Nanking-K.A. Kent

On September 2, 2015December 10, 2018 By Genyc79In World War IILeave a comment

Nanking World War II is the worst conflict the earth has ever seen. It is estimated that well over 50 million people died during the war. This number will vary from source to source and the total number of casualties may never be known. The German invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, triggered a world conflagration unlike anything mankind had ever seen. The Japanese army in seeking to establish and empire of its own, invaded mainland China, waging a path of destruction and terror with the intention on obliterating several Chinese cities from existence. Shanghai was reduced to rubble and Nanking nearly completely destroyed. In total, nearly 20 million Chinese perished during the war and the actions of the Japanese government became the source of tension between the two nations which continues to this day. The intervention by the United States in the conflict and defeat of Japan allowed the people of China to breathe a sigh of relief. The actions of the Japanese Army were horrific and unspeakable but characteristic of the known and unknown number of atrocities committed during the second World War.

Minnie Vautrin (1886-1941) was a missionary who worked in Nanking and is best remembered for her efforts to save the young women under her care at the Gingling College as the Japanese military launched its invasion of Nanking. K.A. Kent presents Minnie’s story in this engaging yet tragic tale. Her tireless efforts to save the lives of as many girls and women as she could would make her one of the greatest unsung heroines of the 20th century. After serving 28 years as a missionary, she made her return home to the United States in 1940. Sadly she would take her own life in 1941. Thousands of young women were assaulted physically and sexually, tortured and murdered in what became known as the Nanking massacre. The story has been told in books and even films and in each case, the chilling reality of what transpired hits strikes the reader and viewer to the core. The barbarity exhibited by the Japanese military helped condemn Japan in the eyes of the world. Today, Japan has acknowledged the actions of its army during the war but has stopped short of offering a detailed and full apology. Only time will tell if Japan and China will fully heal from a dark time in world history.

I forewarn the reader that this book is a tough read at times and I found myself stepping back from the book. Kent has told the story in a semi-fictional matter. Vautrin is in the book but the names of others have been changed and composite characters instituted in their place. Nonetheless, the story is accurate as regards to what did happen and how it happened. For those who are unable to read stories of sexual assault or have been victims of sexual assault, this book may not be for you. For war enthusiast that seek to learn as much about World War II as possible, this book is a good addition to the library. But it is ugly at times and the truth does hurt but it is also necessary to understand the savagery that composed the world’s deadliest war.

ISBN-10: 1419616021
ISBN-13: 978-1419616020

Coreyography: A Memoir- Corey Feldman

On September 2, 2015December 10, 2018 By Genyc79In Biographies1 Comment

corey The 1989 classic vampire film The Lost Boys remains a favorite of our family to this day. In fact, my mother will watch it all the way through anytime it is on cable. The film contained an all-star cast and plenty of frightening sequences to keep the audience engaged. Admittedly, I am more fond of The Goonies which I believe is on the list of favorite films for anyone who grew up in the early 1980s. In both of these films starred a young actor that became one of the most famous faces in Hollywood, Corey Feldman. The kid who starred in classics such as Stand By Me, Friday The 13th: The Final Chapter and The Gremlins, is still active in Hollywood today and going strong at forty-five years of age. His life in Hollywood has given him a unique perspective on the experience of children as they grow up in an industry that moves at the speed of light. This is his autobiography where he opens up about his childhood, stardom, his failures and his ultimate success in life. And what is contained in this book is sure to give the reader a different view on the place they call Tinsel Town and the life of Corey Feldman.

The beginning of the book sets the stage for what is to follow and the reader will pulled in to the story and unable to stop. His revelations about his childhood are surprising and will shatter the myth that is sometimes held that child stars have the perfect life. Feldman is quick to refute that notion and is brutally honest about the relationship he has with his parents. When Hollywood came knocking on his door, he answered the call and embarked on a career that is nothing short of incredible. In nearly every major studio hit with a cast of young actors, he can found in nearly all of them. His position and connections in the industry allowed him to become friends with the biggest names in the business and he gives anecdotes about his experiences with many of these people. Feldman has disclosed on many occasions that he was a very close friend of the late Michael Jackson. The fallout from the child sex-abuse litigation severed their friendship permanently and at the time of Jackson’s death, the two were no longer speaking. In spite of that, the stories he shares about Jackson give the book a few lighter moments that show the good side of the King of Pop.

However, stardom always comes with a dark side and Hollywood is no different. The tragic part is that besides personal demons, stars will be surrounded by others seeking to exploit them for all that they have an in the case of a child, their innocence. Following the success of the Lost Boys Feldman and the late Corey Haim became teen sensations and the hottest teen ticket in Hollywood. Their friendship and career together blossomed but both would fall victim to the temptation of drugs and the fast life that comes with the silver screen. Haim’s battle with drug addiction became fodder for the press and haunted him up until the time of his death on March 10, 2010. Feldman opens up about his deceased friend and co-star and provides eye-opening information that reveals the very dark and ugly side of being a child star.

Feldman is known for his own battles with addiction but I do not believe that most people know how close he came to completely spiraling out of control. In this stunning memoir he tells all about his drug addiction and how his wild ways nearly cost him everything he earned in life. Today he is clean and focused but on several occasions, he came close to going off the deep end. For those who are struggling with their own addictions, Feldman’s story can serve as a guide on the strength and determination needed on the path sobriety.

Today, he is an outspoken critic of Hollywood and has said that it is a breeding ground for pedophilia. And as a result of his dysfunctional childhood, he has sworn to break the cycle and be the best father that he can to his son. He is also vocal about drug use in Hollywood and has told his own story of addiction repeatedly. Tragically, of the inner circle of friends, he remains the lone man standing having witnesses the early deaths of friends Kinison, Corey Haim, River Phoenix and Michael Jackson. His story is a roller coaster ride but considering it comes from one of Hollywood’s true veterans, we should expect nothing less.

ISBN-10: 1250054915
ISBN-13: 978-1250054913

Stolen Innocence: My Story of Growing Up in a Polygamous Sect, Becoming a Teenage Bride, and Breaking Free of Warren Jeffs- Elissa Wall with Lisa Pulitzer

On September 2, 2015December 10, 2018 By Genyc79In Biographies2 Comments

innocence Warren Jeffs sits today behind bars for the rest of his life after being convicted in several states of several charges including rape and sexual assault. He will never again walk the streets a free man and has even announced to his followers that he is not the prophet he portrayed himself during his reign as the leader of the FLDS church following the death of his father Rulon. His victims however, still carry those scars and will live them for the rest of their lives. Over the years there have been a number of individuals who have defected from the church having become disillusioned with the teachings within the congregation. They have told their stories to news anchors and written books about their ordeals. This is the story of Elissa Wall and what it was like to grow up in a polygamous sect and become a teenage bride. Her story is similar to hundreds of other young men, some of whom are struggling to find their own path to freedom from the clutches of the FLDS, the most extreme faction of the Mormon faith. Its notoriety has earned it a place on the United States Government’s list of hate organizations and has been under investigation by the Utah Attorney General’s office.

This New York Times Bestseller was compiled with the help of journalist Lisa Pulitzer, formerly of the New York Times. The cover alone is enough to shock the reader at first glance. But what is in the book is even more shocking and will leave the reader both angry and bewildered that such an organization continues to exist even today in 2016. For Elissa, life begins as a normal young woman growing up in a Mormon household. She has two parents and loving siblings. But everything changes when she is ordered to marry her cousin under orders. It is at this point that her order begins and her life takes her down a path that finally ended with her freedom. Her liberation however, did not come without costs and the price she has paid for her freedom is as significant as her new life with a husband and children.

Her marriage though short lived, took on the classic nature of an abusive relationship. Considering that she was under 16 years of age, it is mind boggling that the marriage had even taken place. The sadistic Jeffs did not see age as a barrier and had been accused of assaulting girls even younger than Elissa. Forced marriages are commonplace in the church and the members have constructed a wall of silence to insulate their lives from the prying eyes of law enforcement and social welfare officials. Through Elissa, we go deep inside the FLDS and see how other young women are mistreated and their lives controlled in every aspect. Her path to freedom did not happen overnight and through several people who take on the form of guardian angels, she is able to finally break free of Jeffs and the FLDS. In 2007 she and her older sisters gave testimony in a criminal proceeding resulting in the conviction of Jeffs on several counts of rape. Her sister Rebecca Musser is famously known as the lady in red and wrote her own book about her life that was published with the same title. The title is significant for red is a color that was never allowed by the FLDS.

The story in this book forces us to ask ourselves many questions particularly how adults can do such things to children. Stolen innocence is the appropriate title for the book for that very thing is taken from children in the act of exploitation. It also deprives them of a childhood which they can never get back at any point in their lives. Many of them like Elissa, will struggle to put their lives back together and forget the horrors they once endured. Their voices give inspiration to others who are seeking to escape the encompassing religious environment in which they live. And as they tell their own stories like Elissa we will learn more about the FLDS and what courage and perseverance really mean.

ISBN-10: 0061734969
ISBN-13: 978-0061734960

John-Cynthia Lennon

On September 1, 2015December 10, 2018 By Genyc79In BiographiesLeave a comment

In death John Lennon became part of a group of talented and legendary performers that have tragically died before their time. His murder on December 8, 1930 marked an end to a career that began in Liverpool and made its way to the City of New York. His widow Yoko and second son Sean have kept his memory alive and radio stations continue to play his music which has stood the test of time. The actions of Mark David Chapman confounded investigators and left millions of fans in mourning. He is still in jail and his actions that night have never made any sense. It is doubted that he will ever be released from prison having been denied parole at least nine times. The man he murdered was not just a musician but a father and husband. We know a significant amount of information about Lennon and Yoko Ono who were the constant targets of paparazzi and journalists seeking to get a word from the famed star. But what we never hear about is the story of his first wife Cynthia and their son Julian.

I know several people that had no clue Lennon had been married once before. In fact, they are unaware of Cynthia’s name or story. They are left in shock when I relay to them some of the things learned in this book. But what exactly is this book? Well it would be considered an autobiography of Cynthia but with her memories of her life with John. The book was completed several years before her death on April 1, 2015. It begins as she recounts her early life in England and how she met and fell in love with a founding member of the Beetles band. The story starts of simple enough, they meet, fall in love, get married and s a son comes along. But as most of know about celebrities, normal never last for long. As fame set in, long tours and martial dissatisfaction grew, their lives took a different turn and the fallout is explained in detail by Cynthia. Also explained, is the beginning of Lennon’s relationship with Yoko who became his second wife. The events that transpire are surprising, questionable and in some cases, a little bizarre. His relationship with his first son Julian is also sad for its nature and its potential at the time of his death. But for all of his transgressions, we see that above anything else, Lennon is human and not immune to mistakes.

Fans of the Beatles will love this book and Cynthia has some great anecdotes about life on the road and the many places there were able to see. Life with a musician is sometimes a roller coaster ride and she was not oblivious to the many threats and temptations that faced Lennon and the Beetles while on the road. As a first hand witness, her story is a part of history and serves as a first hand account of the beginning of one of music’s greatest bands. Today Paul McCartner and Ringo Starr are the surviving members of the foursome. Other one-time members are still alive as well. Decades have passed since they have last recorded a song but the Beatles remain cross-cultural icons. And John Lennon remains one of music’s most tragic figures. This account by Cynthia is a good look into his private life and what it was like to live with the most famous men in the world.

ISBN-10: 0307338568
ISBN-13: 978-0307338563

Episodes of the Cuban Revolutionary War (1956-1958)-Ernesto Che Guevara

On September 1, 2015December 10, 2018 By Genyc79In Latin America2 Comments

Fifty-six years have passed since Fidel Castro and his guerrilla army overthrew Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista and liberated the island from the grip of United States control. Accompanied by his younger brother Raul and Argentine revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara, he marched triumphantly through the streets of Havana declaring a new Cuba. In 1955 Guevara met Fidel and Raul in Mexico City in 1955 and enlisted his services in the revolution that is still the topic of debate and the cause of strain between Cuba and the United States. As the new government was instituted, Guevara served as the island’s Finance Minister, President of the National Bank and chief judge at La Cabana prison. He was a complex character who filled a myriad of roles and strictly devoted to his communist ideology. He was a meticulous note taker and kept many journals of his experiences. In this book are his memories of the Guerrilla campaign and triumph.

In 1953, Che graduated from medical school earning his doctorate degree. His fame will always be him time in Cuba but it should not be forgotten that he was an excellent author with a sharp literary mind and of deep analytical skill. His classic Guerrilla Warfare, is the textbook for revolutionary warfare against a stronger and more intimidating opponent. His speeches about U.S. foreign policy and the state of Cuba have been composed into the short but insightful Che Guevara Speaks. Each book is phenomenal in its own right and recommended reading for students of the revolution and Guevara himself.

Che once said that “at the risk of sounding ridiculous, a true revolutionary is guided by great feelings of love”. Love comes in many different forms and for Che, that meant commitment to ideology at the cost of personal sacrifice. But never did he waver in his beliefs and as he explains in the book, the cause was not without problems or hardship and in some cases, extreme violence combined with executive decisions. He was assigned the doctor of the group and eventually given his own command of troops. His efforts in the city of Santa Clara which proved to be the final nail in Batista’s coffin are well known. What is not often mentioned, is the day to day of the guerrilla fighters in the jungles of Cuba. For some it may be hard to imagine a war taking place in a country so small but for Castro and his band of bearded figures, it was a matter of the survival of the nation. As Fidel made decisions and the group of men plotted their fates, Che was there taking notes that are presented here to shine light on the struggle that was their daily lives.

Food rations, discipline, medical conditions and political factors all come into play making the life of the guerrilla a daily struggle between life and death. Treasons and famine proved to be severe threats to the mission, recurring repeatedly throughout the book. But in spite of both, Castro is successful and through Che we see how and why that was so. Towards the end of the book are extras by the publisher and they consist of Che’s letters to Fidel, his parents and many others. Also included is Che’s eulogy on the death of his close friend and revolutionary icon, Camilo Cinfuegos. The letters are a joy to read and I am sure that there were plenty others that have never been published that Che wrote. The tragedy of his death in October, 1967 is that he left behind a widow, children and deprived us from other great books that I am sure he would have written throughout his life. But it is our fortune that he left us with these writings and many others during his time on earth.

ISBN-10: 0873488245
ISBN-13: 978-0873488242

Into The Nightmare: My Search For The Killers Of President John F. Kennedy and Officer J.D. Tippitt-Joseph McBride

On August 31, 2015December 10, 2018 By Genyc79In Assassinations1 Comment

Mcbridge Anyone that was born at least nine years before 1963 can remember with precision where they were the day that John F. Kennedy died. My father remembers it as if it were yesterday and in full detail. And I sense that although he tells me what he does remember, there are so many more things about that day that he is unable to express with words. The violent removal of the president and the change of government that ensued left its mark as one of the darkest days in American history. The ghost of John Kennedy continues to haunt us every November when we remember those tragic days in Dallas. In October, 2017, the government is expected to release a significant number of classified documents relating to the assassination, in particular documents related to the Central Intelligence Agency. The news has given researchers hope that one day we may know the full truth about Kennedy’s murder.

The Warren Commission presented an open and shut case. Although he was never convicted in a court of law, Lee Harvey Oswald has been blamed for the murder. Simply put, one assassin and three excellently placed bullets, ended the life of the 35th President of the United States. Furthermore, as Oswald plotted his next move, he allegedly encountered and murdered Dallas Police Officer J.D. Tippitt who took interest in Oswald based on the description of the shooting suspect that was broadcast over police radio. At first glance, all the pieces fit into a nicely designed puzzle. But on closer inspection, there are many strange things that occurred that day that had nothing to do with Lee Harvey Oswald. Tippitt was memorialized as a heroic officer who died in the line of duty as he attempted to apprehend a monster that had just gunned down the president. But is that what really happened? And was Tippitt simply a beat cop with bad luck or did he play a darker and more sinister role in the crime?

Joseph McBride is an independent researcher who has invested more than 30 years of research into this chilling and revealing investigative account into what has been referred to as the crime of the century. On a Youtube podcast, McBride mentioned that Arlen Specter declared that the Tippitt shooting is the Rosetta stone of the assassination. It certainly is but not for the reasons many of us have been lead to believe. The book is not simply a tome of facts in chronological order but reads more like a journal which helps keep the reader engaged throughout the book. McBride does not solely focus on Dealey Plaza and devotes a good portion of the book to Tippitt’s life which puts the crime in a completely different light. In the Commission’s report, very little is mentioned about Tippitt. In fact, until this book, the majority of what we knew about Tippitt came from independent researchers. Their discoveries were good but McBride has taken the research to a whole new level. Discussions with Tippitt’s father, people who knew him, former Dallas Police officers and those who worked at locations he was known to frequent provided valuable insight into the real life of Jefferson Davis Tippitt.

So what exactly is in the book? Well there are no spoilers here but I can say that after you finish the book, you will see through the Commission’s report and understand what was really taking placed in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas that day. Ironically Tippitt becomes just a mysterious as Oswald himself. A World War II veteran, Tippitt as no stranger to combat or gunfire and had been an office for at least 10 years. His sudden murder which by all accounts caught him off guard is examined in detail by McBride. Several witnesses to the murder stated that Tippitt was known in the area and was no stranger to many of the residents. And shockingly, Oswald’s killer, Jack Ruby also lived in the Oak Cliff section as did Oswald himself. And thus, the nucleus of the crime is formed with its principle patsies all destined to fulfill their roles. Officially, the Commission’s position is that there is no evidence the three men knew each other. Many witnesses have come forward to dispute that but in the process have been discredited by subversive means or ignored in other cases. But as McBride digs deeper, we began to see that there was a strange nexus of activity in the area up to and subsequent to the assassination. The mystery that McBride is attempting to solve is the true nature of their relationships and connections. Oswald and Tippitt died within days of each other and Ruby several years later. Whatever secrets they had they took with them to their graves. But I do believe that this book is the closest we have come to seeing the truth.

The book is exhaustively research but McBride does not overburden the reader with footnotes. The writing style is easy to follow and beyond interesting. And through his efforts he has created a masterpiece that puts the assassination in a new perspective. Some believe that we will never know the truth about what really happened that day. But with authors such as McBride, we are getting excitingly close.

ISBN-10: 1939795257
ISBN-13: 978-1939795250

Seductive Poison: A Jonestown Survivor’s Story of Life and Death In The People’s Temple -Deborah Layton

On August 28, 2015December 10, 2018 By Genyc79In Biographies1 Comment

The mass suicide and murder of more than 900 people that occurred on November 18, 1978, in Jonestown, Guyana is still the largest in history. Their deaths and the murder of Congressmen Leo Ryan are regrettable moments in what could have been a movement that changed the way people view society. Jim Jones had high hopes for his People’s Temple and their mission to reform social conditions and give way to freedom, equality and happiness. Jones himself died of a gunshot wound to the head and did not drink the poisonous concoction. Prior to Jones’ final meltdown, several members of the People’s Temple had expressed desire to leave the organization disillusioned with promises of grandeur. The reality that Jonestown was a nearly impossible task began to set in causing many to question their decision to leave the United States. As a result of the final action by the maniacal Jones, families were permanently separated and several generations died at the same time. Those who were lucky enough to escape that day or beforehand were spared the agonizing final moments of the People’s Temple.

Deborah Layton, her brother Larry and mother had joined the People’s Temple attracted to Jones’ rhetoric and vision for the church. She becomes a personal secretary of Jones and in the process becomes one of many victims of Jones’ inappropriate conduct. Following Jones to Guyana, they quickly become absorbed into the alternate reality that became the backbone of the commune’s existence. As time progresses, she becomes dissatisfied with what is clearly a dictatorship run by Jones. Leaving her brother and mother behind, she makes her escape from the People’s Temple and this is her story of why and how she made the decision to leave behind the people that she loved the most to save herself from a fate destined to nearly 1,000 people, many of whom she knew on a first name basis.

Larry had served as one of the gunmen who fired upon Congressman Ryan’s plane, killing him and several news reporters in the process. He was the only person convicted for the massacre and was subsequently convicted and incarcerated. He served 18 years in prison before he was paroled in 2002. He lives a quiet life Northern California and to my knowledge, has not made any public statements regarding the tragedy at Jonestown. Among those wounded was a young reporter named Tim Reiterman who later wrote the definitive account of Jones’ reign of terror. The book was published under the title Raven: The Untold Story of Jim Jones and His People.

More than thirty years have passed since the Jonestown tragedy. Layton has her own Twitter page devoted to her career as an author and a survivor of Jonestown. She carries with her the memories of her time with Jones compounded with the conviction of her brother and the loss of her mother. Her story is tragic and bittersweet but key to understanding why Jones and his words were seductive poison.

ISBN-10: 0385489846
ISBN-13: 978-0385489843

My Infamous Life – Albert “Prodigy” Johnson

On August 28, 2015December 10, 2018 By Genyc79In BiographiesLeave a comment

On March 7, 2011- Albert “Prodigy” Johnson is released from Mid State Correctional Facility after serving time for a gun possession charge. The Queens, New York native and one half of the rap duo Mobb Deep, is a legend in the music business. A few years ago, I was standing online at the Penn Plaza Deli, now Cafe Bravo, to pay for my lunch when out the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a face I knew I had seen before. Upon closer inspection I realized that it was none other than Prodigy himself. We exchanged greetings and chatted briefly before parting ways. When I saw this autobiography on Amazon, I picked up and learn about the life of the person I crossed paths with that day at the deli.

Born into a show business family, his exposure to stardom begins a child and the show has never stopped. Queens is the borough he called home and a lot of his later escapades take place at the notorious Queensbridge Houses. Barely fifteen and not even old enough to drive unsupervised or buy a pack of cigarettes, he sets his sights on a career in the music industry and becomes a rapper. His partnership with Kejuan “Havoc” Muchita resulting in the formation of Mobb Deep stands as one of the genre’s most celebrated groups. This autobiography reveals Johnson’s incredible life, one filled with music, fame, money, fatherhood, relationships and reflection. The hip hop genre is quite unique in that it is the only genre in which many of the stars have live the life that they often speak about. Reading as if it’s a New York Times true crime bestseller, the biography is filled with old memories of the gritty reality of the street life. Violent altercations, gun battles and deadly car accidents take center stage revealing a life filled with constant turmoil and stress. His battle with sickle-cell anemia serves as a backdrop and emerges throughout the book as a reminder about the mortality we all face. Today, he and Havoc are older and wiser and their craziest days are behind them. But their place in music history is unquestionable and their lives, as infamous as they may have been, are examples of the dark side of the streets of New York City and the high-speed nature of the music industry.

ISBN-10: 1439103194
ISBN-13: 978-1439103197

The Lufthansa Heist- Henry Hill and Daniel Simone

On August 28, 2015December 10, 2018 By Genyc79In Organized CrimeLeave a comment

Martin Scorsese’s classic film “Goodfellas”, the story of the life of Henry Hill (1943-2012) during his time as an associate of the Lucchese crime family, is considered to be one of the greatest films ever made about the American mafia. Scorsese himself has been quoted as saying it was the film he always wanted to make. Featuring an all-star cast, his masterpiece took us into the violent and dysfunctional world of organized crime. As a protegé of Jimmy “The Gent” Burke, Hill moved up the ladder of organized crime reaching his pinnacle when he took part in the planning of the infamous Lufthansa heist at JFK airport. The heist took place in December, 1978 and cost Lufthansa five million dollars in cash and almost a million dollars in jewels. A massive investigation was launched by the FBI, Port Authority police and New York City Police Department. Only one person was convicted for the crime and the money has never been recovered. In January, 2014, mobster Vincent Asaro was arrested and charged with being part of the heist. He was acquitted in November, 2015. This book is a collaboration between the late Hill and author Daniel Simone about the robbery and the personal lives of Burke and his crew.

The secrets regarding the location of the stolen cash went to grave with with the deaths of Burke, Paul Vario, Hill and the other associates who took part in the planning or execution of the robbery. Asaro’s acquittal served as another dead end in the government’s quest to prosecute those responsible for the heist. The investigation into the robbery received its first break with the discovery of the fingerprints of Pernell “Stacks” Edwards but was immediately compromised by hidden battles between the three leading investigative agencies. It was not a team effort and the infighting resulted in investigators from each agency running into walls of silence and misinformation. The crime pulled in all three agencies because 1) it involved currency stolen from an international air carrier, 2) the crime occurred on Port Authority property and 3) the crime occurred in Queens County even though it was on airport property.

At the top of the list of investigators was the Federal Bureau of Investigation in liaison with former United States Attorney and Boston College alumni Ed McDonald. McDonald has admitted that Hill never made the best witness and his years of drug abuse had taken its toll on the memory he had left. Others have called Hill a rat, junkie, punk and far worse. In fact, I have yet to hear anyone who did know him on the streets, speak kindly of him. But the reality is that he was there and he was a witness to the events that formed the basis of Scorcese’s classic. And his testimony proved to be beneficial for the U.S. government. Burke and Vario both died in prison as they served out their sentences from convictions based on Hill’s appearances. Still though, this is Henry Hill and some parts of his story are questionable. He alleges that an attempt on his life was made on Tillary Street near the Brooklyn Bridge. There is no credible evidence to back up this claim. So it is up to the reader to take what he does say at face value and cross-reference the facts.

The book reads like a crime novel and Simone’s writing style is engaging. In the film, there is a sequence in which the bodies of those connected to Burke began to surface following the robbery. Their deaths are explained further in the book helping the reader and movie buff to understand why they were eliminated and the reasons behind Burke’s actions. He unleashed a deadly wave of homicides in the wake of the heist and proved to be just a cunning as any mobster we have ever seen. Burke has long been deceased and can offer no response in defense. But even if he were alive, I highly doubt that he would have written any type of book regarding his time in the life. Both he and Vario were considered old-school mafioso who lived by the rules of the game. And had it not been for the movie, millions of people would have never heard their story. Hill died on June 12, 2012 at the age of 69 after years of battling heart disease. The remaining secrets have gone with to his final resting place. But before he died he left behind testimony interviews and this collaboration with Simone. He may not be the most reliable, but he was the final link to a time in New York City that we will never see again.

ISBN-10: 1493008498
ISBN-13: 978-1493008490

Donnie Brasco- Joseph D. Pistone with Richard Woodley

On August 26, 2015December 10, 2018 By Genyc79In Organized CrimeLeave a comment

August 12, 1982-The body of Dominic “Sonny Black” Napolitano is found at the corner of South Street and Bridge Avenue in the Arlington section of Staten Island, New York. Napolitano had been summoned to a meeting on August 17, 1981 at the Flatlands home of Ron Filocomo to discuss recent developments surrounding the revelation that former associate Donnie Brasco was an undercover agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In the bureau is known as Joseph D. Pistone. Pistone had infiltrated the Bonnano crime family by posing as a fencer of stolen jewelry. He worked undercover for five years. The operation was suspended when it was learned that Pistone had been asked to take part in a murder which would have resulted in him becoming a made member of the crime family.

This New York Times bestseller is Pistone’s memoir of the five dangerous years he spent with the members of the Bonnano crime family. Playing a cat and mouse game, he moves back and forth between the mafia and government circles carefully taking measures to hide his real identity and assigned task. The family is filled with hardened gangsters and murderers making each move a carefully calculated risk. Falling under the tutelage of Benjamin “Lefty” Ruggiero, Brasco quickly becomes ingrained into the mafia way of life. And through his eyes and ears, we witness the dysfunctional relationships that define the mafia and their families. Pistone’s developing relationship with Ruggiero, whom he wanted to save from what he believed to be a certain death, is one of the book’s saddest moments. Ruggiero survived the fallout and served time in jail before dying of cancer in 1994. Pistone has appeared in specials and on television to re-tell his story about his time in the Bonnano crime family.

Hollywood took an interest in Pistone’s story and in 1997, the film “Donnie Brasco” was relased. Johnny Depp stars as Piston with Al Pacino assuming the role of Lefty and Michael Madsen as Sonny Black. Pacino was awarded for best actor by the Boston Society of Film Critics Awards for his portrayal of Ruggiero. The film is very close to the book and Depp and Pacino turn in great performances. It is a New York City film classic about life in the the five families. If you enjoy this film then the book is a must read.

ISBN-10: 0451192575
ISBN-13: 978-0451192578