Dieser Hunger nach Leben.

by Béatrice Saubin

After being sentenced in Malaysia to hang for drug smuggling, a crime she did not commit, and then spending ten years in prison with a reduced sentence, a French woman presents the harrowing and redemptive tale of her survival.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Travel, France

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Beatrice Saubin was a French woman, longtime prisoner, and author.

At Penang Airport in 1980, Malaysian customs officers found five kilos of heroin hidden in her suitcase, a gift from her Chinese lover, who, unknown to her, was dealing drugs. He was not to be found and Saubin became the first Westerner to be sentenced under Malaysian drug laws to death by hanging. On appeal, the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment, and over the next ten years, Saubin's lawyers and grandmother worked to draw international attention to her case and, eventually, to win her release.

Reviews

[Karina Ofrim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a heartbreaking story, but also a story about survival and finding the positive in life no matter what. A truly great story. I did som research after reading the book because this person and her story really got to me, i tried to search her up and find out what has happened in her and I did.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An impactful and harrowing memoir.

[Eleni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me to Malaysia and gave me captivating isights to the somehow desperate and interesting life of Beatrice.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beatrice Saubin spent ages 20-31 in a Malaysian prison for a crime she didn't commit. Despite her initial horror and despair, Beatrice eventually became resigned to her circumstances and committed herself to positive action. She learned Malay and Cantonese; she was entrusted with medical care of prisoners, she received some privileges that others didn't. Make no mistake, this was no easy life. The conditions of the prison and behavior of guards were horrific. She tells her tale with brutal honesty, and infusing it with the deep despair she felt at times. It is not an easy story to read but there are many redeeming moments.

[Iva Angelova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Невероятна история за силата на инстинкта за оцеляване, за свободата на човешкия дух, макар и контрастираща с тази на тялото, за надеждата в очакване на по-светъл ден, дори в условията на непрекъснат страх и мизерия. Свободолюбие, наивност, страх, тревога, влияние на семейството, обич и презрение са една малка частичка от всички елементи, засегнати във вдъхновяващата история на човек, опознал традициите на различни народи и несправедливо изгубил години от живота си.

[Markus Weiß · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the most boring book I have ever read. Just the part about her childhood at the beginning was interesting. The next 100 pages were like a travel guide, followed by lame happenings in prison, like the part where she leads the aerobics class. I think you could really tell more exciting stories than gardening or learning new languages.

[Helena · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.7

[Ina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐️

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Voll Tragik und Seelenschmerz, endet mit Mut und Hoffnung, lesenswert.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

amazing book. very aprupt ending tho

[Karima Handy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paix à ton âme, Béatrice Saubin.

[Dantel Pro · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful read...the story of Beatrice's life is a remarkable and heart wrenching story of one incident going terribly wrong and changing a young innocent's life for the absolute worst, but without the feeling of dread looming over it like most autobiographies of this nature. I felt as though I really knew Beatrice and was awaiting anxiously for her freedom. The reason I have this book only 4 stars was due to a few grammatical errors, which I'm assuming happened in translation, since the book was originally written in French. I loved this book and highly recommend!

[Cirrus Minor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Auch wenn das Buch ja überhaupt nicht in meine bevorzugten Genres fällt, habe ich es ziemlich verschlungen. Béas Geschichte lässt sich schnell und flüssig lesen und fesselt auf eine traurige Art und Weise. Natürlich stellt man sich die Frage, ob sie wirklich so naiv war und tatsächlich so unschuldig ist, wie sie immer beteuert, aber etwas anderes zuzugeben, wäre vermutlich auch ziemlich unklug. Ob ich den zweiten Teil noch lesen möchte, weiß ich allerdings noch nicht so recht.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing story of this poor girls life! I can't even imagine. This young woman's courage is incredible and the determination of her grandmother! Her personal story is one of my favorite reads.

[Sabine Logeswaran · Rating 4 out of 5]

unglaublich wie stark diese Frau ist