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Summary: A great book w/ insight to the homes of the rich &/or famous
Review: I was introduced to this book by an expatriate living in Taipei, Taiwan. Being overseas, one yearns for familiarity. Having lived on the fringes of the "Gold Coast", I can attest to the accuracy of this wonderfully written book. The plot was thoroughly enjoyable and well paced. It was like a weekend in the Hamptons, without being stuck on the Long Island Expressway
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Summary: One of my favorites
Review: This is one book that I laughed out loud to. A great vacation read
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Summary: The Gold Coast is an entertaining and literate novel.
Review: How many suspense novels have you read twice and enjoyed more the second time? Mr. DeMille's best novel is an atmospheric yarn about the decay of a yuppie couple's lifestyle and its ruin as both husband and wife fall under hypnotic power of the Mafia Don next door. DeMille makes you care about the characters so intensely that you want to grab them and shake them when they irrationally do things you know will lead to ruin. DeMille's prose in all of his novels is as close to perfect as I've ever read; combined with an interesting story, this novel is irresistable. I particulary liked the very irreverent and believable interaction with the IRS
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Summary: A fantastic book!
Review: I absolutely loved this book. About three years ago, I met Mr. DeMille. He asked me what book of his I was going to read next. I quickly replied that I couldn't wait to read
"The Charm School". He smiled and told me that I should read "The Gold Coast" before anything else, saying it was his personal favorite.
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Summary: A truly great read, screamingly funny, yet sad at the end.
Review: This book has everything. For the most part, it is very, very funny, yet at the end, sad and touching. The characters are wonderfully thought out and believable, and the reader can't help but develop a real empathy for all of them. Finally, on top of everything else, GOLD COAST is also a terrific story. This is an absolute must read
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Summary: Rereadable!
Review: This is one of my favorite books! And one which I reread every couple of years. It's funny, sad, suspenseful, clever, romantic and so much more. A member of the Mob moves into a ritzy Gold Coast neighborhood and profoundly changes the lives of the yuppy couple in the next mansion
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Summary: Surprisingly Great
Review: I've read almost everything by DeMille. What usually happens is that I go into the book store, rummage around for a while, and then if I don't find anything, I go to the prominent DeMille display and get another DeMille novel I haven't read before. I enjoyed Plum Island and, before Gold Coast, thought The Charm School his best work. But generally, when I pluck a DeMille novel off the shelf, I sometimes feel a little like I'm settling, because I couldn't find anything that grabbed my attention more.Gold Coast is one that never particularly appealed to me; although I knew nothing about it other than what was on the back cover. It was the one I never bought and never read, because it seemed the least likely to interest me. But I ran out of everything else and finally bought it the other day. It was a modest revelation. I could not believe it was by the same author as the other stuff, other than maybe The Charm School. The point above about my usually "settling" for DeMille is to emphasize just how wonderful I thought this book was, and how much I think it transcends his other work and other novels out there. The characters are exceptionally well developed. After finishing the book, I felt as though I could tell you what they might do in situations not presented by the book, for example; in other words, I understood them. The story, the setting, and the sense of place and history were equally impressive. The writing was even above his usual standard. In short, this is an excellent book for anyone that simply enjoys good fiction, whether you are a DeMille fan or not. I suspect his strongest advocates love this book too, but the reason I took time out to write this review, which I rarely do, is to suggest that those of you, like me, who though his other stuff was merely good not great, might really be dramatically surprised by this one.
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Summary: Mafia personified
Review: I listened to this book on CD and is was very good. I suppose it will be even better to those that are from NY and L.I. where the book takes place and are familiar with the workings of the mafia. It's always interesting to read about stories that take place where you live and people you can relate to.
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Summary: Wow.
Review: Nelson Demille has a genius for presenting characters who seem straightforward, but then you get these little hints -- nothing you can put your finger on -- that there is much more to these personalities. So you accept and enjoy the mystery and turn the page, knowing that each chapter will reveal just a little more craziness. This is The Gold Coast.
Throughout, I kept hearing touches of pagan and Greek myths, Genesis, Dante. Like a fine wine this book shows you hints of underlying tastes but you never lose sight of the whole. John Whitman Sutter and Susan Stanhope Sutter, husband and wife of 22 years, both insular Long Island WASP aristocrats, both sexually creative, parents of 2 children, meet their new neighbor Frank "The Bishop" Bellarosa who, if there were a Mafia in New York, would be head of the top family. What happens between this and the denouement made for two very fine weeks of commuting.
The events that follow seem inevitable and somewhat fateful yet are a completely voluntary descent into the uncomfortable and the uncontrollable, with Whitman's way of life,honor and relationship with Susan at stake. I stayed up until 1a.m. to listen to the last chapters because I could not go to bed without knowing what happened, and the ending astounded me.
Also recommend Word of Honor, another wonderful character study.
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Summary: One of the better books I have read in a while
Review: Fun, keeps you reading, slightly weak ending but overall - bravo. Quick read.
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