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Mafia Summer: A Novel
August 1950: A brutal mob takeover is about to set Hell's Kitchen on fire.
Vinny Vesta and Sidney Butcher are an unlikely pair of friends. One is a tough Sicilian Hell's Kitchen gang leader, and the other is a sickly but brilliant Orthodox Jewish boy who lives next door. But after they meet on a fire escape during the blistering New York City summer of 1950, a friendship takes off.
When Gee-gee Petrone, a ruthless and brilliant mobster, puts into motion a plan to knock out the other mob bosses and to make himself capo di tutti capos, Vinny finds himself caught in the crossfire. Now Vinny has to put to use everything he's recently learned to survive-and, with the help of his gang of up-and-coming young mobsters, the Icemen, to get his revenge on Petrone.
Based on actual events, Mafia Summer brilliantly fictionalizes the pivotal moment in Mafia history when Vito Genovese attempted to undo Frank Costello and become the leader of the Luciano family. At the heart of this classic tale of the Mob, replete with plot twists, violence, and suspense, is the story of an unforgettable friendship and an indelible portrait of an era.
Vinny Vesta and Sidney Butcher are an unlikely pair of friends. One is a tough Sicilian Hell's Kitchen gang leader, and the other is a sickly but brilliant Orthodox Jewish boy who lives next door. But after they meet on a fire escape during the blistering New York City summer of 1950, a friendship takes off.
When Gee-gee Petrone, a ruthless and brilliant mobster, puts into motion a plan to knock out the other mob bosses and to make himself capo di tutti capos, Vinny finds himself caught in the crossfire. Now Vinny has to put to use everything he's recently learned to survive-and, with the help of his gang of up-and-coming young mobsters, the Icemen, to get his revenge on Petrone.
Based on actual events, Mafia Summer brilliantly fictionalizes the pivotal moment in Mafia history when Vito Genovese attempted to undo Frank Costello and become the leader of the Luciano family. At the heart of this classic tale of the Mob, replete with plot twists, violence, and suspense, is the story of an unforgettable friendship and an indelible portrait of an era.
385 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2005
28 people are currently reading
175 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 25, 2012
cannot believe the ratings on this book! Are you guys seriously reading the right book? this book is one of a rare finds that makes you appreciate the history. Long after the end of this book, you just want to savor it for a while.
No, I'm not a male but I really enjoy this book thoroughly.
One more thing, this book is way better than that trashy pornography 50 Shades of Gray (tried to read a sample at Amazon. com but was disgusted due to poor writing and sex. Do we really need the details of sex, really?)
Mafia Summer was about history, bonding between older teenagers, the most famous family mafia, (5 families during that time) Hell Kitchen, loyalty, betrayals,fights, murders, first love, street smarts, book smarts, and of course, passionate Italian narrator and his new Jewish bookworm best friend and their unusual unique friendship.
Overall, it was one heck of a unforgettable summer for this older teen-aged narrator ...
No, I'm not a male but I really enjoy this book thoroughly.
One more thing, this book is way better than that trashy pornography 50 Shades of Gray (tried to read a sample at Amazon. com but was disgusted due to poor writing and sex. Do we really need the details of sex, really?)
Mafia Summer was about history, bonding between older teenagers, the most famous family mafia, (5 families during that time) Hell Kitchen, loyalty, betrayals,fights, murders, first love, street smarts, book smarts, and of course, passionate Italian narrator and his new Jewish bookworm best friend and their unusual unique friendship.
Overall, it was one heck of a unforgettable summer for this older teen-aged narrator ...
November 19, 2018
This story is a great blend of actual historical events and a couple of small groups of 16 to 20 year old gang members who collaborate with opposing Mafia families. The character development is excellent, giving the reader a feeling of knowing each and every individual in the story. The link to historical characters and historical events is also very good. The plot is not as complex as I'd hoped, but still makes for an interesting read. I enjoyed it.
November 6, 2024
If you like a good Mafia story this is a must read. The storyline contains actual historical events while focusing on a small group of the Mafia families. Great charter development that takes the reader behind the scenes of each person and tells their particular story. I so loved the fantastic friendship that developed between two characters – Vinny and Stanley; one a Mafia member and the other a Jewish child with health and personality issues. Very enjoyable read.
December 6, 2010
I don't know who is saying this is a good book, or even passable. Are all the reviewers "plants"?
This book is quite possibly the most pedestrian work of fiction I have ever read.
There is no craft to the writing. There is no character development. You NEVER care about the characters.
The best way I can put it is like this: It's like reading a book written for a fifth-grader (LITERALLY. I mean LITERALLY) with 12th-grade content.
Not recommended AT ALL. BORING.
By the way, one of my favorite genres is the gangster/heist genre (obviously, I wish it were bigger), and I'm not too picky. But this book was a wreck.
I can guarantee this book would NEVER have been published if not for the author's standing in the television industry. From what I understand, he is a major player in that industry and his connections must've helped him land the book deal. But whatever.
I've tried to read this book at least 5 times and could never get into it. It's the most transparent, amateurish tripe I've ever read. This guy makes Nicholas Sparks look like a literary genius or something.
Anyhow. I'm sure Mr Vincent is an okay guy, no disrespect to him, but... give this 'un a miss.
This book is quite possibly the most pedestrian work of fiction I have ever read.
There is no craft to the writing. There is no character development. You NEVER care about the characters.
The best way I can put it is like this: It's like reading a book written for a fifth-grader (LITERALLY. I mean LITERALLY) with 12th-grade content.
Not recommended AT ALL. BORING.
By the way, one of my favorite genres is the gangster/heist genre (obviously, I wish it were bigger), and I'm not too picky. But this book was a wreck.
I can guarantee this book would NEVER have been published if not for the author's standing in the television industry. From what I understand, he is a major player in that industry and his connections must've helped him land the book deal. But whatever.
I've tried to read this book at least 5 times and could never get into it. It's the most transparent, amateurish tripe I've ever read. This guy makes Nicholas Sparks look like a literary genius or something.
Anyhow. I'm sure Mr Vincent is an okay guy, no disrespect to him, but... give this 'un a miss.
January 25, 2011
Based loosely on events from his own life, veteran TV producer Vincent's novel is set in the summer of 1950, at the dawn of a new age of organized crime in the U.S.
A Mob boss has hatched a plan to install himself as the new capo di tutti capi (boss of all bosses) of the New York crime families, and a deadly gang war results. The story is told from the perspective of two friends, Vinny Vesta, a young Sicilian mobster on the way up, and an Orthodox Jewish boy, the bookish Sidney Butcher. This unlikely duo lands in the middle of the gang struggle.
The author, known for such melodramatic TV fare as Melrose Place, turns out to be a talented novelist. Vincent uses his memories and experiences to give us plenty of you-are-there atmosphere. By placing his two central characters on the periphery of the gang war, caught up in something much bigger than they are, he adroitly avoids direct comparisons to The Godfather. Still, fans of that classic will find much to enjoy here.
A Mob boss has hatched a plan to install himself as the new capo di tutti capi (boss of all bosses) of the New York crime families, and a deadly gang war results. The story is told from the perspective of two friends, Vinny Vesta, a young Sicilian mobster on the way up, and an Orthodox Jewish boy, the bookish Sidney Butcher. This unlikely duo lands in the middle of the gang struggle.
The author, known for such melodramatic TV fare as Melrose Place, turns out to be a talented novelist. Vincent uses his memories and experiences to give us plenty of you-are-there atmosphere. By placing his two central characters on the periphery of the gang war, caught up in something much bigger than they are, he adroitly avoids direct comparisons to The Godfather. Still, fans of that classic will find much to enjoy here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2012
I really enjoyed it. (The Kindle version. Note: annoyed with the editing. Every time "get" is used, it's italicized, which of course made me read it with emphasis. Silly me, you think I would have caught on after about the 30th one. Ah well, and there were other things, but I digress...) The story: I did like the story. The "good guys" were likable kids and I think the author developed their personalities well. This is definitely not how I grew up and spent my summers, but it felt familiar all the same.
August 24, 2009
The author provides a glimpse into the world of La Cosa Nostra in New York City during the summer of 1950....based on actual events, the story focuses on the lives of two teenagers caught up in the inter-family struggles of the competing Mob interests.
November 4, 2012
Mafia Summer was a surprisingly good novel. It is a story of friendship, in the shadow of the New York Mafia. When 19-year old Vinny, son of a Mafia capo, befriends a young Jewish boy, a bond forms that even a Mafia war will not tear apart.
November 8, 2012
A familiar "Mafia" storyline with good character development. An easy, enjoyable read. Bad guys trying to outdo other bad guys! The friendship that emerged between Vinny and Stanley was unique and added a little extra flavor to the overall story.
September 18, 2013
The characters were not well developed, and there were too many of them. The friendship between Vinny and Sidney is not as emphasized as the synopsis makes it out to be. Based on true events maybe, but the plot still seemed convoluted and overly drawn out. I finished it, but it wasn't worth it.
January 10, 2008
It doesn't take much to cross that line
March 19, 2010
This was an excellent read. I usually don't read first person books, but this was an exception.
September 1, 2010
very good summer read, should make an intresting cliche east coast mafia flick directed by a actor turn director some day.
December 21, 2010
Pretty cheesy, but somewhat enjoyable all the same.
July 17, 2012
Not going to blow your socks off by any means, but I guess call me sucker for anything pertaining to old school NYC and the mafia...Little boring at times, but by all means worth a read.
August 26, 2012
I loved this book! If you're looking for your typical mafia bloodbath, this book isn't for you! I quite enjoyed it!
September 22, 2012
Different from my typical reading genre but I enjoyed this book. It's historical fiction about the mafia in New York in the 1950s. Very interesting and great characters.
September 3, 2012
Another great mafia read. Loved the story. Could hardly put it down.
September 13, 2012
Fun read, especially growing up near NYC and Italian. Anyone Italian can relate to the characters in this book!
September 22, 2012
I only read this because I have no internet and no library card, and I still regretted it.
November 6, 2012
I've never read a book about Mafias. But this was a very entertaining story, and the fact that it is based on factual events makes it even better.
April 20, 2013
I enjoyed it. There are a lot of characters but author did a nice job of developing them.
May 29, 2013
I found this an awesome story and very well told!
May 14, 2014
This book is so Good..I have read it 4 times, and will read it again!!
February 27, 2016
loved the characters. non fiction meets fiction in a great read.
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January 11, 2019Donated By: A. Orlando
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May 3, 2017
An interesting story of two unlikely friends - the son of a mob boss and a son of a Jewish tailor - during the 1950's in NYC. Lots of violence in this one, but all necessary to the story.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews