Rating: 
Summary: Well Worth Reading!
Review: Spanning 90 years, Lorenzo Carcaterra's Gangster provides a stirring perspective on the ways of mobsters and their history; all of which is encased in a fine and moving characterization of the enigmatic Angelo Vestieri and his partner, Pudge. Gangster is a fast-paced saga loaded with richly developed characters and true-to-life dialogue that could only be written by an author who grew up in a neighborhood and with people similar to those portrayed in this book. If you read Carcaterra's excellent book, Sleepers, you'll know what I mean (and if you haven't, you should). While engrossed in the action-packed plot of Gangster, you won't be able to miss the three themes that resonate throughout this talented author's powerful new novel -- love, violence and destiny. If you like books about the Mafia and/or are interested in understanding the psychology of gangsters, Gangster is a book I'd have rated 4 1/2 stars if Amazon allowed and it is one I'd highly recommend to you. It is well worth reading. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Turned out to be a good read
Review: I recently read Gangster by Lorenzo Caracaterra in the hopes that I would enjoy it as much as the movie Sleepers which was based on the book by Mr. Carcaterra. Unfortunately this book didn't quite measure up to Sleepers for emotional impact but I also seriously question if any book on this subject will ever equal the magnitude of Mario Puzo's, The Godfather.In the prologue of the book, Angelo Vestiere, the gangster of the title, lies in a hosptial bed dying. Next to him sits a man named Gabe who we have yet to learn how he figures into this story. A woman named Mary enters the room, introduces herself to Gabe and offers to tell Gabe the complete story of Vestiere, the gangsters life. Part I begins with Angelo and his family living in Italy. From there we watch as the family journeys to America as part of the mass immigration which took place to this country and then Angelo's life on the streets of New York. Finally we read about his rise to power as one the most feared gangsters. Interspersed in the chapters are relationships Angelo makes along the way which influence him; his marraige to Isabella which ends in tragedy and the gang wars which make him more and more feared and stronger and stronger within the organized crime network. Perhaps its a bit too much of same old, same old but Part I of the book was rather ho hum and I only continued at this point to see if Part II would be more interesting. And Part II did prove to be much better. The character of Gabe,a 10 year old oprphan is introduced as the reader watches him come into Angelo's world, is taken under his wing, tutored by Angelo to become a ganster and the decision which Gabe must make about his future. And now we are able to make the connection between the man sitting at Angelo's bed and the young orphan from years go. As Mary concludes her telling of Angelo Vestiere's life with a startling revelation, Gabe is finally able to complete a puzzle which has haunted him and ths tale of Angelo and Gabe comes full circle. I finally did enjoy the book and now look forward to Mr. Carcaterra's next book.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but not great
Review: Like some others, this is the first Lorenzo Carcaterra book I've read. It was a nice read, but just seemed familiar...I've read it before in other books of this genre.
Rating: 
Summary: A Wonderful Spell binding book
Review: I got this book at an air port because I had nothing to read, I picked it up and never put it down (Thank goodness it was a long flight). The author did a wonderful job portraying the characters and their personalities. I recommend this book to anyone, and I look forward to reading another book by this same author.
Rating:
Summary: Gangster...Incredible!!!
Review: I have never read any of Lorenzo Caracaterra's books. I also have never been really into very many novels. This story was in incredible journey. It was very well written and very easy to follow along. In fact, it was hard not to get sucked into his "Gangster" world and feel as though you are really a part of what is going on. It gave you a different view to see gangsters and not just killers. You see them as business men. You see them as corporate leaders. Must of the story what you would think it is. Then you start to see the story change. Before you know it, BAM! You get thrown for a loop and my jaw dropped to the ground. Even tho I saw it coming from the beginning, I never really did put it all together until the first words out of Mary's mouth towards the end. Then it all just made sense.
Rating:
Summary: ...Deep in Gangland
Review: I read Gangster and it was my first Gangster novel ever! It was a wonderful read and I think i'll read this book again! Great book I can't wait to read more from this author!
I was really impressed, keep up the good work Carcaterra!
Rating:
Summary: Five Stars for GANSTER
Review: This is by far one of Carcaterra's best works! There wasn't a false emotion in this novel! I highly recommend this book to ANYONE who is a fan of gangster stories. WOW!!
Rating: 
Summary: Is this a joke or what?
Review: Reviewer: Ben Storey tells it like it is. Please read his review before buying.
The characters are preposterous. There behavior more so. Here we got two kids, one 7 y/o, one 10 y/o talking and behaving like old all knowing worldly gangster dons. At 12 and 15 they are n charge of running//hiring/firing/collecting$s from a certain dock and all it's workers. I couldn't take any more than 100 pages. What a piece of junk. L. Carcaterra obviously knows neither children, NY 1906, nor gangsters.
I do recommend his book Sleepers tho. I thought that was pretty good.
Gangsters should of never been published. It's a disgrace.
Rating: 
Summary: Coulda been a contender.
Review: This book could have been good ... had it been 1,000 pages longer. Carcaterra has a good story to tell, but he tries to cram 100 years of story into 375 pages of text. Can't be done. As a result, the book has two problems: 1. Something earthshattering happens every 15 pages or so, which diminishes the impact of such events, and 2. With the exception of the main 3 characters, we never get character development necessary to really care about some of the people that are killed, etc. This story needed to take the route of Wouk's Winds of War/War and Rememberance, i.e., it should have been a 1,500-page epic that really drew out the characters and plot over time. I major killing or major war every 20 pages becomes shallow and redundant. I loved Sleepers, but I'd say this one was just interesting enough to force me to finish reading it out of curiosity for how it ended. It can't hold a candle to Sleepers, The Godfather, Wiseguy, or the litany of non-fiction ganster books available. I can't recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Great Read!
Review: Gangster by Lorenzo Carcaterra was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I read this book after picking it up at the NY is Book County Fair in New York last fall, where I had a chance to meet Carcaterra and he signed the book for me. I found Carcaterra's writing beautiful and at times lyrical. The book is the story of a young Italian boy who arrives in America with his father, who escaped to New York to flee a enemies in Italy. One day the young boy is beaten up by a school bully. A woman who witnesses the event admonishes the bully to never again lay a hand on the young boy. Soon he is taken under the wings of a ruthless mobster, and soon all three form a frienship that lasts a lifetime. There is nothing in the rest of the book that differs from your traditional mobster movie or book fare. There are gang wars, killings, betrayals, and loves gained and lost. Told from the perspective of the young boy (Gabe), the story is essentially a flashback, and in my estimation the book is as great in terms of poignancy and interest as is the Godfather classic by Mario Puzo. I surely was disappointed when the book ended and there was no more to read. The ending was a surprise and quite original. I haven't read any other Lorenzo Carcaterra books yet, but because of the enjoyment I got from Gangster, am looking forward to getting my hands on other works by the author.
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