5 comments about Shower Posse: The Most Notorious Jamaican Crime Organization.

1. I love to read, but the writing style of this book is so amateurish, it was like pulling teeth. Hundreds of names of insignificant people, and events that added nothing to the story. The Blake family should have hired a professional writer. A great story exists here but, the writing style is so annoying, you lose focus



2. I think the book was excellent in terms of its exposure of the infamous drug hustle game that so many get caught up in. The book serves as a true testimony for others to learn from. I however was very disturbed about the amount of grammatical errors in my book. Was it just my copy or is that just how the book is.. if so? Please think about revising the book and coming out with a 2nd edition. I also think a screenplay for this movie would be ideal.



3. I agree with Big Mu Ha's review. I feel Duane Blake didn't go into enough details about the events that took place. I am sure for legal reasons it makes sense to leave a lot of detail out. The book went into details about people. The beginning of the book is very strong, it kept me the reader very engaged. Towards the end, during the years of prison seem very high-level - not too much detail. I def recommend this book to anyone who enjoys organization crime, gangs, murder stories. Esp if you are Jamaican, you can relate to much of the content. Great story to remember..



4. This was a good inspiration for my friend. I was a gift to him.



5. You know there are a lot of books that come out saying that certain groups were the most notorious. I heard of these cats coming up, but I am not 100% sure that Shower was the most notorious. I know they were hustlin strong in Philly and were doing things in D.C. and what not. I like Duane's writing, but I just dont think it was enough details. Jamaican gangs were a dime a dozen back in the 80's. And I think it is a bit biased because he is writing about his Pop which I can respect. Good job anyways

5 comments about McGoorty: A Pool Room Hustler (Library of Larceny).

1. This is the real life story of an almost great billiards player. It's a look into the past as told by a real person who seems to lay it all out on his deathbed. Robert Byrne, for the most part, simply relays McGoorty's words.
   
   This could be considered a tale of caution, don't be like this guy, don't throw away your life.
   
   My father, who made his own mistakes, loved this book when I lent it to him, and lent it to someone else - I may never see it again, but that's ok. This is the exact kind of book you want to lend out.
   
   I have never read a book like this one, it pulls few punches, you are going to feel sorry for McGoorty, maybe even cry - I don't know. But don't let that stop you from reading it.



2. Danny McGoorty was a gifted pool and billiards player. He was also a lazy, drunk petty thief. He spent his life trying his best to avoid honest work. He took as much as he could get from everyone that crossed his path without ever giving anything back. He died bitter and broke.
   
   There, now you don't need to read the book.



3. This isn't "Rudy" Ruettiger and it's not an "inspirational" sports biography. You're not going to learn much about how to play billiards either. If you read this expecting some moral triumph, you are going to miss the point. McG was a sad, pathetic drunk who told truths, lies, half-truths about his failed career as a billaird player. This said, he had a real wit and a flair for pegging people. More than anything, this is a good Depression-era American period piece. It's also a look inside the mind of one candid, unscrupulous character. McG is a funny guy, a sad guy, a nice guy and a wicked guy. Even when he lies he's sincere. If you ever knew a bum, drunk or poolroom hustler you liked and hated at the same time, give it a shot. But this book doesn't belong on the shelf with Byrne's instruction books, or really even with the other billiards biographies; it belongs next to the other volumes of the Library of Larceny: Ponzi, Liebling and Sutton.



4. I can't imagine anyone wanting to write a book about this man.He was nothing but a vulgar,lazy,lying alcoholic.Half of the things that he says are nothing but B.S.For instance,Chicago police officers murdering suspected gangsters @ black men for 200$ a pop.I could go on @ on but you should get the idea.Save your money.As for me, I am going to line my cats litter box with my copy.



5. This book is one of the few biograghy's i've read that had a true voice of the subject. Gritty, smutty, vulgar and incitful.It tells the tale of the wayward life led by one of this country's greatest pool and billiards players, witten from audiotapes by Robert Byrne, Mcgoorty comes to life.

No comments about Hereward: The Last Englishman.

1 comments about The Death of Old Man Rice: A True Story of Criminal Justice in America.

1. just see how the crimal justice system doesnt work unless you've got a ton of money and can buy your way out this guy had to pay a price...death.

No comments about Impact Listening 3: Intermediate - Advanced (Student Book with Self-Study Audio CD).

No comments about Bloodsworth: The True Story of One Man's Triumph over Injustice (Shannon Ravenel Books).

5 comments about Kansas Charley: The Boy Murderer.

1. Since my son is taking a course at Cornell Summer College from Professor Brumberg, I thought I would read one of her books to get an idea of how she thinks and writes (a gross generalization that often works for me). I expected a scholarly but dry account of 15-year-old murderer, Charley Miller. I did not expect a dramatic and compelling historical novel that rivals today's best books. "Kansas Charlie," is extremely well researched and written in a simple, direct and contemporary style. Although she attempts to be fair and objective, it's obvious that Professor Brumberg wrote this novel to advance her own unarguably poignant point-of-view regarding juvenile justice and how little progress has been made since the Victorian Age. But, who can blame her when political maneuvering rather than an interest in solving an important social issue often blunts real progress? I'm certain my 16-year-old son is in extremely good hands.



2. Well Researched book for a murder case by a juvenile back in the 1890's that can be easilly related to cases that happen today. This story of Kansas Charley is well written and a sad situation where a child that could not find a place in society had slipped through the cracks of the government that should of protected him.



3. Kansas Charlie's life is a great reality check for someone who's read too many Horatio Alger books. I read this book very quickly. Dr. Brumberg tells the story well - the prose is lean and engaging, the historical details are perfect. (I can imagine a movie or documentary of this book). The book stayed with me long after I read it. What's remarkable is how little has changed in the last 110 years. Troubled, impulsive boys with access to guns still kill. Prosecutors' and politicians' desire for the death penalty for juvenile murderers is still politically motivated.



4. Kansas Charley is a fascinating book which ably combines American social and cultural history, developmental psychology, and legal studies. The book traces the story of an orphaned yboy who descends into impoverished and desperate circumstances. He ends up killing two other youths and is ultimately put to death. Kansas Charley recounts this history, but does more. The book paints a fascinating picture of 19th century social life and places Charley in context. It also does an excellent job of connecting modern day attitudes towards juvenile crime and punishment with their historical roots. This book is very timely given current debates over the fate of Lee Boyd Malvo and other children who kill. I'm a professor of U.S. cultural history and think this is a wonderful addition to the scholarship on the history of childhood and the history of American social life.



5. The simple title, "Kansas Charlie", belies what's between the cover of this scholarly, but extremely emotional saga. It is a sad tale that has vast implications for what we see a century later. Dr. Brumberg doggedly followed the trail of Charles Miller, accurately depicting the many stages of his personal tragedy. As a pediatrician and an advocate for children, there were times during my reading when I wanted to jump into the story and offer my help to this unfortunate youth. The author descriptively takes us back to a setting where the reader could easily say, "That was then...". Her arguement is persuasive enough where we could say, "Things haven't changed so much..."
   The dockets in our juvenile courts are still full.
   Despite this being a truly heinous crime, the conflict between political force and progressive social movements determined Charlie's fate. True to her profession as a historian, Dr. Brumberg succeeds very well in time transport for her readers, permitting them to gauge whether or not we've come very far in how we regard children. This is very readable history and very few readers will walk away from it without a strong opinion about juvenile justice.

1 comments about Albert Fish - The Werewolf of Wysteria (Biography).

1. I was very disappointed in this book. The description says it is 48 pages, but only about half (if that) are actually text. The remaining are references, etc. The font is also larger to make it appear more than it is. The information contained in the few pages of text is easily available to read on line. The information is good for what it is, but for what it cost, I was expecting information not found elsewhere.

2 comments about The Newton Boys.

1. Considering The Newton Boys are my relatives I think this book is extraordinary! The detail is play by play as it happened. There is no middle ground. Willis Newton was a scoundrel no doubt but I love him anyway. It can be difficult to read because it is written in the way they use to speak back in the 1900 country. Enjoy!
   Nancy Newton



2. I thouroughly enjoyed reading this book. In it it gave a fascinating first hand view into how the Newton brothers entered the life of bank and train robbers. The story was written based on a number of interviews with Willis and Joe Newton. The brothers discussed their feelings on how they were viewed, and how when there was ever any robbery, the Newton brothers were the number one suspects. I also enjoyed the humor in which the brothers were able to look back on thier escapades and run ins with the law. Some of the best parts of the book, I think, were when the Newtons described how they outsmarted the law, and escaped from prisons numerous times. The decriptions in the book provided vivid detail into life during the turn of the century. Each brother described in the book had very different interests and tastes, from Willis, a strong headed boy who was smart and determined,to Jess, the lazier of the brothers. In all, this book provided me with new insight into an era that has long since passed, and into the lives of criminals. I thought this book was an excellent read.

5 comments about Wised Up.

1. This is a GREAT book! Amazing insight to the reality of his life and what courage he must have. To have stood up against things and not backed down, he truly turned his life around!
   Five stars!



2. As a Baltimore native, I enjoyed this book very much and would probably rate it a "5" based on my enjoyment only. However, thinking of others--not from the Baltimore area--it probably would not be quite as interesting. Knowing the area, and even some of the players, made it a quick read for me. In fact, it was too quick of a read. Made me wish there was more. . .



3. "Wised Up" is an absolutely chilling account of organized crime in my home town, Baltimore. I previously believed that crime in this city was basically random and disorganized except for the activity of a few drug king pins. This book documents the organized superstructure of a very complex home grown "management system" of illegal activity. Moreover, it has no connection to the traditional Mafia. Charlie Wilhelm's candid revelation of his life including significant events is far more frightening and captivating then any of the "best seller" crime thrillers. He tells this story in a way that makes the reader "stand in his shoes" and experience Charlie's emotions as he reached a point of fear and ambivalence regarding his life of crime. We've all heard the "you-can't-get-out-of-it-once-you-get into-it" theme regarding the impact of an individual's participation in an organized crime syndicate. However, in this true story, you live the fear, the sleepless nights, the concern for love ones and the mental trepidation in a way that no fictional account can begin to relate.
   
   Charlie's experience also revealed the level of corruption in Baltimore Law enforcement and City Government. Throughout the book, he provides examples of the impact of police on the take, city officials who are paid to look the other way, and even documemted leaks in the federal attorney general's office. In fact, once Charlie decided to extricate himself from this life, he had a major problem finding an official authority that he could trust. One bad move here and he would have been a dead man.
   
   As I read this memoir, I began to feel that Charlie had a deep soft spot that prevented him from becoming the complete criminal. He seemed to have a mentally "drawn line" that caused him to have concern for some of his activity. In fact, he mentions that he personally paid the interest for some of his loan sharking customers who couldn't make the payments. This is reminiscent of the Sylvester Stallone's Rocky character who was also a collector of loans who had compassion for his particularly weak customers. In addition, when Charlie was asked to commit the ultimate crime... murder... his unconscious sense of morals guided him to make a break from this life. It is at this point that ultimate courage came into play. Not only did he have to summon the power to quit, he also had to "blow the whistle" on many of his "wise guy" friends to the FBI in order to achieve complete absolution. In making this choice, he underestimated how deep he had to go to protect both his sanity and his loved ones as he traversed this ordeal. Charlie also suffered the embarrassment of having to reveal his criminal life in a legal setting without knowing whether this voluntary confession would land him in jail for a good part of his remaining life. This is a must read for anyone from Baltimore as well as anyone who wants to understand the complex criminal enterprise from a realistic non-Hollywood standpoint.



4. Charlie Wilhelm should be admired for his courage and strength when became an informant for the FBI. It takes a strong man to turn away from wealth plus jeopardize the lives of his family and himself to do the right thing. It took a lot of courage for Charlie and Gina to return to the Baltimore area to live. This is NOT just another mob story. Any person who would believe that "Wised Up" is just another mob story, should read the article in the Huntsville Times, dated March 12, 2005. Not only should Charlie be admired and looked up to but so should the rest of his family who stood by him. This book is funny, sad and almost unbelievable at times although I know it is all true. I very much enjoyed reading it and will read it many times again. I highly recommend "Wised Up" as a must read book.



5. Wised Up by Charlie Wilhelm is a very interesting book of a life I can not imagine. Charlie has a window of opportunity to be a positive influence for others especially children or teens in their formative years. Wised Up is written in a way that makes you feel you are there and experiencing everything Charlie is. Charlie showed great courage in going to the FBI and not asking for witness protectection. How many would have the courage to do that and return to Baltimore to live? Charlie has experienced a life most of us can only read about and not even imagine in our greatest imagination. When a man changes his life so completely, how can anyone say it is just another gangster story? If I could give this book a 10 star rating, I would.
   Charlie, will there be a sequel or a movie?