Jimmy Breslin Boeken

Focusing on the gritty underworld of the Mafia, the narrative features iconic figures such as John Gotti and Sammy Gravano, alongside the compelling true-crime story of Burt Kaplan, a key witness against corrupt NYPD detectives. Breslin's distinct voice immerses readers in the history and drama of organized crime, revealing both notorious events and lesser-known tales that illustrate the rise and fall of mobsters. The book offers a vivid exploration of loyalty, betrayal, and the complex dynamics within the Mafia.

Breslin's marvelous account of the improbable saga of the New York Mets' first year.

In 1970 Owney Morrison is back from Vietnam with a Congressional Medal of Honor, a wife, a baby, and a problem with alcohol. Owney blunders forth into a world of his own making, but a world, nonetheless, that wants no part of him. Returned to his Queens home in 1970 after winning a Congressional Medal of Honor in Vietnam, Owney Morrison works at digging tunnels during the day and escapes with drink at night--from everything, including his wife Dolores and their child

Branch Rickey's journey from humble beginnings in the Midwest to becoming the legendary manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers is vividly portrayed in this biography. Author Jimmy Breslin highlights Rickey's pivotal role in integrating baseball by signing Jackie Robinson, showcasing the transformative impact on the sport and American society. The narrative captures the excitement of baseball's rise as a national pastime, illustrating Rickey's dual nature as both a schemer and a visionary who sought to change the game and the country.

Capturing the moments in which the Mafia was made and broken, Breslin combines the most recent, the most memorable and the long-forgotten stories into a sharp-eyed portrait of the Mob as it lived and breathed in its heyday and as it struggles to survive.

Call it a miracle, fate, pure luck, or just another day in the city where nothing is usual, but in 1991 Jimmy Breslin narrowly escaped death - which inspired him to write this book about his life. Two years ago, Breslin was having trouble getting his left eyelid to open and close. This was too peculiar to ignore, so Breslin decided to pay a rare visit to his doctor. As it turned out, the eyelid was a matter of nerves. But extensive testing revealed something unrelated and life-threatening: he had an aneurysm in his brain - a thin, ballooned artery wall that could burst and kill him at any moment unless he opted for a risky surgical procedure. Breslin agreed to the surgery and at age sixty-five, grateful for this miracle (what else could you call it?), began taking stock of his remarkable life.

Exploring themes of betrayal and moral failure, the author delves into the sex scandals within the Roman Catholic Church, highlighting the profound sadness and anger these revelations evoke. The narrative uncovers the systematic cover-up by church authorities, shedding light on the impact of these scandals on victims and the broader community. Breslin's poignant writing confronts the complexities of faith and accountability within an institution grappling with its darkest truths.

The narrative centers on Burton Kaplan, a notorious Mafia witness whose criminal exploits surpass even legendary mob bosses like John Gotti and Vito Genovese. Pulitzer Prize winner Jimmy Breslin, hailing from the same Queens neighborhood, provides a unique perspective on Kaplan's life and the underworld, highlighting the complexities of crime and the figures who inhabit it. This exploration delves into the darker aspects of organized crime and the intricate connections between its key players.