Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
Chopper (Chopper (John Blake) #1)
Bullied at school and growing up dreaming of revenge, Mark "Chopper" Read determined to be the toughest in any company. He became a crime commando who terrorized drug dealers, pimps, thieves, and armed robbers on the streets and in jail—but boasts never to have hurt an innocent member of the public. His story is one of violence, betrayal by trusted friends, and murder. To...more
Paperback, 282 pages
Published
August 1st 2002
by John Blake
(first published 1991)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
465)
Australia's modern day Ned Kelly (seriously, we love this guy) recounts some of his colourful history. People (police even) argue that ol' Chop-Chop's retelling of certain facts are far from factual. But as many Melbournian's will tell you, I know a guy who knows a guy who...
Well, that's a story for another day.
Well, that's a story for another day.
Mark Brandon Read is a charming sociopath with enough stories of violence, underworld culture, and the bizarre to fill a hundred beer-soaked nights of telling, or as he's probably more used to, a hundred days of 23 hour lockdown. Unfortunately each chapter of his "story" exists on its own, none of them in chronological order, much less coming together to form a plot arch. And he insists on ending chapters with really bad poetry. Still, you grow to like him despite his obvious lack of formal educ...more
This is the first book I have read so far written by an ex-criminal who openly talks about his past. He does not go deeply in to his childhood, but his violent actions are told with no shame because he personally believes that he was doing no wrong killing and touring people who are labeled as 'bad guys'. The actions he has done are appalling and very violent as he describes the scene with senses. How burning flesh smells and how the victims' last words are all 'no'... It was interesting to read...more
After watching the Film so many times over the years I thought I might aswell check out the book.
Its a great read if you`ve seen the film and even if you havnt this book shows how much of a dramatisation the film really was. So expect a very different account on events...good and gritty :O
Its ashame with Chopper that there have been many speculations made as to which parts of his accounts are actually true, but with the character that Chopper Read is you gotta expect a little exaggeration, becau...more
Its a great read if you`ve seen the film and even if you havnt this book shows how much of a dramatisation the film really was. So expect a very different account on events...good and gritty :O
Its ashame with Chopper that there have been many speculations made as to which parts of his accounts are actually true, but with the character that Chopper Read is you gotta expect a little exaggeration, becau...more
Mar 02, 2009
Lanier
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Australian non-fiction, crime
Recommended to Lanier by:
Sasha W.
The follow-up to Read's Best Selling first installation to Chopper's true life of crime. Some consider him a vigilante, most know his stories are partially embellished, but either way, he knows where the bodies (or their parts) are buried and he never denied the really gruesome acts of leveling the playing field.
Quick, easy reading and, at times, he realizes he's gained an audience and can be a bit self-promoting. Funny, horrifying and a bit of the Keystone-Cops Down Under.
Quick, easy reading and, at times, he realizes he's gained an audience and can be a bit self-promoting. Funny, horrifying and a bit of the Keystone-Cops Down Under.
Mister Reed obviously isn't a professional writer, but his book gives you the impression he's sitting across the room from you shooting the shit with you. His stories from his life are interesting and sometimes unbelievable. Often he gets repetitive, but it's not so bothersome it ruins the book. The series has over 8 books in it now I believe. I don't know if I could read them all but I do have the first 3. I started buying them for my boyfriend and got into it myself.
Having rewatched the film recently, I thought it was about time that I picked up one of Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read's books. This is the first of ten (so far) and I don't think I'll get too much further.
The concept of this first book is really an introduction to the life and (jail) time of Chopper Read. Unfortunately, there's little detail and no real indication of where, when and how each event mentioned occurs. It reads like a who's who of Australian Crime but, since I'm not an Australian and...more
The concept of this first book is really an introduction to the life and (jail) time of Chopper Read. Unfortunately, there's little detail and no real indication of where, when and how each event mentioned occurs. It reads like a who's who of Australian Crime but, since I'm not an Australian and...more
Getting into the warped mind of 'chopper' was interesting. He puts his dark humour into his real life criminal antics and grabs hold of you from the off! His brutal honasty and sarcasm had me from start to finish!
Jul 30, 2011
Angela Munro
added it
A complete nutjob. But a likeable one. Can't get over the story of his ears. While i was reading it i thought: 'Oh, i wonder what he's going to do to get out of H section'...Did not expect that!
Although brutal and written by a career criminal and sociopath, he comes across as a charismatic and quite funny individual.
I honestly don't know how to describe this book. I've worked with some pretty hardened and dangerous criminals within my capacity of Pagan prison minister, but none of them have come across *quite* as "bigging up on themselves" as this Mark "Chopper" Read.
The guy thinks he's superman or some sort of avenging angel akin to "Dexter" but with a far more skewed moral compass. Maybe it's an Aussie thing. I don't know. But I finished the book thinking "What a plonker!" basically.
It was also poorly wri...more
The guy thinks he's superman or some sort of avenging angel akin to "Dexter" but with a far more skewed moral compass. Maybe it's an Aussie thing. I don't know. But I finished the book thinking "What a plonker!" basically.
It was also poorly wri...more
Good read. Funny, half-truthful, and very entertaining.
He was a violent man but had a great sense of humour
Very candid look into his life. Funny at times.
Great book one of his best
Hilarious!
Love a bit of Uncle Chop Chop, even if it is 'faction'.. great read after recently watching the movie (again)!
May 18, 2008
Lollipop Lollipop
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone interested in Autobiographies..
Having seen the film, I was not that impressed.
Reading the book, as normal with most life stories, it was far better than the film. I would reccommend this book to whoever has seen the film, because it is far more involved...and quite a lot more personal, with regard too Mark Brandon Read's opinions and feelings, of some of the times he spent incarserated, and of his so called Friends.
Well written and easy to read, a very good read..
Reading the book, as normal with most life stories, it was far better than the film. I would reccommend this book to whoever has seen the film, because it is far more involved...and quite a lot more personal, with regard too Mark Brandon Read's opinions and feelings, of some of the times he spent incarserated, and of his so called Friends.
Well written and easy to read, a very good read..
Chopper has interesting stories as someone who has spent the better part of his life in jail, however his writing and education lack terribly as he repeats his points and dribbles on trying to explain what he means with lack of detail. Chopper is a good poet and can do poetry on the spot he may have been a good free style rapper. Anyhow to sum it up good insight, lousy writing!!
Only brilliant because if you saw the movie- the real Chopper writes how he speaks- a cadence Bana totally nailed- all crazy and repetitious with a few big words and cliches thrown in. You can't not love him. Read has a million stories, most of them dubious, but who cares?! This guy is hilarious, though he can get a bit tedious at times.
This book contains violence. Der. Chopper Read tells it like it is. Not many of us grew up like this, which probably makes us a lucky lot.
Mar 02, 2009
Lanier
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Australian non-fiction, crime
Recommended to Lanier by:
Sasha W.
Aussie loose canon on a killing and maiming spree like no other. Chopper Read has an ingratiating way recounting his dirty deeds, even with the cops and those guarding him in prison. Not the most well-written novels, however he makes you laugh while he and the world wonders how he could've evaded incarceration for so long.
This is one crazy dude, and his experiences sounded like they'd be a great read, however the book is not that engaging and lacked the entertainment value I had hoped for.
Whether or not this is fact or fiction is beside the point. It makes for one bloody good read! And all this from a guy who "can't even spell."
This book will blow your mind. A criminal killing other criminals, classic.
Really funny and entertaining.
A fun read on a different world.
Chopper just needs a hug
Dec 14, 2007
HORTA
marked it as to-read
to-read
Charasmatic anecdotes from one of Australia's premier nutters. It is full of foul gossip and slander though, for which Chopper can take no responsibility. At least he has a sense of humour.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chopper | 1 | 4 | May 17, 2008 05:29pm |
Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read is an Australian ex-criminal who wrote a series of semi-autobiographical and fictional crime novels.
--from wikipedia
More about Mark Brandon Read...
--from wikipedia
Share This Book
1 trivia question
More quizzes & trivia...
“Referring to another crim he knew. "Tiger...I used to tell him he should use some of his money on plastic surgery and a face lift because he is dog ugly. He had a head like a robber's dog.”
—
1 person liked it
More quotes…
*This man is a murderer and sadist. These are his t...more
Feb 14, 2013 07:18pm