Almost a Wise Guy [Paperback]

Fran Capo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 30, 2002

Frankie Crooks, a down-to-earth Italian kid from Greenwich Village, is torn between two worlds . . . the mob and law enforcement. Both hold intrigue because he has a brother in each trying to convince him to follow in their footsteps. Frankie sees the humor in life at the most inappropriate moments as he vacillates between a life of crime and being a law-abiding citizen. With a first person tongue-in-cheek approach, Frankie's life unfolds as we follow him through his escapades that leave him running for his life, both from the law and the hands of his strict Italian mother. A mix between Catcher in the Rye and Analyze This, this book leaves readers wanting the 'bad' guy to win, while at the same time revealing what makes criminals tick. Loosely based on a true story, Frankie Crooks lets you know what it's like to be Almost a Wise Guy.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Fran Capo is a stand-up comic, voiceover artist, motivational speaker, freelance writer, five-time author and co-creator of the award winning cyber-sitcom The Estrogen Files: Money, Men and Motherhood at www.TheEstrogenFiles.Net. She is also the Guinness Book of World Records' Fastest Talking Female as seen on Ripley's Believe it or Not. This Queens College graduate has been on over 250 radio shows, 150 television shows, and featured in numerous books. As an adventurist she has bungee jumped, walked on hot coals, and dived with sharks, all of which you can read about in her upcoming book Adrenaline Adventures. Fran is the proud mother of Spencer Patterson (the world's youngest comic). To learn more about Fran Capo go to www.francapo.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: AuthorHouse (July 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1403310483
• ISBN-13: 978-1403310484
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,735,222 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From the author, August 22, 2002

By 

Fran Capo "Fran Capo - Adventurer" (Howard Beach, New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Almost a Wise Guy (Paperback)

Hi, I'm Fran Capo, the author of "Almost a Wise Guy". This is my 5th book, but first novel and it has special meaning to me because it's based on a true story, the life of my dad. (Don't worry I'm not a stool pidgeon or anything, I explain how the whole thing came about in the forward of the book-he asked me to write it, an offer I couldn't refuse) and as I say, the names have been changed to protect the author.

Actually the book takes place 25 years ago. It's about one mans escapades betweent he mob and law enforcement...thus ALMOST a
wise guy.
My dad asked me to write it while he was dying of cancer, and I was like, "Dad, I don't want the mob or the FBI coming after me, after all my last name is Capo.", but my dad wanted to make sure he got a message across to my son, not to do what he did, so luckily I write as fast as I speak (I'm the Guinness Book of World Records fastest talking female) and wrote it and read it to him before he died.

My dad always had a sense of humor, during Chemo he made me go out and buy a Chia pet to see who's hair would grow back faster, then he cut the chia pets hair so he could win. Just to give you an idea of the type of guy he was.

This is not your typical gangster book, its a book with a message told through humor, and a lot of teens have been reading it an emailing me about it too.

I call it a cross between, "Catcher in the Rye" meets "Analyze This" because its told in first person in a down to earth, easy way. And the cool thing is it has a quote from the Sopranos on the cover.
"The funniest thing I ever read-Fuggettaboutit!" - Sal Petraccione, aka George PiCosta.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy it. (A film company is looking at it to make it into a movie..so I'm pretty excited.)...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A MENSCH OF A BOOK!, August 21, 2002

By 

Robin Gorman Newman "author, HOW TO MARRY A M... (www.LoveCoach.com & www.MotherhoodLater.com) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Almost a Wise Guy (Paperback)

Fran Capo is a great storyteller....and her dad would be proud to see his tales in print. It's a great read....colorful, poignant, funny, spirited.....a "movie-of-the-week" waiting to happen. :)

5.0 out of 5 stars Almost a Wise Guy... Great book!, December 12, 2011

By 

J. M. Stewart "Night Sky Murals" (Somewhere across the Fruited Plains) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Almost a Wise Guy (Paperback)

I gave the book 5 stars because it takes a book that can grab your attention for me to be able to finish it. I will start a book and then another one will attract my attention... and I'll switch to that new one. But, every once in a while I'll pick up a book that I can actually finish, and "Almost a Wise Guy" was one of those. I read it a while back and still remember laughing, being somber and then totally engrossed in the book. I loved it. Great book Fran!