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John Sutter #1
The Gold Coast
Welcome to the fabled Gold Coast, that stretch on the North Shore of Long Island that once held the greatest concentration of wealth and power in America. Here two men are destined for an explosive collision: John Sutter, Wall Street lawyer, holding fast to a fading aristocratic legacy; and Frank Bellarosa, the Mafia don who seizes his piece of the staid and unprepared Gold Coast like a latter-day barbarian chief and draws Sutter and his regally beautiful wife, Susan, into his violent world. Told from Sutter's sardonic and often hilarious point of view, and laced with sexual passion and suspense, The Gold Coast is Nelson DeMille's captivating story of friendship and seduction, love and betrayal.
780 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 1990
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About the author
Nelson DeMille
263 books7,412 followersNelson Richard DeMille was an American author of action adventure and suspense novels. His novels include Plum Island, The Charm School, and The General's Daughter. DeMille also wrote under the pen names Jack Cannon, Kurt Ladner, Ellen Kay and Brad Matthews.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,747 reviews
July 7, 2008
DeMilles best, and one of my all time favorite books - if you read nothing else by him, this is the one. Its awesome. Very clever and sarcastic, well researched, set on the gold coast of long island with some mafia ties - I love love love this book and have read it like 6 times.
September 18, 2017
"The Godfather meets The Great Gatsby on the Gold Coast"
This is a quote by the author from the forward in this book. I have read many of his books but his was a different read from what I am used to. I am mostly familiar with his mystery / suspense / thriller stories such as Plum Island featuring John Corey the ex-NYPD cop now Anti-Terrorist agent. This is a different story altogether with a different protagonist.
John Whitman Sutter is a Wall Street lawyer married to Susan Stanhope Sutter who lives on the North Shore of Long Island (The Gold Coast). The Sutter's and their WASPish friends and neighbors are still living on estates and clinging to the past trying to prevent the encroachment of developments and suburbia. They may have to live in the guest house on the estate because no one can afford to live in the manor house any more but they still have their country club, yacht club, and horses. And when things get dull there are kinky sex games. Despite all of this John Sutter is going through a mid-life crisis. Then he meets his new neighbor.
Frank "The Bishop" Bellarosa is the head of one of New York's most notorious crime families. He is from Brooklyn but accidentally stumbled upon the Gold Coast and buys the crumbling mansion next door to the Sutters. He sinks millions of dollars into restoring the estate and also sucks the Sutters into his orbit. Soon Frank Bellarosa becomes John Sutter's client ... and his mid-life crisis becomes the least of his problems.
Nelson DeMille grew up on Long Island close to where much of this story takes place. It was interesting to read about the fabled Gold Coast and imaging what life must have been like when the Astor's, Morgan's, Rockefeller's, and Vanderbilt's, et al lived like royalty. It was an intriguing look into other worlds and cultures. What really made this a good story was the interesting characters.
This is a quote by the author from the forward in this book. I have read many of his books but his was a different read from what I am used to. I am mostly familiar with his mystery / suspense / thriller stories such as Plum Island featuring John Corey the ex-NYPD cop now Anti-Terrorist agent. This is a different story altogether with a different protagonist.
John Whitman Sutter is a Wall Street lawyer married to Susan Stanhope Sutter who lives on the North Shore of Long Island (The Gold Coast). The Sutter's and their WASPish friends and neighbors are still living on estates and clinging to the past trying to prevent the encroachment of developments and suburbia. They may have to live in the guest house on the estate because no one can afford to live in the manor house any more but they still have their country club, yacht club, and horses. And when things get dull there are kinky sex games. Despite all of this John Sutter is going through a mid-life crisis. Then he meets his new neighbor.
Frank "The Bishop" Bellarosa is the head of one of New York's most notorious crime families. He is from Brooklyn but accidentally stumbled upon the Gold Coast and buys the crumbling mansion next door to the Sutters. He sinks millions of dollars into restoring the estate and also sucks the Sutters into his orbit. Soon Frank Bellarosa becomes John Sutter's client ... and his mid-life crisis becomes the least of his problems.
Nelson DeMille grew up on Long Island close to where much of this story takes place. It was interesting to read about the fabled Gold Coast and imaging what life must have been like when the Astor's, Morgan's, Rockefeller's, and Vanderbilt's, et al lived like royalty. It was an intriguing look into other worlds and cultures. What really made this a good story was the interesting characters.
January 8, 2008
This is my all-time favorite from Nelson DeMille, one of my favorite writers. Although I like his writing for his characters, particularly his little-bit-of-a-smartass heroes and strong-willed, red-headed heroines (can't imagine why), his plots tend to be driven by international spy, military or police stuff. Not this one. Nice Long Island man has life ruined when Mafia don moves in next door. Funny, moving and beautifully written. I guarantee you will not be able to put it down.
January 26, 2009
John Sutter is a lawyer living off of his wife's family fortune on the Gold Coast of Long Island. These people and their friends are snobs. John is a pompous ass who is going through a mid life crisis. He needs an adventure, a challenge. And lucky for him, this challenge moves in right next door in the form of the boss of the NY mafia. The two become aquaintances, friends, business partners, lawyer/client, rivals...
The relationship between these two men, as well as their wives is sleazy, but predictable. None of the characters are likeable or relatable. This book could have used a better editor, as it was at least 200 pages too long. The story itself was dull and uneventful. I kept waiting for something to happen, and nothing really did. I've enjoyed reading Nelson DeMille in the past, but this was a big let-down. He portrays Long Island and Long Islanders well, but beyond that, the book was lacking.
The relationship between these two men, as well as their wives is sleazy, but predictable. None of the characters are likeable or relatable. This book could have used a better editor, as it was at least 200 pages too long. The story itself was dull and uneventful. I kept waiting for something to happen, and nothing really did. I've enjoyed reading Nelson DeMille in the past, but this was a big let-down. He portrays Long Island and Long Islanders well, but beyond that, the book was lacking.
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April 6, 2024DNF
I so wanted to love this book but I just couldn’t— I read nearly half of it before acknowledging that reading it felt more like a high school AP English assignment than a leisure activity.
Lots of reasons why I bailed but in deference to Mr DeMille, let’s just agree that the Sutters and I live in completely different worlds. I’ll stick to my middle class sensibilities and leave the old, upper crust folks to their moldering mansions and private school educations.
(Reviewed 11/19/23)
I so wanted to love this book but I just couldn’t— I read nearly half of it before acknowledging that reading it felt more like a high school AP English assignment than a leisure activity.
Lots of reasons why I bailed but in deference to Mr DeMille, let’s just agree that the Sutters and I live in completely different worlds. I’ll stick to my middle class sensibilities and leave the old, upper crust folks to their moldering mansions and private school educations.
(Reviewed 11/19/23)
October 16, 2013
So disappointing. Maybe a book so hyped is bound to fall flat. But John Sutter is without doubt one of the most annoying characters of any book I've read.
His humor got easily tiresome. I couldn't stand one more "capisce" or "mamma mia." (I'm Italian, my family comes from Brooklyn, and not even with 50 of us in one room during the holidays do I hear that many "capisce" and never "mamma mia.") One day Sutter is a Gold Coast snob (I'm from Long Island and his type and his wife's type really exist) and the next he's waking up hungover on a lawn and hanging with the Mafia. Annoying perhaps is an understatement.
I'm a huge fan of DeMille's and even had the pleasure of interviewing him many years ago. He's a great storyteller. But The Gold Coast did not live up to what so many said will be one of the best books I'll ever read.
His humor got easily tiresome. I couldn't stand one more "capisce" or "mamma mia." (I'm Italian, my family comes from Brooklyn, and not even with 50 of us in one room during the holidays do I hear that many "capisce" and never "mamma mia.") One day Sutter is a Gold Coast snob (I'm from Long Island and his type and his wife's type really exist) and the next he's waking up hungover on a lawn and hanging with the Mafia. Annoying perhaps is an understatement.
I'm a huge fan of DeMille's and even had the pleasure of interviewing him many years ago. He's a great storyteller. But The Gold Coast did not live up to what so many said will be one of the best books I'll ever read.
June 4, 2017
Nelson DeMille takes a different approach with The Gold Coast, I'm used to the John Corey series, an ex-NYPD Cop and an Anti-Terrorist operative, not with this one, with The Gold Coast, the criminal underworld.
The Gold Coast introduces us to John Sutter, a long-time Wall Street lawyer, who lives in the Gold Coast, Long Island, New York, with his beautiful wife Susan. Sutter's world is turned upside down when he meets his next-door neighbor, Mafia Don Frank Bellarosa, the head of one of New York's most notorious Crime Families. The Sutter's befriend Bellarosa and his wife Anna, but John slowly realizes that Bellarosa is not a man to be crossed, when Sutter is approached by him as his defender at a Murder trial, and at the same time getting drawn into Bellarosa's criminal empire, with Bellarosa making Sutter an offer that he can't refuse.
I've always been a fan of Italian Gangster flicks, especially the ones with Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, seeing as they're 2 of my favorite actors! My 3 top favorite Gangster flicks are The Godfather, Goodfellas, and The Untouchables.
I've always been into the History of the Mafia, always been fascinated with it. I've read up on tremendous amounts of History on infamous Italian Mobsters such as Al Capone, John Gotti, John Dillinger, Jimmy Hoffa, Bugsy Siegel, Paul Castellano, Henry Hill, and the Gambino Crime Family, I could go on forever, HAHA!
DeMille delivers his comedic tone, and hilarious sarcasm by John Sutter's point-of-view that will have you laughing out loud. And I really enjoyed the chemistry between Sutter and Bellarosa.
A great story, great plot, and great characters! This would make another great Mafia film! Maybe one day!
The Gold Coast introduces us to John Sutter, a long-time Wall Street lawyer, who lives in the Gold Coast, Long Island, New York, with his beautiful wife Susan. Sutter's world is turned upside down when he meets his next-door neighbor, Mafia Don Frank Bellarosa, the head of one of New York's most notorious Crime Families. The Sutter's befriend Bellarosa and his wife Anna, but John slowly realizes that Bellarosa is not a man to be crossed, when Sutter is approached by him as his defender at a Murder trial, and at the same time getting drawn into Bellarosa's criminal empire, with Bellarosa making Sutter an offer that he can't refuse.
I've always been a fan of Italian Gangster flicks, especially the ones with Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, seeing as they're 2 of my favorite actors! My 3 top favorite Gangster flicks are The Godfather, Goodfellas, and The Untouchables.
I've always been into the History of the Mafia, always been fascinated with it. I've read up on tremendous amounts of History on infamous Italian Mobsters such as Al Capone, John Gotti, John Dillinger, Jimmy Hoffa, Bugsy Siegel, Paul Castellano, Henry Hill, and the Gambino Crime Family, I could go on forever, HAHA!
DeMille delivers his comedic tone, and hilarious sarcasm by John Sutter's point-of-view that will have you laughing out loud. And I really enjoyed the chemistry between Sutter and Bellarosa.
A great story, great plot, and great characters! This would make another great Mafia film! Maybe one day!
May 22, 2024
I used to read a lot of DeMille back in the day, and I must have read this a few decades ago along with most of his other work he had published then. A strange love-child between The Godfather and The Great Gastby best sums this one up. Intellectually, The Gold Coast does not challenge at all, but on an emotional level, it packs a punch at times. I call these types of books 'airport thrillers'-- compulsively readable, but like popcorn regarding its nutritional content.
Narrated by John Sutter, our main protagonist, this chronicles his adventures if you will one spring on the Gold Coast, a part of Long Island historically home to the very wealthy and massive estates. Well, America's nobility declined post WWII, with high marginal tax rates, and most of the estates have become white elephants to the various families. Who can afford to maintain 200 plus room mansions sitting upon 100s of acres of sculpted terrain these days? Well, DeMille wrote this at a time before the rise of the mega billionaires, created in part due to a series of governmental regimes dropping the upper tax rates dramatically, especially on capital gains.
Anyway, John Sutter works at a tax attorney, helping the wealthy either avoid or evade taxes (a fine grey line there), with an office on Wall Street; basically, a classic 'white shoe' law firm where his father also worked. While John did not grow up filthy rich, he still went to an elite boarding school, then Yale, then Harvard for his law degree. Plus, his family can almost trace their roots to the Mayflower. He married Susan Stanhope, who is filthy rich and had been for generations. Her family built the Standhope estate, again a mega mansion sitting upon 200 acres, but she and John live in the 'guest house' on the estate, a mere 30 room cottage. Her father wants to dump the mansion, but Susan owns the guest house.
Things start to get interesting when Frank 'The Bishop' Bellarosa buys the neighboring estate and rehabs it nicely, spending millions. Frank leads one of the last big mafia families in NYC and he and John and Susan soon strike up a relationship, or perhaps a seduction would be a better phrase. We know this will not end well; DeMille's rather heavy handed foreshadowing tips of the reader very early on. Really, this could be read as a soap opera/family drama, where DeMille fleshes out the characters in great detail (the book is over 700 pages) and then takes them on 10 miles of bad road.
I found it hard to generate any sympathy toward the characters, however, except maybe The Bishop. John? Yeah, he is having a mid life crisis, turning his jaded and often sardonic eyes toward what he had made of his life. Susan? Every ounce the aristocrat; her blood is so blue it hurts. I think DeMille tries to paint a nostalgia toward America's fading 'nobility' that I just did not feel. DeMille also casts a somewhat nostalgic eye at the mafia, another institution on the decline, ushering in a new crime frontier populated by Columbians, Asians and others. Basically, The Gold Coast tells the tale of two dying breeds. YMMV! 3 gold stars!
Narrated by John Sutter, our main protagonist, this chronicles his adventures if you will one spring on the Gold Coast, a part of Long Island historically home to the very wealthy and massive estates. Well, America's nobility declined post WWII, with high marginal tax rates, and most of the estates have become white elephants to the various families. Who can afford to maintain 200 plus room mansions sitting upon 100s of acres of sculpted terrain these days? Well, DeMille wrote this at a time before the rise of the mega billionaires, created in part due to a series of governmental regimes dropping the upper tax rates dramatically, especially on capital gains.
Anyway, John Sutter works at a tax attorney, helping the wealthy either avoid or evade taxes (a fine grey line there), with an office on Wall Street; basically, a classic 'white shoe' law firm where his father also worked. While John did not grow up filthy rich, he still went to an elite boarding school, then Yale, then Harvard for his law degree. Plus, his family can almost trace their roots to the Mayflower. He married Susan Stanhope, who is filthy rich and had been for generations. Her family built the Standhope estate, again a mega mansion sitting upon 200 acres, but she and John live in the 'guest house' on the estate, a mere 30 room cottage. Her father wants to dump the mansion, but Susan owns the guest house.
Things start to get interesting when Frank 'The Bishop' Bellarosa buys the neighboring estate and rehabs it nicely, spending millions. Frank leads one of the last big mafia families in NYC and he and John and Susan soon strike up a relationship, or perhaps a seduction would be a better phrase. We know this will not end well; DeMille's rather heavy handed foreshadowing tips of the reader very early on. Really, this could be read as a soap opera/family drama, where DeMille fleshes out the characters in great detail (the book is over 700 pages) and then takes them on 10 miles of bad road.
I found it hard to generate any sympathy toward the characters, however, except maybe The Bishop. John? Yeah, he is having a mid life crisis, turning his jaded and often sardonic eyes toward what he had made of his life. Susan? Every ounce the aristocrat; her blood is so blue it hurts. I think DeMille tries to paint a nostalgia toward America's fading 'nobility' that I just did not feel. DeMille also casts a somewhat nostalgic eye at the mafia, another institution on the decline, ushering in a new crime frontier populated by Columbians, Asians and others. Basically, The Gold Coast tells the tale of two dying breeds. YMMV! 3 gold stars!
November 30, 2016
John and Susan Sutter have a bad case of the RWPP- Rich White People Problems. John's a Wall Street tax attorney and Susan is a hedge fund silver-spoon-stuck-up-her-ass woman. They live in the Gold Coast, a stretch of land on Long Island where the rich ride horses, sit around the country club, highly gossip and judge others. It's all very Great Gatsby, until Frank "The Bishop" Bellarosa moves in next door. Bellarosa is the Mafia don of the New York family.
John, who has been suffering from RWPP and was in dire need of some excitement in his life, got more than he bargained for. An innocent meeting at the nursery between John and Frank sets the stage for an unpredictable and explosive relationship.
DeMille does a fantastic job of writing a Mafia character that doesn't feel like a bad caricature of the Godfather. Bellarosa did remind me slightly of Pauly Walnuts from The Sopranos-something so charming about him that you have to like him- but then would flip that charming demeanor on its head and would display such evil and conniving behavior. DeMille never lets the reader forget that Bellarosa is a Mafia don, and he's the don for a reason.
John Sutter was a badass and I loved his character. Of course, as a WASP he was pretentious at times, but his humor won me over. He had the best lines of the novel.
“But if I could choose how and when I wanted to die, I would want to be an eighty-year-old man shot by a jealous young husband who had caught me in bed with his teenage wife.”
Read this one. The storyline is great, the characters are well-developed and rich, and for a book written in the 90s, this book didn't feel dated or irrelevant whatsoever. Well done.
John, who has been suffering from RWPP and was in dire need of some excitement in his life, got more than he bargained for. An innocent meeting at the nursery between John and Frank sets the stage for an unpredictable and explosive relationship.
DeMille does a fantastic job of writing a Mafia character that doesn't feel like a bad caricature of the Godfather. Bellarosa did remind me slightly of Pauly Walnuts from The Sopranos-something so charming about him that you have to like him- but then would flip that charming demeanor on its head and would display such evil and conniving behavior. DeMille never lets the reader forget that Bellarosa is a Mafia don, and he's the don for a reason.
John Sutter was a badass and I loved his character. Of course, as a WASP he was pretentious at times, but his humor won me over. He had the best lines of the novel.
“But if I could choose how and when I wanted to die, I would want to be an eighty-year-old man shot by a jealous young husband who had caught me in bed with his teenage wife.”
Read this one. The storyline is great, the characters are well-developed and rich, and for a book written in the 90s, this book didn't feel dated or irrelevant whatsoever. Well done.
May 27, 2011
One of my favorites. More of a straight “novel” than a thriller, but this, along with all of DeMille’s books since then, is a model of how to incorporate humor and attitude into your storytelling without diminishing the suspense.
October 3, 2007
I love all of Nelson Demille's books, but this one is my favorite and, I think, my favorite book by any author. His writing is laugh out loud hilarious and the main character has a dry sense of humor.
This book is a cross b/w The Great Gatsby and The Godfather.
This book is a cross b/w The Great Gatsby and The Godfather.
February 8, 2016
When a mob boss moves to the Gold Coast, the wealthiest part of the East Coast, the elite and grandfathered in residents, are in an uproar, but at the same time very curious. To the residents dismay a not so affluent couple of the neighborhood lets their boredom get the best of them, and they become embroiled in a world they know nothing about, and are not at all prepared to handle. A great read that takes you on a ride through the tangled lives of the very rich with original characters and wonderfully described scenery settings. Christian Rummel's narration did an excellent job bringing each personality to life.
December 1, 2016
I haven't liked a book with Mafia characters this much since The Godfather. I actually like this better since I think it has a lot more contrast and context. The Godfather is all Mafia all the time, but this had a rip roaring story line of blue bloods and what happens when a Mafia don moves into a neighborhood of old money. Nobody is exactly likable but John Sutter, the blue blooded lawyer, who is the main protagonist, has a certain style (aka smart mouth/quick wit) that I appreciated. I also really enjoyed 'the meeting of the minds' these two men had with one another. Two intelligent minds that are worlds apart, and yet, get one another on a very fundamental level. I had never read this author and I just picked this spontaneously because it sounded interesting. When I got to the end, I was very pleased to see that there is a sequel, The Gate House, that I will borrow from the library on my next trip!
December 24, 2009
I always enjoy a good thriller, especially when I am on holiday, and in the past have rated a number of Nelson De Mille's books highly. Inexplicably, this one is a total turkey. The plot is poor, the dialogue cringing, the humour feeble, and, most importantly, it totally lacks "thrill". Avoid at all costs.
April 5, 2023
dnf at 24% i mean it had good vibes but the plot, the characters and the writing style were no just no
April 17, 2021
The Gold Coast, A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie, and my first English copy of Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol were all 3 books that, upon my request, my aunt got me when she came visiting from the US back in 2009 or 2010.
Unfortunately, my aunt passed away in April 16, 2011, and since I have read Christie & Brown's novels (which I LOVED!), I always knew that I was going to read The Gold Coast for the 10-year anniversary of my aunt's death.
The Gold Coast is one of Nelson DeMille's most celebrated and beloved books, and having read since last night exactly 90 pages, I can tell you that I really don't get the hype or the author's arrogance to compare this book to the much beloved classic The Great Gatsby (I haven't read this one yet, but now I will).
During the 90 pages that I have read, all I've seen was fillers, and more fillers, cheesy and sardonic lines and lots of sexual scenes that did not add anything to the plot. The narrator kept talking and telling stuff about The Gold Coast and its history, and I just couldn't care any less about that. And the mafia don only made an appearance in the first 2 or 3 pages of chapter 1.
Additionally, and most importantly, I was very disappointed by the author's filthy, ignorant and racist comment about Arab people (which I am myself): "I mean, I never had a desire to sit in a tent and eat camel meat with my fingers". Seriously, what kind of an editor would allow such a line to be written in a published book.
I really wanted to enjoy The Gold Coast and dedicate my reading journey to my aunt, but I know that she wouldn't have wanted me to waste my time on something this lame.
Unfortunately, my aunt passed away in April 16, 2011, and since I have read Christie & Brown's novels (which I LOVED!), I always knew that I was going to read The Gold Coast for the 10-year anniversary of my aunt's death.
The Gold Coast is one of Nelson DeMille's most celebrated and beloved books, and having read since last night exactly 90 pages, I can tell you that I really don't get the hype or the author's arrogance to compare this book to the much beloved classic The Great Gatsby (I haven't read this one yet, but now I will).
During the 90 pages that I have read, all I've seen was fillers, and more fillers, cheesy and sardonic lines and lots of sexual scenes that did not add anything to the plot. The narrator kept talking and telling stuff about The Gold Coast and its history, and I just couldn't care any less about that. And the mafia don only made an appearance in the first 2 or 3 pages of chapter 1.
Additionally, and most importantly, I was very disappointed by the author's filthy, ignorant and racist comment about Arab people (which I am myself): "I mean, I never had a desire to sit in a tent and eat camel meat with my fingers". Seriously, what kind of an editor would allow such a line to be written in a published book.
I really wanted to enjoy The Gold Coast and dedicate my reading journey to my aunt, but I know that she wouldn't have wanted me to waste my time on something this lame.
January 2, 2015
Here's a tip to writers: Do not compare your book to the Great Gatsby unless your book really is comparable to the Great Gatsby. Do not, as DeMille does in his forward, claim some reviewers think your book is even better than the Great Gatsby unless your book really is better than the Great Gatsby.
The Gold Coast is like the Great Gatsby in that in takes place on Long Island. And that's it.
The Gold Coast is plodding, snarky, and unfocused. Much gets described seemingly for the purpose of allowing DeMille to spew out disdainful quips and amusing one-liners. These add little to the story; a good editor with little patience for filler would have been a blessing. Much space is wasted in beating the reader over the head with reasons to dislike the main characters.
After getting abut 20% into the book with essentially nothing having happened I had to give up. Life is too short for this.
On the bright side it did motivate me to pick up the Great Gatsby; in a fraction of the pages there has been more plot development and tighter writing and far more interesting characters.
The Gold Coast is like the Great Gatsby in that in takes place on Long Island. And that's it.
The Gold Coast is plodding, snarky, and unfocused. Much gets described seemingly for the purpose of allowing DeMille to spew out disdainful quips and amusing one-liners. These add little to the story; a good editor with little patience for filler would have been a blessing. Much space is wasted in beating the reader over the head with reasons to dislike the main characters.
After getting abut 20% into the book with essentially nothing having happened I had to give up. Life is too short for this.
On the bright side it did motivate me to pick up the Great Gatsby; in a fraction of the pages there has been more plot development and tighter writing and far more interesting characters.
November 30, 2007
meh
It was just okay. It needed some major editing. A whole lot of that book could have been cut out so that it didn't have to reach 400 pages. It was mildly entertaining, but if I didn't have this problem with returning books before I have read them I would have dropped this one long ago.
I did enjoy the way in which it was written, which was more like the author was speaking with you in a conversation.
a solid meh.
It was just okay. It needed some major editing. A whole lot of that book could have been cut out so that it didn't have to reach 400 pages. It was mildly entertaining, but if I didn't have this problem with returning books before I have read them I would have dropped this one long ago.
I did enjoy the way in which it was written, which was more like the author was speaking with you in a conversation.
a solid meh.
June 11, 2007
I'm not sure I've ever read a novel that gave me quite as much pleasure as this one. Hilarious, suspenseful, and unexpectedly moving, it comes packaged as pulp fiction, and yet without pretensions acquires real weight and power. An absolute delight.
March 8, 2015
The Great Gatsby meets The Godfather! John Sutter,a wise-ass Wall Street attorney from the North Shore of Long Island(The Gold Coast) has a Mafia Don move next door. A very interesting and enjoyable story that all Nelson deMille fans will enjoy.
March 20, 2013
I really enjoyed this book and like another reviewer said it is a cross between The Great Gatsby and The Godfather. The story of a mafia don who moves next door to a lawyer and against all odds get on.
There is plenty of humour throughout the book and even though it is over 600 pages I found it such an easy read full of suspense, emotion and plenty of sarcasm.
I never expected to like this book so much and now plan to read more of Nelson DeMille's work.
There is plenty of humour throughout the book and even though it is over 600 pages I found it such an easy read full of suspense, emotion and plenty of sarcasm.
I never expected to like this book so much and now plan to read more of Nelson DeMille's work.
April 1, 2017
Το audio book μου κράτησε συντροφιά στα μέσα μεταφοράς.
Τί ποιο ωραίο;
Να είσαι μέσα στο μετρό το πρωί σα σαρδέλα, ζώντας ταυτόχρονα στη Χρυσή Ακτή, σε κάποια από τις επαύλεις με τους τεράστιους κήπους!
Είναι το πρώτο βιβλίο του συγγραφέα που έπεσε στα χέρια μου, ή μάλλον στα αυτιά μου.
Προσέξτε όμως να μην κάνετε το λάθος που έκανα άθελα μου εγώ. Βλέποντας ότι έχει και συνέχεια, αναζήτησα την έκδοση και - δυστυχώς - όταν τη βρήκα, η περίληψη του οπισθόφυλλου αποκάλυπτε το τέλος! Γκρρρ .... Ήξερα λοιπόν το τέλος, ήδη από τα 2/5 του βιβλίου.
Η ζωή των πλούσιων κατοίκων της Χρυσής Ακτής του Λογκ Άιλαντ σκιαγραφείται πολύ νόστιμα από τον συγγραφέα, δια στόματος του πρωταγωνιστή της ιστορίας, του Τζον Σάττερ. Δικηγόρος και αριστοκρατικής καταγωγής, με καλά σχολεία και γραφείο στη Γουόλ Στρητ, κοντά στα 45, έχει ό,τι μπορεί να επιθυμήσει ο κάθε Αμερικανός. Συν τοις άλλοις είναι παντρεμένος με μια πάμπλουτη, πανέμορφη (αν και ολίγον ξινή) γόνο, της οποίας ιδιοκτησία είναι μια από τις επαύλεις της περιοχής.
Το τί βόλτες έκανα στη Χρυσή Ακτή, δε λέγεται!
Κολύμπησα στις ιδιωτικές παραλίες, έφαγα στα πριβέ κλαμπ, έκανα ιππασία, βγήκα με το ιστιοπλοϊκό στα ανοιχτά, μπήκα σε άλλες επαύλεις ....
Με δυο λόγια, πέρασα ζάχαρη, μεταξύ των σταθμών του ΗΣΑΠ/μετρό και της Χρυσής Ακτής!
Αφού έλεγα, να μην τελειώσει το βιβλίο!
Τί θα απογινόμουν εγώ;
Οι περιγραφές του DeMille ήταν εξαιρετικές! Και ίσως ήταν αυτό που άξιζε από όλο το βιβλίο, γιατί σαν πλοκή, δεν έλεγε και πολλά.
Όταν ο άνθρωπος τα έχει όλα, τον τρώει ο πωπός του. Έτσι και ο Σάττερ με τη γυναίκα του, μπλέκονται ανεπανόρθωτα με το νέο τους γείτονα. Ο Φρανκ Μπελαρόζα αγόρασε την Αλάμπρα, τη διπλανή έπαυλη και αποφάσισε ότι θέλει να κάνει νέες γνωριμίες. Παρακο��ουθούμε την καταστροφή του ζευγαριού μέχρι το αναπόφευκτο τέλος. Διότι ο Μπελαρόζα δεν είναι όποιος κι όποιος, είναι ένας Ντον, ο ηγέτης της ιταλικής μαφίας στη Ν. Υόρκη.
Καυστικός ο DeMille, δηλητηριώδης πολλές φορές, με αληθινό χιούμορ άλλοτε και με αμερικανιές κάποιες άλλες. Αλλά από το να ακούω μαραθώνιες συνομιλίες γκομενικών-συνταγών-οδηγιών-κουτσομπολιών κλπ στο μετρό, καλύτερα οι χαριτωμένες φαντασιώσεις του ζεύγους των σνομπ!
Ο Ηρακλής Στρούγγης ήταν επί της ανάγνωσης, με ωραία φωνή και χρώμα αλλά θα έπρεπε να έχει εξοικειωθεί περισσότερο με τις ξένες λέξεις, που τον έκαναν να κομπιάζει.
Τί ποιο ωραίο;
Να είσαι μέσα στο μετρό το πρωί σα σαρδέλα, ζώντας ταυτόχρονα στη Χρυσή Ακτή, σε κάποια από τις επαύλεις με τους τεράστιους κήπους!
Είναι το πρώτο βιβλίο του συγγραφέα που έπεσε στα χέρια μου, ή μάλλον στα αυτιά μου.
Προσέξτε όμως να μην κάνετε το λάθος που έκανα άθελα μου εγώ. Βλέποντας ότι έχει και συνέχεια, αναζήτησα την έκδοση και - δυστυχώς - όταν τη βρήκα, η περίληψη του οπισθόφυλλου αποκάλυπτε το τέλος! Γκρρρ .... Ήξερα λοιπόν το τέλος, ήδη από τα 2/5 του βιβλίου.
Η ζωή των πλούσιων κατοίκων της Χρυσής Ακτής του Λογκ Άιλαντ σκιαγραφείται πολύ νόστιμα από τον συγγραφέα, δια στόματος του πρωταγωνιστή της ιστορίας, του Τζον Σάττερ. Δικηγόρος και αριστοκρατικής καταγωγής, με καλά σχολεία και γραφείο στη Γουόλ Στρητ, κοντά στα 45, έχει ό,τι μπορεί να επιθυμήσει ο κάθε Αμερικανός. Συν τοις άλλοις είναι παντρεμένος με μια πάμπλουτη, πανέμορφη (αν και ολίγον ξινή) γόνο, της οποίας ιδιοκτησία είναι μια από τις επαύλεις της περιοχής.
Το τί βόλτες έκανα στη Χρυσή Ακτή, δε λέγεται!
Κολύμπησα στις ιδιωτικές παραλίες, έφαγα στα πριβέ κλαμπ, έκανα ιππασία, βγήκα με το ιστιοπλοϊκό στα ανοιχτά, μπήκα σε άλλες επαύλεις ....
Με δυο λόγια, πέρασα ζάχαρη, μεταξύ των σταθμών του ΗΣΑΠ/μετρό και της Χρυσής Ακτής!
Αφού έλεγα, να μην τελειώσει το βιβλίο!
Τί θα απογινόμουν εγώ;
Οι περιγραφές του DeMille ήταν εξαιρετικές! Και ίσως ήταν αυτό που άξιζε από όλο το βιβλίο, γιατί σαν πλοκή, δεν έλεγε και πολλά.
Όταν ο άνθρωπος τα έχει όλα, τον τρώει ο πωπός του. Έτσι και ο Σάττερ με τη γυναίκα του, μπλέκονται ανεπανόρθωτα με το νέο τους γείτονα. Ο Φρανκ Μπελαρόζα αγόρασε την Αλάμπρα, τη διπλανή έπαυλη και αποφάσισε ότι θέλει να κάνει νέες γνωριμίες. Παρακο��ουθούμε την καταστροφή του ζευγαριού μέχρι το αναπόφευκτο τέλος. Διότι ο Μπελαρόζα δεν είναι όποιος κι όποιος, είναι ένας Ντον, ο ηγέτης της ιταλικής μαφίας στη Ν. Υόρκη.
Καυστικός ο DeMille, δηλητηριώδης πολλές φορές, με αληθινό χιούμορ άλλοτε και με αμερικανιές κάποιες άλλες. Αλλά από το να ακούω μαραθώνιες συνομιλίες γκομενικών-συνταγών-οδηγιών-κουτσομπολιών κλπ στο μετρό, καλύτερα οι χαριτωμένες φαντασιώσεις του ζεύγους των σνομπ!
Ο Ηρακλής Στρούγγης ήταν επί της ανάγνωσης, με ωραία φωνή και χρώμα αλλά θα έπρεπε να έχει εξοικειωθεί περισσότερο με τις ξένες λέξεις, που τον έκαναν να κομπιάζει.
July 29, 2015
Nelson DeMille forwards this book with praises like it will change your life, the best book of all times and how readers have begged for the movie and I realized as I read the book the narrator John Sutter is doing the same through out the book to keep the readers from putting it down. Example the cynical sarcastic Sutter states I didn't know that later that day I'd be facing felony charges or Maybe what happened later wouldn't have happened if not for this event...etc... This novel is lauded as the greatest since the Great Gatsby as it is the post generational look at the Gold Coast after Gatsby's death but where Gatsby had heart this has none. We have a cynical sarcastic narrator who marries a wealth cold cat-like woman with an over developed sexual appetite. Now John's ancestors are not the rich old money but working class which is already a problem for him as she owns everything and there's a prenup. As he is disillusioned with the society of blue bloods, snobs who are dishonest as the day is long, enter mafia boss Frank Bella Rosa a gangster right out of any novel with a mafia Don. Even his wife Anna is a cardboard cut out big breasted dumb and family orientated. The novel went into such great detail about the homes etc... and no one was the least bit likeable. But it did work to put me to sleep several nights.
April 10, 2020
Great book. I have read this book many times. The characters are great, good plot, and lots of adventure. Interesting takes on life on the Gold coast, old money, etc.... Yacht clubs, country clubs, marriage issues. Nelson DeMille has written many good books, I recommend anything he has written as a good read. There is a second book to this also.
November 25, 2016
I both read and did audio(few years later) of this book. It was many years ago-don't know if it will stand the time test...BUT I know I so thoroughly enjoyed both versions. There was a lot of funny ,sarcastic humor in it and a great story. I LOVED IT !!!!
January 31, 2018
Златният бряг- знаете ли защо е наречен така? Във времето преди голямата депресия от 29-та, на това място кра
й Ню Йорк са концентирани „старите пари“. Огромни имения, бляскави партита, красиви жени и дръзки мъже.
Разбира се, старите пари не свършват лесно и не са останали в миналото!
Разбира се, старите пари носят със себе си определени неща- подходящо възпитание, изискани обноски, образование в училищата от Бръшляновата лига, слуги, които да сервират закуската.
Разбира се, старите пари задължават- брак с удачния партньор, благородно отношение към по-низшестоящите, внимателен избор на приятели, партньори и хобита!
Разбира се, старите пари определят какъв трябва да бъдеш и формират характера и поведението ти!
Какво се случва обаче, когато в един по-нов период на промени, във времето на новите пари, на Златния бряг, това място за аристократи, се заселва един Capo di tutti capi? Какво се случва, когато един мъж е отегчен от живота си и има нужда от предизвикателство? Какво се случва, когато една жена е съблазнена от чара на „лошото момче“?
Сблъсъкът на двата свята- стария, с консервативните му, но и симпатични привички и новия- свят на нови правила, новобогаташи и престъпления, е представен по изключително забавен начин в романа на Нелсън Демил. Дворянството и мафията заедно! С характерния си хумористичен стил, авторът разказва историята на този сблъсък. В книгата виждаме два паралелни свята, съжителствали до скоро необезпокоявано. До момента, в който адвокатът Джон се среща с Боса Франк. До момента, когато съпругата на Джон, красавицата, но и малко луда Сюзън, решава да направи подарък на новите съседи. Героите минават през премеждия, за съществуването на каквито, не са и подозирали по-рано.
Когато описва Златния браг и живота там, самият автор прави чести аналогии с „Великия Гетсби“ на Фитцджералд, но приликата между двете книги свършва до тук. Неподражаемият Демил забележително рисува срещата между две абсолютно различни общества и последиците от нея. Но не се заблуждавяйте, че книгата е просто една лековата, шеговита история. Нито пък, че ще четете класическа мафиотска „кримка“. Авторът в дълбочина изследва характерите на героите, мотивите за постъпките им,трансформациите и ценностната им система.
Романът „Златният бряг“ и продължението му „Скъпи Джон“ са своеобразен връх в творчеството на Демил. Много хора ги определят като най-добрите му книги. Ако искате да се насладите на жив разказ, имате „тънко“ чувство за хумор, и желаете едно истинско удоволствие- прочетете ги!
й Ню Йорк са концентирани „старите пари“. Огромни имения, бляскави партита, красиви жени и дръзки мъже.
Разбира се, старите пари не свършват лесно и не са останали в миналото!
Разбира се, старите пари носят със себе си определени неща- подходящо възпитание, изискани обноски, образование в училищата от Бръшляновата лига, слуги, които да сервират закуската.
Разбира се, старите пари задължават- брак с удачния партньор, благородно отношение към по-низшестоящите, внимателен избор на приятели, партньори и хобита!
Разбира се, старите пари определят какъв трябва да бъдеш и формират характера и поведението ти!
Какво се случва обаче, когато в един по-нов период на промени, във времето на новите пари, на Златния бряг, това място за аристократи, се заселва един Capo di tutti capi? Какво се случва, когато един мъж е отегчен от живота си и има нужда от предизвикателство? Какво се случва, когато една жена е съблазнена от чара на „лошото момче“?
Сблъсъкът на двата свята- стария, с консервативните му, но и симпатични привички и новия- свят на нови правила, новобогаташи и престъпления, е представен по изключително забавен начин в романа на Нелсън Демил. Дворянството и мафията заедно! С характерния си хумористичен стил, авторът разказва историята на този сблъсък. В книгата виждаме два паралелни свята, съжителствали до скоро необезпокоявано. До момента, в който адвокатът Джон се среща с Боса Франк. До момента, когато съпругата на Джон, красавицата, но и малко луда Сюзън, решава да направи подарък на новите съседи. Героите минават през премеждия, за съществуването на каквито, не са и подозирали по-рано.
Когато описва Златния браг и живота там, самият автор прави чести аналогии с „Великия Гетсби“ на Фитцджералд, но приликата между двете книги свършва до тук. Неподражаемият Демил забележително рисува срещата между две абсолютно различни общества и последиците от нея. Но не се заблуждавяйте, че книгата е просто една лековата, шеговита история. Нито пък, че ще четете класическа мафиотска „кримка“. Авторът в дълбочина изследва характерите на героите, мотивите за постъпките им,трансформациите и ценностната им система.
Романът „Златният бряг“ и продължението му „Скъпи Джон“ са своеобразен връх в творчеството на Демил. Много хора ги определят като най-добрите му книги. Ако искате да се насладите на жив разказ, имате „тънко“ чувство за хумор, и желаете едно истинско удоволствие- прочетете ги!
February 26, 2020
I didn't enjoy this book as I did others I've read by him. I think it's a little bit too long and extravagant in places. When John Sutter goes for a meal with the don, he describes in detail how traditional Italian cooking is and how they eat etc. That's alright if you're on holiday and you want to experience that for yourself. It doesn't do anything to the story.
I think because I have already read and seen Goodfellas which was released the same year as this book was published. More recently I've seen the Irishman so I've a good grasp of organised crime in more than fiction because they are true stories. I feel like I've been short-changed when I read stuff like this now. It still won't put me off reading his books because they are not all similar stories. His allusion to Rashnlikov being hounded by the police inspector in Crime and Punishment is maybe a display of his sardonic wit evident throughout the book.
I think because I have already read and seen Goodfellas which was released the same year as this book was published. More recently I've seen the Irishman so I've a good grasp of organised crime in more than fiction because they are true stories. I feel like I've been short-changed when I read stuff like this now. It still won't put me off reading his books because they are not all similar stories. His allusion to Rashnlikov being hounded by the police inspector in Crime and Punishment is maybe a display of his sardonic wit evident throughout the book.
March 14, 2009
This was soooo not my kind of book. I was able to really rush through the 500 pages because I couldn't care less about these shallow blue-bloods and their sexual fantasy scenarios or convos with their mafioso neighbor. I had heard from a lot of people that this was such a fabulous book, but I didn't get it. This rich guy in a flat life basically has a mid-life crisis and gets involved with the Mafia don who lives next door and I never really cared one bit what happened to any of them! Yea! It's over. The stupid thing is I know The Gate House is the sequel written almost 20 yrs later, and I find myself oddly curious about what whom he writes about in it--I'm a glutton for punishment sometimes!
July 11, 2014
DeMille has the uncanny ability to spin stories that include a wise cracking character that often makes you laugh out loud (presuming you appreciate sarcasm that is). While no Hemingway or Steinbeck, his stories are fun, and often surprising and keep you glued to what comes next. The balance of action, thrills and comedy is a lovely equation and this is one of my favorite DeMille books due to the laughs!
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