Monday, June 1, 2009

Review and Giveaway!! The Mad Ones

Joey Gallo was an interesting kind of guy. He wrote poetry, painted, rubbed elbows with celebrities such as Jerry Orbach. But, he was also a gangster. He and his brothers, Larry and Kid Blast were considered “mob muscle” in Brooklyn.

Now, I have never read a book about the mob or gangsters before. I always meant to pick up “The Godfather” but never got around to it…yet. So, I wasn’t sure what to expect with The Mad Ones: Crazy Joe Gallo and the Revolution at the Edge of the Underworld by Tom Folsom – and I sure didn’t expect Crazy Joe Gallo to turn into a sort of “antihero.” Yes, the brothers committed murders for their Don, and yes, they sort of bullied others into doing what they want, but they also fought for the little guy. The people in the neighborhood where they lived adored the brothers because they saved six children from a burning building and put out the fire with a bucket brigade.

These brothers were different from other gangsters – they stood apart with their “hip style, fierce ambition and Crazy Joe’s manic idealism.” Bob Dylan wrote a song about Crazy Joe – and 11 minute ballad called “Joey.” Dylan is quoted as saying “I never considered him a gangster. I always thought of him as some kind of hero in some kind of way. An underdog fighting against the elements.”

Though I found a couple parts to be a little slow (after Joey gets sent to jail, for instance), and a little hard to keep up with some of the characters in the book, I thought is was a interesting read and an insightful look into a world that I could never imagine. This book is definitely worth picking up and checking out!!!

In fact, I’ve decided to do another giveaway!!! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post. Please include your email address so I can notify you if you win! If you don’t leave your email, you will be taken out of the running, and you don’t want that to happen!! The contest will run until Tuesday, June 9, and I’ll pick a winner on Wednesday, June 10. This contest is open to anyone who wants to enter!! Good luck!!!

22 comments:

brainella said...

You HAVE to read The Godfather. Amazing book.

Gangster history is fascinating to me.

LuAnn said...

I remember seeing the movie "The Godfather" when I was in high school and loved it (I did read the book later). I grew up in an area where the mafia was prevalent, so I've always enjoyed reading gangster stories.

Anonymous said...

I think Joey might like this book!

Unknown said...

I would love to read this book, please enter me :)

lavery328 at yahoo dot com

Kat Bryan said...

This sounds like something a little bit different from what I usually read.

Serena said...

no need to enter me, but this sounds like a very interesting book...mobsters with style...

bermudaonion said...

Okay, for some strange reason I like books about the mob, so I'd love to be entered. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

mindy said...

sounds awesome thanks for the giveaway

jemscout425 said...

1 summer i read every mob book i could get my hands on. (i'm weird i go thru phases with my reading) anyway, i know much more about the mob then i ever attended to, but hey i'm not sleeping with the fishes, so i'd love to read this
pksanddancer(at)yahoo(dot)com

Abby said...

Sounds like an interesting book!

ajcmeyer AT go DOT com

casib69 said...

I was born and raised in Brooklyn so this sounds like a must read for me. Thanks
casib69(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

This looks so intriguing! I still even watch "The Godfather"!


texas_heartland84[at]yahoo[dot]com

Sir Thrift-A-Lot said...

You know, I have never seen the Godfather. My favorite mobster movie is "Bound".

jchaborek[at]hotmail[dot]com

Thanks for the giveaway; book looks great.

MOMFOREVERANDEVER said...

sounds great mrs.mommyyatgmaildotcom

wendy wallach said...

Sounds like a great read. I grew up in lower Manhattan in the sixties and seventies when the mafia were part of the melting pot of our neighborhood, so I am sure I would love reading this book.

madamerkf at aol dot com

Anonymous said...

Mary
zenrei57 (at) hotmail (dot) com

I'm like you, other than watching the Godfather (who can forget the 'horsehead' omg!!!), anyway, I've not been exposed to too much mob material, but I'm really curious to read and understand how their set of ethics operated - especially concerning the little guy! You've got me hooked :)

Belinda said...

Sounds interesting. I've never read a book about gangsters before. Thanks for the chance.
1bmore @ gmail . com

Unknown said...

Love to have this.

Thanks,

darkfyre1(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

ohhh I would so love to read this

jdmimi at gmail dot com

LittleEagle said...

Thank you for your review and I would enjoy reading this book. sharonaquilino(at)hotmail(dot)com

Nicole C. said...

This sounds like a GREAT book!!! I'd love to enter!

choateorama(at)gmail(dot)com

Rebecca said...

I would love the enter the drawing. rjstoddard@gmail.com