Rating: 
Summary: Overrated
Review: Sorry but this book is over-rated. I don't know what all the hype is about, but apparently none of the people who gave it high ratings ever read Mario Puzo novels.Puzo could have taught Mr. Carcaterra a couple of lessons in story telling. Don't get me wrong, 'Gangster' has some excellent, touching and exciting parts. But they are only parts in a tapestry that was not weaved together. Not to mention several agonizing chapters where Carcaterra repeats, repeats and repeats the same things over and over again... I found myself getting angry at the author. What kind of a book is this? You're not supposed to be thinking about the author, you're supposed to be immersed in the story. The book was written poorly and edited even worse. Highly inconsistent. I could tell when Mr. Carcaterra stopped typing and went to sleep and when he starting typing his story again. His mood swings were evident in his prose and they were certainly not congruent with the story he was telling. It might be hypocritical of me to say that I actually loved the story. It was very touching and warm. But it upset me a great deal that the potential of this book was wasted by an author and his editor who couldn't wait to make a buck instead of perfecting the work first. Or maybe they just simply didn't have the ability to perfect it, I don't know. What I do know is that Mario Puzo writes much, MUCH better books. If you disagree with my opinion, then do me a favor; go and buy "The Sicilian" by Puzo, read it and then come back and try to disagree with my points...
Rating: 
Summary: Powerful stuff!!!
Review: There are certain mild mannered individuals like me, who adore gangster and mafia stuff.I'd thoroughly recommend this book to afficionados or people who enjoyed "Godfather".
Gabe is a young boy who has been raised by foster parents,mostly by people who are only in it for the money-the government allowances made to couples who are willing to house,feed and send to school,orphaned children.He's a lonely little boy who meets Angelo Vestieri,a local gangster in a New York district.Angelo befriends Gabe and introduces him to his friend and off-sider,Pudge. The two gangsters virtually adopt the boy and give him a secure home in a loving environment,for the first time in his life although, at the same time, they are instilling in him the things he needs to know to follow the way of life of gangsters.This story follows Gabes life through to adulthood when he begins to question the way of life mapped out for him by his mentors.
Rating: 
Summary: REMINDS ME OF MY OLD NEIGHBORHOOD
Review: LOVED THIS BOOK AND AS A RESULT HAVE JUST ORDERED ALL MR. CARCATERRAS' BOOKS. GROWING UP IN BROOKLYN IN THE 50'S, IN AN ITALIAN NEIGHBORHOOD, PRIMED ME FOR ''GANSTERS''.....KNEW THESE PEOPLE. CANNOT PUT THIS UP THERE WITH ''THE GODFATHER'' BUT IT'S A CLOSE SECOND.
Rating: 
Summary: Wait for the movie
Review: During much of the book's beginning, I felt disturbed by the awkward writing. This book reads more like something written by a reporter or screen writer, than by a novelist. And in spite of the author's obvious attempt at revealing the gangster's personality, most characters appear wooden and comic-book like. And still, once I started, I found myself reading right through to the end, being kept curious about where the plot leads next. The plot is easy to define: Take the "Godfather" (the movie, that is, all three parts!), throw in "A Bronx Tale", mix well and serve. Visualizing Chaz Palmieri's Sonny and a happy-go-lucky Irish mutant ninja version of Luca Brazzi will help graphically animate your reading. And remember visualizing that cute Calogero 'C' character. It's like deja-vu all over again, and not a bad read. The real promise I see in this book is what a talented Hollywood producer would make of it. There's enough for at least 3 parts (maybe all shot simultaneously a-la "Lord of the Rings"), with Palmieri an ideal star for the leading role. Can that have been the author's real goal all along?
Rating:
Summary: poorly written, but entertaining
Review: I almost quit reading this book when the author described America in 1913 as being depressed by World War I. Luckily such errors were not common, but the writing still left something to be desired. I was not surprised to learn that Mr. Carcaterra is not a professional author; his dialogue in particular was unrealistic and over-dramatized. But in spite of my complaints about Carcaterra's style, he still spins a good yarn. When the reader overlooks a few holes (why does Ida the Goose befriend Angelo, what role does Angelo's second wife play, etc.) the novel is on the whole entertaining. I'm not disappointed in my purchase, and I don't regret my time investment, but this novel falls short of "must-read" status.
Rating:
Summary: GANGSTER DELIVERS THE GOODS!!
Review: This novel is the 3rd book I have read over the past decade by this author and this is by far the best!
Gangster is so much more than what I thought it would be in terms of sheer storytelling and great characters from all walks of life. This is truly epic storytelling in both colorful characters as well as a kind of biography. Carcaterra takes us on a journey of breath-taking proportions that NO hollywood movie has even touched. Now I love movies like GODFATHER and GOODFELLAS and such, but let me tell you - this is by far superior in all aspects. I am really looking forward to his newest work coming.
Rating:
Summary: You need to be killed if you haven't read this book!!!!!
Review: There is something in each chapter that leaves you hanging on until the next, with that fantastic twist at the end! Carcaterra's descriptive abilities lay the scenes before you and leave you on the edge of your seat! If you haven't read this book yet...what are you waiting for?
Rating:
Summary: Too many holes
Review: This book was filled will all the typical gangster cliches. And they were poorly written, as well as poorly tied together. I expected more from this author as he wrote "Sleepers", which was a good book, but he missed the mark with this one.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable, even if predictable.
Review: This is the first book I have read (or heard on audio CD) by the author. After having read some of the other reviews, I see threads with both the good and the bad that I agree with. On the good side, the audio CD version is performed very well by Joe Mantegna. His voice inflections really get you into the thick of the story. The story itself gets you to feel for the characters and want the "good guys" to win out. You get somewhat of a feeling what it is like to be in a gang, and actually understand the "honor" or "loyalty" that mobsters have for their criminal family. However, this story is like many movies that I have watched (and enjoyed). The characters are somewhat one-dimensional and predictable. The story is also somewhat predictable (including the ending). Also, there are big jumps in the story and plot twists which are not very developed and only at the end does it come together, but this is not because it was suspenseful, only not well developed). It would probably make an exciting entertaining action movie. That said, I enjoyed listening to it. Despite my criticism, the performance on the CD was entertaining.
Rating:
Summary: Carcaterra is only getting warm.
Review: GANGSTER is hard evidence that Lorenzo Carcaterra
is hitting his stride as a craftsman. But I sense--and predict--
that he is only warming up for what he can really do as a storyteller. GANGSTER is a great read, and a good way to get in
on the ground floor of a novelist who is going to be huge.
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