One might be tempted to deem the old adage not applicable. A family story from southie, but without that books overwhelming moral force, this is the. Interview with helene stapinski, author of fivefinger. May 31, 2002 fivefinger discount by helene stapinski bloomsbury. On a summer night when she was five years old, helene stapinski watched out her kitchen window as her grandpa beansie was carted off to jail for the last time. A crooked family history by helene stapinski 255 pages published by random house in 2002 this book counts for the following reading challenges. A love affair, with music, which chronicles her years. This book counts for the following reading challenges. Fivefinger discount now a pbs documentary, this astonishing memoir of growing up in roughandtumble jersey city will steal your heart people with deadpan humor and obvious affection, fivefinger discount recounts the story of an unforgettable new jersey family of swindlers, bookies, embezzlers, and mobsterwannabes. Now a pbs documentary, this astonishing memoir of growing up in roughandtumble jersey city will steal your heart peoplewith deadpan humor and obvious affection, fivefinger discount recounts the story of an unforgettable new jersey family of swindlers, bookies, embezzlers, and mobsterwannabes. Mar 12, 2002 now a pbs documentary, this astonishing memoir of growing up in roughandtumble jersey city will steal your heart peoplewith deadpan humor and obvious affection, fivefinger discount recounts the story of an unforgettable new jersey family of swindlers, bookies, embezzlers, and mobsterwannabes.
This is a cleverlywritten account of the authors extended and extensive family of origin. An exlibrary book and may have standard library stamps andor stickers. With deadpan humor and obvious affection, five finger discount recounts the story of an unforgettable new jersey family of swindlers, bookies, embezzlers, and mobsterwannabes. This is a cleverlywritten account of the authors extended and extensive family of. New jersey my thoughts about this book traveling the us through books. A family story from southie, but without that books overwhelming moral force, this is the sad, often funny story of stapinskis. A crooked family history 0375758704 by stapinski, helene.
A crooked family history random house, that its hard to know where to begin. The books on the familys shelves were smuggled out of a bookbinding company in aunt mary anns oversize girdle or taken by grandpa beansie from the free public library. Fans of mary karrs groundbreaking memoir the liars club will relish the similarly funny, toughminded. Author of the national best seller, five finger discount. Helene stapinski chronicles the seedy adventures of a jersey city family of criminals, bookies, con artists, embezzlers, and mobsterwannabes and the authors experiences growing up in such an environment. For most people with a living memory of jersey city mayor frank hague, it is either one of love or hate. Now a pbs documentary, this astonishing memoir of growing up in roughandtumble jersey city will steal your heart peoplewith deadpan humor and obvious affection, fivefinger discount recounts. Helene will transport you to the heart of southern italy to unravel the truth about a murder that changed the course of her familys history forever. A crooked family history by helene stapinski, the author details her life growing up in tough jersey city, new jersey. Italianamerican author stapinski fivefinger discount. Five finger discount documentary wins raves hudson reporter. A crooked family history, which recounts her familys criminal history, and baby plays around. Fivefinger discount with deadpan humor and obvious affection, helene stapinski recounts the story of her growing up in a family as thoroughly corrupt as the hudson county political machine that whirs.
A humorous yet unsettling look back at a minorleague grifter family in a majorleague crooked townprereform jersey city. Cast of colorful crooks in bittersweet family saga observer. Check out the website for the five finger discount documentary. Five finger discount a crooked family history powells books. In the memoir mary karr calls a pageturner, helene stapinski ingeniously weaves the checkered history of her hometown of jersey citya place known for its political corruption and industrial blightwith the. Michiko kakutani, the new york times its a brilliant book, a darling book. Stapinski received her ba in journalism from new york university in 1987 and her mfa from columbia in 1995.
Fivefinger discount is based on helene stapinskis best selling memoir fivefinger discount. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. The soap and toothpaste in the bathroom were lifted from the local colgate factory. Aug 19, 2001 helene stapinski says so many unflattering things about her hometown in the book five finger discount. Fivefinger discount now a pbs documentary, this astonishing memoir of growing up in roughandtumble jersey city will steal your heart people with deadpan humor and obvious affection, five. Helene stapinski chronicles the seedy adventures of a jersey city family of criminals, bookies, con artists, embezzlers, and mobster. Apr 21, 2011 author of the national best seller, five finger discount. Fivefinger discount recounts the story of an unforgettable new jersey family of. Five finger discount documentary wins raves hudson. Mar 06, 2017 fivefinger discount, tale of jersey city, hits tv. Uncle henry did a booming business as the neighborhood bookie, cousins did jail time, and greataunt katie, who liked to take a shot of whiskey each morning to clear her. A crooked family history by helene stapinski 2001, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. When she was five, her grandfather tried to kill her whole family. A crooked family history, helene stapinski discusses her memoir and her decision to develop the truelife story into a film with the help.
Stapinskis debut invokes sensitive questions about class, domesticity, and the tolerance of corruption essential to machine politics. Fans of mary karrs groundbreaking memoir the liars club will relish the similarly funny, toughminded tone of helene stapinskis recollections centering on her family s petty criminal history in the sordid precincts of jersey city. But the new pbs documentary based on the memoir fivefinger discount. In the memoir mary karr calls a pageturner, helene stapinski ingeniously weaves the checkered history of her hometown of jersey citya place known for its. Soon to be a pbs documentary, this astonishing memoir. Praise for fivefinger discount by turns hilarious and alarming, helene stapinskis book reads on the surface like something by damon runyon and elmore leonard, with a dark undertow of reallife pain and disillusion. Helene stapinski says so many unflattering things about her hometown in the book fivefinger discount. The books on the familys shelves were smuggled out of a bookbinding company in auntmary anns oversize girdle or taken by grandpa beansie from the free public library. The documentary is based on the bestselling memoir by helene stapinski, fivefinger discount. A crooked family history by helene stapinski random house 2001 biography. A crooked family history mines her immigrant familys roots to write a part memoir, part murder mystery that is entertaining in its plot.
Soon to be a pbs documentary, this astonishing memoir of growing up in roughandtumble jersey city. A crooked family history audiobook by helene stapinski. Fivefinger discount a crooked family history by helene. Helene will transport you to the heart of southern italy to unravel the truth about a murder that. Stapinskis book reads on the surface like something by damon runyon and. Helene stapinski is the author of fivefinger discount. Before starting, i probably should admit that im from the city. Reminiscent of michael patrick mcdonalds highly praised all souls. The books on the familys shelves were smuggled out of a bookbinding company in aunt mary anns oversize girdle or. Praise for fivefinger discount by turns hilarious and alarming, helene stapinskis book reads on the surface like something by damon runyon and elmore leonard, with a dark undertow of. Traveling the us through books, i went to new jersey with fivefinger discount. A crooked family history and millions of other books are. Mar 12, 2017 for most people with a living memory of jersey city mayor frank hague, it is either one of love or hate. Fivefinger discount by helene stapinski books on tape.
A crooked family history, which is about her life growing up in jersey city. With deadpan humor and obvious affection, fivefinger discoun. By turns hilarious and alarming, helene stapinskis book reads on the. Now a pbs documentary, this astonishing memoir of growing up in roughandtumble jersey city will steal your heart peoplewith deadpan humor and obvious. Five finger discount with deadpan humor and obvious affection, helene stapinski recounts the story of her growing up in a family as thoroughly corrupt as the hudson county political machine that whirs behind the scenes the village voice.
Now a documentary, read the national bestselling book. Praise for five finger discount by turns hilarious and alarming, helene stapinskis book reads on the surface like something by damon runyon and elmore leonard, with a dark undertow of reallife pain and disillusion. Fans of mary karrs groundbreaking memoir the liars club will relish the similarly funny, toughminded tone of helene stapinskis recollections centering on her. This is long before jersey citys recent revitalization efforts. The night my grandfather tried to kill us, i was five years old, the age i stopped believing in santa claus, started kindergarten, and made real rather than imaginary friends. The documentary is based on the bestselling memoir by helene stapinski, five finger discount.
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