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Into Trouble
2022 Readers' Favorite award winner
2022 Best Book Awards Finalist
"A well-written account about a young man's mistake and the threat of dire consequences. Our verdict: Get it."
-- Kirkus Reviews
"Loved it! Along the lines of 'On the Road' and less depressing than 'Into the Wild'. Gorman's writing is clear and honest!" -- Victoria Irwin - Discovery
The heavy iron door clanged shut and in 1969 19-year-old Paul Gorman found himself locked inside a jail cell in Franco’s fascist Spain. Facing up to 6 years in prison, he was terrified when the American consulate was a no-show at his arraignment.
Five months earlier, Gorman had left Seattle in a snowstorm searching for adventure and longing to see a girl in Germany. With just three hundred dollars in his pocket, he stuck out his thumb and by the time he arrived in Europe he’d had encounters with cops, criminals and cons. Things didn’t work out with the girl. Hours later, he was on the road again—only this time on a bicycle in a blizzard. Tired of the frigid weather, Gorman headed south searching out sunny beaches and cheap prices in the Canary Islands. Grifting the streets, and struggling to survive, is when his troubles exploded and so did the danger and intrigue.
Told with flair, sparkling with charm and humor, Into Trouble tells the dramatic true story of the thrills and terrors a young man faces as he searches for adventure and his place in the world, and how those experiences and the mistakes he made transformed him.
2022 Best Book Awards Finalist
"A well-written account about a young man's mistake and the threat of dire consequences. Our verdict: Get it."
-- Kirkus Reviews
"Loved it! Along the lines of 'On the Road' and less depressing than 'Into the Wild'. Gorman's writing is clear and honest!" -- Victoria Irwin - Discovery
The heavy iron door clanged shut and in 1969 19-year-old Paul Gorman found himself locked inside a jail cell in Franco’s fascist Spain. Facing up to 6 years in prison, he was terrified when the American consulate was a no-show at his arraignment.
Five months earlier, Gorman had left Seattle in a snowstorm searching for adventure and longing to see a girl in Germany. With just three hundred dollars in his pocket, he stuck out his thumb and by the time he arrived in Europe he’d had encounters with cops, criminals and cons. Things didn’t work out with the girl. Hours later, he was on the road again—only this time on a bicycle in a blizzard. Tired of the frigid weather, Gorman headed south searching out sunny beaches and cheap prices in the Canary Islands. Grifting the streets, and struggling to survive, is when his troubles exploded and so did the danger and intrigue.
Told with flair, sparkling with charm and humor, Into Trouble tells the dramatic true story of the thrills and terrors a young man faces as he searches for adventure and his place in the world, and how those experiences and the mistakes he made transformed him.
- GenresNonfictionMemoir
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 19, 2021
63 people are currently reading
1154 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 17, 2021
Into Trouble is the story of an American Candide type, the author’s younger self, on his first trip overseas at the age of 19. His travels are full of eccentric and sketchy characters and risky and sometimes life-threatening situations, including detention by Spanish police serving under the repressive fascist dictator Francisco Franco. Like Candide, the hero Paul is an optimistic, trusting young man, but his experiences help him to develop some healthy skepticism about people and their motives. While Into Trouble is often suspenseful and sometimes downright scary, it is also full of humor, even laughing out loud moments. A wonderfully fun read with some personal insight into a dark period in Spain’s history.
October 3, 2021
Good Read
I found myself immersed in this young man's journey. At first it seemed to be just another book about teenaged angst, but it turned out to be pleasingly so much more. Full of humor and self realization in the time of Franco and the Viet Nam war.
I highly recommend this!
I found myself immersed in this young man's journey. At first it seemed to be just another book about teenaged angst, but it turned out to be pleasingly so much more. Full of humor and self realization in the time of Franco and the Viet Nam war.
I highly recommend this!
December 1, 2021
This memoir of Gorman's (mis)adventures as a solo-traveler at 19 is candid, tense, and instructive. A compelling read. Gorman is skilled in recreating the time and places, his emotional reactions and decision-making. The Canary Islands may have been warmer than continental Europe, weather-wise, but not politically. Franco was at the helm. An aspect of this story can be seen as cautionary tale, especially for Americans who can blithely assume that their nationality bubbles them protectively wherever they may be. This is a fascinating book.
January 28, 2024
Great fast read
Wow. I read this in one sitting. What an amazing journey told years and years after the fact. A fun well written story of a young mans adventure in Europe. Great stories and lessons learned. Bravo!
Wow. I read this in one sitting. What an amazing journey told years and years after the fact. A fun well written story of a young mans adventure in Europe. Great stories and lessons learned. Bravo!
January 14, 2023
A teenager growing up
A fastening story about something most teenagers dream about doing but he actually did it. A book you will find hard to put down. And it is all true.
A fastening story about something most teenagers dream about doing but he actually did it. A book you will find hard to put down. And it is all true.
October 29, 2023
Great story
Hard to believe one person could experience so much in 5 months. What a different world traveling in Europe 50+ years ago. A well written book
Hard to believe one person could experience so much in 5 months. What a different world traveling in Europe 50+ years ago. A well written book
July 28, 2024
Into Trouble by Paul Gorman recounts the true story of his adventurous 1969 backpacking trip across Europe at the age of nineteen. The journey begins with a dramatic 120 mph car chase while hitchhiking to Chicago, and soon after landing in Luxembourg, Gorman travels south in search of sun, beaches, and adventure. His travels take a dark turn when he is arrested in the Canary Islands, Spain, and faces the possibility of six years in a notorious prison for a minor crime. The memoir captures his struggle to survive, his confrontations with political intrigue, his relationship with his abusive father, and his avoidance of the draft. Compared to books like "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer, "Midnight Express" by Billy Hayes, and "Catch Me If You Can" by Frank Abagnale, Gorman's tale is an authentic and riveting adventure filled with drama and humor.
February 24, 2025
Privilege has its membership
A largely uninteresting story of a privileged hippie on a busman's holiday to Europe in 1969.
A good part of the book recounts the author's brief stint in a Spanish prison. While no doubt an unpleasant experience for a 19-year-old, Gorman makes serving less than four weeks of a 4-year sentence sound like he was locked up in a one of Stalin's gulags. The fact that he committed an actual crime (fraudulently cashing travelers checks) while visiting a fascist country seems beside the point. If not for the privilege of his birth as a middle-class white American, he may have found out how the rest of the world actually lives.
The more I read, the less sympathy I had for the author's plight.
A largely uninteresting story of a privileged hippie on a busman's holiday to Europe in 1969.
A good part of the book recounts the author's brief stint in a Spanish prison. While no doubt an unpleasant experience for a 19-year-old, Gorman makes serving less than four weeks of a 4-year sentence sound like he was locked up in a one of Stalin's gulags. The fact that he committed an actual crime (fraudulently cashing travelers checks) while visiting a fascist country seems beside the point. If not for the privilege of his birth as a middle-class white American, he may have found out how the rest of the world actually lives.
The more I read, the less sympathy I had for the author's plight.
January 1, 2024
I won this one in a Goodreads giveaway and I admit, I didn't finish it. I do try to finish all books I've won, but this one is a stinker: very long winded and annoying. And sorry, I can't feel sorry for someone who got arrested in Franco's Spain for literally PASSING A BAD CHECK. I thought, based on the book description, that he was arrested for political reasons. Not so! He committed a crime. Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but I think people who commit crimes should be arrested. #sorrynotsorry
So yeah, definitely a hard pass on this one.
So yeah, definitely a hard pass on this one.
December 29, 2023
If you like a story that drags on and on, plus is quite repetitive then feel free to pick up this book. I was interested in the synopsis of the book and was expecting more. I feel for the author and what he went through in the Spanish prison in 1969, but there really wasn't much substance to the writing. I appear to be on the low end of the rating. That could be that a lot of readers gave up on the book.
January 16, 2022
Fun Read
I really enjoyed this story. Living vicariously through your experience that I never had. I couldn't help but be in fear for you in your stint in prison. I'm glad you reconciled with your father. I look forward to future writings.
I really enjoyed this story. Living vicariously through your experience that I never had. I couldn't help but be in fear for you in your stint in prison. I'm glad you reconciled with your father. I look forward to future writings.
August 26, 2023
An interesting read.
Hard to believe all the places the author went to and all the adventures he had (good and bad), especially since he was only 19.
Thank you to Goodreads giveaway for the kindle copy.
Hard to believe all the places the author went to and all the adventures he had (good and bad), especially since he was only 19.
Thank you to Goodreads giveaway for the kindle copy.
March 1, 2024
Hard to read
This is a true story a young man traveling Europe and financing his trip by stealing, robbing, lying, panhandling, accepting a bed from anyone who stand him, and doing anything but working. The character is very unlikable which made it hard for me to read.
This is a true story a young man traveling Europe and financing his trip by stealing, robbing, lying, panhandling, accepting a bed from anyone who stand him, and doing anything but working. The character is very unlikable which made it hard for me to read.
February 28, 2024
A fun and fast read! It was interesting hearing about Paul's European adventure and misadventures. I enjoyed the book because it was took place in 1969, a year of coming of age for myself also.
March 11, 2024
This is a coming of age book for a young man. I liked the story but it lacked more substance than it contained. I would suggest one pass on the book unless you are a very young person.
April 14, 2024
Fun, adventurous read. If you like characters who get into trouble (kid trouble) but are still decent enough people, then you could have a good time reading this one.
May 18, 2024
Excellent
This book really sucked me in. I am not sure why, but I really enjoyed the story as well as the writing style.
This book really sucked me in. I am not sure why, but I really enjoyed the story as well as the writing style.
August 31, 2024
Outstanding!!!
What an amazing adventure! It's an amazing experience to live to tell about! This book gives you a new appreciation for life & cultures! I loved it!
What an amazing adventure! It's an amazing experience to live to tell about! This book gives you a new appreciation for life & cultures! I loved it!
December 20, 2021
Raw and anguished, yet bursting with humor and fresh insight, this true story set in the 1960's kept me flipping pages as deeply rich characters wove in and out of the story. It's a story of teenage adventure, enthusiasm, angst, and poor decision making seen through the now mature eyes of its author, Paul Gorman.
Gorman's life peeled back as he dug himself into trouble and wound up in one of Franco's notorious Spanish prisons where he faced up to six years for a minor crime. In stepped the US State Department to help him or use him for some political manipulation.
Gorman's experiences transformed him and provided a rewarding character arc. The result is an engrossing read that's visually and emotionally rich and full of surprises.
I highly recommend this book.
Gorman's life peeled back as he dug himself into trouble and wound up in one of Franco's notorious Spanish prisons where he faced up to six years for a minor crime. In stepped the US State Department to help him or use him for some political manipulation.
Gorman's experiences transformed him and provided a rewarding character arc. The result is an engrossing read that's visually and emotionally rich and full of surprises.
I highly recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews