Rating: 
Summary: Mildly recommended for Mafia fans only
Review: Very loosely based on the true story of a Mafia boss who was known to wander around his Greenwich Village neighborhood in a bathrobe while mumbling to himself, Jimmy Breslin, a well-known New York City columnist has created a sometimes funny comic novel about the Mafia. It is supposedly set right here in my own neighborhood, but he made enough changes in the landscape to make sure this is considered a work of fiction. The darkened storefront "social clubs" where men sat around bridge tables, drinking coffee are gone now, replaced by trendy shops and restaurants, but Mr. Breslin writes of an era when a gangster he calls "The Fist" held the City in an iron grip.The book is an easy read, its 300 pages a jumble of episodic anecdotes centered around the nephew of the feared boss whose famous last name creates complications for him because he wants to simply go straight and marry his childhood sweetheart. Mr. Breslin exaggerates and pokes fun at the gangster world, and the total obedience given to The Fist, his men even going so far as to take a second wife and raise a second family because that was the way The Fist lived. There are also some very funny stories about a dog as well as some chuckles about bubble gum trading cards with pictures of mob characters on them. It's the very small grain of truth to that weaves its way into the writing that is the heart of the humor however. I especially like the part about the nephew getting a job at the Javits Convention Center, making big bucks as a member of the corrupt carpenter's union. The book is lighthearted froth that shouldn't be taken too seriously. This is apparent from the cover art and the blurbs on the back. The characters are stereotypes and there's no attempt to make it anything more. Therefore, just accept it for what it is. And enjoy.
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