This book is great. Henry Hill takes the reader on an entertaining trip around NYC. He exposes some of the unknown places and gives a whole new look on other famous places.
I didnt expect much from this book, but I was pleasantly surprised. Theres quite a bit of humor AND information, not just one or the other. I especially like the chapter on STAYING IN. When you read it and youll understand why. Theres plenty to do in New York city of course, but its nice to veer off the beaten path.
Henry Hill is, of course, the basis of Ray Liottas character in Scorseses Goodfellas. He ratted his buddies out, went into FBI hiding, then left the program. Now he plagues the rest of society by shamelessly appearing on the radio (calling into Howard Stern), in bookstores (Wiseguy, this, a cookbook, and another upcoming crime book), movies (basis), and naturally the Internet, with his own website. Hill comes off as a complete lowlife in Wiseguy, and he still does. As if were supposed to be endeared toward a loveable wiseguy who has gone straight, he brings us this, his guide to New York. This is nothing more than another inside book about the New York mob. It basically lists addresses of Mafia hangouts--restaurants, bars, social clubs, etc, etc. He advises you that this place was where so-and-so got whacked, or never, ever look for this one social club, or such a place had great clams, or Gino is buried here, etc, etc. Its so tired, hes so tired, you wish hed go away. Henry Hill was not even a made man, and the people he ratted out are mostly dead or in jail, so there is a notable irony in his expose. Hes giving you an inside tour of the Mobs New York, yet hes flat out admitting he was so low down the totem pole hes not even worthy of attention from real gangsters. Talk about credibility issues. That Goodfellas is such a great movie is testament to Scorseses talent as filmmaker. Henry Hill was the subject not because he was interesting (hes basically a lite goon and a weasel) but because he was willing to blab about it. Dont waste your $ on this one. You can read the juicy parts in a bookstore.
