Gomorrah by Roberto Saviano Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Gomorrah
Book Review: There's blood in the streets all around Naples-- and it continues to flow.
Summary: 4 Stars
After a really positive review in the NYT Book Review, I bought this from Amazon and decided to move it to the top of my reading list. Overall, this was a fascinating and deeply distrubing look into the Camorra, the organized crime ring that controls and run Naples and the region of Campania. A couple of thoughts on the positive aspects of the book:
Saviano does a great job of painting the depth of the corruption and the influence of the Camorra. It is incomprehensible just how deeply embedded organized crime is in this area(it is the most violent area in Europe). At times, I was in disbelief at the levels of lawlessness that you almost feel the only solution is a peace keeping deployment from the UN -- or other military solution. The names of the thugs and their bosses are irrelevant since when one is killed or "sings", others just take their place.
The last chapter of the book left me incredulous as Saviano details the environmental catastrophe the Camorra is inflicting upon the region serving as the conduit for illegal dumping of toxic waste in the region.
The sheer courage of Saviano to "infiltrate" the Camorra and expose how deep and dire the situation, the inability of the regional, local or national governments to stem the havoc being wreaked upon the region.
While I found this a really fascinating book, I have a couple of criticisms:
I felt the translation was pretty poor and left me frustrated at points with how choppy the language was.
Not being from Italy, Saviano outlines a dizzying array of names. while this undoubtedly part of the reaon the book has been a sensation in Italy and caused Saviano to go into hiding, the lack of familiarity for a non-Italian means you'll be left scratching your head over all the names being thrown around in this book.
Overall, a good read for someone interested in how organized crime is choking a country and adversely affecting the global economy.
Book Review: Well written
Summary: 3 Stars
Having visited Naples many times over the years, it is a very realistic view of the city and surrounding areas and the crimes.I can well understand why he is under police protection...he names names and dates as well as the various methods the different clans operate under. A great read!Book Review: What a ride!!
Summary: 5 Stars
" You've got to read Gomorrah! It's a book written with passion and elegantly translated into English. But, reader beware, the subject matter is the stuff of nightmares. Page after page is filled with images of sweatshops, drug trafficking, murder--and the Camorra's reach into legitimate society. It's poison has insinuated itself into the very fabric of Neapolitan society and further--into the reaches of Europe, the U.S. and China. Saviano has done a great service to society by publishing this book. As a Neapolitan American two generations removed, I am indebted to the author for the courage he has shown in exposing the cancer afflicting the land of my ancestors. Grazie tanto, Saviano. Stay safe!" --Mary (Alexandria, VA)Book Review: What happens in Naples happens everywhere...
Summary: 5 Stars
Update 06-27-09: There is a movie now... Good stuff.
I was stationed in Naples from '91-'94. I roamed all over as military police. I saw corners of Naples that many Americans living there never even dream of visiting. My knowledge was based on hear-say explainations though and I have now many years later begun to study the city and the country to better understand what I saw when I lived there. This book has been a real eye-opener. I suspect it is slightly sensationalistic but he tackles a topic that few authors want to and his life is on the line for it today. Hopefully more Italians will follow his lead and step up and make their society a better one free of the crime that haunts their land today. This is a long, long way from the other Italian books that I love - the ones by Francis Mayes.
I was shocked to see that I spent much of my free time in the heart of Camorra territory - Casal di Principe. I have friends there and we never spoke about the mafia. I was in that town day and night many, many times.
FWIW I felt safer in Naples at all hours than I have in many American cities and hope to go back someday for another extended visit.
Book Review: a must read
Summary: 5 Stars
I've read this book to find out more about the reality of Naples and surrounding areas. I found out instead what happens around all of us no matter where we are. The book helped me understand better what organized crime does (besides selling drungs and racketeering). I had NO IDEA.
This is not fiction and it is not narrative. This is information.