I Don't Want to Go to Jail

by Jimmy Breslin

Book Overview

Fausti 'the Fist' Dellacava is the most feared mobster in all of Gotham. But running the family business is proving to be problematic as the Feds start closing in. So what's a mobster to do to stay out of the slammer? Fausti chooses to go down the insanity route.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0316120324
• ISBN13: 9780316120326
• Release Date: July 2002
• Publisher: Little Brown and Company
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

I Dont Want To Go To Jail

I Don't Want To Go To Jail The author of "The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight" is back with another novel depicting the lighter side of the mob. Only Breslin would have enough guts to place the head of the mafia social order in Greenwich Village. The book is witty, amusing, and downright funny. The book is about two characters, one being the head of the mob, named Fausti "The Fist" Dellicava and his nephew who is named after him, Fausti Dellicava. Both of theses guys do not want to end up in jail. But The Fists past might prohibit them from being free men. The story about The Fist is that he is being charged for certain "crimes". He finds various ways to get out of his convictions. His nephew Fausti is trying to live a straight life away from his name and the mob. But sense his name is the same as the infamous crime lord, its kind of hard. I would recommend this book to any one who would like a little crude and witty humor in their life. I would not recommend this book to people with a low reading level because it was a little hard to follow at times.

Mildly recommended for Mafia fans only

Very loosely based on the true story of a Mafia boss who was known to wander around his Greenwich Village neighborhood in a bathrobe while mumbling to himself, Jimmy Breslin, a well-known New York City columnist has created a sometimes funny comic novel about the Mafia. It is supposedly set right here in my own neighborhood, but he made enough changes in the landscape to make sure this is considered a work of fiction. The darkened storefront "social clubs" where men sat around bridge tables, drinking coffee are gone now, replaced by trendy shops and restaurants, but Mr. Breslin writes of an era when a gangster he calls "The Fist" held the City in an iron grip.The book is an easy read, its 300 pages a jumble of episodic anecdotes centered around the nephew of the feared boss whose famous last name creates complications for him because he wants to simply go straight and marry his childhood sweetheart. Mr. Breslin exaggerates and pokes fun at the gangster world, and the total obedience given to The Fist, his men even going so far as to take a second wife and raise a second family because that was the way The Fist lived. There are also some very funny stories about a dog as well as some chuckles about bubble gum trading cards with pictures of mob characters on them. It's the very small grain of truth to that weaves its way into the writing that is the heart of the humor however. I especially like the part about the nephew getting a job at the Javits Convention Center, making big bucks as a member of the corrupt carpenter's union.The book is lighthearted froth that shouldn't be taken too seriously. This is apparent from the cover art and the blurbs on the back. The characters are stereotypes and there's no attempt to make it anything more. Therefore, just accept it for what it is. And enjoy.

For Breslin Fans

In "I don't Want To Go To Jail", Jimmy Breslin tells the story of the Dellacava family of New York City. This is Breslin's city. The one he's written about for decades in the papers. The Dellacava family, their neighborhood, and much of the criminal element in the city is ruled by Fausti, "the Fist", a 300-pound undefeated former boxer. One word, even one look is all The Fist needs to get his message across. People who don't get the message are usually never heard from again. The Fist's nephew "Little Fausti", tries hard to break out of the mold of born criminal but it's not easy carrying the Fausti Dellacava name everywhere he goes. Breslin deftly weaves real-life criminals into his story and even sprinkles in a few of the characters from his news columns. Real criminals are portrayed as saviors of the common people, whose lives would not be as fulfilled without the constant presence of the Mafioso. Little Fausti takes advantage of this to create sets of trading cards that feature these "Mob Stars" that start the way towards a legitimate life.There are many laughs along the way, more than a few dealing with mobsters trying to keep wives, girlfriends, and second families separate in a city where everyone knows their names. With The Fist and Little Fausti trying hard to stay of jail, and the mix of eclectic characters helping them, Breslin is at his hilarious best.

The Author Is Correct

As noted on the cover of, "I Don't Want To Go To Jail", this is indeed, "A Good Novel". If the first third of the book and its humor were maintained throughout the novel, the book would have been great. The work certainly is as unique as its Author Mr. Breslin, so if at times it became a bit slow, there still was no temptation to put it down.From the cover with its visual parodies of, "friends of ours", to the quote at the book's beginning from Mr. Sal Meli, who appears to have been the government's guest at many of their facilities, and finally with the endorsements on the back, its not totally unreasonable to suggest this is closer to historical fiction than a pure novel. Many of the characters in the book are or were true-life figures. Mr. Breslin must have either had this approved by, "The Concerned Lutherans", or perhaps is contemplating retirement in some Southwestern State living and writing under a new name. The other possibility is the subjects of this book have a sense of humor and enjoy being in Mr. Breslin's book as much as appearing on their very own trading card.As the decline of, "The Fist", is chronicled along with the demise of the power of the traditional crime families, the story slows a bit as well. It may be that for those who are fans of, "The Godfather", and of the romanticized version that Hollywood has delivered, reading of the slide of The Boss from the top player to a broken shell that eats Thorazine like M & M'S is akin to watching the mighty Casey strike out.The influence of organized crime may wax and wane, however it is firmly embedded in our culture and literature. There are many who have chronicled the Families with a wide range of intent. For fun and authenticity Mr. Jimmy Breslin has no peer.

Funny, but hard to follow at times.

If your a fan of mob stuff, this book will entertain you. It's obviously about Vinny the Chin, you realize that right away (if you've done your mob homework). Jimmy Breslin has a strange style of writing that can be hard to follow at times. Your not sure what tense you are in at times, present or past, he jumps around, and it gets a little annoying. Well, he was a columinst anyway. This is my first Breslin read. I hear the Gang That Couldnt Shoot Straight is much better. This book pokes fun at the stupidity and contradictions that is a mobsters life. But it entertains! Very street. Sometimes a description of an inflection in a characters tone might have helped, i had to go over some passages more than once. But all in all, this is a humorous look at a sad world. Enjoy!