Long March to Freedom: Tom Hargrove's Own Story of His Kidnapping by Colombian Narco-Guerrillas [Unabridged] [Hardcover]

Thomas R. Hargrove (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 334 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1st edition (November 14, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345405080
• ISBN-13: 978-0345405081
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,748,908 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary book on a tough ordeal, January 8, 2002

By 

J. E. Nelson (Plainfield, Illinois) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Long March to Freedom: Tom Hargrove's Own Story of His Kidnapping by Colombian Narco-Guerrillas (Paperback)

This book is the diary kept by Thomas Hargrove during his 300+ days in captivity after being kidnapped by Guerrillas in Columbia.

While I believe that the book contains exactly what was in Dr. Hargrove's diaries, the way it comes together in the book is ingenious. The way the book came together, you can feel emotionally everything Dr. Hargrove goes through. In the beginning, the diary entries seem slightly upbeat as it seems the ordeal will not last long. As you read on, boredom and sickness set in. As the days drag by, there are many highs and moments of hope as well as many lows and letdowns that could crush a person's will to live. This book has it all!

This book gives the reader a sense of what it is like to be kidnapped and held against your will. As you read, when Dr. Hargrove is happy, the reader is happy. When Dr. Hargrove is bored, the diary entries are boring and the reader gets kind of bored. When crushing blows are dealt to Dr. Hargrove, it makes you feel sick inside.

The only thing I would have liked to see in the book is a little more detail on the ransom negotiations. It would have been great to read from the point of his wife and children, what happened during negotiations, how it happened, and what they were feeling.

If you want to read about the story of a captive who was held for 300+ days, this is a tremendous book. However, just as I said before, when days get long in captivity, the diary entries are not that interesting. Even so, it was well worth reading the book from cover to cover.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very gripping, honest and real..., March 6, 2002

By 

"ducksquat" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Long March to Freedom: Tom Hargrove's Own Story of His Kidnapping by Colombian Narco-Guerrillas (Paperback)

Thomas Hargrove's "Long March to Freedom" was the primary source of inspiration for the blockbuster hit, "Proof of Life," that starred Meg Ryan, Russell Crowe and David Morse. The movie is a spinoff of his book. However, don't expect the book to discuss anything other than his experiences as a hostage. The book is mostly comprised of the journals he kept while kept hostage for the 11 + months.

I've had the opportunity to view Dr. Hargrove's journals first hand. The writings are almost impossible to comprehend unless you are an ant as he wrote small words and sentences to maximize his limited ability to write. Needless to say, I can't begin to fathom what it must have been like. Yet, his words give me all the imagination I could ever want. It is a sad tale, but a real one that is packed with his very real experiences. His strength, wit and personality saved him.

As others have stated in other reviews, his journal gives you the feeling that you are right there with him. You can mentally picture where he is with his descriptions. Unfortunately, the movie doesn't focus enough on him as it does with a ficticious love affair, but it does capture some of what I imagine by reading his book.

Today, he continues to better humanity and we should all be greatful for his humanitarian efforts. Unfortunately, there are those that aren't as greatful as they should be. If you are lucky enough to meet Dr. Hargrove as I have been, you'll be simply amazed by the man and his lifetime of experiences around the world!

I HIGHLY recommend this read. It is one you'll not soon forget!

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A harsh account of a long ordeal, March 22, 2003

By 

Bert Ruiz "Author" (Pleasantville, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Long March to Freedom: Tom Hargrove's Own Story of His Kidnapping by Colombian Narco-Guerrillas (Paperback)

"Long March to Freedom: Tom Hargrove's Own Story of His Kidnapping by Colombian Narco-Guerrilla," is a harsh account of a long ordeal. Hargrove is a a nice guy. He's in Colombia as an expert agronomist to improve agricultural output. Prior to Colombia, Hargrove worked in Vietnam and the Philippines...hence he knew of the many dangers of working in foreign countries. Moreover, he was well aware of the wave of kidnappings in Colombia but nevertheless chose to continue his work.

Parts of Hargrove's diary are heartbreaking while other sections are pathetically boring. Consequently, this book lacks the backbone of a true narrative. One is subjected to the day to day ordeal of over 300 days of captivity. If anything, this book is glaring evidence of the brutality of this guerrilla captors. Fortunately, Hargrove does march to freedom and he is able to publish his diary in captivity. I would love to see a follow-up book with Hargrove's inner thoughts and reflections apart from his diary.