Good Mafia Novels?
There's just something about Italians with tommy guns that gets me. of course, I would never tell that to my counselor. Would anyone like to recomend me some stellar mob reads? Also, has anyone here read any of Nicholas Pileggi's work? I've seen some movies that are based on a couple of his books.
I just watched Casino a few minutes ago. Beautiful flick it is. Goodfellas I've seen like 15 times. I love Scorsese's work.
All of Mario Puzos work.
Lorenzo Carcatera aswell
And there is a new guy around.... John Carbone- The Last Of The Good Guys.
[QUOTE=franc tireur;1047738][B]Casino[/B], and they are great reads, the films are amazingly faithful.[/QUOTE]
I know this isn't helpful Ritt, but I LOVED Casino. I only watched it for the first time last week, and it was incredible. So very very long, but worth it.
Check out The Ice Man:Confessions of a mafia contract killer by Philip Carlo.its about one of the most notoriuos hitmen in american history Richard"the ice man"Kuklonski.
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To my knowledge the Mafia has not spawn a masterpiece of crime fiction yet. Mario Puzo's books, while groudbreaking and being the inspiration of some of the greatest films ever, are very poorly written. The only great organised crime novels of true value are, in my opinion, James Ellroy's L.A. Quartet, but they are not typical of the Italian mob stories, being set in Los Angeles where the Mafia never was strong.
On the other hand many essays and documentaries are very entertaining. I recommend [B]Tough Jews[/B], about the jewish gangsters that formed Murder Inc (and that Mr Brown hasn't sentme back).
[QUOTE=Barca Boy;1047742]All of Mario Puzos work.
[/QUOTE]
most definitely.
regarding Puzo, I read the "The Last Don" several years back, and it was awesome. I've been meaning to read the the Fourth K. Has anyone read that???
researching Puzo could probably lead you to other good mafia writers, as well. There's some interesting Mafia Action in some of Elmore Leonard's work. I recommend "Pagan Babies."
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I considered you guys'(guys's?) Puzo recomendations and picked up The Last Don a little while ago. I havn't started it yet 'cause I got like 3 other books I still have to read, but it looks and sounds like something I'll really like. So thanxxxxxxx a bunch.
[QUOTE=Ritt;1070850]I considered you guys'(guys's?) Puzo recomendations and picked up The Last Don a little while ago. I havn't started it yet 'cause I got like 3 other books I still have to read, but it looks and sounds like something I'll really like. So thanxxxxxxx a bunch.[/QUOTE]
Ever so slightly off topic but I highly recommend Fools Die by Puzo.
I've read [B]Wiseguy[/B] (that inspired Goodfellas) and [B]Casino[/B], and they are great reads, the films are amazingly faithful.