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359th out of 1,130 books
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14,699 voters
Sleepers
Sleeper (colloq.): 1. out-of-town hit man who spends the night after a local contract is completed. 2. A juvenile sentenced to serve any period longer than nine months in a state-managed facility.
This is the story of four young boys. Four lifelong friends.
Intelligent, fun-loving, wise beyond their years, they are inseparable. Their potential is unlimited, but they are cont...more
This is the story of four young boys. Four lifelong friends.
Intelligent, fun-loving, wise beyond their years, they are inseparable. Their potential is unlimited, but they are cont...more
Paperback, 399 pages
Published
October 30th 1996
by Pocket
(first published 1995)
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I read this book a number of years ago and believed every word. This time around I found myself skeptical. It reminded me of James Frey's A Million Little Pieces. It was too stylized and unlikely; I could believe it may have had its roots in truth but that doesn't make the story a full truth. The court case seemed particularly unlikely. It is a pretty well-written story but I don't see it as THE TRUTH, just a version thereof most likely. It could, in fact, be lies from beginning to end, but ther...more
PLOT:
Four young boys, happy and careless. They are inseparable, they are innocent and wise beyond their years. Build by their own dreams and strengthen by their faith. They always do things together. They always do pranks that make their friendship even more tighter, of course they never get caught.
And they know that they never will.
But one summer afternoon, the free life that they have, has been compromise with a harmless scheme that went wrong. The four boys was sent to a juvenile called Wilki...more
Four young boys, happy and careless. They are inseparable, they are innocent and wise beyond their years. Build by their own dreams and strengthen by their faith. They always do things together. They always do pranks that make their friendship even more tighter, of course they never get caught.
And they know that they never will.
But one summer afternoon, the free life that they have, has been compromise with a harmless scheme that went wrong. The four boys was sent to a juvenile called Wilki...more
At every turn of pages, you will definitely be hooked. The story is simple and endearing. About friendship; and how a group of boys turned men retained their bonds by doing what they should do.
Some lied, some stole, some gave up a dreamed career, some got into fist fights and some even pulled the trigger.
It all started in Hell's Kitchen; a city in New York. Then the setting shifted to Wilkinson Home for Boys; where the boys turned to men in a hard, torturous inhumane way one could never envision...more
Some lied, some stole, some gave up a dreamed career, some got into fist fights and some even pulled the trigger.
It all started in Hell's Kitchen; a city in New York. Then the setting shifted to Wilkinson Home for Boys; where the boys turned to men in a hard, torturous inhumane way one could never envision...more
In 1971, Philip Zimbardo conducted an experiment on the psychological effects of being either a prisoner or a guard with students at Stanford University. The experiment was terminated prematurely as a result of the devastating backlash. After only one day, guards began to abuse their "position of power" (even though it was fake), resulting in psychological and physical abuse of the prisoners. To this day, many of the prisoners still harbor resentment against their so-called guards.
Sleepers is a...more
Sleepers is a...more
The author, Lorenzo Carcaterra in his book, "Sleepers" tells the story as himself reflecting back to when he was a boy growing up in Hell's Kitchen (a city in New York) in the 1960's, and a place he and his three other friends were forced to go to after pulling a stupid prank that almost kills someone. This place is a juvenille facility that they soon find out will change their lives forever. There they endure unnecessary verbal, physical and sexual abuse from the guards that watch them.
Later as...more
Later as...more
I read this once when I was younger and have not read it since. I remember reading this shortly before the movie came out (which I had only seen about once or twice itself) and the events stayed with me ever since then.
The story was a harrowing one exploring the effects of how life can change in an incident with a minor mistake of childhood play. After a childhood prank that ends in the death of a local vendor, the four friends of the book are sentenced to a brutal juvenile prison where the pris...more
The story was a harrowing one exploring the effects of how life can change in an incident with a minor mistake of childhood play. After a childhood prank that ends in the death of a local vendor, the four friends of the book are sentenced to a brutal juvenile prison where the pris...more
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This book talks about the life of four young boys and what happens to them as they are growing up in a place called Hell's Kitchen. The boys names are Shakes, Tommy, Mikey, and John. THey was good boys that just like to mess around and play jokes on people. They liked to open up the fire hydrats and play in the water on a hot summer day, trade baseball cards, and play sports. Shakes would always go to King Benny's place and have a cup of coffee with him and he also worked for him as well. They a...more
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This is the story of four young boys who grew up in Hells Kitchen, New York. Four boys who would remain friends forever. Though their lives are rough, they stay content with living in the confine of their Neighborhood. Outside of school, they content stay by paling around and playing pranks. Until one hot summer when one of their poorly planned pranks goes horribly wrong. This in-turn saddles the four of them with a one-year stay in the Wilkinson Home for Boys. Over the year, the four boys exper...more
Never heard of this until recently, published over 20 years ago. This book is a very similar to many books I have read about the grim and almost endless suffering caused by child abuse and rape. Similar to Mysterious Skin, The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Thing, and Crush, Sleepers is about young boys failed by a system that is supposed to protect them. 4 friends are sent to a boys home after found guilty of theft and nearly killing a hot dog vendor, where they are raped and abused in every poss...more
4 young boys growing up in Hell's Kitchen, NY in the 60's do a foolish prank that turns deadly and they land in Wilkinson Home for Boys. There they are heinously abused and that changes them forever. This is their story.
The author clearly states that he's changed the names and locations of the events to hide the identity of the people in this story. Nevertheless, I googled over and over while I was reading this because I just couldn't get over what the boys went through at Wilkinson Home for Bo...more
The author clearly states that he's changed the names and locations of the events to hide the identity of the people in this story. Nevertheless, I googled over and over while I was reading this because I just couldn't get over what the boys went through at Wilkinson Home for Bo...more
I found ‘Sleepers’ to be an amazingly powerful and emotional read. Very few books capture what friendship mean and I think Lorenzo Carcaterra wrote of his experiences fabulously. Albeit there were a few parts very disturbing to get through, I feel it added to the impact which moved the story along.
I found myself close to tears as I finished the epilogue and I really wanted to know more about the lives of these boys who pulled each other through life. I cheered for them and mourned with them and...more
I found myself close to tears as I finished the epilogue and I really wanted to know more about the lives of these boys who pulled each other through life. I cheered for them and mourned with them and...more
Sleepers is a gripping story, part court-room drama, part-coming of age tale that may or may not be based on a true story.
It follows four boys (one of them supposedly the author himself) growing up in Hell's Kitchen who one summer do something that will change their lives forever. Be forewarned - this book is not for the faint of heart, as there are graphic depictions of (view spoiler)
I adored reading this book, s...more
It follows four boys (one of them supposedly the author himself) growing up in Hell's Kitchen who one summer do something that will change their lives forever. Be forewarned - this book is not for the faint of heart, as there are graphic depictions of (view spoiler)
I adored reading this book, s...more
This was a book that shows the true natue of cruelity in prison. I would like to think that it has changed since this book, if it has i am not sure. This book grasps the reality of life as a teenager and the consquences of wrong choices that are made in life. The descriptive nature of his writings shows that he is a good author however the content is not for the week at heart and needs to be questioned at what age someone should read this book. If you have seen the movie first i would suggest th...more
I absolutely fell into the pages of this book. I enjoyed every vivid characters and smiled at the fact that they were at one point real people. The story definitely provides a strong sense of reality that only one who has been abused can relate to. The author was able to convey such images to the reader that could bring one to tears.
The thing I enjoyed the most in this book was the love shared between friends. The main characters knew that no matter what happened in the world or how life changed...more
The thing I enjoyed the most in this book was the love shared between friends. The main characters knew that no matter what happened in the world or how life changed...more
What can I say about this book? First I guess I should start off by saying that if you have never read it or watched the movie then you should do one or the other (or both if you’re up to it).
I watched the film first and just had to read the book, because I’m obviously a masochist.
I loved and hated this book at the same time.
I loved it in that I loved how it was written. I loved the people. I loved reading about his childhood and his thoughts about things (even if he did share very little of th...more
I watched the film first and just had to read the book, because I’m obviously a masochist.
I loved and hated this book at the same time.
I loved it in that I loved how it was written. I loved the people. I loved reading about his childhood and his thoughts about things (even if he did share very little of th...more
This brings back so many memories of my childhood. I literally spent entire summer days reading and rereading this when I was a kid. I remember bits and pieces of it, and the entire plot, of course, but I'm thinking that I may have to read it again now if I'm going to write a review about it, because I haven't touched this book since, I don't know, elementary school, probably, and I'd want to write a comprehensive review as opposed to me just exploding about my feels for it. I feel like this des...more
After seeing the movie with a friend, I had to read the book. Could not put it down, would fall asleep reading the book into the late hours of night. The fact that it's a memoir & not fiction is extremely tragic - that this man and his friends endured the atrocities committed against them. And it's ABSOLUTELY sickening that some reviews on goodreads say that this story is fiction or hard to believe. It's hard to believe what?! That children in a reform school may be taken advantage of? Someo...more
I read this book at a very young age considering the subject matter. I probably just turned 13 when I read it. No book since has left me feeling so satisfied and shocked. First, the setting of Hell's Kitchen is beautifully described in such a way that gives the neighborhood a life all its own. The dialogue is brilliant between characters especially those involving Fat Mancho. The plot is excellent and fast paced. You will not be able to put this book down, I guarantee that. Carcaterra aka Shakes...more
WERY good book. and also the film is a must see.
This is the story of four young boys. Four lifelong friends.
Intelligent, fun-loving, wise beyond their years, they are inseparable. Their potential is unlimited, but they are content to live within the closed world of New York City's Hell's Kitchen. And to play as many pranks as they can on the denizens of the street. They never get caught. And they know they never will.
Until one disastrous summer afternoon.
On that day, what begins as a harmless s...more
This is the story of four young boys. Four lifelong friends.
Intelligent, fun-loving, wise beyond their years, they are inseparable. Their potential is unlimited, but they are content to live within the closed world of New York City's Hell's Kitchen. And to play as many pranks as they can on the denizens of the street. They never get caught. And they know they never will.
Until one disastrous summer afternoon.
On that day, what begins as a harmless s...more
Possibly the most disturbing book that I have ever read. After I finished it (I was fifteen), I walked around my house in shock muttering "oh my god" over and over. Originally I had picked it up out of a bookshelf without knowing what it was about, so the subject matter was more of a surprise than if I had known what to expect. I actually feel somewhat horrible giving this four stars, but it was an utterly engrossing and captivating book. Honestly, I wouldn't recommend this for most people I kno...more
It was the summer of '97 and I got grounded for sneaking out of my bedroom window (again) to meet up with friends to drink warm, pilfered beers and smoke mexican ditch rat-weed (probably).
So while I'm grounded I read this book and I can't put it own. Because I read it so quickly, I still have a week to kill with nothing to do. So i read it again. I had friends come over to try and get me to sneak out again but i blow em off and say 'nah, im good actually, got this book im reading'. That's about...more
So while I'm grounded I read this book and I can't put it own. Because I read it so quickly, I still have a week to kill with nothing to do. So i read it again. I had friends come over to try and get me to sneak out again but i blow em off and say 'nah, im good actually, got this book im reading'. That's about...more
A fascinating and disturbing account of four teenaged boys growing up in the Hells Kitchen district of New York City in the '50s. On a hot summer day they get in trouble when their petty crime goes horribly wrong. They end up in a state reform school where unspeakable things are perpetrated by the staff, ripping away their innocence and trust in mankind.
Ten years later they are adults, living lives shaped behind the walls of the Wilkenson School for Boys, when two of them happen upon Sean Nokes,...more
Ten years later they are adults, living lives shaped behind the walls of the Wilkenson School for Boys, when two of them happen upon Sean Nokes,...more
The book kept my interest but I still wish that the author would have given more attention to the trial. Most of the book was about building the characters and their friendship, which I already got in the first 1/4 of the book. The time spent at the boys home and the trial was not given nearly as much attention.
Once the boys were in the hospital, one of the abuse situations seemed to be described in less than one paragraph. I thought I was going to be disappointed, not because I wanted to hear a...more
Once the boys were in the hospital, one of the abuse situations seemed to be described in less than one paragraph. I thought I was going to be disappointed, not because I wanted to hear a...more
Aug 28, 2008
Heather
added it
I read this book back in HS. It is definitely not for the weak stomach or faint of heart. I first heard about the movie, which was released in 1996. When I discovered that this movie was based on a true story and a book that was written I decided to read it. It is quite graphic and gets into detail of what happens to these 4 young friends. They were beaten and sexually abused. It is sad to think that things like this can happen to young children. It is a good book and it is well written. From wh...more
(N.B.: When I wrote this review, I was unaware of the controversy surrounding the book's authenticity. It has since been drawn to my attention. Please take all comments as to the book's veracity with a grain of salt...)
Lorenzo Carcaterra, Sleepers (Ballantine, 1995)
It's not often that a tell-all bio from someone not inside the Hollywood Beltway spends months on the New York Times bestseller list and gets made into a movie with the kind of high-powered cast that fueled the film version of Sleeper...more
Lorenzo Carcaterra, Sleepers (Ballantine, 1995)
It's not often that a tell-all bio from someone not inside the Hollywood Beltway spends months on the New York Times bestseller list and gets made into a movie with the kind of high-powered cast that fueled the film version of Sleeper...more
i had no expectations of this book - i knew there was a movie i had never seen that was released sometime in the late 90's based on the novel and i purchased this little treasure for a mere $1 at a used bookstore. i figured it would be a guilty pleasure read - kind of like the john saul books i used to read when i was 19. obviously i was born and raised in a cardboard box because i had no idea it was a memior and i had no idea it was a book made into a movie that robert de niro, dustin hoffman,...more
A well written account of four young boys who experience sustained physical and sexual abuse when incarcerated in a remand home for juveniles. The novel explores the adverse effects of these experiences on the boys as adults and how, when a murder is committed which implicates two of the boys, the others seek to utilise this as an opportunity for revenge on their torturers. It explores the themes of friendship, loyalty and resilience and while an uncomfortable read at times, it is also very grip...more
I know others have debated if this is really a true story, not sure if its really true or not, don't care though because it was written well every part of the story captures your attention. I had seen the movie but never realized it was based on a book. Although painful to read because of the topic/content, those parts were pieces of the story and you can't skip over it. I liked how the whole thing came full circle and you could see the bonds this group had for one another not just the 4 boys bu...more
I have read this book once a year for the last 14 years. I love it. I was bored one night and a friend handed me the book and said that he had gotten it as a gift but wasn't a "reader". I hopped into the bathtub and didn't come out for about 8 hours. i loved this book and I couldn't put it down. I saw the movie after I read it but it wasn't very good, but they never are. I love Lorenzo Carcaterra, he just has this way of sucking you into the story. This book and The Last Don are my favorite book...more
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Number-one New York Times bestselling author Lorenzo Carcaterra's highly successful career spans more than 25 years of writing for the diverse fields of fiction, non-fiction, television, and film.
Born and raised in New York's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood, Carcaterra landed his first job in the newspaper business as a copy boy for The New York Daily News in 1976. He worked his way up to entertainmen...more
More about Lorenzo Carcaterra...
Born and raised in New York's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood, Carcaterra landed his first job in the newspaper business as a copy boy for The New York Daily News in 1976. He worked his way up to entertainmen...more
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“Live then, beloved children of my heart, and never forget that, until the day God deigns to reveal the future to man, the sum of all human wisdom will be contained in these two words; Wait and Hope.”
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