Gangster - Lorenzo Carcaterra

...they reach the pinnacle of gangster hierarchy, where death is never too far away.

Book 2 starts in the year 1964 when it is seen through the eyes of Gabe, a foster child taken into the world of the gangsters as they remain at their careers peak. Pudge offers the help and friendship, Angelo remains aloof but the hero in Gabe's eyes.

Gabe is lead through the world of the gangster under their guidance but experiences ...
...would recommend it. Undoubtedly fans of the gangster world will love this, fans of fiction (as long as they are not squeamish) will also love it. Fans of non-fiction books, like myself, will probably really enjoy it too and read it in 2 days. Fiction comes much worse than this.  ... more

I don't normally read fiction, and can probably name all the fiction books i have read. However some years ago I read 'Sleepers' by Lorenzo Carcaterra and enjoyed both the book and film. Being a member of 'World Books' I saw both this and 'street boys' on offer for £7.99 each and bought them.

I don't like fiction, I don't watch soap operas for the same reason that I would rather learn abour real life events. However I overcame my reticence and got stuck into the book.

It is essentially 2 books in one, and indeed is labeled as book 1 and book 2. The story revolves around the life of 2 people, Angelo Vestieri and a young orphan named Gabe, who throughout narrates some of the story over Angelo's deathbed. Angelo is brought over from Italy to America by his father (Paulino) forced to flee his native homeland. Starting in the year 1906, faced with the loss of his first son Carlo to the mafia, Paulino, a proud man, shoots his son in an act of defiance. He leaves for America with his pregnant wife, who dies in childbirth on a sinking, burning ship.

Paulino and Angelo (the infant) live through this ordeal and begin their lives in the US. Paulino is determined to make an honest life in the US, but following an episode of being beaten in a fight Angelo is taken in by the protection of Ida The Goose, who places him under the care of his attacker under threat of death. Here enters Angelo into the world of gangsterhood and the creation of his lifelong friend Pudge. Paralleled with this comes the distancing of Angelo from his father.

Through many events and rival killings they reach the pinnacle of gangster hierarchy, where death is never too far away.

Book 2 starts in the year 1964 when it is seen through the eyes of Gabe, a foster child taken into the world of the gangsters as they remain at their careers peak. Pudge offers the help and friendship, Angelo remains aloof but the hero in Gabe's eyes.

Gabe is lead through the world of the gangster under their guidance but experiences much death. When in Italy, he learns of the attempt on the life of Angelo. Realising he cannot live in the constant fear of death, he tells Angelo of his decision to leave the life that has made him a man, to become eventually an advertising executive and make his own fortune.

Doesn't this however sound a lame ending? The last few pages of the book explain the twists and turns that ties both these characters together. It explains a world of intrigue and changing loyalties and that in itself is the great appeal of this book. So much more occurs in the book than i have time or space to describe and it reads smoothly with a fair number of key characters.

So did I enjoy it - yes, i grudgingly admit it was a very good read. However it is not too difficult to find the influences that motivated Carcaterra in this and it does follow a tried and tested pattern. The story is very closely related to the works of Mario Puzo (The Godfather and Omerta.) Certainly the career of Angelo Vestieri is almost identical to that of Michael Corleone. There is more than a passing reference to 'The Untouchables' and the characters can be seen to have similarities to 'Goodfellas.' However I think this works in the portrayal of the characters. Angelo to me looks feels like Al Pacino, Pudge like Joe Pesci, and this imagery helps picture the characters that the story is heavily reliant on.

So in conlusion I would recommend it. Undoubtedly fans of the gangster world will love this, fans of fiction (as long as they are not squeamish) will also love it. Fans of non-fiction books, like myself, will probably really enjoy it too and read it in 2 days. Fiction comes much worse than this. 

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