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Oro
The story of a man, who, after the death of his son, leaves his wife and home in the Caribbean to seek adventure throughout the world
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
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220 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 18, 2015
An interesting account of the experiences of an arrogant, racist, misogynist pig of a man. Hard to stomach. He might be a hero to some, but his actions don't sit well with me.
June 15, 2023
Cizia Zyke is racist, mysoginist, most likely murderer, rapist, abuser (also on minors), drug addict, looter and very likely mythomaniac. His story (and the story he would have liked to happend) gets very ugly when he and his companion separate. The only interesting aspect of his personality is - unlike other mafioso or crook - that is kind of detached from accumulating money... But that doesn't save anything about his poor personality. His a mini-laboratory about what's wrong on Earth (colonialism, greed, exploitation, violence, self-centredness, egoism...
I feel very sorry for those who are fascinated by this character...
I feel very sorry for those who are fascinated by this character...
June 8, 2020
I was going to put the book away reading the first 5 pages, but I didn't because of my love for reading, even if it is a bad book as this one is. So many discrepancies, such a pig of a writer. He must be 70+ years old by now, a Trumpist in the whole sense of the word: the best on everything he did, even at lying throughout the book. Now I see he has written many books, who cares. I hope I do not come across another one
December 5, 2009
An officer in the Navy gave this to me and said, "this book will teach you how to be a man." It must have worked for him 'cause he ended up making it through BUD/S training. All I did was become 11B; I must have missed something (haha). I don't know if it was the author or the translator, but at times this book dragged and sounded simplistic. But overall I think it's a great adventure story. He sets out looking for gold in Costa Rica, has to put up with all kinds of shit and morons around him, sets up shop in the jungle and all the time he maintains his own code and sense of honor. Yeah, he's chauvinistic and arrogant, but he survives and prevails. He doesn't sit back and merely react to life going on around him, he seeks his fortune and doesn't let any bullshit grind him down. Not for politically correct whiners.
June 30, 2024
Delusions of grandeur.
At first I was quite taken with the book, not because of his subpar writing, but because of the adventures we get to experience. I didn’t care about the petty crimes and illegal gold digging. However, it became quite apparent pretty quickly that Zykë has no literary gift, not even a little bit of discernment or intelligence to elevate said adventures. I got tired of his extremely racist and misogynistic remarks after a 100 pages. He only does it to be what you’d now describe as an edge lord. He is blinded by the fact he thinks he’s such a cool guy doing suck crazy things. He actually says unironically that he hasnt take orders from people since he was a child. He is always the good guy in the story and nothing bad that ever happens is his fault.
Also trigger warning for r*ape scene.
At first I was quite taken with the book, not because of his subpar writing, but because of the adventures we get to experience. I didn’t care about the petty crimes and illegal gold digging. However, it became quite apparent pretty quickly that Zykë has no literary gift, not even a little bit of discernment or intelligence to elevate said adventures. I got tired of his extremely racist and misogynistic remarks after a 100 pages. He only does it to be what you’d now describe as an edge lord. He is blinded by the fact he thinks he’s such a cool guy doing suck crazy things. He actually says unironically that he hasnt take orders from people since he was a child. He is always the good guy in the story and nothing bad that ever happens is his fault.
Also trigger warning for r*ape scene.
August 2, 2022
Racist, homophobic, full of himself, drug addict, abuser of the weakest, trafficker, looter of cemeteries, misogynist, forger, thief … and PEDOPHILE … what a sad character :-(
On top of this, very poorly written.
I am sincerely wondering how this kind of illegal bullshit can be published.
On top of this, very poorly written.
I am sincerely wondering how this kind of illegal bullshit can be published.
August 12, 2024
c'est vraiment palpitant de suivre une histoire d'aventurier dans la jungle, ça fait vivre par procuration des sensations inconnues. Par contre frère t'es un pedo misogyne et ça ça passe pas.
January 18, 2023
Roman écrit en 1985.
J'aimerais mettre une moins bonne note car Don Juan Carlos le Français est vraiment un personnage antipathique (et pourquoi applaudir les tdc franchement ?), mais l'ambiance est exaltante.
Nous sommes en 1980's à suivre le Français dans toutes ses magouilles (trafic d'or précolombien, pillage de cimetières) dans la jungle du Costa Rica pour exploiter des mines d'or (+ illégalement qu'autre chose) avec : la boue, les serpents, les animaux sauvages, les montagnes a grimper, les conditions climatiques, l'humidité, les moustiques, la vie rudimentaire (pas de bouffe d'électricité de chiottes de douche...), la malaria BREF la vie dans la jungle quoi.
Il y a plein de corruption également dans toute l'Amérique latine mais il s'en sort pas trop mal grâce aux pots-de-vin, relations, mensonges et jeu d'acteur.
Le début du roman est agréable car il a une femme (Diane) réglementaire avec qui ils font principalement les aventuriers sans trop de violence (et sans viols aussi...). Ensuite ils se séparent (par délicatesse pour elle et goût de la liberté il préfère l'écarter de sa vie de truand) et là il devient de + en + un malfrat un délinquant et si vous voulez mon opinion une merde.
Ce qui est impressionnant c'est sa capacité de débrouillardise, il ne manque pas de courage et sa persévérance pour réaliser l'impossible, notamment pour transporter ce qui est intransportable dans les montagnes. Il n'a pas peur de marcher des jours entiers seul sans rien a part son flingue. Il arrive à construire dans la jungle une maison (forteresse) top confort, cimentée, plusieurs pièces, tout électrique, douche, cuisine, dortoir ; chapeau 🎩. C'est comme ça que j'imagine Pablo Escobar 🤡.
Il se fait des amis partout et il a un grand sens de la loyauté (une promesse est une promesse) là où ça n'a pas de sens à nos yeux (pourquoi s'en faire pour un arnaqueur ou sortir de prison un random ?).
A contrario il a le goût de la revanche quand il a une dent contre quelqu'un, il n'hésite pas à lui pourrir la vie et je suis dégoûtée pour ses deux voisins Barbaroja et Demesio chez qui il tue les animaux et détruit leurs propriétés : c'est une sombre merde. Rip la 🐄 rip le 🐎, 🕯️ 🙏🏻.
Sinon c'est l'histoire d'un Blanc-bec qui vient jouer au colon comme tous les étrangers qui sont là bas. Il exploite sous les ordres et ses délires de grandeur les Ticos (les costaricains, panaméens, etc.), les terrorise, les maltraite, travail de jour comme de nuit. Il se prend pour autant pour un bon patron car il a "compris leur mentalité" : une ambiance de travail de bons copains à base de marijuana, de coke et de guarro (alcool de contrebande) plutôt qu'être traités avec respect.
C'est à nouveau un roman de pédophilie comme il en existe partout car il baise avec des jeunes filles de 15 ans de préférence vierge et va même en épouser une rapidement.
Il fréquente également pas mal de prostituées mais il y a une scène de viol en groupe qui est particulièrement détestable. Mais il est aussi terrifiant avec les filles qu'il prend pour compagnie qu'il appelle son joujou. Il faut toutefois saluer la richesse d'expressions employée pour désigner l'acte sexuel.
J'aurai préféré une fin explosive 💥💥💣, dommage. J'ai d'ailleurs déjà oublié la fin, 1h après avoir fini 😂
J'aimerais mettre une moins bonne note car Don Juan Carlos le Français est vraiment un personnage antipathique (et pourquoi applaudir les tdc franchement ?), mais l'ambiance est exaltante.
Nous sommes en 1980's à suivre le Français dans toutes ses magouilles (trafic d'or précolombien, pillage de cimetières) dans la jungle du Costa Rica pour exploiter des mines d'or (+ illégalement qu'autre chose) avec : la boue, les serpents, les animaux sauvages, les montagnes a grimper, les conditions climatiques, l'humidité, les moustiques, la vie rudimentaire (pas de bouffe d'électricité de chiottes de douche...), la malaria BREF la vie dans la jungle quoi.
Il y a plein de corruption également dans toute l'Amérique latine mais il s'en sort pas trop mal grâce aux pots-de-vin, relations, mensonges et jeu d'acteur.
Le début du roman est agréable car il a une femme (Diane) réglementaire avec qui ils font principalement les aventuriers sans trop de violence (et sans viols aussi...). Ensuite ils se séparent (par délicatesse pour elle et goût de la liberté il préfère l'écarter de sa vie de truand) et là il devient de + en + un malfrat un délinquant et si vous voulez mon opinion une merde.
Ce qui est impressionnant c'est sa capacité de débrouillardise, il ne manque pas de courage et sa persévérance pour réaliser l'impossible, notamment pour transporter ce qui est intransportable dans les montagnes. Il n'a pas peur de marcher des jours entiers seul sans rien a part son flingue. Il arrive à construire dans la jungle une maison (forteresse) top confort, cimentée, plusieurs pièces, tout électrique, douche, cuisine, dortoir ; chapeau 🎩. C'est comme ça que j'imagine Pablo Escobar 🤡.
Il se fait des amis partout et il a un grand sens de la loyauté (une promesse est une promesse) là où ça n'a pas de sens à nos yeux (pourquoi s'en faire pour un arnaqueur ou sortir de prison un random ?).
A contrario il a le goût de la revanche quand il a une dent contre quelqu'un, il n'hésite pas à lui pourrir la vie et je suis dégoûtée pour ses deux voisins Barbaroja et Demesio chez qui il tue les animaux et détruit leurs propriétés : c'est une sombre merde. Rip la 🐄 rip le 🐎, 🕯️ 🙏🏻.
Sinon c'est l'histoire d'un Blanc-bec qui vient jouer au colon comme tous les étrangers qui sont là bas. Il exploite sous les ordres et ses délires de grandeur les Ticos (les costaricains, panaméens, etc.), les terrorise, les maltraite, travail de jour comme de nuit. Il se prend pour autant pour un bon patron car il a "compris leur mentalité" : une ambiance de travail de bons copains à base de marijuana, de coke et de guarro (alcool de contrebande) plutôt qu'être traités avec respect.
C'est à nouveau un roman de pédophilie comme il en existe partout car il baise avec des jeunes filles de 15 ans de préférence vierge et va même en épouser une rapidement.
Il fréquente également pas mal de prostituées mais il y a une scène de viol en groupe qui est particulièrement détestable. Mais il est aussi terrifiant avec les filles qu'il prend pour compagnie qu'il appelle son joujou. Il faut toutefois saluer la richesse d'expressions employée pour désigner l'acte sexuel.
J'aurai préféré une fin explosive 💥💥💣, dommage. J'ai d'ailleurs déjà oublié la fin, 1h après avoir fini 😂
November 21, 2016
Amusing for about 200 pages, or until the bullshit gets too thick and tedious. Zyke presents himself as the ultimate Gallic alpha: a former legionnaire, a loner with a code who smokes huge blunts, makes athletic love, consumes a diet of 90% meat, is a loyal outlaw, etc. I'm sure Zyke is a legitimate badass (look at the cover!), but at some point, the long list of improbabilities undermines the story. (For me it was when he describes a beach in Costa Rica as too shark-ridden for swimming. Of course, with Google's help, we can know that this beach is in fact a great place for skin diving, etc. But then, how could Zyke have anticipated Google when he wrote the book in 1984?)
April 20, 2012
well. . .shit's out there. i liked this book but would never ever actually recommend it to anyone. read at your own risk. ok? i found it amusingly disturbing. it goes against all i believe in, but i laughed, hard. 1 star taken off for all this.
June 11, 2018
No olihan teos. Raivohullu psykopaatti kaivaa kultaa ja sekoilee, väkivaltaa, nihilismiä, huumeita, raatamista jne. Toksisen maskuliinisuuden multihuipennus. Karmeaa elämää.
May 1, 2024
The appeal was there…a bad a*se with a taste for gold and guns in the remote forest. He was pitched as an insatiable womaniser, and “the most shocking, brutal and exciting true adventure since Papillon”, which is one of my favourite books ever.
For the first half or so, the author, Juan Carlos (alter ego? but pen name of Cizia Zyke?? I never got the discrepancy), was married to Diane and they acted as a team, and he was a reasonable character considering his reputation. They were schemers, stealing from graves, ripping people off, dealing in drugs and whatnot. He ran the show, but only because he had a Magnum and they didn’t. But anyway, the stories were light-hearted and funny. Lots of bravado. Some early stories were hilarious. He describes crashing at a mate’s place. The mate had two live-in prostitutes, both he describes as fat, ugly and hairy. Yet he “lets” the less ugly of the two go down on him. The air of egotism and self-importance reigns supreme in the autobiography. And after he breaks up with his wife, this gets way out of hand, and he allegedly becomes a rapist and orders others to rape people too. All the while, the guy has no self-reflection, and it seems as though meeting his needs and delivering his own justice is perfectly normal, and not criminal.
I struggled with not knowing whether to read on, but since he went to jail a few times, I stupidly thought I might be able to enjoy hearing about the tables turning. But no, the guy always gets the upper hand, the last say, the last punch, people fearing him and all the fantastical make-believe stories. It’s kinda like that song, “Tripping” by Robbie Williams.
But I read on. Rather than quoting some of the passages that shocked/outraged me, I will instead tell you the justification of his alleged sexual abuses (which were extreme and horrific) to show what kind of guy he was.
- A lady at the casino hooked onto his arm and accompanied him to his hotel, “my mamma warned me against women who are too forward.”
- A girl “no more than 15 years old” who was getting a special education instead of prostitution, was given to him as an exception for a favour given. “But rest assured, that when I left my companion was well armed for life and ready for a great future.”
- A prostitute who refused to have sex with his mate because he was too hung (and had to resort to horses). “Such a lack of professional conscience deserved to be punished.”
- A new wife he bought, who “must be a virgin and no older than 15”. “Incest was common and I didn’t care to take sloppy seconds after that old geezer.” “…she was aware of the transaction and coming of her own free will. I wasn’t a matinee idol, but all she could look forward to otherwise was the unappetising prospect of ending up as a fat Tica who worked all day and was married to a dumb farmer who gave her a child every year. My proposition was a unique opportunity to escape that misery.”
How the publisher read this manuscript and decided to publish it instead of referring it to the police, I don’t know.
For the first half or so, the author, Juan Carlos (alter ego? but pen name of Cizia Zyke?? I never got the discrepancy), was married to Diane and they acted as a team, and he was a reasonable character considering his reputation. They were schemers, stealing from graves, ripping people off, dealing in drugs and whatnot. He ran the show, but only because he had a Magnum and they didn’t. But anyway, the stories were light-hearted and funny. Lots of bravado. Some early stories were hilarious. He describes crashing at a mate’s place. The mate had two live-in prostitutes, both he describes as fat, ugly and hairy. Yet he “lets” the less ugly of the two go down on him. The air of egotism and self-importance reigns supreme in the autobiography. And after he breaks up with his wife, this gets way out of hand, and he allegedly becomes a rapist and orders others to rape people too. All the while, the guy has no self-reflection, and it seems as though meeting his needs and delivering his own justice is perfectly normal, and not criminal.
I struggled with not knowing whether to read on, but since he went to jail a few times, I stupidly thought I might be able to enjoy hearing about the tables turning. But no, the guy always gets the upper hand, the last say, the last punch, people fearing him and all the fantastical make-believe stories. It’s kinda like that song, “Tripping” by Robbie Williams.
But I read on. Rather than quoting some of the passages that shocked/outraged me, I will instead tell you the justification of his alleged sexual abuses (which were extreme and horrific) to show what kind of guy he was.
- A lady at the casino hooked onto his arm and accompanied him to his hotel, “my mamma warned me against women who are too forward.”
- A girl “no more than 15 years old” who was getting a special education instead of prostitution, was given to him as an exception for a favour given. “But rest assured, that when I left my companion was well armed for life and ready for a great future.”
- A prostitute who refused to have sex with his mate because he was too hung (and had to resort to horses). “Such a lack of professional conscience deserved to be punished.”
- A new wife he bought, who “must be a virgin and no older than 15”. “Incest was common and I didn’t care to take sloppy seconds after that old geezer.” “…she was aware of the transaction and coming of her own free will. I wasn’t a matinee idol, but all she could look forward to otherwise was the unappetising prospect of ending up as a fat Tica who worked all day and was married to a dumb farmer who gave her a child every year. My proposition was a unique opportunity to escape that misery.”
How the publisher read this manuscript and decided to publish it instead of referring it to the police, I don’t know.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2025
Le personnage principal est très controversé. Certes il est misogyne, raciste et j’en passe, mais c’est un aventurier qui en impose, qui a des cojones. Il nous embarque au fin fond d’une jungle boueuse et dangereuse pour espérer y trouver le métal précieux. Et la fièvre m’a pris. Et j’ai bien ri, de son courage, de ses bêtises, de ses péripéties. J’ai passé un bon moment. J’ai lu l’intégrale des Misérables juste avant, c’est le livre idéal pour changer de registre !
February 24, 2019
RDL876
I know you always wanted to read this but were afraid to ask...you may be disappointed in the general lack of bisexuality.
I know you always wanted to read this but were afraid to ask...you may be disappointed in the general lack of bisexuality.
July 24, 2019
Un des derniers grands aventuriers modernes.
June 8, 2021
I fully agree what another reviewer wrote about this book. It’s disturbingly amusing adventure story which I somewhat enjoyed but would never recommend it to anyone.
February 11, 2017
sexe, drogue, rockn roll, violence, macho... un voyage dans l'esprit d'un psychopathe avec de l'humour!
December 10, 2012
Uno di quei libri per gli uomini veri, l'autore racconta in prima persona le proprie esperienze di vita trascorse in Costa Rica, alla ricerca dell'oro . Uno degli ultimi veri capaci di creare i il proprio destino, capace di lavorare per la ricerca del proprio piacere. Un libro assolutamente maschile. Dedicato agli ultimi veri uomini senza legge e senza frontiere, dedicato alle donne incapaci di comprendere i veri uomini. Quando Rambo non è nulla.
May 29, 2011
Five stars for being the man.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews