Our narrator's too smart to tell you his name ("if I [did], you'd be as clever as me"), but he's not afraid to tell you everything else about the "...
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Dec 10, 2008
Migdalia
rated it: 
If you've seen the movie, you know the plot: Drug dealer, ready to retire, decides to do one more gig, but things go awry. No, this is not Superfly. However, it's just as good. We see all the elements that make the drug trade so alluring: fast money, fast cars, all the accessibility that the upwardly mobile, extremely clever, coulda-been-at-Harvard-but-this-is-much-cooler (if you survive the violent bits) guy can want. And- very rare - the book is not better than the movie. Both stand alone
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Jun 02, 2011
Emily
rated it: 
I tried to read this book 4 years ago and couldn't get beyond pg 76, but I don't like to leave things unfinished so I'm trying again. The structure of the book makes it difficult to get through. There are either long paragraphs or rapid-fire dialogue exchanges and both like to repeat themselves and use multiple slang terms for the same person/place/thing. It gets a little tedious. I think this is one of the rare occurrences where the movie adaptation is better than the book because the movie str
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Feb 21, 2012
Lana.
rated it: 
Smooth and saavy, our dealer guide to the London's modern drug scene knows the trouble of flash and instead plans to make his money quietly and then leave the scene. There's plenty stashed away, but to get the blessing of his boss, he has to take on one more assignment (track down his friend's runaway daughter) and finish a final deal. Of course, nothing is quite that simple.
Paul read the back and told me sounded like a movie he'd want to watch(which there in fact is one), and I More...
Paul read the back and told me sounded like a movie he'd want to watch(which there in fact is one), and I More...
May 31, 2011
Jake
rated it:
Years ago this movie became one my regular haunts. A week usually never went by for the longest time that I didn't watch it at least once. I heart the movie that much. Naturally I had it on my 'to be read' list for ages. I had put it off for quite some time until finally, a few weeks ago, I picked it up. I tend to put a book down more often than I should if I have seen it's adaptation usually is the reason for me taking so long to finish this one. I know the movie inside and out, but still thoug
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Aug 04, 2009
Mike
rated it: 
I really enjoyed this book. The first person narrative of a drug-dealer in London looking for one more big score before retiring was full of twists and cleverly written. However, I really needed a glossary to translate all the British slang. I had to re-read several sections to figure out what was being said, since I had no idea what "cozzers, old bill, birds, duffer, khazi, or nicked" meant. Now that I've read the book, I'm anxious to see the movie, since I've heard Daniel Craig does
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Jun 02, 2009
Pandabearhug
rated it:
I listened to this on audiobook, and it added to my enjoyment immensely: the reader says "cunt" better than anybody I've heard before or since, especially in the growly voice of the crime boss whose name escapes me. British slang aside, it's an A-OK crime story. You'll know pretty much where it's going and how it will end but the decent action and surprising humor make it an enjoyable ride all the way. You cunt.
Jan 09, 2011
Dave
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This book blew me away. It's not deeply philosophical or wonderfully artistic; it's just a heck of a lot of fun to read. Connolly writes true to his London origins, but keeps it readable. There is no Clockwork Orange Syndrome here, where the story and meaning get lost in the jargon.
Overall the story is an engaging one, following the unnamed narrator as he tries to finish up a last few things and get out of London's drug underworld. The novel is filled with plotting, counterplotti More...
Overall the story is an engaging one, following the unnamed narrator as he tries to finish up a last few things and get out of London's drug underworld. The novel is filled with plotting, counterplotti More...
Dec 11, 2008
Amy
rated it:
The unnamed coke-dealer narrator tries to leave the business with his money and his life. He and his crew get blamed for stealing 2 million ecstasy pills from neo-Nazis and find out their boss is a snitch. The movie stayed true to the book, although the book was easier to understand. Good book, and recommended.
Jul 11, 2011
Jonathan
rated it:
This is an interesting multi "Layer" crime novel. Pitting street level dealers against their higher lever suppliers with plenty of twists and double crosses.
Significant use of Occidental English slang left me had me bewildered at times.
All in all wort a read.
Significant use of Occidental English slang left me had me bewildered at times.
All in all wort a read.
Feb 17, 2009
Elliott
rated it:
Another book where the end makes the whole book better. Rare for me to exclaim at the ending 'of course'. Would have been five stars but I felt that I should be cheering on the drug dealer main character but just couldnt find the heart.
May 10, 2010
Motorcycle
rated it:
I got it expecting hack writing and an old story ("one last job" stories were a staple particularly of french film), but I was really surprised. The writing was especially vital when he was killing Jimmy. I really enjoyed it.
Jun 19, 2010
Jack
rated it:
A somewhat darker-than-average Guy Ritchie movie in literary form. Very well executed, even if the slang was often hard to follow.
Aug 23, 2011
Adrian
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This was reading outside of my normal comfort zone but I have to say it was pretty much what I expected. An enjoyable good read but I'm not sure I'm properly qualified to judge how well it fits into its genre.
Mar 12, 2010
Mell
rated it:
almost too many twists and turns to follow. needed a Cockney dictionary for translation!
Jul 12, 2008
Tommy
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The book was good but not quite as good as the movie. It reads like a modern noir but with a twist, think Goodfellas mixed with the Hustler. I think the movie was better because the protagonist was more likable and had more of a fall from grace ; (thank God they didn't bend to studio pressures and shoot the ending the way they were told to).
The main guy in the book was a little to smart and egotistical without the same repercussions as in the movie. I would certainly recommend this i More...
The main guy in the book was a little to smart and egotistical without the same repercussions as in the movie. I would certainly recommend this i More...
Jan 13, 2008
Darrell
rated it:
loved the movie on an aesthetic level - very flash
Daniel Craig is cauliflower ear handsome
the music welling over the stomping
the score was spot on
the book a little less so...
It makes a great deal more sense the way it is laid out
the threads tie together a great deal more in text block but it is more than a bit wordy for it's own sake - I love slang but this was having one's ear talked off
Daniel Craig is cauliflower ear handsome
the music welling over the stomping
the score was spot on
the book a little less so...
It makes a great deal more sense the way it is laid out
the threads tie together a great deal more in text block but it is more than a bit wordy for it's own sake - I love slang but this was having one's ear talked off
Jan 27, 2011
Margaret
rated it:
The author did a much better job adapting it into a movie.
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Sep 30, 2008
Brendan
rated it:
This book is one very cool gangster story. Very much in the spirit of Lock Stock or Snatch - but maybe with less humor. It is pretty important to have a firm grasp of British slang before reading this book or you will be rereading sections to make sure that you understand exactly what is being said. If you can get over that, you'll find this a very enjoyable read.
Oct 02, 2007
Chantel
rated it:
This one was hard to get into. It's in my "top ten movies" list so I wanted to give it a try. It is written with a lot of British slang, so it took me awhile to understand a lot of the words, (gaff=home) (bill=police), stuff like that. But, the more I read the more I couldn't put it down. The end was completely different from the movie, but it was still a good ending.
Jul 16, 2008
Jake
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Loved the vernacular! London/English slang. Too much time with this book will make you want to start inserting f*** into your everyday speech, so be careful :)
The story is all gangsters and double crossings, etc. If you saw the movie, I hope you can forget it while reading this book cause the movie is not that good and this book is very fun. Check it.
The story is all gangsters and double crossings, etc. If you saw the movie, I hope you can forget it while reading this book cause the movie is not that good and this book is very fun. Check it.
Nov 08, 2008
Andrew
rated it:
"A guy told me once that you never stop learning. This is true, but I never stop forgetting either."
A great read. This book made me feel like I was actually experiencing the events with the narrator. The Britain slang can get heavy in some parts, but that's part of the book's charm, in my estimate.
A great story with a perfect ending.
A great read. This book made me feel like I was actually experiencing the events with the narrator. The Britain slang can get heavy in some parts, but that's part of the book's charm, in my estimate.
A great story with a perfect ending.
Mar 19, 2008
Reece
rated it:
Similar to the movie with the same title but with more detail of course. The story also has a different ending as well. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a)British humor b)crime stories. It really is a good read from cover to cover.
Sep 18, 2008
Debby
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this was a pretty long book, listening kept me going, if I was reading it I would have stopped. As it got more towards the end its got much better. I want to see the movie which I heard was great.
Sep 14, 2007
David
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This book is worth it just for the slang. The plot, characters and execution are all enjoyable, but the dialog is something special. From cover to cover, it kept the potty-mouth in me extremely amused.
Sep 17, 2007
Gabe
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I'm still debating which I like best, the book or the movie? Both are tops on my all-time favorites. Drugs, sex and guns, need I say more...
