds love and peace of mind.

"BANCO" stands as a fine example of what a person is capable of achieving in terms of self-improvement and spiritual renewal. When I finished reading this book, I felt very happy for the author, who had learned to cast aside the anger and rage he had bottled up inside himself during his imprisonment on Devil's Island, and find an inner peace for himself.

This is the best story after Papillon I have ever read. I'm saying this because Papillon warms you up and Banco is the "more" that you need. I have been told there are many stories that are just as good as Charriere's books but not many make you get so involved in one man's life story. I, like probably 100 other people, imagine myself in the role of his story.

didn't papillon leave you wishing he stayed with the pearl diver's in paradise, instead of being tempted back to civilization by its siren song? Well it turns out there is a lot more to this tale than the first book would have you guess, but surely papillon has many adventures before him, and good ones too, if i may be the judge. it seems everyone knows about the first book, because of the movie, and no one ever seems to realize there is more. if you made it this far to read my review, you just got to give banco a read. how papillon comes to peace with himself and his world IS THE STORY! i would rate this book higher than five if i could!

I read the both papillon/banco, many times. These imbressed me very much, because it gives hope. These books are a good guide to life to every one, i read these again and again after few years. The teaching of the books is that you need not give up -never !!!! Many people complain without any reason. If you have money enough or life is not going like you wish. My language is finnish and i have difficult to say english what i am thinking. If you try something very hard, and you are working for this, it will works, IF you will !! That is the point ! These books is wrote very simple and easy reading way-like telling he story. (Finnish translating ) The best books i ever read !

Charriere's sequel to Papillon, while not as action-packed, is still a must-read for anyone who has read his first book. Papi describes the rebuilding of his life in Venezuela, a bungled bank robbery, his job as a jungle guide in the South American rain forests, the woman who became his second wife, and much more, all in the same simple yet elegant narrative style that made Papillon so enthralling.

Most importantly, he tells of the resolution of his all-consuming passion for revenge upon the people who conspired to frame him for murder. It is the final triumph for a man who endured what most of us cannot imagine surviving. Benedictez-vous, Papi!

amazing, henri learns to forgive and live. well, after a few misadventures ranging from running poker games in the jungle, a screwy jewel heist, a botched bank robbery scheme, and a few others. all for one thing, enough money to get back to france and kill his false accusors. good read.

Usually I'm not very critical about books, but I feel like I have to make an exception. I STRONGLY advise to just read "Papillon" and keep it with that. Papillon is such a strong, adventurous and exciting story that you just want it to continue after you've turned the last page.
The first thing I did after reading Papillon, was going to the bookstore to buy Banco, expecting interesting details about his further life and adventures. Most of all I wondered if he would return to Lali and Zoraïma.
I regret to say that I have never read such a disappointing "sequel" before. Although the life of Henri Charrière is probably more adventurous than most of ours, the story really never gained my attention. The power of "Papillon" was that the story was enormously strong and it had an obvious focus. In "Banco" there isn't a focus at all, it just consists of a bunch of hardly interesting anecdotes. There isn't really ANY decent link between the story from "Papillon" and the life of Charrière as portraied in Banco.
For those who are interested if Charrière returns to lali and Zoraïma, I'll only give the hint that there are probably two lines spent on them in Banco. Let's make it clear, I am a HUGE fan of "Papillon", but that is exactly the reason that I would'nt advise anybody to buy Banco, unless they have sleeping problems.

There are few books that captured my imagination the way "Papillon" did, so naturally I was very much anticipating reading "Banco". Although I was not disappointed, it must be said that it is not quite as thrilling as the first in the series. The simple problem is that the events described in the book simply cannot compare in intensity to his prison years. Nonetheless, his tales are interesting to read, and you do get an idea of how wild his life must have been. It is best to read "Papillon" first and, if you like it, and want to know what happens next (as you surely will) then "Banco" is simply a must-read.

Not as interesting as Papillon, but that is probably also partly because you know what to expect, and it is also not the same setting. Less smuggling gear up the date, that sort of thing. After the nastiness of a prison island, I suppose this is not that surprising that it does not girp you in the same way.

Everyone who reads 'Banco' does so because he/she was completely enthralled with 'Papillon' and are curious as to what happens to Monsieur Charriere. But this reader was foolish enough to think 'Banco' would be as good as 'Papillon'. Sadly, this sequel is a mere shadow of the original.

Why? Firstly, the book is poorly structured. The author bounces around quite a bit leaving discarding characters in its wake. He is also too selective on what he wants to say about his life. For example he does not tell us at all about his French wife even upon returning to France to meet with the rest of his family. And the final fifty pages are an over-blown flashback to his original trial where he claims emphatically that he was framed, perjured against, etc. After so many cries of "I'm innocent, really!!!" I'm beginning to wonder.

Still, overall I do recommend 'Banco' to those who have just finished 'Papillon'. Just don't expect so much and you won't be disappointed.