Russell Shorto's Smalltime: Uncovering the Story of My Family's Connections to the Mob

Sabrina2: I saw a review of "Small Time" in the Wall Street Journal and tracked down the author. We had a lovely discussion, and when I asked him if he had heard of my Father, he said "He's in the book."

When I grew up there was a time my Father had a body Guard - this translated into me being the only child to have a body guard accompany us to the bus for a weekend School Patrol trip to DC. I was very unclear about what was going on and told little. Seems my Father was the one who had the audacity to sue the Mob and win a judgement - (which did not sit well with the Mob). He was as fearless as a Mob Boss but decidedly anti crime. My Johnstown story was the mirror image of Mr Shorto's, but it was as Italian American as his. My Father was the first child of Italian immigrants to graduate from Johnstown Highschool, the first to go to College and the first to graduate from Law School ( Georgetown). He was
revered in the Italian Community there - his mother was an Obstetrition/Gynocologist in Sicily but had to be a midwife in America. She delivered 5000 Babies. I met so many people that told me she delivered them. All this and the discrimination against people of Italian descent was...

United States on Dec 01, 2023

michael p. rafferty: I thought between the characters that he was researching and then all the people that he had to interview to get information that it jumped around too much and was hard to follow and stay interested in

United States on Oct 06, 2023

ibcc: Locals, especially from a time long gone, will appreciate the historic flavor of this book. The lore and tone and facts ring true. Russell Shorto, the storyteller, shines.

United States on Oct 05, 2023

Pbs: Able to recognize locations and events. Well told

United States on Sep 30, 2023

gerard byrne: My Father was a difficult man. I am still struggling, trying to come to the place where Russell Shorto gets to about Fathers and sons. This book has gotten me much farther on the path. A great book.

United States on Nov 14, 2022

funerals in America: New Mafia books are rare , so i waited for this to come out what a let down , author writes about maybes and probably's , stopped reading after 50 pages , total crap . from one Mafia nut to another , AVOID and save your hard earned .

United Kingdom on Apr 03, 2022