paulataua's review against another edition
3.0
Came to this after totally loving Goldberg’s short story collection ‘The Low Desert’. ‘Gangsterland’ follows Sal Cupertine, a Chicago hitman who botches an assassination, as he is transformed into David Cohen, a Las Vegas rabbi, after months of plastic surgery. Of course, he is a rabbi involved in, among other things, body-laundering for the mob. Jeff Hopper, the FBI agent, slowly closes in on him and the suspense sort of increases. It is interesting enough, and does have its moments, but it never really grabbed me and I limped my way to the end.
wrxtacy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
My raw CAWPILE score: 3.79
Spoilers in my notes/full review.
C:5, A:4.5, W:2, P:4, I:3, L:5, E:3
1. Okay enough story with elements that remind me of Goodfellas and Smokin' Aces.
2. Some parts are fantastic, other parts take the long slow path.
3. David/Sal isn't likeable or detestable, here's just there.
4. This book could've been at least 50 pages shorter.
5. Really annoying dialog in this book. This absolutely killed the enjoyment factor for me.
“No,” Sal said. “A little.”
“You should have walked away,” Ronnie said.
“I don’t walk away,” Sal said.
“See,” Ronnie said, “that’s the problem.”
Ronnie cleared his throat, then didn’t say anything. For a few seconds, Sal listened to the sounds of his little cousins screaming in the background. This was not good.
“Jennifer’s sick,” Sal said.
“Yeah, okay,” Ronnie said.
“The kid, too,” Sal said.
“Sal,” Ronnie said
This got better during the course of the book but there were still enough of these staccato exchanges of HE SAID… SAL SAID… I SAID… SHE SAID that drove me up the wall.
6. If Hopper's purpose was simply to reveal to everyone that Sal wasn't dead, it just reinforces my assessment that this book was longer than it needed to be.
7. Ending was complete garbage. Doesn't amount to anything for either intrigue or building up an already woeful character in David/Sal or his relationship with Jennifer.
Spoilers in my notes/full review.
Spoiler
C:5, A:4.5, W:2, P:4, I:3, L:5, E:3
1. Okay enough story with elements that remind me of Goodfellas and Smokin' Aces.
2. Some parts are fantastic, other parts take the long slow path.
3. David/Sal isn't likeable or detestable, here's just there.
4. This book could've been at least 50 pages shorter.
5. Really annoying dialog in this book. This absolutely killed the enjoyment factor for me.
“No,” Sal said. “A little.”
“You should have walked away,” Ronnie said.
“I don’t walk away,” Sal said.
“See,” Ronnie said, “that’s the problem.”
Ronnie cleared his throat, then didn’t say anything. For a few seconds, Sal listened to the sounds of his little cousins screaming in the background. This was not good.
“Jennifer’s sick,” Sal said.
“Yeah, okay,” Ronnie said.
“The kid, too,” Sal said.
“Sal,” Ronnie said
This got better during the course of the book but there were still enough of these staccato exchanges of HE SAID… SAL SAID… I SAID… SHE SAID that drove me up the wall.
6. If Hopper's purpose was simply to reveal to everyone that Sal wasn't dead, it just reinforces my assessment that this book was longer than it needed to be.
7. Ending was complete garbage. Doesn't amount to anything for either intrigue or building up an already woeful character in David/Sal or his relationship with Jennifer.
annaavian's review against another edition
2.0
The premise sounded more interesting than the actual book. The story just dragged on and on, no real ups and downs, just flat landscape. It lacked grip which is something one would expect from a mobster story.
nightingalehero's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
wintermute314's review against another edition
3.0
Nice gangster story set mostly in a Jewish community in Las Vegas.
dionysia93's review against another edition
2.0
Tod Goldberg's Gangsterland is a monument to the value of a strong editorship in publishing by virtue of its lack of same. Goldberg's premise of hiding a Chicago made man as a rabbi in a Las Vegas suburb is inventive, and his writing style is engaging in a workmanlike way. Where Gangsterland fails is in resolution of its story arc -- and there it fails utterly. I cannot shake the feeling that this book would have succeeded more comprehensively with professional editorial guidance.
ramsfan1963's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
After hit man Sal Cuppertine screws up and kills 2 FBI agents, he's smuggled out of Chicago to Las Vegas, where he has plastic surgery and starts a new life as a jewish rabbi named David. The whole premise is ridiculous, but it works so well. This isnt a glamorous view of the mafia or hit men, they all come off as slimy bastards that would kill each other at the drop of a hat.
richardwells's review against another edition
4.0
A hugely entertaining read.
Sal Cupertine, the best hitman in Mafia history, goes off the tracks and eliminates 3 FBI men and a civilian informer. His boss spirits him out of town to Las Vegas where he undergoes plastic surgery, and a course of study in Judaica, and emerges as Rabbi David Cohen. He's installed as the junior rabbi of a temple complex that is like a city unto itself inside a gated, desert community. Organized crime and religion come together like milk and honey, and hilarity, genius scams, and all the requisite mayhem ensues.
If I were flying somewhere, this is the book I'd take. It was a great weekend escape.
Sal Cupertine, the best hitman in Mafia history, goes off the tracks and eliminates 3 FBI men and a civilian informer. His boss spirits him out of town to Las Vegas where he undergoes plastic surgery, and a course of study in Judaica, and emerges as Rabbi David Cohen. He's installed as the junior rabbi of a temple complex that is like a city unto itself inside a gated, desert community. Organized crime and religion come together like milk and honey, and hilarity, genius scams, and all the requisite mayhem ensues.
If I were flying somewhere, this is the book I'd take. It was a great weekend escape.