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Amazon.co.uk Review
It will come as no surprise to anyone who understands the derivative nature of filmmaking that Lorenzo Carcaterra's Gangster has been bought for a TV mini series. After all, how many times can you rerun all three parts of The Godfather? Here the author of Sleepers and Apaches provides a full accounting of the life of one Angelo Vestiere, told from the perspective of two people who witnessed it first hand: Gabe, the street kid who ultimately betrayed Angelo's hope that he would succeed him; and Mary, the woman who loved him. One knows a secret about the other, which isn't revealed until the book's final pages. But by that time the secret doesn't matter and sheds no more light on Angelo than the reader has gleaned in the previous chapters.
Angelo has few redeeming characteristics. As the protagonist of this sprawling novel of the rise of organised crime in America, he never earns the reader's empathy, despite Carcaterra's attempts to humanise his central character by presenting the "code of the gangster" as a believable rationale for Angelo's existence and his success in his chosen career. By far the more interesting thugs who people this book are Pudge, Angus McQueen and Ida the Goose, a trio of fellow gangsters the author pulls into Angelo's orbit. Despite their moral and ethical shortcomings, they are picaresque enough to have a certain raffish charm. But Angelo is no Don Corleone or even Tony Soprano. And while Carcaterra's a journeyman writer, he's not ready to inherit the mantle of the late (and in this case sadly lamented) Mario Puzo. --Jane Adams, Amazon.com --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Maxim
Carcaterra's unrelenting pace gives this sweeping saga a style all of its own
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is the best book i have ever read. It took up a few days of my holiday and i could not put it down. I would advise anyone who enjoys films such as "The Godfather" or programs such as "The Sopranos" to read this book. Great book well advised.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Gangster is an abosolutly fantastic read. The first novel I have read from Mr Carcaterra but I am about to read his other 3 novels. I could not put Gangster down and the characters are so likeable. I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone especially if your fans of Sopranos, Goodfellas Scarface etc!
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Being a great fan of previous Carcaterra books I couldn't wait for 'Gangster' to be published.
Even thought this book is a story about the makings of a gangster and all that is involved in that kind of lifestyle I was surprised at the low levels of violence that where portraied. In great Carcaterra fashion there are parts that make you feel ill, part make you want to join in with the fight and parts can make you cry. The more you read the more you fall in love with the characters. I found the story addictive and I wanted to find out more about Angelo, Pudge, Ida the Goose and all the other characters mentioned. Lorenzo Caracterra is a very talented writer and I wait with baited breath for his next best seller.
Even thought this book is a story about the makings of a gangster and all that is involved in that kind of lifestyle I was surprised at the low levels of violence that where portraied. In great Carcaterra fashion there are parts that make you feel ill, part make you want to join in with the fight and parts can make you cry. The more you read the more you fall in love with the characters. I found the story addictive and I wanted to find out more about Angelo, Pudge, Ida the Goose and all the other characters mentioned. Lorenzo Caracterra is a very talented writer and I wait with baited breath for his next best seller.
If you have never read a Carcaterra book before I think this will be a good one to start with. But if you are more used to the type of action that can be found in 'Apache' you may be a little disappointed.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Gangster/not mafia
I read this book thinking it was going to be a fictional gangster book instead it was about an Italian teamed up with a blonde fella, started off quite good but was a little... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Brown
Enjoyable and atmospheric
Just a nice smooth good read, maybe a bit too nice for a gangster book, but interesting, enjoyable and not the typical action packed gangster novel.
Published 2 months ago by N. Offer
Amazing!
it was simply amazing, you will never read a piece of brilliance like this again!
truely brillaint!
Danny boy
truely brillaint!
Danny boy
Published on 6 Nov 2009 by Daniel S. Price
Amust read
This book is a must read for any genre fan. The characters are loveable and so too is the storyline. Read more
Published on 15 Sep 2008 by Gavin Paterson
A truly great read which I believe is an all time classic!
I enjoyed this book so much I had to read it again and funnily enough enjoyed it more the second time around! Read more
Published on 13 Aug 2008 by Disco Biskit
A Masterpiece
I really enjoyed reading this book. Carcaterra really brings the story and characters to life and although it is fiction it appears very real. Read more
Published on 29 Mar 2008 by Dave
A simple but deep story of a Gangster
As a fan of Sci-Fact stories, such as Michael Marshall Smith et al, buying this book was a change from the norm. And upon reading it I was not dissapointed. Read more
Published on 16 Dec 2007 by Sirius
ok?
i have read sleepers by lerenzo carcaterra and thought it was fantastic, so i had high hopes for his novel gangster. Read more
Published on 5 Nov 2007 by S. C. Mcvicker
The CodFather - Derivative, Thin, Corny and Cheesy.
I do not understand how this book has garnered the reviews and acclaim that it has. It is anything but a classic. Read more
Published on 27 Mar 2007 by RamsyPak
The Godfather meets Taxi Driver!
this book follows a similar format to that of the Godfather Part 2 as this book is broken down into two parts. Read more
Published on 27 Feb 2006 by Richard Barnett
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