Customer Reviews

Snowblind: A Brief Career in the Cocaine Trade

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Snowblind begins with the Zackary Swan, the protaganist, telling his lawyer that even though cops found an ounce of coke, "they didn't find my stash." From this point on the book is a non-stop roller coaster ride into the life of Zack, the "every-man"cocaine smuggler/dealer. Sabbag's prose washes over the reader like a wave of intensity. Zackary's explosive story is the perfect mate to ride that wave into the reader's mind and psyche, making Snowblind linger in the one's memory long after he or she puts the book down. What I truly loved is the fact that Zack is not your stereotypical drug dealer- he is a smart, interesting character with a memory for details that will astound the reader. Sabbag successfully puts to rest the prejudice that all drug dealers are moronic scums. This should be a must read for both DEA agents and drug kingpins. Snowblind reads as a how-to book on drug smuggling. Zack's smuggling methods are as brilliant as they are simple. Sabbag's reverent wit in the telling of these methods makes this one of the best and most insightful books ever written on the narcotics trade. Snowblind is a brilliant book that I recommend for everyone.

If we consider Thomas de Quincey's "The COnfessions of an English Opioum Eater", Baudelaires "The Artificial Paradises" and Ludlows "The Hasheesh Eater" the three classical pillars of the drug books, "Snowblind" sets a new way of approaching the theme.

Sabbag manages to write a funny, entertaining and well defined book about what the beginning of the cocaine smuggling was. He has inherited the best ways of HUnter S. Thompson without loosing and inch of his own style. This book is the "bible" for all smugglers. In the last edition of Cannongate there is an introduction by Howard Marks, author of the bestseller "Mr Nice". Well, if you liked "Mr Nice" this book goes way beyond in the form and in the content. The characters shown are interesting and relevant to the story, the information delivered will not bore you. Sabbag tells what he has to (a lot) and misses what would bore you.

Normally drug books will fall into topics like rude language and obscure characters most of the time very badly developped, now, Zachary Swan is a dandy, the language is only rude when there are direct implications for it to be so (not often) and when you finish the book you have the feeling you have gone through the adventure with the Silver Fox (name given to Swan by Canadian Jack).

Thanks Sabbag!

This book is about "back in the day". Before crack was invented, before the cartels got involved, before the contras got involved, before the CIA got involved (or so Gary Webb says). Very little violence, all in all a starry-eyed, very amusing vision of the drug trade that sometimes reminds one of Hunter S. Thompson. Hard to believe it was ever like that. Very little like "Traffic", "Killing Pablo" or "Dark Alliance", is that's what you are looking for.

This book is about a New Yorker who engages in running drugs (Cocaine) and his adventures and dealings setting up operations in Colbumbia, Mexico and the States. It takes place in the early seventies when the smuggling "sophistication" was in its early stages of develpoment. The book follows Swan's rise and fall in an exciting and compelling way with some very interesting and colorful characters along the way. I can truly reccomend this book to people interested in 70's crime and drug related storys.

This novel starts off at a blistering pace and doesn't slack off. This is a must read, and should be required in schools to educate the youths of today on what goes on in the real world.

This is one of the best books ever written about drug smuggling. Double crosses are the norm with ingenious smuggling scams. Sometimes written tongue in cheek the book details many ways and means to import drugs into the country. Although these ways and means are out of date today they nonetheless capture the spirit and ingenuity of drug smugglers.

A great book that pulls you into the high-stakes world of cocaine smuggling. Plenty of wild characters, intense situations and high-speed drama. I could not put it down--the second time, even.

I first read this book when I was around 14-15. It left such an indelible imprint on my mind and imagination, I'm back for a second read some 14-15 years later.

I heard that Robert Sabbag was a good writer so I decided to pick up Snowblind up and read it and I couldn't put it down. I thought that it gave a really close look into the drug trade and it was very detailed so you really got a feel for the life that was lead. I have started reading his books now and I can't stop. I have told many of my friends to read the book.

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant! Having read an assortment of books on this topic, I'd say SNOWBLIND is unmatched, read it. If you like COCAINE COWBOYS and SCARFACE films this is a book you'll also enjoy thoroughly. High quality writing filled with inventive smuggling, humor, cunning, crime and it's a joy to read!

Sabbag's best novel so far. I've read all the others by him.