The documentary is based on the bestselling memoir by helene stapinski, five finger discount. Fivefinger discount is based on helene stapinskis best selling memoir fivefinger discount. A crooked family history, which recounts her familys criminal history, and baby plays around. With deadpan humor and obvious affection, fivefinger discoun. Fivefinger discount a crooked family history by helene. Cast of colorful crooks in bittersweet family saga observer. 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. Helene stapinski chronicles the seedy adventures of a jersey city family of criminals, bookies, con artists, embezzlers, and mobster.
With deadpan humor and obvious affection, fivefinger discount recounts the story of an unforgettable new jersey family of swindlers, bookies, embezzlers, and mobsterwannabes. 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. New jersey my thoughts about this book traveling the us through books. Fans of mary karrs groundbreaking memoir the liars club will relish the similarly funny, toughminded tone of helene stapinskis recollections centering on her. 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. One might be tempted to deem the old adage not applicable. This book counts for the following reading challenges. Michiko kakutani, the new york times its a brilliant book, a darling book. The photos displayed within our listings are stock photos. 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. A crooked family history, which is about her life growing up in jersey city. A crooked family history by helene stapinski random house 2001 biography. A crooked family history audiobook by helene stapinski.
New jersey my thoughts about this book traveling the us through books, i went to new jersey with fivefinger discount. Before starting, i probably should admit that im from the city. 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. 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 family story from southie, but without that books overwhelming moral force, this is the. But the new pbs documentary based on the memoir fivefinger discount. The documentary is based on the bestselling memoir by helene stapinski, fivefinger discount. For most people with a living memory of jersey city mayor frank hague, it is either one of love or hate. Now a documentary, read the national bestselling book. 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.
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. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Soon to be a pbs documentary, this astonishing memoir. A family story from southie, but without that books overwhelming moral force, this is the sad, often funny story of stapinskis. This is long before jersey citys recent revitalization efforts. 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. Fivefinger discount recounts the story of an unforgettable new jersey family of. Now a pbs documentary, this astonishing memoir of growing up in roughandtumble jersey city will steal your heart peoplewith deadpan humor and obvious. Helene stapinski is the author of fivefinger 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. Soon to be a pbs documentary, this astonishing memoir of growing up in roughandtumble jersey city.
Click on highlighted areas of the map to hear excerpts from helenes audio book of murder in matera. This is a cleverlywritten account of the authors extended and extensive family of origin. Stapinskis book reads on the surface like something by damon runyon and. A crooked family history by helene stapinski 255 pages published by random house in 2002 this book counts for the following reading challenges. The soap and toothpaste in the bathroom were lifted from the local colgate factory. Apr 21, 2011 author of the national best seller, five finger 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. Five finger discount documentary wins raves hudson reporter. Traveling the us through books, i went to new jersey with fivefinger discount. 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.
Mar 12, 2017 for most people with a living memory of jersey city mayor frank hague, it is either one of love or hate. Mar 06, 2017 fivefinger discount, tale of jersey city, hits tv. 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. 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 affection, fivefinger discount recounts the story of an unforgettable new jersey family of swindlers, bookies, embezzlers, and mobsterwannabes. Check out the website for the five finger discount documentary. 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. 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. A crooked family history by helene stapinski 2001, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. 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. An exlibrary book and may have standard library stamps andor stickers.
A crooked family history mines her immigrant familys roots to write a part memoir, part murder mystery that is entertaining in its plot. Italianamerican author stapinski fivefinger discount. The books on the familys shelves were smuggled out of a bookbinding company in aunt mary anns oversize girdle or. Fivefinger discount by helene stapinski books on tape. Author of the national best seller, five finger discount. A crooked family history 0375758704 by stapinski, helene. Reminiscent of michael patrick mcdonalds highly praised all souls. A humorous yet unsettling look back at a minorleague grifter family in a majorleague crooked townprereform jersey city. 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. Five finger discount documentary wins raves hudson. A crooked family history random house, that its hard to know where to begin. Five finger discount a crooked family history powells books. Helene stapinski says so many unflattering things about her hometown in the book fivefinger discount. May 31, 2002 fivefinger discount by helene stapinski bloomsbury.
When she was five, her grandfather tried to kill her whole family. With deadpan humor and obvious affection, five finger discount recounts the story of an unforgettable new jersey family of swindlers, bookies, embezzlers, and mobsterwannabes. A crooked family history and millions of other books are. Helene will transport you to the heart of southern italy to unravel the truth about a murder that. A love affair, with music, which chronicles her years.
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. A crooked family history by helene stapinski, the author details her life growing up in tough jersey city, new jersey. Stapinski received her ba in journalism from new york university in 1987 and her mfa from columbia in 1995.