But as she says, you are who you are, and stapinskis signature work five finger discount, a crooked family history may be the most authentic book about jersey city ever. Italianamerican author stapinski fivefinger discount. Fivefinger discount by helene stapinski overdrive rakuten. Helene stapinski discusses fivefinger discount documentary. A crooked family history fast, free delivery, video streaming, music, and much more prime members enjoy free twoday shipping, free sameday or oneday delivery to select areas, prime video, prime music, prime reading, and more. May 01, 2001 and because every family adventure was somehow tied to the goings on in jersey city, five finger discount turned out to be much more than a memoir. 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. Stapinskis debut invokes sensitive questions about class, domesticity, and the. Mar 12, 2017 but the new pbs documentary based on the memoir fivefinger discount. 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. And because every family adventure was somehow tied to the goings on in jersey city, fivefinger discount turned out to be much more than a memoir. A crooked family history 0375758704 by stapinski, helene. A crooked family history by helene stapinski 2002, paperback at the best online prices at ebay.
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. With deadpan humor and obvious affection, fivefinger discount recounts the story of an unforgettable new jersey family of swindlers, bookies, embezzlers, and mobsterwannabes. 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. Check out the website for the five finger discount documentary. In this unforgettable memoir, stapinski tells the heartbreaking yet often hilarious story of growing up among swindlers, bookies, and crooks. Fans of mary karrs groundbreaking memoir the liars club will relish the similarly funny, toughminded tone of helene stapinskis recollections centering on her.
Five finger discount a crooked family history download five finger discount a crooked family history ebook pdf or read online books in pdf, epub, and mobi format. Fivefinger discount book vancouver island regional. A crooked family history fast, free delivery, video streaming, music, and much more prime members enjoy free twoday shipping, free sameday or oneday. New jersey my thoughts about this book traveling the us through books, i went to new jersey with five finger discount. Jersey city familys unvarnished history headed to film di. A crooked family history by helene stapinski 255 pages published by random house in 2002 this book counts for the following reading challenges. A crooked family history, which is about her life growing up in jersey city.
For most people with a living memory of jersey city mayor frank hague, it is either one of love or hate. Stapinskis debut invokes sensitive questions about class, domesticity, and the tolerance of corruption essential to machine politics. Fivefingerdiscountacrookedfamilyhistory download fivefingerdiscountacrookedfamilyhistory ebook pdf or read online books in pdf, epub, and mobi format. Download full five finger discount a crooked family history book in pdf, epub, mobi and all ebook format. 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. The documentary is based on the bestselling memoir by helene stapinski, fivefinger discount.
This is long before jersey citys recent revitalization efforts. With deadpan humor and obvious affection, fivefinger. Helene stapinski chronicles the seedy adventures of a jersey city family of criminals, bookies, con artists, embezzlers, and mobster. Mar 29, 2017 for most people with a living memory of jersey city mayor frank hague, it is either one of love or hate. Click download or read online button to five finger discount a crooked family history book pdf for free now. People by turns hilarious and alarming, uproarious and depressing, stapinski s book reads on the surface like something by damon runyon and elmore. With deadpan humor and obvious affection, five finger discount recounts the story of an unforgettable new jersey family of swindlers, bookies, embezzlers, and mobsterwannabes. Fans of mary karrs groundbreaking memoir the liars club will relish the similarly funny, toughminded.
People by turns hilarious and alarming, uproarious and depressing, stapinski s book reads on the surface like something by damon runyon and elmore leonard, with a dark undertow of reallife pain and disillusion. Five finger discount documentary wins raves hudson reporter. Now a documentary, read the national bestselling book. Author of the national best seller, five finger discount. A crooked family history by helene stapinski overview with deadpan humor and obvious affection, helene stapinski recounts the story of her growing up in a family as thoroughly.
May 31, 2002 fivefinger discount by helene stapinski bloomsbury. Download five finger discount a crooked family history pdf. Click on highlighted areas of the map to hear excerpts from helenes audio book of murder in matera. Her forebears, principally polish, got off the ship at ellis island but never made it past jersey city, new jersey. A crooked family history by helene stapinski, the author details her life growing up in tough jersey city, new jersey. 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. 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 tales that have swirled around her relatives for decades. A crooked family history mines her immigrant familys roots to write a part memoir, part murder mystery that is entertaining in its plot. When she was five, her grandfather tried to kill her whole family. I particularly like the way the earlier part of the book is filled with humorous remembrances of criminal. This is a cleverlywritten account of the authors extended and extensive family of. Fivefinger discount is based on helene stapinskis best selling memoir fivefinger discount.
The book and the film tell the story of helenes childhood, of her growing up. The books on the family s shelves were smuggled out of a book binding company in aunt mary anns oversize girdle or taken by grandpa beansie from the free public library. A crooked family history, helene stapinski discusses her memoir and her decision to develop the truelife story into a film with the help. Download pdf fivefingerdiscountacrookedfamilyhistory. Now a pbs documentary, this astonishing memoir of growing up in roughandtumble jersey city will steal your heart people with. The book and the film tell the story of helenes childhood, of her growing up workingclass in jersey city, new jersey in a family nearly overrun with crooks, petty criminals, corrupt politicians, mobster. Soon to be a pbs documentary, this astonishing memoir.
Soon to be a pbs documentary, this astonishing memoir of growing up in roughandtumble jersey city. Before starting, i probably should admit that im from the city. A humorous yet unsettling look back at a minorleague grifter family in a majorleague crooked townprereform jersey city. 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. 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. Fivefinger discount a crooked family history by stapinski. I particularly like the way the earlier part of the book is filled with humorous remembrances of criminal activity by her family members, while the later parts are shown through the eyes of an adult who knows better and is sickened and saddened by the lack of morals. Fivefinger discount, helene stapinskis crooked family history is slated to be a long form documentary airing on wnetwliw and njptv, we are encouraged by the interest and support weve already received from sponsors and friends, but we desperately need your help to make this film a reality. This is a cleverlywritten account of the authors extended and extensive family of origin. Helene stapinski ingeniously weaves the checkered history of her hometown of jersey city a place known for its political corruption and industrial blight with the.
Fivefinger discount, helene stapinskis crooked family history is slated to be a long form documentary airing on wnetwliw and njptv, we are encouraged by the interest and support weve already. Check out the website for the fivefinger discount documentary. 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. But the new pbs documentary based on the memoir fivefinger discount. Apr 21, 2011 author of the national best seller, five finger discount. Now a pbs documentary, this astonishing memoir of growing up in roughandtumble jersey city will steal your heart peoplewith deadpan humor and obvious. The author tells her family history within the criminal and blighted culture of jersey city, new jersey. 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. A crooked family history by helene stapinski ajersey city native and former reporter staff writer, its a lovehate. A crooked family history by helene stapinski random house 2001 biography.