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!!!