Rating: Summary: Very disappointed, not recommended Review: As a big fan of Wiseguy, Goodfellas, and Henry Hill, I was truly looking forward to this book. After I got it and read it, I must say I was terribly disappointed.It reads like someone who's trying to live up to the stereotype of a mobster as opposed to a real person who lived and breathed it. Mostly, it's a collection of old and tired mob cliches without anything new or insightful about Henry Hill or the New York mob. It reads like cardboard must taste. The second thing that really bugged me is the fact that the book is littered with what I'm guessing is mob surveillance photos yet no description is given of who the people are or what the context of the photo is. They don't seem to be connected with the text in any way. It's just baffling. If this book does have any value its that it does give street addresses to places mentioned in the book and the movie. So if you are in New York and just can't wait to see 'where they buried spider' or 'Tommy's mother's house' this book would make a good reference. Otherwise, don't waste your money.
Rating: Summary: Pathetic Review: As the other reviewers point out, this is another shameless attempt by Henry Hill to profit from the hard work of others, namely Martin Scorsese, Ray Liotta, Robert DeNiro, and Joe Pesci. Any one with a minimal knowledge of organized crime could have written this book. Henry Hill makes the following insightful comments, "New York has four seasons and five crime families." "The worst trip to NYC is if you don't come back (alive)." "If you mispronounce Houston Street, you'll get whacked." Oh yes, Mr. Hill, the SoHo and Village residents will definitely kill when a tourist thrusts such a heinous indignity upon them. Complementing stories that aren't even up to New York Post standards are quite possibly the worst photographs I have ever seen. Photographs include the following: nightclubs at 10am with the shutters closed, an abandoned factor that could be anywhere in the US, a chain link fence at the end of a road, and surveillance shots of fatuously inflated lowlifes hanging around a junkyard. The unfortunate thing about this book is that it could be good. A serious book about the mob by one of its members could very possibly give insight to the rest of us. This is not that book. In Hill speak, other mobsters should have him 'whacked' for embarrassing them since readers may assume the average mob mind is as weak as his.
Rating: Summary: Mob Style Review: Good book has all the hot spots where the mob hanged out.
Rating: Summary: Witness Profiteering Program Review: Henry Hill is, of course, the basis of Ray Liotta's character in Scorsese's Goodfellas. He ratted his buddies out, went into FBI hiding, then left the program. Now he plagues the rest of society by shamelessly appearing on the radio (calling into Howard Stern), in bookstores (Wiseguy, this, a cookbook, and another upcoming crime book), movies (basis), and naturally the Internet, with his own website. Hill comes off as a complete lowlife in Wiseguy, and he still does. As if we're supposed to be endeared toward a loveable wiseguy who has gone straight, he brings us this, his 'guide' to New York. This is nothing more than another 'inside' book about the New York mob. It basically lists addresses of Mafia hangouts--restaurants, bars, social clubs, etc, etc. He advises you that this place was where so-and-so got whacked, or never, ever look for this one social club, or such a place had great clams, or Gino is buried here, etc, etc. It's so tired, he's so tired, you wish he'd go away. Henry Hill was not even a made man, and the people he ratted out are mostly dead or in jail, so there is a notable irony in his expose. He's giving you an inside tour of the Mob's New York, yet he's flat out admitting he was so low down the totem pole he's not even worthy of attention from real gangsters. Talk about credibility issues. That Goodfellas is such a great movie is testament to Scorsese's talent as filmmaker. Henry Hill was the subject not because he was interesting (he's basically a lite goon and a weasel) but because he was willing to blab about it. Don't waste your $ on this one. You can read the juicy parts in a bookstore.
Rating: Summary: Witness Profiteering Program Review: Henry Hill is, of course, the basis of Ray Liotta's character in Scorsese's Goodfellas. He ratted his buddies out, went into FBI hiding, then left the program. Now he plagues the rest of society by shamelessly appearing on the radio (calling into Howard Stern), in bookstores (Wiseguy, this, a cookbook, and another upcoming crime book), movies (basis), and naturally the Internet, with his own website. Hill comes off as a complete lowlife in Wiseguy, and he still does. As if we're supposed to be endeared toward a loveable wiseguy who has gone straight, he brings us this, his 'guide' to New York. This is nothing more than another 'inside' book about the New York mob. It basically lists addresses of Mafia hangouts--restaurants, bars, social clubs, etc, etc. He advises you that this place was where so-and-so got whacked, or never, ever look for this one social club, or such a place had great clams, or Gino is buried here, etc, etc. It's so tired, he's so tired, you wish he'd go away. Henry Hill was not even a made man, and the people he ratted out are mostly dead or in jail, so there is a notable irony in his expose. He's giving you an inside tour of the Mob's New York, yet he's flat out admitting he was so low down the totem pole he's not even worthy of attention from real gangsters. Talk about credibility issues. That Goodfellas is such a great movie is testament to Scorsese's talent as filmmaker. Henry Hill was the subject not because he was interesting (he's basically a lite goon and a weasel) but because he was willing to blab about it. Don't waste your $ on this one. You can read the juicy parts in a bookstore.
Rating: Summary: Not Much Here Review: I did not buy this book but I managed to read a lot of it in a bookstore in about 15 minutes. If I can read it in 15 minutes that should tell you something. It is a short book! It is one of those big font short sucker or gimmick books with photos and tips on where so and so was killed or worked etc in and around New York City. The book is not much of a book. There are many other good and substantial books to read such as Gotti: Rise and Fall or Mafia Dynasty : The Rise and Fall of the Gambino Crime Family by John H. Davis. The latter also has a nice selection of photos. So unless you have money to burn, skip this book. Jack in Toronto
Rating: Summary: Through a mobster's eyes Review: I didn't expect much from this book, but I was pleasantly surprised. There's quite a bit of humor AND information, not just one or the other. I especially like the chapter on STAYING IN. When you read it and you'll understand why. There's plenty to do in New York city of course, but it's nice to veer off the beaten path.
Rating: Summary: Through a mobster's eyes Review: I didn't expect much from this book, but I was pleasantly surprised. There's quite a bit of humor AND information, not just one or the other. I especially like the chapter on STAYING IN. When you read it and you'll understand why. There's plenty to do in New York city of course, but it's nice to veer off the beaten path.
Rating: Summary: mob trip Review: I didn't read this book until i was in new york, and i spend the whole morning druising around manhattan with it in hand.
it's funnier than other stuff henry has done- much lighter, but a great read nonetheless.
Rating: Summary: Funny, cool and nicely done! Review: I loved this book.
It's really easy to read, nicely researched and great fun.
Recommended...
|