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Midnight Express

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Midnight Express tells the gut-wrenching true story of a young man’s incarceration and escape from a Turkish prison. A classic story of survival and human endurance, told with humor, honesty, and heart, it became the Academy Award-winning blockbuster film of the same name.

In 1970 Billy Hayes was an English major who left college in search of adventures to write about, like his hero Jack London. He had a rude awakening when he was arrested at the airport in Istanbul trying to board a plane while carrying four pounds of hashish, and given a life sentence. After five brutal years, relentless efforts by his family to gain his release, and endless escape plotting, Hayes finally took matters into his own hands. On a dark night, in a wailing storm he began a desperate and daring escape to freedom… This is the astounding journey, told in Billy Hayes's own words, of those five years of living hell and of the harrowing ordeal of his time on the run.

248 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

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5 stars
1,559 (33%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 243 reviews
Profile Image for Petra X.
2,455 reviews35.7k followers
April 17, 2021
I read Midnight Express years ago and I was quite taken by the graphic descriptions of his awful imprisonment and the terrible conditions existing in Turkey at that time for convicts. There are many tv shows, usually about South American or Asian countries prisons which are just as harsh as the ones in this book. It would be interesting to see statistics about the rate of recidivism from prisons with such grim conditions compared with those of the rather hard, tough ones of the US and also with the much easier ones of Europe and especially the Nordic countries.

There was a film, screenplay by the wonderful Oliver Stone, which brought the descriptions in the book to life and made the escape much more exciting, as films do. Countries, like people, generally like to show the world only their good side and people certainly sometimes feel shame and humiliation when their unknown, other, darker side is exposed. Turkey certainly felt that the book, and to a much greater extent the film, harmed its international reputation. I wonder if it affected the prison system of the country or they were just careful to have some new, modern, model prisons to show journalists, the UN and other concerned organisations when they come calling?

Old review removed at GR's request (!) and replaced with a review written 16 April 2021. The book made a real impression on me as I can remember it in detail despite reading it in the 90s.
Profile Image for Shovelmonkey1.
353 reviews963 followers
September 18, 2012
Having lived, worked and travelled extensively in Turkey for many many years I can't believe I waited so long to read this. "Midnight express" is a commonly used phrase amongst many of us who've lived in the remote parts of Turkey. Even now it's a sort of watch word for remembering to toe the line and avoid situations which might lead to incarceration. Billy Hayes' story has infiltrated its way into popular culture.

Admittedly there are many better written books on Turkey to peruse, including Istanbul: The Imperial City, Lords of the Horizons A History of the Ottoman Empire, Inside the Seraglio: Private Lives of the Sultans in Istanbul and many others besides, but Billy Hayes story is famous and compelling because of the sheer fascinating horror afforded by life in a foreign jail. It's a weird form of voyeurism after the fact (he gets out - no this is not a spoiler). Also the production of an award winning Hollywood movie, generated from Billy's transcontinental woes and bookish rememberings also helps lodge certain events in the public cinema-going psyche.

So how horrific was it? Was he beaten? What kind of penury and squalor did he encounter? Was the punishment fitting to the crime?

Well, yes it was pretty shit. It was prison after all. If it was meant to be a treat they'd have sent him to a 5 star hotel. And young Billy was a little bit on the silly side, oh yes, silly Billy trying to get on a US bound plane with a couple of k's of hashish jammed down your trousers. Regardless of your opinions on Bill's poor decision making and how he ended up in prison in the first place, the book does make compelling reading and he gets full marks for honesty. The writing style is a bit jagged and uneven, but he's not a polished or practised writer, simply a man with a story to tell. And tell it he does.

Having seen the inside of several Turkish "police-hotels" myself, I can confirm that they are substantially less than pleasant. On one occasion having had my passport confiscated and my luggage "taken away for safety", I enjoyed a joyous 24 hours of gendarme hospitality. At one point when I asked to use the toilet I was escorted to an open-sided hole in the floor and instructed to drop trow and piss while a plain clothes officer blocked the door to the room and his mate stood and watched in what can only be described as an appraising manner. Ah good times. I won't tell you about the other things I've seen. They're better not discussed on a public forum.

I suppose the bottom line, for myself and Billy, is that if you can avoid time in the Turkish choky, then so much the better.
Profile Image for Daren.
1,567 reviews4,571 followers
April 18, 2021
So this one of those books I am surprised I haven't read before now. Fairly well known, the plug on the cover says 'A harrowing true story in the great Papillion tradition', which it really is.
The short version of the plot - in 1970 a foolish American decides to stick 2kg of hash in his pants just before boarding his flight home. Caught, he enters the Turkish police cells, then on to prison. He attends court a couple of times, is sentenced to a short stay, which is subsequently changed to thirty years by the high court. It isn't a spoiler to say after five years he makes a successful escape to Greece, where he is deported to the USA.
The writing wasn't particularly special, but it told the story well and came across honestly. The book tells of the corruption within the prison system, the violence of the prison authorities - the beatings, the rapes (mostly of the child prisoners), the availability of drugs, and the horrific prison conditions. It also tells the stories (or part of them) of Hayes' fellow inmates,although whether these are true or not is probably up for debate. In likelihood he probably changed their details around etc.
For me it was pretty compelling reading. It has aged well (1977 it was published), and doesn't suffer from being a generation or two old. Four stars for me.

On another note, I don't recall having seen the film, but it does differ fairly significantly from the book. The movie firstly has him with a girlfriend at the time of his arrest, then embellishes the psychiatric hospital visit (in the film he bites out someone's tongue), and the film sees him killing the head guard, which didn't happen, and his eventual escape differs from the escape method outlined in the book.
Profile Image for Metodi Markov.
1,726 reviews437 followers
December 26, 2024
За съжаление, никак не ме развълнува вехтата история за бедния Били, попаднал в турски кауш при опит за контрабанда на едва два килограма хашиш.

Вероятно, през 1970 или по-късно, когато е излязъл едноименния филм всичко това е било сензация, но сега е просто всекидневие, в един много по-силно достъпен и глобализиран свят.

Подразни ме и непрестанното вайкане на главния герой и очакването да му се размине наказанието, само защото е американец. Все пак, напълно съзнателно се е напъхал между шамарите!

Dnf на 35%, очаквах повече…
Profile Image for Jimena.
453 reviews197 followers
February 17, 2023
Expreso de medianoche es quizá una de las narraciones autobiográficas más crudas con las que me he topado. Un joven norteamericano detenido en una cárcel turca por tráfico de drogas. Sometido a la brutalizad de un contexto que le resulta ajeno y, en primera instancia, inverosímil.

El libro es efectivo en trasmitir la desesperación de su protagonista por sobrevivir, por atravesar las paredes entre las que se encuentra recluido, por volver a su tierra, a lo que considera la vida. En su agonizante recorrido contemplamos los altibajos del alma humana y los golpes a la voluntad como inevitable consecuencia de un sistema judicial corrupto y un coexistir diario con la violencia, la desesperanza y la crudeza.

Había visto, años atrás, la película que derivó de este relato autobiográfico pero ni siquiera eso me pudo haber preparado para lo aterrador que resulta por momentos esta lectura. El tiempo en el hospital psiquiátrico es llanamente devastador por su condición de verdadero. Todo el libro es, precisamente por ello, demoledor.
Profile Image for Debbie W..
944 reviews838 followers
October 24, 2019
A gripping story about a young man on the wrong side of the law in Turkey, where punishment is harsh when one tries to smuggle drugs out of the country. It had me on the edge of my seat - I couldn't put it down! I read this book about four decades ago, but it is still one of those books that brings back memories of intense suspense!
Profile Image for George K..
2,758 reviews367 followers
March 23, 2020
Βαθμολογία: 9/10

Το πώς αυτό το βιβλίο παρέμενε τόσα χρόνια αδιάβαστο στη βιβλιοθήκη μου -ειδικά από τη στιγμή που τέτοιου είδους βιβλία πραγματικά τα απολαμβάνω-, είναι κάτι που δεν μπορώ να εξηγήσω. Πάντως βρήκα καλή την ιδέα να διαβάσω τώρα το βιβλίο, που τις περισσότερες ώρες της ημέρας είμαι κλεισμένος στο σπίτι ελέω Κορωνοϊού, ίσως για να εκτιμήσω καλύτερα τις ανέσεις του (έστω και αν έχω μπουχτίσει), συγκρίνοντάς τες με τις εφιαλτικές στιγμές που έζησε ο Μπίλι Χέις, ένας νεαρός Αμερικανός, στις τουρκικές φυλακές.

Που λέτε, τον Οκτώβριο του 1970 ο Μπίλι Χέις συνελήφθη τυχαία στο αεροδρόμιο της Κωνσταντινούπολης επειδή προσπάθησε να μεταφέρει λαθραία δυο κιλά χασίς στις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες, με αποτέλεσμα να καταδικαστεί σε τριάντα χρόνια κάθειρξη (!) στις τουρκικές φυλακές. Για πέντε χρόνια ο Χέις υπέφερε τη βρόμα, τη βια και τον εξευτελισμό του εγκλεισμού στις τριτοκοσμικές τουρκικές φυλακές, προσπαθώντας να μην τρελαθεί και ελπίζοντας πάντα σε μια αμνηστία, σε μια μείωση της ποινής, σε μια μεταφορά σε κάποια καλύτερη φυλακή, έστω σε μια έκδοσή του στις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες. Τελικά, τον Οκτώβριο του 1975 κατάφερε να αποδράσει από τη φυλακή του νησιού Ιμραλί, έχοντας θεωρητικά λίγα ακόμα χρόνια φυλάκισης (λόγω μείωσης της ποινής και καλής διαγωγής). Απλά δεν μπορούσε να αντέξει παραπάνω.

Τούτο το βιβλίο είναι γεμάτο από ωμές και ρεαλιστικές περιγραφές της ζωής στις τουρκικές φυλακές της δεκαετίας του '70, τουλάχιστον έτσι όπως την έζησε ένας νεαρός Αμερικανός. Η γραφή είναι πολύ καλή, εξαιρετικά γλαφυρή και ευκολοδιάβαστη, σίγουρα βοηθάει πολύ στη γρήγορη και ξεκούραστη ανάγνωση του βιβλίου. Δεν το συζητάω, οι λάτρεις αληθινών ιστοριών φυλακής θα περάσουν τέλεια διαβάζοντας το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο, όσο ειλικρινές μπορεί να είναι ένα τέτοιο χρονικό. Λίαν συντόμως θα δω και την ομότιτλη ταινία, που απ'όσο ξέρω έχει σημαντικές διαφορές σε σχέση με το βιβλίο, ενώ μάλλον είναι πιο σκληρή και ωμή από αυτό.
Profile Image for Jim.
422 reviews109 followers
November 16, 2009
I'll admit that this was a surprisingly good book, in spite of the fact that I really have a dislike for the author. I had seen the movie decades ago, so I had (I thought) a good idea of what I would find in the pages of this particular piece of literature. It wasn't long before I realized that the movie had been fictionalized to the point of being a totally different story.

I can't work up any sympathy for the author, a bisexual smuggler who brought his ordeal on himself through his selfishly motivated attempt to smuggle dope out of Turkey. My sympathies were with his parents who were brought to the brink of bankruptcy through their efforts to free him.

I could rail on for hours about Billy's behaviour in prison which included assault, theft from other prisoners, dope use (slow learner)and volunteering to be a rectal ranger for at least one fellow inmate. It suffices that I don't like the guy, but his book is worth a read, if only to see how Hollywood's handling of a prison tale can unjustly demonize an entire nation.
Profile Image for Lady An  ☽.
712 reviews
May 2, 2018
Libro autobiográfico basado en la historia real de Billy Hayes, un ciudadano norteamericano que viaja a Turquía y es prisionero en condiciones inhumanas por traficar Hachís, una droga ilegal pegada en su cuerpo. Sirvió de guión para la película homónima protagonizada por Brad Davis y John Hurt. BSO a cargo de Giorgio Moroder.

40 Anniversary
Profile Image for ♥ Marlene♥ .
1,697 reviews146 followers
August 21, 2016
How weird really that I had never read this book while I love to read books about people in foreign prisons. This is the most famous one so why did I not pick it up sooner? I think because of the movie.

Vaguely I recall having watched the movie as a teenager and that I was shocked and liked it. That is what I recall) but that is why I probably did not read it. I have a tendency to not read a book once I have watched the movie because when I do that the characters of the book will look like the ones in the movie.
Meaning I cannot make up my mind how people might look. Okay this is nonfiction so it is not a big deal but this is why I always try to read the book first. I like to make up in my mind how characters look and how they talk and such.

That being said apparently the movie was not true to the real story. They changed some things and added others.



Finished this book yesterday and I can say I really liked it. I liked his honesty most of all. Most men especially in that era would not have written how they made love with another man but he did and made it sound soft and beautiful.

He was young and apparently headstrong and I so felt for his parents. I have made mistakes in my life so I do not make judgement on him(like some other reviewers)
Yes he was selfish at times and very stubborn at others so I am very curious how he is now. How are his parents?

While writing this review I visited his wikipedia page and it says he wrote another book.

"Hayes has now written the sequel books, "Midnight Return (Escaping Midnight Express)" and "The Midnight Express Letters--from a Turkish Prison, 1970-1975", a collection of the original letters written home to family and friends during his imprisonment"

Not sure I want to read more. It sounds to me more like earning some more cash but I will check it out.

Anyway there is nothing about the relationship with his parents who did help him with money.
I recommend this book not for the writing but the story will draw you in.
Profile Image for TsabikosB.
57 reviews14 followers
November 2, 2021
Είναι τρομακτικό πως η ιστορία αυτή είναι αληθινή. Οι σκηνές που παρουσιάζονται φτάνουν σε σημείο απανθρωπιάς. Ο Hayes δεν έζησε μόνο σε ένα αφιλόξενο περιβάλλον, αλλά πέρασε αρκετά χρόνια μαρτυρίου, βασανισμών (σωματικών και ψυχικών), καταπίεσης και εξευτελισμού.
Όσον αφορά την αφήγηση: καταφέρνει να εντάξει τον/την αναγνώστη/-τρια σε όλη τη διάρκεια της ανάγνωσης, από τη σύλληψη στο αεροδρόμιο έως και την απελευθέρωσή του.
Profile Image for Kristina Coop-a-Loop.
1,299 reviews558 followers
September 10, 2010
Writing is not so great, but story interesting enough. What I hated was the main character, Billy. Hello, moron, if you are caught sneaking drugs into (or was it out of? I can't remember) Turkey, and you were warned not to do it, then you must suffer the consequences. I had no sympathy for Billy. He came across as the typical American asshole in a foreign country and then had the audacity to complain when he was punished for his crime. Dumb ass.
Profile Image for Christos.
223 reviews13 followers
March 7, 2021
Διαβάζεται αβίαστα, όποιου του αρέσουν τέτοιου είδους ιστορίες δεν θα απογοητευτεί. Επίσης είναι σημαντικά διαφορετικό από την ομώνυμη ταινία η οποία είναι μάλλον μια σεναριακή συμπύκνωση χαρακτήρων και γεγονότων που αναφέρονται στο βιβλίο.
Profile Image for Asails F.
75 reviews37 followers
February 13, 2011
It was supposedly a true story. Today I listened to Billy Hayes tell the story he always wanted. It was different than the book and far from the movie. I liked his new true story better.

This leaves me with another foul feeling about the publishing industry. I can hope goodreads brings out the truth about deplorable acts in this industry.

Billy used to hang out around Bluepoint and Sayville Long Island and drugs were everywhere. He made an easy buck and lost it all. He stated it was his life changing event and is doing everything he can to make it up to those he hurt.

Forget the book at get Billy Hayes Nat Geo presentation about his drug experience. Don's waste your time with this book...
Profile Image for Realini Ionescu.
4,019 reviews19 followers
November 26, 2025
Midnight Express, written by Oliver Stone based on the book by Billy Hayes, directed by Alan Parker

A different version of this note and thoughts on other books are available at:

- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... and http://realini.blogspot.ro/

This extremely tense biographical drama has won:

- The Golden Globes for Best Picture- Drama, Best Screenplay for Oliver Stone, Best Supporting actor for the marvelous late John Hurt
- The Academy awards for Best Writing
- BAFTAs for Best Direction and Supporting Actor

The director is the fabulous man behind the very different:

- Pink Floyd: The Wall and Mississippi Burning, the latter being one of the best films that I have ever seen

Midnight Express is based on the real story, told in the book by Billy Hayes who has been through one of the worst experiences in the world.

He makes a dreadful mistake that should be plainly pointed out but the resulting penalty and torture are unacceptable.
Billy Hayes, a young student with hours left before graduation from an American University is asked to smuggle 2 kilos of hashish.

I was reading that those working for the airport authorities are trained now and know where to look for suspicious behavior.
Back in turkey, in 1970 there might have been little training in searching for shifting, continuous eye movement, but Billy Hayes did look strange.

He was perspiring and showing all the signs that something is wrong and if one reads the classic Blink, The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by the brilliant Malcolm Gladwell, one understands that Billy Hayes stood out to be selected.
He was taken aside and searched and then the drugs were found on him.
The Turkish officials asked him to cooperate and give the names of those who gave him the hashish and who carried a much bigger responsibility.

From here on we have a descent into hell.
Horror movies are not my cup of tea and I avoid the genre altogether.

Nevertheless this is a horror movie wherein nothing stupid happens and there are no people with chainsaws.
And yet the moving picture is full with a different kind gore, maddening sadism and the terrible suffering of the protagonist.

It is difficult to know what will happen next, what the sentence will be in a system that is corrupt, chaotic and abusive.
Alas, the past few weeks have demonstrated that even now, people in Turkey have a penchant for tyranny.

They have voted just a short time ago to make their already dictatorial Erdogan even more powerful and able to rule as he likes.
This is not just a weird occurrence in Turkey alas, it happens in Russia, The Philippines and even the beacon of democracy – America.

Trump has expressed views about killing the families of suspected terrorists and torture that sit well with…Hamidou.
The latter is the prison guard who has a sadistic pleasure to inflict psychological and physical pain on prisoners.

The psychological impact on inmates and especially the young, impressionable Billy Hayes is enormous and horrendous.
Facing at one point a life sentence in the filthy, brutal, primitive, abusive, heinous, apocalyptical Turkish jail would destroy most people.

Indeed, suicide appears as a desirable, easy exit from Hades.

This is a very powerful story and in terms of positive psychology it could make one think of one rule of happiness:

- Do not compare yourself to others who have a more expensive car, better housing, clothing and consumer good
- If you want to compare, watch Midnight Express and compare your life to that of Billy and the other inmates…

“[to the Turkish court]
Billy Hayes: I just wish for once that you could be in my shoes, Mr. Prosecutor, and then you would know something that you don't know: mercy! That the concept of a society is based on the quality of that mercy; its sense of fair play; its sense of justice! But I guess that's like asking a bear to shit in the toilet.
……
Max: The best thing to do is to get your ass out of here. Best way that you can.
Billy Hayes: Yeah, but how?
Max: Catch the midnight express.
Billy Hayes: But what's that?
Max: [laughs] Well it's not a train. It's a prison word for... escape. But it doesn't stop around here.”



Profile Image for Evi Routoula.
Author 9 books75 followers
October 13, 2018
Η αληθινή ιστορία του Αμερικανού Γουίλιαμ Χέις, που πιάστηκε το 1970 στο αεροδρόμιο της Κωνσταντινούπολης κουβαλώντας δυο κιλά χασίς. Το τούρκικο δικαστήριο τον καταδίκασε σε 30 χρόνια κάθειρξη. Μετά από πέντε χρόνια στις φυλακές της Τουρκίας κατάφερε να δραπετεύσει και πέρασε από τον Έβρο στην Ελλάδα.
Επιστρέφοντας στην πατρίδα του έγραψε την περιπέτειά του. Μετά από λίγο καιρό γυρίστηκε και η ομώνυμη ταινία με τον αδικοχαμένο Μπραντ Ντέιβις.
Διαβάζεται ευχάριστα ως μια δραματική περιπέτεια.
Profile Image for Celine.
39 reviews3 followers
April 2, 2021
biggest load of shit that I've ever read. read a lot of good reviews on it and damn was i disappointed. the main guy ,william, is a total dick. he thinks he can commit crime and he doesnt have to deal with any of the consequences. if you do wrong and you know you are doing wrong, then why do it? he thinks everything will be handed to him on a silver platter. bitch the fuck. is that typical american white guy behaviour? i think so. it was so boring and the "action" (pathetic excuse of that word) only happend on the last 10 pages, and let me tell you, a let down. saved by God's good grace. ehh.
Profile Image for Charlie.
362 reviews42 followers
November 2, 2017
Will have to read this book again. Not a great piece of work for sure.
That's my take on it right now. Awkward to read.
I'll leave it at that for now. If I reread it I'll post another review.
Profile Image for Venky.
1,043 reviews420 followers
February 2, 2021
7th October 1970. William Hayes is all set to board the Pan American Flight No.1 at the Yesilkoy International Airport in Turkey. The incoming flight from Teheran will take him home to New York via Frankfurt and London. The prospect of homecoming, however, would need some providential co-operation and laxity on the part of the Turkish airport security. For, taped to Hayes’ chest underneath his turtleneck sweater is two kilos of the recreational drug, hashish. Hayes luck runs out as a last minute ‘surprise’ body check at the tarmac to deter potential ‘skyjackers’ results in both the detection of the drug and detention of the passenger.

“Midnight Express”, is the harrowing real life story of William “Billy” Hayes and his incarceration in some of the most inhospitable conditions a man convicted of a crime, can ever envisage. Tried and sentenced to a ridiculous term of 30 years for attempting to smuggle hashish, Hayes finds himself tossed away into the bowels of an unhygienic prison manned by a trio of inhuman wretches, who are euphemism for guards. Sagmalcilar is a resting place for the damned and the degenerate. Filthy, raucous and chaotic, it is segregated into various ‘kogus’ (dormitories or wards in Turkish). The privileged and tidy kogus is reserved for the ‘kapidiye’ (the much feared Mafiosi who keep even the prison authorities in constant dread). The left over kogus is for the lesser mortals.

Hoping to get an “insanity certification”, Hayes, gets himself transferred to an observatory named Bakirkoy. If Sagmalcilar is hell, then Bakirkoy is an absolute inferno. Deranged people, wallowing in filth and hallucinations, openly defecating wherever it pleases them and wandering about without a stitch on rambling to themselves, is a sight which Hayes cannot stomach for long. Failing in his endeavour to get a “crazy certificate”, Hayes moves back to his old prison. He finds solace in the company of four foreign inmates, Arne, Charles (a fellow American from Chicago), Max and Popeye. Spending time in their midst provides him with a sense of solace and suffuses a surge of optimism.

Hayes however finds a glimmer of hope when he is transferred to a prison on the picturesque Imrali Island after serving out 5 years of his sentence. A new Turkish Government has put in place an amnesty scheme that takes away 12 years from Haye’s original sentencing period of thirty years. Considering reward for good behaviour as well, and a possible US-Turkey agreement to deport American prisoners, Hayes is assured by his lawyer and the American Consulate that he would be required to serve, at the maximum, just three more years. But having experienced Turkish mendacity on more than one occasion, Hayes is wary of any promise that would only flatter, to ultimately deceive. He decides to take matters into his own hands. He formulates an escape plan, that is audacious in its sweep, and downright deadly in its wake. Rough weather usually results in a multitude of boats being moored off the coast. Many of these boats have attached to them small rubber dinghies. Hayes would wait for one such night where the weather is rough, before swimming towards the nearest dinghy and rowing it away from the island. He would after reaching the nearest island make a run for the Greek border via Istanbul. All this if he even survives the rough seas and the dangerous rocks dotting the coastline. In spite of repeated entireties from a distraught family, an obdurate Hayes is hell bent on pulling off a Houdini act. After a patient wait for over two weeks, the weather gods oblige him with a torrid night and Hayes puts his plan into action. Whether he will succeed in not just taming the elements but triumphing in his efforts to gain freedom forms the climactic portion of the book.

A fast paced one sitting read, Midnight Express is definitely not for the faint hearted. Whether it be the torments that are a way of life at Sagmalcilar, or the jaw dropping intransigence of the Turkish legal system, where the word “justice” transcends from being a noble concept to a n impotent misnomer, to the insane escape itself attempted by Hayes, the book is gasp inducing. Beads of sweat automatically form on the brows of the reader as the suspense and anticipation leaves her absolutely poleaxed and stupefied.

Midnight Express – A James Bond saga in real life!
Profile Image for Elisso.
357 reviews62 followers
Read
February 2, 2023
Θυμάμαι ότι ήταν τέλη της δεκαετίας του 1990 και εγώ ήμουν γύρω στα 19 με 20 όταν πέτυχα τυχαία στην τηλεόραση την ταινία «Το εξπρές του Μεσονυκτίου» σε σκηνοθεσία του Άλαν Πάρκερ και σε σενάριο του Όλιβερ Στόουν και κυριολεκτικά συγκλονίστηκα από την ιστορία του Billy Hayes. Στους τίτλους τέλους παρατήρησα ότι πρόκειται για την αληθινή ιστορία του Hayes και η ταινία βασίστηκε στο αυτοβιογραφικό βιβλίο του το οποίο για κάποιο λόγο δεν είχα διαβάσει μέχρι σήμερα 25 περίπου χρονιά αφού είδα την ταινία.

Αυτό που σίγουρα έχω κάνει και αγαπώ ιδιαίτερα είναι να ακούω συχνά την μουσική που έντυσε «Το εξπρές του Μεσονυκτίου» όπως κάνω άλλωστε με κάθε soundtracks από ταινίες καθώς είναι ένα είδος μουσικής που λατρεύω. Η ταινία του Όλιβερ Στόουν προτάθηκε για έξι Όσκαρ ανάμεσα τους αυτά της καλύτερης ταινίας και σκηνοθεσίας κερδίζοντας τελικά δύο για καλύτερο διασκευασμένο σενάριο και μουσικής. Τι έλεγα παραπάνω για τα soundtracks; Αν δεν την έχετε δει να την δείτε αν και έχει αρκετές διαφορές από το βιβλίο που επίσης προτείνω να διαβάσετε οπωσδήποτε!

Η ιστορία του Billy Hayes είναι από εκείνες που κάθε άνθρωπος εύχεται να μην του τύχει και διαδραματίζεται τη δεκαετία του 1970. Ξέρετε παιδιά των λουλουδιών, χίπηδες, ο πόλεμος του Βιετνάμ και γενικά σε μια δεκαετία όπου όλα ήταν εντελώς διαφορετικά σε σχέση με το σήμερα. Ο Hayes είναι ένας από τους νέους εκείνης της εποχής που ακόμα αμφιταλαντεύεται, παρόλο που φοιτά σε πανεπιστημιακή σχολή, από κάπως αυστηρή οικογένεια που ναι μεν θέλει να ζήσει τη ζωή του χωρίς περιορισμούς και πρέπει αλλά και δεν θέλει να απογοητεύσει τους δικούς του, ειδικά τον πατέρα του, που μια ζωή έκανε οικονομίες για να μπορέσουν τα παιδιά του να σπουδάσουν.

Παρόλα αυτά η δίνη της εποχής που ζει ο Billy τον ρουφάει στην κυριολεξία με αποτέλεσμα να παρατήσει τις σπουδές του και να αρχίσει να ταξιδεύει ώστε να ζήσει στο μέγιστο τα χρόνια της νιότης του που δεν θα ξαναγυρίσουν. Μέσα σε όλα αυτά δοκιμάζει νέες εμπειρίες όπως το να καπνίζει μαριχουάνα και δυστυχώς αυτό είναι που στην ουσία θα του καταστρέψει και τη ζωή αλλά και τα ανέμελα χρόνια της νιότης του που τόσο ήθελε να ζήσει στο έπακρο.

Τα βήματα του θα τον φέρουν στην Τουρκία, εκεί όπου η μαριχουάνα είναι αρκετά πιο φθηνή σε σχέση με την Αμερική, και παρόλο που έχει καταφέρει να κρύψει επιμελώς πάνω του τα γεμάτα πακέτα με μαριχουάνα δεν θα καταφέρει να ξεφύγει από τις αστυνομικές αρχές οι οποίες έχουν στήσει μπλόκο στο αεροδρόμιο. Η σωματική έρευνα που θα κάνουν στον Hayes θα αποκαλύψει γύρω στα 2 κιλά μαριχουάνα και θα είναι η αιτία που θα καταλήξει στη φυλακή. Αυτό που δεν γνωρίζει είναι ότι όχι μόνο το εμπόριο αλλά και η κατοχή ναρκωτικών, όπως η μαριχουάνα, είναι ένα σοβαρό έγκλημα για τις Τουρκικές Αρχές και θα νιώσει στο πετσί του ακριβώς πως λειτουργεί η Τουρκική Δικαιοσύνη. Κάτι που πιστέψτε με δεν έχει αλλάξει και πολύ μετά από περίπου 50 χρόνια.

Από την ώρα που ο Billy θα βρεθεί πίσω από τα κάγκελα της φυλακής θα ανακαλύψει ότι δεν είναι καθόλου εύκολο να καταφέρει να επιβιώσει μέσα σε ένα περιβάλλον που θυμίζει εποχές Μεσαίωνα και ότι θα πρέπει να σκληρύνει τον εαυτό του για να μπορέσει να βγει αλώβητος και σωματικά αλλά και ψυχολογικά από αυτή την κατάσταση. Γιατί ενώ όλοι του λένε ότι ίσως εκτίσει γύρω στους 20 μήνες ποινή ο ίδιος αρχίζει να συνειδητοποιεί εκείνα τα «ψιλά γράμματα» που κανένας δεν συνηθίζει να διαβάζει και ότι τα πράγματα θα είναι πολύ δύσκολα για εκείνον παρόλο που έχει ξεκινήσει άμεσα ένας ανελέητος αγώνας για την απελευθέρωση του. Και τελικά, όσο περνάει ο καιρός, ο Hayes καταλήγει ότι ο μόνος τρόπος για να αναπνεύσει και πάλι τον αέρα της ελευθερίας είναι να δραπετεύσει. Κάτι που φαντάζει εντελώς αδύνατο να γίνει από τις Τουρκικές φυλακές αν δεν καταλήξει στο νεκροτομείο.

Η ταινία του Άλαν Πάρκερ είναι πολύ πιο σκληρή και ωμή σε σχέση με το βιβλίο που έγραψε ο ίδιος ο Hayes χωρίς όμως να καταντά βαρετό στο μάτι του αναγνώστη καθώς η γραφή του, που δεν είναι συγγραφέας αλλά ένας άνθρωπος που εξιστορεί τη ζωή του, δημιουργεί ποικίλα συναισθήματα στους αναγνώστες. Από τη μια θέλουμε να συμπονέσουμε τον ίδιο και να συμπάσχουμε μαζί του για όλα όσα περνάει μέσα στις Τουρκικές φυλακές αλλά από την άλλη θέλουμε να του φωνάξουμε με όλη τη δύναμη της ψυχής μας πόσο ανόητες ήταν οι πράξεις ενός νέου που κυριολεκτικά δεν υπολογίζει, λόγω του νεαρού της ηλικίας του φυσικά, τις ανυπολόγιστες συνέπειες αυτών ακριβώς των πράξεων.

Διαβάζοντας την αφήγηση του Hayes καθώς περνούν οι ώρες, οι μέρες και τα χρόνια που περνά στη φυλακή αρχίζουμε και εμείς να ωριμάζουμε μαζί του και να αναγνωρίζουμε τον αγώνα που δίνει ο ίδιος με τον εαυτό του αλλά και με όσους τον περιβάλλουν προκειμένου να καταφέρει να ξεφύγει από ένα μέρος που κυριολεκτικά τον πλακώνει και του δημιουργεί ένα αίσθημα ασφυξίας. Ο εγκλεισμός του στις Τουρκικές φυλακές του δίνει το χρόνο να κάτσει να σκεφτεί και να αναλογιστεί τι έκανε μέχρι τώρα στη ζωή του, στον εαυτό του αλλά και στους δικούς του ανθρώπους και να αναθεωρήσει πολλά από όσα θεωρούσε δεδομένα στην μέχρι τώρα πορεία του. Η επιθυμία του να βρεθεί και πάλι στο ασφαλές περιβάλλον της οικογένειας του και περιτριγυρισμένος από οικεία πρόσωπα θα τον κάνει να θέσει νέους στόχους για το μέλλον με πρώτο και κύριο την απόδραση του παρόλο που όλοι του λένε να κάνει υπομονή και να εκτίσει την ποινή του.

«Το εξπρές του Μεσονυκτίου» είναι συντριπτικά μια ωμή και ειλικρινής κατάθεση ψυχής της αληθινής ιστορίας του Billy Hayes που από ένα ανόητο, επικίνδυνο και καταστροφικό λάθος της σιγουριάς της νεότητας του στέρησε ότι πιο πολύτιμο έχει ένας άνθρωπος. Την ελευθερία του. Μια έντονα συναισθηματικά αφήγηση μιας εξαιρετικά επώδυνης πορείας επιβίωσης και εξουθενωτικής προσπάθειας απελευθέρωσης ξεπερνώντας τα ανθρώπινα όρια αποδεικνύοντας τη δύναμη που ασκεί η φιλία και η γνωριμία μας με τον εσωτερικό μας εαυτό και μας κάνει να μαθαίνουμε από τα λάθη μας. Η ταινία μπορεί να προκάλεσε την οργή των Τούρκων και να απαγορεύτηκε η προβολή της στην Τουρκία αλλά το βιβλίο εξιστορεί τι πραγματικά επικρατούσε εκείνη την εποχή στις Τουρκικές φυλακές και πόσο βάναυση, σκληρή και εντ��λώς τυφλή ήταν η Τουρκική δικαιοσύνη.
Profile Image for Ευα Μηλιά  Κουτσουμπα.
416 reviews40 followers
January 9, 2019
Το εξπρές του μεσονυκτίου είναι ένα βιβλίο που με συγκλόνισε.
Με ρούφηξε, με άρπαξε βαθιά στην ιστορία του και με κλείδωσε στα συναισθήματα και στις σελίδες του.!
Το ότι γράφτηκε σε πρώτο πρόσωπο νομίζω έκανε όλη την διαφορά. Μια αληθινή ιστορία που σου κόβει την αναπνοή σε κάθε σελίδα.!
Φοβήθηκα πολλές φορές, άλλες τόσες δε μπορούσα να πάρω ανάσα, ένιωθα όλο μου το σώμα να τρέμει πριν ξεσπάσει το συναίσθημα που τις περιισοτερες φορές ήταν απογοητεύτηκα δάκρυα πόνου.!
Έζησα βήμα βήμα όλη την εμπειρία, τις καλές στιγμές, τον τρόμο και το φόβο για κάθε νέο γεγονός του αφηγητή.
Και κάπου εκεί καταλαβαίνεις ότι τίποτα δε είναι εύκολο στην ζωή.
Κάπου εκεί καταλαβαίνεις ότι κάτι που ίσως θεωρηθεί μια νεανική τρέλα Μπόρει σε λίγα δευτερόλεπτα να γίνει ένας εφιάλτης.
Δε ξέρω πως άντεξε ένας άνθρωπος να ζήσει κάποια χρόνια της ζωής του μέσα σε τέτοιες αντίξοες συνθήκες σε μια ξένη χώρα. Πώς κατάφερε να επιβιώσει συναισθηματικά. Πώς κατάφερε τις περισσότερες φορές να πρυτανεύει η λογική από την τρέλα που είναι ένα μικρό σκαλοπάτι η διαφορά τους.
Εθιστικό βιβλίο μα και συνάμα τρυφερό.
Γιατί πέρα από τις άσχημες καταστάσεις ο πρωταγωνιστής έζησε και μικρές όμορφες στιγμές. Έμαθε να εκτιμά κάποια πράγματα που πριν την περιπέτεια του τα θεωρούσε δεδομένα.!
Έκτιμησε την κάθε μικρή ανάσα ζωής και ελευθερίας.
Από την άλλη διαβάζοντας προσπάθησα να καταλάβω το σκεπτικό της γειτονικής χώρας. Βέβαια οι εποχές αλλάζουν. Σίγουρα τα πράγματα έχουν αλλάξει και Δε είναι τόσο άσχημα όσο την εποχή που διαδραματίζεται η ιστορία. Όμως και πάλι δε Μπόρεις σαν άνθρωπος να μην δεις και κρίνεις κάποιες καταστάσεις. Πχ: Οι ποινές για κάποια αδικήματα ήταν πολύ υπερβολικές αλλά μόνο όσο αναφορά μετανάστες. Οι Τούρκοι έδειχναν ένα ρατσισμό απέναντι σε άλλες εθνικότητες ενώ στους πατριώτες τους με τα ίδιες κατηγορίες οι ποινές ήταν πιο μικρές και τα προνόμια μεγαλύτερα.
Οι τελευταίες σελίδες του βιβλίου που αφηγούνται την απόδραση ήταν πολύ εθιστικές. Δε μπορούσα να αφήσω το βιβλίο από τα χέρια μου. Η ανάσα μου κοβόταν σε κάθε πρόταση.
Μα στο τέλος λυτρωθηκα μαζί με τον Μπιλ και έμαθα και εγώ από τα δικά του λάθη.
Γιατί τότε ήταν εκείνος σήμερα είναι πολύ άλλοι.!
Αλλά τελικά μαθαίνει πραγματικά κάνεις από τα λάθη του ή τα προσπερνά και τα σημειώνει στο υποσεινιδεοτο του ως μια απλή περιπέτεια πιστεύοντας ότι την άλλη φορά θα του έρθουν καλύτερα;
Η ζωή είναι δική μας και της συμπεριφερόμαστε όπως επιθυμούμε αλλά η τρέλα από την λογική και η ελευθερία από τον εγκλεισμό είναι μια μικρή φωτιά που διαρκεί όσο η φλόγα ενός σπιρτου.!!
Profile Image for Sharon Crowley.
16 reviews
August 22, 2024
Couldn’t put this down. I read this book about 25yrs ago and have seen the film too. I’ve always remembered how much this true story interested me, so I thought I’d read it again to see if my memory was correct. It didn’t fail me. It’s captivating throughout.
A must read.
Profile Image for ⚔️Kelanth⚔️.
1,117 reviews165 followers
December 18, 2019
Ho sempre adorato il film "Fuga di Mezzanotte", è uno dei miei film preferiti, quelli che riguardo ogni tanto per rispolverare i ricordi che ne ho. Non per niente ha vinto due Oscar e tra le varie firme si può leggere Oliver Stone, insomma non stiamo parlando dell'ultimo "Vacanze di Natale".

Quest'estate ero in Svizzera, gironzolavo tra le bancarelle di Lugano e da lontano ho visto la copertina di questo libro, non sapevo neanche che prima del film ci fu il libro, potevo immaginarlo certamente, ma ci sono delle cose che dai per scontato e basta. Ammetto che ho tenuto da parte questo libro per un po' perchè avevo una paura folle che mi offuscasse uno dei miei film preferiti. Ma come ormai è regola poteva essere il libro inferiore al film? Certo che no, perchè se il film è maraviglioso, il libro è stupendo e ci sono voluti solo due giorni per leggerlo.

Siamo ai livelli di Papillon; anche questo è una storia vera: William Hayes, uno studente americano, cercò di contrabbandare hashish fuori dalla Turchia nel 1970. Condannato a quattro anni e 2 mesi prima e all'ergastolo poi, nel durissimo carcere di Sagmacilar, riuscì a scappare nel 1975 in Grecia per poi fare ritorno a casa.

Una storia incredibile, il libro trasuda di amicizia, disperazione, luridume, pazzia, torture, giovinezza, oppressione e voglia, tanta voglia di libertà, di quanto a volte diamo per scontato il sole che ci batte sulla testa, del fatto che possiamo prendere la porta di casa e cominciare a camminare senza fermarci, senza trovarci di fronte ad un muro dopo pochi passi. E' la storia di uomini imprigionati che sono costretti a sopravvivere nonostante tutte le angherie, le privazioni, le torture e il sistema legale della Turchia negli anni settanta.

Questo è un libro che ti colpisce duro e tu sei lì che ad un certo punto gridi "dai Billy, non mollare, il confine è lì, dai ancora un poco e ce la fai...". Storie di vite vissute al limite estremo della sopportazione, parole e pagine che ti entrano dentro e cominciano a sedimentare, ti danno consapevolezza, perchè sai che è vero quello che stai leggendo, quasi non ci credi, ma lo sai che è vero.

Memorabili, certi libri sono davvero così, senza ma e senza se.
Profile Image for Antonella.
566 reviews92 followers
December 5, 2015
Expreso de medianoche nos narra la historia de William, "Billy", el mismo escritor, quién es condenado a 30 años en una prisión de Turquía.
El libro es muy rápido de leer. Es narrado desde la perspectiva del protagonista y nos cuenta cada experiencia dentro de la prisión, a un ritmo muy rápido.
Aunque ya sepas como termina la historia (lo cuenta la sinopsis), la pregunta del ¿cómo? se mantiene durante todo el libro.
Si bien yo me esperaba "más acción", por así decirle, creo que sucede todo muy rápido al final, pero eso no quiere decir que no me gustó.
Me gustó mucho que el autor en ningún momento se priva de contar las cosas y los sentimientos que le van surgiendo, incluso en un momento llegó a sorprenderme.
"En la cárcel parecía que todos permanecían a la expectativa de algo. Se esperaba que abrieran la celda y que llegara el pan por la mañana; se esperaba la comida a mediodía; se esperaba que llegara el agua, para poder ir al baño o lavarse; se esperaban las visitas; se esperaba el juicio; se esperaba la libertad..."


PD: me gustó mucho descubrir el por qué del título del libro.
Profile Image for Luis.
335 reviews18 followers
May 17, 2015
Siguiendo la temática leída en "Papillon", mi siguiente lectura fue la de este libro.
Cumple con su función, te cuenta una historia y no trata de ser pomposa en su intento, el gancho es inmediato.
Basada en una historia real (con alguna que otra mentirilla piadosa), Expreso de medianoche es la crónica de Billy Hayes en una cárcel de Turquía tras su fallido intento de pasar hachís de contrabando. Y no digo mas para evitar spoilers.
La película es buena sin dudas, PERO no es 100% fiel al libro, incluso llego a perjudicar muchísimo la imagen de Turquía como país (por retratarlos como bárbaros), el mismo autor pidió perdón por el daño causado, otros solo vieron el poder que ejerce el cine sobre la opinión de las personas.
En lineas generales no tiene desperdicio. Lo recomiendo para pasar un buen rato.
3 reviews
April 3, 2022
"If you're not prepared to do the time, don't do the crime!". This autobiography of Billy Hayes' daring escape is much different from the film. He provides a real insight into the world of 1970s Turkish prisons, which perfectly illustrates why you shouldn't commit crime abroad. I thoroughly enjoyed the detail Billy goes into recalling all the characters he met along his journey and the impact they have had upon him. Especially the conflicting feelings I had rooting for his triumphant escape whilst recognising he was there by his own making.

I highly recommend this true story of escaping the real unglamorous reality of prison life abroad.
Profile Image for Marsha.
65 reviews
January 10, 2015
This book was difficult for me to read in that it portrays Turkey and the Turks in such a bad light. I lived in Turkey around the same time as Billy Hayes was imprisoned there yet found the Turks to be kind and hospitable, generous and magnanimous. Having said that I do not doubt that prison life as described by Hayes was awful and perhaps still is. The book is a quick read and not great literature.
Profile Image for Fadeela.
122 reviews59 followers
September 14, 2021
هذا الكتاب عندما وقعت عيني عليه شعرت بأنه يناديني وكان سعره زهيداً جداً لكن غلافه كئيباً وعليه صورة منقولة من الفيلم لبطل القصة في السينما وتجمع على صفحة وجهه كل حزن وكآبة العالم حتى أنني كل ما نظرت إلى الغلاف تمنيت لو أنني شاهدت الفيلم قبل قراءة القصة

هذه القصة حقيقية وهي من أدب السجون. وكل ما قرأت قصة من أدب السجون كرهت نفسي. لكني أعلن هنا بأن هذه القصة هي من أجمل ما قرأت في أدب السجون ومن أكثرها أثارة ومتعة وتشويق على الإطلاق حتى أنني اعترف بأن هذا الكتاب هو ربما من أجمل ما قرأت منذ فتحت حسابي على القودريدز.
القصة تشبه القصص التي تعرض في قناة ناشونال جيوغرافيك في برنامج شهير اسمه (سجين في الغربة) كنت من عشاق هذا البرنامج والقصة تدور أحداثها في تركيا في فترة السبيعنات وبطلها حاول تهريب الحشيش وسجن هناك وكان قد حكم عليه بالسجن مدى الحياة ثم خفف الحكم الى ٣٠ سنة ثم خفف إلى ١٢ سنة بعد تدخل أعضاء من البرلمان التركي لتخفيف الحكم على الأجانب وكانت هناك محاولات من الجانب الأمريكي لمساعدته لكنه يأس وقرر الهرب مغامراً بحياته عابراً البحر متجهاً الى اليونان ومن هناك إلى بلده لتستقبله الصحافة وصناع السينما

القصة أحداثها مشوقة وتعيشها بكل تفاصيلها مع البطل شئت ذلك أم أبيت وقد تنسى البطل وتعتقد أنك أنت من يعيش تلك التفاصيل فتتوتر حين يتوتر وتخاف حين يخاف وتتعب حين يتعب. وفيها العديد من الفصول جزء من تلك الفصول كان يسرد ما يحدث له في مستشفى الطب النفسي وهذا الفصل هو المضحك والمبكي في نفس الوقت

القصة تحولت الى فيلم سينمائي كما قلت وقد شاهدته ورأيي فيه انه سخيف جداً فيه تشويه لصورة (المسلمين) على وجه الخصوص والأتراك (بصفتهم مسلمين) على وجه العموم. وكلنا نعرف جيداً بأن صورة العربي أو المسلم مشوهة مقارنة بصورة الأوربي والأمريكي في صناعة السينما الأمريكية. إيعقل أن لا نرى شيئاً جميلاً واحداً في بلد جميل كتركيا حتى أن الكاتب نفسه انتقد الفيلم لتشويه صورة الأتراك والبلد وأنتقد الفيلم لتغيير الكثير من التفاصيل. لست هنا بصدد الحديث عن الأتراك لكنني عموماً أؤمن أن اي بلد في العالم فيه السيئ والجيد

الفيلم لا يعبر أبداً عن القصة وما فيها من تشويق وإثارة على الإطلاق بل إنه يشوهها. فإن حدث إيها القارئ وشاهدت هذا الفيلم الهابط فهو لا يعبر ابداً عن جمال القصة.
Profile Image for Tracy Barton.
547 reviews
September 24, 2018
I watched the movie a few weeks ago, and I was so intrigued by this story, I had to read the book. As my library not only didn't own a copy of the movie, they also didn't own a copy of the book, I opted to listen to it on Audible. I'm so glad it did, since it was read by Billy Hayes himself!
I'd heard that the movie was greatly sensationalized compared to the book, and I agree that there were some things changed and maybe *enhanced*.... however, it's not untrue that Billy Hayes went through several beatings, was treated horribly, and he struggled for ages (unsuccessfully) to get help from his family, friends, and the American Consulate to win his freedom legally. It seemed clear to me that the only way he could ever hope to win his freedom was, indeed, by riding the Midnight Express! I'm so glad he did! There are times, when you're in the middle of a story and it gets really bad/scary/dangerous and you find yourself wondering, "Will he make it? Is there any chance he'll survive?" And I felt like such an idiot at those times, because he obviously did, or the story wouldn't have been told! But KNOWING he made it didn't ease the fear I felt for him as he described the challenges he faced along the way. This book is extremely intense, and I felt that, despite the ugly bits, the hurtful, painful bits, there were also many, many parts that were beautiful. Billy made some great friendships and he learned a lot about his inner self. Those, I think, were the sources of his strength--the things that helped him survive his time in the Turkish prison as well as his escape.
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