Imatge de l'autor
6 obres 1,396 Membres 64 Ressenyes

Sobre l'autor

Margalit Fox is a reporter for The New York Times. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees in linguistics from Stony Brook University and a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism

Obres de Margalit Fox

Etiquetat

Coneixement comú

Membres

Ressenyes

I was very excited by the underlying story of the book. While there were lots of details about the scheme, which makes The stuff on Hogan’s heroes look very practical and down to earth…. I just felt like I didn’t get much flavor of the protagonists…. And what I did get wasn’t always palatable.
Then, there is the fact that they did not actually escape.
The last chapter , where the author talked a bit more about the con mens private lives was probably most enjoyable for me, plus some of the behind the scenes hints on “mentalist,” tricks… (més)
 
Marcat
cspiwak | Hi ha 6 ressenyes més | Mar 6, 2024 |
Wild and crazy scheme to escape a Turkish WW I prison camp. The story has a bit of everything, but most especially chutzpah. Success was achieved eventually, but the irony of having only gained a few weeks before the rest of the prisoners were released upon the conclusion of the war had to be painful.
 
Marcat
Cantsaywhy | Hi ha 6 ressenyes més | Mar 3, 2024 |
Read this pretty much in one gulp. Amazing story, terrifically told. What a subject and what a great group of characters! Congratulations to the author.
 
Marcat
fmclellan | Hi ha 35 ressenyes més | Jan 23, 2024 |
Don’t know who this book is intended for. It was far too comprehensive. The author quotes liberally from other books and letters but it’s unnecessarily detailed. As if the body wasn’t enough, there are 70 pages of notes and references (not including footnotes).

Because it was my book club selection, I persevered with it but certainly wouldn’t recommend it.

The beginning seemed moderately interesting but was already too detailed. I should have known better but I thought I would enjoy learning more about culture, history, and a good yarn. Certainly, the front cover (“... THE MOST REMARKABLE ESCAPE IN HISTORY”) promised an incredible story. But it never got better. In fact, the last couple of chapters were only slightly less painful to read than the descriptions of how the men put themselves through their own pains. I didn’t need 60 pages of how they deprived themselves of rational behavior, food, friendship.

On the positive side, there were some interesting insights about the state of science and psychology and I found interesting how contemporary inventions made some of their ruses plausible. But even that became tiresome. For instance, there were lengthy discourses on psychological techniques to take advantage of people. TMI.

And despite the comprehensive style, there were more obvious topics left unexplained. For example, why were prisoners given money to buy their own food? Why was there no exploration as to why the men didn’t try to escape in the traditional way rather than come up with such a ridiculously complex and equally risky (if not more so) way. Yes, they were in the middle of nowhere but then, at the end, it is stated that other men did successfully escape that way.

Everyone in my book club agreed: The book was far too long and the detail was excessive.

Who are the editors that let books like this be published?
… (més)
 
Marcat
donwon | Hi ha 6 ressenyes més | Jan 22, 2024 |

Llistes

Premis

Potser també t'agrada

Autors associats

Kimberly Glyder Cover designer
Pam Ward Narrator
Peter Forbes Narrator

Estadístiques

Obres
6
Membres
1,396
Popularitat
#18,409
Valoració
4.0
Ressenyes
64
ISBN
40
Llengües
4

Gràfics i taules