May 21, 2017 the story follows stapinski s 2001 book five finger discount. Parts of this book are very funny and some of it is very sad. She artfully reconstructs her hardscrabble 1970s childhood above a tavern, and her closeknit, rambunctious family, entangled by the graftridden hudson county government her mother worked for the dmv, and an. See details five finger discount by stapinski, helene paperback book the fast free shipping see all 3 preowned listings. Fivefinger discount, helene stapinski 9780375758706. May, 2001 the five finger discounts were mostly gifts off the back of the trucks unloading at union terminal cold storage, where her father worked. Fivefinger discount author hunts down old family murder in. A crooked family history, helene stapinski who wrote the book of the same name that the film is. Stapinski s five finger discount, first published in 2001 and turned into an hourlong documentary this year, led to some grumbling from relatives unhappy with her for airing their dirty laundry. 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. Jersey city familys unvarnished history headed to film. Now a pbs documentary, this astonishing memoir of growing up in roughandtumble jersey city will steal your heart people with. Italianamerican author stapinski five finger discount. Praise for fivefinger discount by turns hilarious and alarming, helene stapinski s book reads on the surface like something by damon runyon and elmore leonard, with a dark undertow of reallife pain and disillusion.
Mar 27, 2001 in her fascinating if somewhat lumpily written new memoir, five finger discount, helene stapinski recounts what it was like to grow up in jersey city during the 1970s and 80s with a family. A crooked family history, an unstinting account of her relatives rap sheets. Based on the bestselling memoir by helene stapinski, about her family in. On a summer night when she was five years old, helene stapinski watched out her. By turns hilarious and alarming, helene stapinskis book reads on the surface like something. A crooked family history, about growing up in a family of grifters and other notsopetty criminals, stapinski. A crooked family history, which recounts her familys criminal history, and baby plays around. Jun 15, 2017 a journalist and the author of the engaging 2002 memoir five finger discount. Fivefinger discount is based on helene stapinskis best selling memoir.
A crooked family history, helene stapinski discusses her memoir and her decision to develop the tru. This is long before jersey citys recent revitalization efforts. Helene stapinski audio books, best sellers, author bio. May 01, 2001 what stapinski is suggesting is that shell swap johnsons book for her own memoir, five finger discount, a hilarious tale of growing up in a family of crooks in the east coasts most notorious. A crooked family history by helene stapinski online at alibris.
With deadpan humor and obvious affection, fivefinger discoun. Beansie so nicknamed because he had stolen a crate of beans as a child had spent the better part of that day in the majestic tavern, a dive bar on the ground floor of the stapinskisi apartment building. Click on highlighted areas of the map to hear excerpts from helenes audio book of murder in matera. Jun 01, 2002 fivefinger discount by helene stapinski bloomsbury. In the memoir mary karr calls a pageturner, helene stapinski. With deadpan humor and obvious affection, fivefinger discount recounts the story of an unforgettable new jersey family of swindlers, bookies, embezzlers, and mobsterwannabes. May 20, 2002 five finger discount by helene stapinski, 9780747558316, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The book and the film tell the story of helenes childhood, of her growing up. Having grown up with tales of roguish relatives and even a murder, the author began a tenyear search for the facts of the alleged murder involving her greatgreatgrandparents vita and francesco. Helene stapinski is the author of the five finger discount. Mar 23, 2001 stapinski s debut invokes sensitive questions about class, domesticity, and the tolerance of corruption essential to machine politics. Check out the website for the five finger discount. A crooked family history, which was made into a documentary. The photographer shares his life and work spanning six decades and 1.
Swag was just a part of everyday life, stapinski writes. A crooked family history and the star of the documentary by the same name that. Fivefinger discount helene stapinski with deadpan humor and obvious affection, fivefinger discount recounts the story of an unforgettable new jersey family of swindlers, bookies, embezzlers, and mobsterwannabes. Five finger discount by helene stapinski the waterfront museum and showboat barge, in red hook, offers this reading list on brooklyn. An interview with helene stapinski, the woman behind fivefinger. That included her own grandpa beansie, who did time. Portrait of helene stapinski, former columnist at the jersey journal and author of the book five finger discount. Jul 08, 2020 helene stapinski wsc 87, is the author of three memoirs, including the national best seller, five finger discount. Five finger discount is an entertaining, detailed account of life in jersey city during a highcrime time. Michiko kakutani, the new york times its a brilliant book, a darling book. Here, writer stapinski five finger discount pursues the study of her familys criminal genealogy with unexpected emotional results. This is a cleverlywritten account of the authors extended and extensive family of origin.
A true story of passion, family and forgiveness in southern italy. Book overview 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. 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 and disillusion. Fivefinger discount by helene stapinski bloomsbury. Fivefinger discount brooklyn public library overdrive. Now a documentary, read the national bestselling book. In her own generation, her first cousin embezzled a quarter of a million dollars, tearing the clan apart. Jan 27, 2004 it all starts when stapinski five finger discount, 2001 is interviewing julie for a magazine assignment about working the graveyard shift. Michiko kakutani, the new york times it s a brilliant book, a darling book.
Author of the national best seller, five finger discount. A memoir of life among criminals and nuns books the guardian. Five finger discount by helene stapinski paperback book for. Clive of india robert clive creator of britains indian empire. A crooked family history by helene stapinski, the author details her life growing up in tough jersey city, new jersey. The documentary is based on the bestselling memoir by helene stapinski, fivefinger discount. Feb, 2019 helene stapinski is the author of five finger discount. Stapinski received her ba in journalism from new york university in 1987 and her mfa from columbia in 1995. With deadpan humor and obvious affection, five finger discount recounts the story of an unforgettable new jersey family of. Fivefinger discount jersey city free public library. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on youtube. With deadpan humor and obvious affection, fivefinger discount recounts.
Helene stapinski grew up in jersey city, nj, captured in her best selling memoir, five finger discount. A crooked family history mines her immigrant familys roots to write a part memoir, part murder mystery that is entertaining in its plot if not elevating in its prose ma would tell me about vita as we sat in our bright yellow kitchen in jersey city, new jersey, circa 1969. Fivefinger discount by helene stapinski books on tape. Praise for five finger discount by turns hilarious and alarming, helene stapinski s book reads on the surface like something by damon runyon and elmore leonard, with a dark undertow of reallife pain and disillusion. Soon to be a pbs documentary, this astonishing memoir of growing up in roughandtumble jersey city. All these stories are part of helenes unbelievable heritage and of five finger discount, a raucous and heartbreaking tale. A crooked family history, has raised ire and interest of many of citys residents. A love affair, with music, which chronicles her years playing drums in a rock band in manhattan. A crooked family history, which is about her life growing up in jersey city. Five finger discount by helene stapinski paperback book.
Growing up in jersey city in a family of crooks is tough enough. 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. Many of stapinskis relatives became criminals, and in this candid, unsentimental memoir she suggests that boss rule created a climate for the. Five finger discount 9780747558316 by stapinski, helene and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. A hilarious memoir chronicles the seedy adventures of a jersey city family of criminals, bookies, con artists.
In this unforgettable memoir, stapinski tells the heartbreaking yet often hilarious story of growing up among swindlers, bookies, and crooks. Fivefinger discount audiobook by helene stapinski cover art. Aug 19, 2001 profile of helene stapinski, whose unflattering book about jersey city, five finger discount. Jersey city familys unvarnished history headed to film di. John mortimer, writer rumpole etc clive the life and death of a british emperor. As stapinski writes, jersey city was a tough place to grow up, except i didnt know any better. 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. Helene, however, was smart and made something of her life. Fivefinger discount ramapo catskill library system overdrive. A crooked family history by helene stapinski random house 2001 biography. Out of the blue, julie mentions, i want to start a band, but i cant find a drummer. Beansie so nicknamed because he had stolen a crate of beans as a child had spent the better part of that day in the majestic tavern, a dive bar on the ground. Fivefinger discount author hunts down old family murder.
A love affair with music traces her time playing drums in a rock band on the lower east side. On a summer night when she was five years old, helene stapinski watched out her kitchen window as her grandpa beansie was carted off to jail for the last time. Helene stapinski discusses fivefinger discount documentary. May 20, 2002 fivefinger discount will steal your heart. The headline in the local newspaper the next day read man seized on way to kill 5 children. A crooked family history, paperback by stapinski, helene, isbn 0375758704, isbn 9780375758706, brand new, free shipping in the us a hilarious memoir chronicles the seedy adventures of a jersey city family of criminals, bookies, con artists, embezzlers, and mobsterwannabes and the authors dramatic experiences growing up in such an environment. Her forebears, principally polish, got off the ship at ellis island but never made it past jersey city, new jersey.
How one author got to the bottom of dark family musings. Five finger discount a crooked family history powells books. Five finger discount by stapinski, helen and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Publishers summary 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. The books on the familys shelves were smuggled out of a book binding. 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.
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