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Five-Finger Discount : A Crooked Family History
FiveFinger Discount A Crooked Family History
Author: Helene Stapinski
With deadpan humor and obvious affection, Five-Finger Discount recounts the story of an unforgettable New Jersey family of swindlers, bookies, embezzlers, and mobster-wannabes. In the memoir Mary Karr calls “a page-turner,” Helene Stapinski ingeniously weaves the checkered history of her hometown of Jersey City—a place known fo...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780375758706
ISBN-10: 0375758704
Publication Date: 3/12/2002
Pages: 272
Rating:
  • Currently 3.4/5 Stars.
 23

3.4 stars, based on 23 ratings
Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Five-Finger Discount : A Crooked Family History on + 15 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
So much of this book's writing style will start telling you a story only to launch into a side story with so much detail that it's very easy to get lost. I enjoyed the read, but it's not something I'd necessarily go out of my way to read again. It was interesting to learn about growing up in Jersey City, a topic that I was curious about prior to completing this book.
saphyreskyes avatar reviewed Five-Finger Discount : A Crooked Family History on + 34 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Not as much a story of a family as it is a story of Jersey City. Lots of political history and kind of a dry in spots. Not what I was expecting, but still interesting and enjoyable.
catsaresmarter avatar reviewed Five-Finger Discount : A Crooked Family History on + 32 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This enjoyable book is a very funny story about the author's extended family and growing up "among swindlers, bookies and crooks" in New Jersey. I loved it!
Read All 7 Book Reviews of "FiveFinger Discount A Crooked Family History"

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reviewed Five-Finger Discount : A Crooked Family History on
Interesting story of a city full of corruption. Someting I didn't realize still existed at that time.
reviewed Five-Finger Discount : A Crooked Family History on + 174 more book reviews
We all have stories we remember from our childhood and relatives to go along with them. Ms. Stapinski's stories and relatives are just a little more colorful than most. Entertaining reading.
reviewed Five-Finger Discount : A Crooked Family History on + 23 more book reviews
True account of life in New Jersey for immigrant children. It is filled with laughter and crime. Very interesting to read about how life was for this immigrant family.


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