Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
 Opening the Floodgates May 17, 2008
Emma Jamieson (Italy)
53 out of 57 found this review helpful
Roberto Saviano is a 28 year old man, who grew up in Secondigliano, a rundown of 10,000 inhabitants on the fringe of Naples, of which 2468 residents are incarcerated for mafia and camorra related activities and the rest have simply been abandoned to their fate. It is also the trading centre through which about 80% of Europe's cocaine is filtered through, packaged, distributed, marketed, cut, and sold on. This is an unpalatable reality few outside of Italy understand, care about or are able to believe. And this little book has opened a floodgates, no less for the Italians who have always known the extent of the Camorra's corruption on all levels of italian and international society, but who, out of fear, or inability to get close, have not been able to speak about it in this much detail. Roberto's life has been largely destroyed by the writing of this book. He has had to change identity, separate from his family and lives under 24 hour police escort. But for those who live here, in the shadow of mafia, surrounded by the stink of corruption, of Naples' uncollected rubbish, of silent witnesses and a society still living in a dark middle age marked with bloodshed and hopelessness this book has opened a floodgates which may hope may finally lift the cover on a tragedy that affects not only the entire country, but all of Europe, and the world.
Please read this. The Camorra is not a Scorcese movie, the mafia is not some antiquated cliche. We live with it, and our country is slowly dying because of it. This is not a work of fiction, sadly.
COMPELLING READING January 14, 2008
La Fata (U.K.)
36 out of 40 found this review helpful
I have read this book in the original language a year ago and it is still quite clear in my mind. The courageous Roberto Saviano is a master in telling true stories , and this book gives you a powerful insight of the Neapolitan mafia and the wider implications for us all in an extremely readable & compelling manner. A MUST for anyone interested in Italy and Italian current affairs. Once you start reading it you cannot put it down!
An act of bravery August 7, 2008
Mr. L. Biason (UK)
10 out of 12 found this review helpful
Saviano's insight on this deadly subject made me wonder a few times about his personal relationship with the people he so openly denounces. This is a 28-year-old courageous man who has decided to put his life on the line to cast some light into the darkes area of Italy's social and political life. When I read the first chapter, I had the distinct feeling that what I had in my hands was a truly ground-breaking book. When I read about the links between organised crime and global trade, and to such a scale as well, I could understand why Italy is in the G8 in spite of his disastrous economy and almost irreversible ideological void. Who thinks that organised crime is a phenomenon contained within the Italian peninsula, must think again. Eye-opening and inspirational.
To appreciate this book you need to have an interest in Italian people. September 4, 2008
Atkins karen Elizabeth
4 out of 8 found this review helpful
In order to appreciate this book and the courage of Roberto Saviano, you should have an interest in Italy and an understanding of the corrupt Italian political system, which allows for this "cancer" to grow in this beautiful Country... The people are powerless or scared to react. To say it is boring means that you have chosen the book for the wrong reason, we can only learn from courageous journalists as Roberto Saviano...
 Horribly Gripping March 20, 2008
Mr. Warren M. Fisher (East Grinstead, West Sussex United Kingdom)
15 out of 20 found this review helpful
Don't be put off by the slow opening with Saviano exhaustively recounting the Camorra's grip on the retail clothing market, because soon the author's spell is cast. A litany of violence, corrruption and death ensues and Saviano's outrage is palpable. The ultimate sum of the book is despair tinged by rage - this is a must read for all true crime fans and students of contemporary Italian culture.
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