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97th out of 525 books
—
310 voters
The Winter of Frankie Machine
by
Don Winslow
The author of The Death and Life of Bobby Z. and The Power of the Dog now gives us a fierce and funny new novel—and a blistering new take on the Mafia story.
Frank Machianno is a late-middle-aged ex–surf bum who runs a bait shack on the San Diego waterfront when he’s not juggling any of his other three part-time jobs or trying to get a quick set in on his longboard. He’s a...more
Frank Machianno is a late-middle-aged ex–surf bum who runs a bait shack on the San Diego waterfront when he’s not juggling any of his other three part-time jobs or trying to get a quick set in on his longboard. He’s a...more
Hardcover, 320 pages
Published
September 26th 2006
by Knopf
(first published 2006)
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I was concerned about reading a second book by Winslow after Savages was so good, fearful that he just wouldn't live up to that book and the hype surrounding him, but this book confirms that I am a scaredy cat for no good reason. I wish I could've reviewed this when I finished it, my mind was filled with superlatives, interesting comparisons and a strong analysis, however since that plane journey I have read 3 more books and spent my days walking around Sydney so my ideas are not as fresh.
The ti...more
The ti...more
“It’s a lot of work being me,“ Frank Machianno often thinks, and he’s got a point. Despite being in his early sixties, Frank is the slightly fussy owner of several small businesses that keep him hopping. Among them is the bait shop on San Diego’s Ocean Beach Pier where Frank is a local fixture, and he still makes time for the Gentlemen's Hour, when several old timers gather to surf. Since his daughter just got into medical school, it looks like Frank is going to be busy for the foreseeable futur...more
The Winter of Frankie Machine is a mix of The Sopranos and Grumpy Old Men. Perhaps that's even insulting to describe this novel compared to those other shows/movies. The novel flits seamlessly back and forth in time while Frank "The Machine" Machianno tries to find out who put a hit out on him while he is trying to live a legit life. The fun part about this book is that Frankie Machine is a great anti-hero to root for even though he has his share of demons in his closet. Winslow's prose is delig...more
Tout d'abord je remercie les éditions du livre de poche de m'avoir envoyé cet exemplaire ! Et sachez que cette chronique contient des révélations, c'est plus fort que moi ! Voici un roman policier original. L'histoire se passe sur la côte ouest des Etats-Unis. Le roman est parsemé d'analepses, expliquant la réputation de Frank le héros, ancien mafioso très respecté. Lorsque Mouse Junior (fils de Peter Martini) vient le trouver un jour et lui demande de l'aide pour "discuter" avec Vince Vena, qui...more
I thought this was a really excellent book. The first fifty pages, though well written, were a little slow, but you could see why, because Winslow sets himself the tricky task of having an ex-Mafia killer as his main character, so the problem is, for him as a writer, how to set about making the reader engage with a guy who's really got a bad past... This is the first thing that hit me when I read the book--that is, I found myself asking the question, 'Why should I care about this bastard?' Winsl...more
A lot of good stuff here, but nothing we haven't seen before.
A surfing hitman? Lots of SOPRANOS violence, SOPRANOS sex, plus tons of Sixties nostalgia and surfing? How can you go wrong?
Well, first of all, there's not nearly enough surfing, and NO Dick Dale music! We hear a lot about surfing, but never get the feel of the good times or the music. The hero fought in Vietnam, but we don't hear much about that either.
Frankie has a whole career as a mob hitman behind him, but we're supposed to beli...more
A surfing hitman? Lots of SOPRANOS violence, SOPRANOS sex, plus tons of Sixties nostalgia and surfing? How can you go wrong?
Well, first of all, there's not nearly enough surfing, and NO Dick Dale music! We hear a lot about surfing, but never get the feel of the good times or the music. The hero fought in Vietnam, but we don't hear much about that either.
Frankie has a whole career as a mob hitman behind him, but we're supposed to beli...more
Oh dear, the difficult third album. This read like a series of short stories cobbled together to make a book, and a half-baked book at that. My main problem with it was that the author seemed to want to make the eponymous lead some sort of admirable, almost moral, guy. As he goes around torturing and snuffing out bad guys, cheating on his wife, killing life-long friends etc. etc.. Of course this is all justified because he’s in The Life, this Thing of Ours, and that’s the road it leads you down....more
Okay, I hate when reviewers compare an author's book to another, lamenting on how good one was as opposed to the one being reviewed, but I'm doing it now and apparently there's no stopping me. I recently picked up Don Winslow's The Power of the Dog and was thoroughly amazed that 1. I'd never read and or heard of said book/author. And 2. I really liked the book: the writing, the plot, and that Winslow used historical events to make it all the more real. So, when I discovered he had a rather large...more
genere: gangster
sottogenere: mafia
Sarà anche vero che De Niro è in predicato di interpretare il protagonista di questo romanzo (ma se andate a vedere su IMDB ci sono altri 13 film previsti in pre-produzione, in corso di ripresa e simili nella scheda di De Niro!).
Fatto sta che il libro non sembra presentare altri elementi di particolare interesse, pur essendo certamente leggibile e a tratti interessante nella sua struttura (ex killer mafioso braccato per motivi inizialmente incomprensibili anche...more
sottogenere: mafia
Sarà anche vero che De Niro è in predicato di interpretare il protagonista di questo romanzo (ma se andate a vedere su IMDB ci sono altri 13 film previsti in pre-produzione, in corso di ripresa e simili nella scheda di De Niro!).
Fatto sta che il libro non sembra presentare altri elementi di particolare interesse, pur essendo certamente leggibile e a tratti interessante nella sua struttura (ex killer mafioso braccato per motivi inizialmente incomprensibili anche...more
I loved this book. Frankie may lack some of behavioral inhibitors of the majority but he has his good points. He is loyal, committed to taking care of his family, hardworking and a man of his word. He is proud that he has never taken out an innocent. He is not a young man any more. He was trained as a sniper by the Marines and he was a good sniper. Frankie commented that he had killed more people for the US government than for the mob. The author slowly reveals the layers of Frankie's life. He s...more
Frankie is retired from the old life but the old life isn't going to let him retire. Frankie was The Mobs hitman and now someones out to hit him. Winslow tells the story using flashbacks as Frankie tries to work back through his infamous career to figure out exactly who is trying to grease him.
Yes this is a well worn plot familliar to all crime readers but Winslow does this plot better than most. Frankie is a fully well-rounded character who generates a lot of sympathy despite the things he's do...more
Yes this is a well worn plot familliar to all crime readers but Winslow does this plot better than most. Frankie is a fully well-rounded character who generates a lot of sympathy despite the things he's do...more
Three things I know: 1.) It takes a lot of work and approvals to get a book into print, 2.) I don't have a single qualification that would legitimize my opinion on a book, and 3.) This book sucks.
I typically force myself well beyond the point where I should put a book aside, just in case I get a wrong first impression. After 15 pages of mind-numbing detail about minutiae of the protagonist's day, I found that I had gone a full 10 pages too far. In fact, I found myself angry about it.
My eyebrows...more
I typically force myself well beyond the point where I should put a book aside, just in case I get a wrong first impression. After 15 pages of mind-numbing detail about minutiae of the protagonist's day, I found that I had gone a full 10 pages too far. In fact, I found myself angry about it.
My eyebrows...more
As i was reading this book, I kept thinking to myself this book is most likely going to end up a 3.5 or a 4 star for me. I felt, in someways, the book was a little longer than it needed to be, but as the book was coming closer to the end I was glad it was "longer" than it needed to be. It all fit well and it all made sense coming together. Don Winslow is a freak of nature(to me, at least) with his novels revolving around mostly south of the border drug-wars, DEA agents, hookers, Government and p...more
Funny, violent, wildly readable and often very tender, Don Winslow’s story about hit man Frankie Machine being forced out of retirement when his otherwise peaceful existence is threatened is probably his best book yet. Following the excellent, but overlong “Power of the Dog,” Winslow channels early, peak Elmore Leonard here, inhabiting his pages with quick, witty dialogue and the usual collection of Mafia types, strippers, politicians, and druggies.
Some might feel the conflicted “warm” killer, F...more
Some might feel the conflicted “warm” killer, F...more
Se sei stato (e sei ancora..) uno dei migliori killer della mafia californiana (anche se se è una "mafia di Topolino" e dipende da Detroit e da NY..), semplicemente, non puoi andartene in pensione e fare il venditore di esche sul molo di San Diego.
Non puoi neanche fare l'ex-marito premuroso che passa a stappare il lavello (strano, si tappa sempre..), né il padre che recupera l'affetto della figlia solo da adulta e neanche avere una bella amante che non da' problemi.
Non puoi nemmeno fare surf ins...more
Non puoi neanche fare l'ex-marito premuroso che passa a stappare il lavello (strano, si tappa sempre..), né il padre che recupera l'affetto della figlia solo da adulta e neanche avere una bella amante che non da' problemi.
Non puoi nemmeno fare surf ins...more
Another great book from Don Winslow. I loved the characters, thought the flashback scenes that filled out the past were well integrated, and was on the edge of my seat for the ending. Listened to the audio read by Dennis Boutsikaris who was just as good as the material.
Frank Machianno, aka Frankie Machine, a former top hitman for the mob, is now retired and working in, among other things, a bait shop in California. He leads a quiet life dividing his time between his various business ventures and the three woman in his life. His ex wife, his former show-girl girlfriend and his daughter. But then, one day, it all comes undone when a hit is put out on his life, leaving Frank battling to find out who the mystery party is.
The story rumbles along, skipping from the...more
The story rumbles along, skipping from the...more
It is a very well written book. I read and reread some passages several times because Mr. Winslow's prose is so wonderful. The book is extremely readable and quite funny. Frank Machianno, an accomplished killer, is a fully developed character, described through his actions rather than through the author's words. The plot is tight and engrossing, although the pace slows down toward the end. To sum up, a masterful and entertaining thriller. So why only three stars? I do not really need another boo...more
Everybody wishes they could write like Raymond Chandler. Not necessarily construct Chandleresque plots, but just put together sentences the way he did : pithy, smart, oozing with character.
For my money, Don Winslow comes about as close as anyone has. Once you've added in cinematic plotting style - hidden information slowly revealed; a chopping and changing timeline; a gift for rapid character sketching - it comes as no surprise that his novels are so compelling.
To his credit, he's not afraid t...more
For my money, Don Winslow comes about as close as anyone has. Once you've added in cinematic plotting style - hidden information slowly revealed; a chopping and changing timeline; a gift for rapid character sketching - it comes as no surprise that his novels are so compelling.
To his credit, he's not afraid t...more
This is a cracking book, it has brilliant storyline and the characters are well done, specially the main character “a likable hit man”. It starts off on a stroll and then it picks ups & then whoosh! Fast paced with good twists - there is no lull. A fantastic read.
If you like a crime or mafia books then this is one of the best.
If you like a crime or mafia books then this is one of the best.
May 15, 2013
Niccolò
marked it as to-read
A sessant’anni e rotti, quando non è costretto a dedicarsi a uno dei suoi tre lavori - vendere esche dal suo capanno sul molo di San Diego, rifornire di pesce e tovaglie i ristoranti della zona, amministrare alcuni condomini - Frankie Machianno esce ancora a fare surf. Possibilmente all'Ora dei Gentiluomini, quando i giovani rampanti sono andati al lavoro lasciando le onde a chi può permettersi altri orari, cioè ai gentiluomini. Ormai sono anni che ha cambiato vita. Ma quando un vecchio boss gli...more
Frank Machiano, aka Frankie Machine, is a retired hitman. He lives in San Diego, runs a bait shop on Ocean Beach pier, surfs when he can and takes care of his daughter. One day, the local mob boss's son lures him into a trap and tries to have him killed. He kills his assailants, and knowing that he is probably wanted goes into hiding. He spends the rest of the book trying to figure out who wants him dead and why. The book describe his past mob activities protecting strip clubs and extorting mone...more
This novel is a pretty standard "old guy who used to be a badass has to confront some old enemies" story that reminds me of a 1970s action movie starring Charles Bronson. What it lacks in originality, it more than makes up for in quality. Don Winslow really has a knack for telling an extremely detailed plot while keeping it fast-moving and never getting confusing, and perhaps the best omniscient third-person narration I've ever come across.
The most original elements are probably the sense of hum...more
The most original elements are probably the sense of hum...more
I want to give this 4.5 stars, went with 4. Great action tale of mob life gone wrong. The overall plot is straight-forward but told with several flashbacks to explain the present. The author writes these so well you do not care how often then occur as they make up basically half the book at a guess. I basically stayed up late reading the entire last half. I usually try to avoid doing that but I really couldn't stop. Great page-turner. Frank's a bit too invincible but it didn't annoy me as much a...more
I thought the tone of this was pretty uneven - started off a little hokey, then (early spoiler) had a quite brutal rape scene that seemed to come out of nowhere, then lapsed back into a by-the-numbers guy on the run, then a revelation/twist that worked out - that said, I enjoyed it enough to check out two of his other books (Dawn Patrol and California Fire and Life (Life and Fire?)) which I found unreadable. His book "Savages" is a possibly-still-in-theaters Oliver Stone movie, and he just relea...more
I truly enjoyed this book. It tells about the life and times of a Mafia hitman -- Frankie the Machine. The book starts with Frankie about 10 years into his retirement ... but, soon the 60-year old man is drawn back into the game. The book allows Frankie to relive some of the key moments of his past life as he struggles to find a way for him (and those he loves) to have a safe future.
I thought it was a very well-written book ... and it was based in San Diego CA (very rarely used as a location for...more
I thought it was a very well-written book ... and it was based in San Diego CA (very rarely used as a location for...more
Four and a half stars. My favorite Winslow book to date. Because his books are sooo hard-boiled, gritty, and at times, downright disturbing, you never know what's going to happen. And that is part of what makes them so compelling.
This is an action-adventure mobster story with a tough-as-nails 60+ year old ex-hit man protagonist. The prose is, overall, tight and the plot is thick and fast. A lot can happen in a paragraph: "He packs the shotgun and some clothes into a gym bag, straps on a shoulder...more
This is an action-adventure mobster story with a tough-as-nails 60+ year old ex-hit man protagonist. The prose is, overall, tight and the plot is thick and fast. A lot can happen in a paragraph: "He packs the shotgun and some clothes into a gym bag, straps on a shoulder...more
Long before reading any of Don Winslow's books I watched some of his novels turned into movies but wasn't familiar with the novels - or the writer - behind them until a fried pointed out I might want to read "Savages" first before I'd watch the Oliver Stone adaptation. So, this book is the second Winslow novel I've read so far, and even though I still think that I'm not really into crime, I wonder why it's taken me so long to check out Don Winslow's work.
Great book, great story, definitely not...more
Great book, great story, definitely not...more
Gran personaggio Frank Machianno. Amante del caffé appena tostato e macinato, della musica lirica e della pesca sportiva, si ritrova ogni mattina col suo amico Dave all'ora dei gentiluomini per cavalcare le onde sulla sua vecchia tavola da surf.
Ma Frank altri non è che Frankie Machine, killer implacabile della mafia, ora ritiratosi dal giro per godere delle sue vere passioni.
Richiamando alla mente alcuni episodi della sua vita Frankie cerca di capire chi abbia deciso di eliminarlo.
Molto "cinemat...more
Ma Frank altri non è che Frankie Machine, killer implacabile della mafia, ora ritiratosi dal giro per godere delle sue vere passioni.
Richiamando alla mente alcuni episodi della sua vita Frankie cerca di capire chi abbia deciso di eliminarlo.
Molto "cinemat...more
Frank Machianno has it all figured out - his daughter is starting medical school, he gets along with his ex-wife, he has a loving relationship with his girlfriend. He runs a bait shop and surfs in the early morning hours before checking on his laundry business and real estate management. Yeah life is a good for Frank who has a well defined routine of the good stuff. That is until his past life intrudes upon this calm that shatters his new life completely. Y'see, Frank Machianno used to be called...more
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Don Winslow was born in New York City but raised in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. At various times an actor, director, movie theater manager, safari guide and private investigator, Don has done many things on his way to being a novelist.
His first novel, A Cool Breeze On The Underground, was nominated for an Edgar, and a later book, California Fire and Life, received the Shamus Award. The Death An...more
More about Don Winslow...
His first novel, A Cool Breeze On The Underground, was nominated for an Edgar, and a later book, California Fire and Life, received the Shamus Award. The Death An...more
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Apr 01, 2013 10:03pm
Apr 02, 2013 01:24am