A suspenseful, emotionally charged real-life Sopranos: The son of New York's most notorious Mafia killer reveals the conflicted life he led being r...
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Aug 14, 2008
Lolly LKH
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Coming from a girl who loves The Godfather (not Godfather 3 so much) and Goodfellows, I really enjoyed diving into this book. I can't imagine what it must have been like living with such a father. This is a brutally honest, raw account of life inside the mafia. I love how the author pointed out the hypocrisy of the so-called morally superior people they encountered. The corruption amidst the powers that be in the law enforcement community really didn't shock me, just his candid way of writing ab
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Apr 14, 2008
Cody
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This book is definitely a book for mob fanatics. For the Sins of My Father is a book that is written by a Albert DeMeo the son of Roy DeMeo the boss of the biggest car theft ring in the history of New York. The book explains the life of a mobster and the confusion of the family as it deals with the money, police, and reporters. It is also a book that shows the violence of the Mob and the thoughts, ideas, and way of thinking as a "wise guy". Albert DeMeo makes you feel as if you are gro
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Jan 04, 2011
Beth
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I especially enjoyed this book because it gives an insight to a notorious mobster's home life. We are often exposed to those in the Mafia only by their criminal life. We are led to believe that most of these men have no remorse, and no real regrets to anything they have done as a result of their 'chosen' occupation. Albert's memories and experiences with his father allows a heartfelt (and often heartwrenching) look into a man who has been described as incredibly ruthless and brutal. We, as l
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Mar 15, 2009
Nancy
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This was a page-turner! In the early chapters, the author describes his rather idyllic life as the son of a rich and doting daddy in a series of little anecdotes about birthday parties and Sunday dinners, and I was wondering if the story was really going anywhere. Before long, it turns very, very dark. At the age of thirteen, he becomes his father's confidant and at times accomplice in his criminal life. In the book, the author offers a portrait of his father that the newspapers and magazine
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Jun 28, 2009
Thermalsatsuma
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Roy Demeo was a devoted father, a loving husband and a pillar of the local community. He took his children to school in the mornings, cooked Sunday breakfast for the family every week and organised 4th of July parties for the whole neighbourhood. Yet when his son Albert was asked in class what his father did for a living he was unable to give an answer. The truth was that his father was a mafioso, a wise guy, a car thief, extortionist and a brutal hit man for the Gambino family.
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Feb 13, 2007
Anthony
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Al DeMeo has lived two lifetimes before he turned forty, and this book tells his story. He has warm memories of his father, and can somehow seperate his father's crimes from the havoc it caused on his family. It was stunning to read that he carried a gun to elementary school to protect his sister. The auther equivocates about the number of people his father killed -- "Murder Machine" puts the number at 200, but that's somewhat unreliable. The only one Al is certain about is the one I r
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Jan 10, 2012
Walt
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This was a surprisingly enjoyable read. I was expecting another story of an absentee father mixed with tales of law enforcement depredations. I was half right. Police and FBI officials are often barking and salivating like half-starved pit bulls. I agree that some of them probably did enjoy harassing the wiseguy and his family; but on the whole, I suspect they are not as debased as DeMeo depicts them.
The surprising aspect of the story was the strong bond between Albert and his fa More...
The surprising aspect of the story was the strong bond between Albert and his fa More...
Oct 11, 2011
Sandie
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It was absolutely shocking to find out all the things this kid witnessed and had to do - and how normal Roy tried to make his everyday live with his family. Just crazy. I was hooked on this book. It gets a bit difficult trying to remember who is who, there are so many players involved, but this is a great book and offers great insight into the life of a mafia member.
Apr 18, 2011
Pollie
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I liked it. A bit melodramatic at times with the sentiments regarding the authors' father, and realizing he is not in fact his father. That went on for quite a bit. However it was interesting to read a mob story from the family point of view. I would have liked more of the insider mafia information, but that is not what this book is about.
Sep 18, 2011
Cindy
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Excellent, moving autobiography of the son of a mobster. Forced to be a man, while still a boy, this story tells of Al's long struggle to find a legit life of his own after the murder of his father. Very moving.
Jun 16, 2009
Katie
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This was a good look into the life of a son of the mafia. It follows the author through his struggles with PTSD from being in high stress situations as a young child.
Jun 18, 2007
Katie
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This book was awesome. The story (about a real life mafia man and his relationship with his son) was unbelievable. It's just amazing what this guy ("the mobster's son") went through. It's also more amazing how much the father went through and still managed to keep it all from his family, playing the good father/husband/provider at home.
I would've liked for a happier, fairy-tale ending, but since this is a true story, things don't often work out that way in real life. So More...
I would've liked for a happier, fairy-tale ending, but since this is a true story, things don't often work out that way in real life. So More...
Nov 30, 2008
Erin
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Albert Demeo's rebuttle to the book about his father- "killing machine". A scary look inside the life of a mobster.
Dec 29, 2009
Steve
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Personal account of recovery after growing up in the mob and learning your dad was a murderer. Visceral story.
Oct 23, 2008
Mike
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A pretty good book from the prespective of the son of a famous New York mobster Roy Demeo. Roy Demeo led a crew of thiefs, burglars, drug dealers and murderers in New York City under the Gambino Family. He ended up being a victim of a mob hit in the early 80's. Roy Demeo was a psychopath who may have murdered of 50 people or more during his reign as a crew leader. His son describes growing up knowning his dad was in the mafia and talks about how life was after his dad was murdered. You know
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Aug 25, 2010
Kathryn
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The mafia from the point of view of a boy growing up in the 60's with a mob boss for a dad.
Jan 31, 2008
Julie
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This book is poorly written - obviously, by someone that has no experience. The annoyance of that fades, though, because the story is good.....and real, supposedly. I think the book was more therapy for him than anything else so good for him if it helped! If you like stories about organized crime and have a few hours to kill, it isn't so bad.
Oct 17, 2007
Erika
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I've always been pretty fascinated by true crime, and this book was written by the son of a high-ranking NY Mafia member. It details his childhood and how he came to find out his father's business until when his father is murdered later in his teens. Really riveting.
Jul 19, 2007
Jrobertus
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an autobiography by the son of a notorious mafia hit man. the story is almost unbelievable, but has been validated by the law. in fact, it is a major influence on the sopranos. an interesting read to be sure.
Jun 09, 2008
Meredith
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This is a memoir by the son of Roy DeMeo. Roy was an associate of John Gotti. I read his memoir a long time ago so this should be interesting.
Jul 23, 2007
Kate
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Stunning true story! I would never have expected such good writing, so that is a big bonus as well.
Feb 10, 2012
Feb 01, 2012
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