Customer Reviews

The Sopranos: A Family History

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was expecting to see some cheesy rehash of everything we already knew about the Sopranos -- but man, was I wrong! I was simply blown away by this companion book. The chapters not only introduce each character for newbies who aren't familiar with the series, but provides tons of little tidbits about everyone's history that almost reads like a novel! There are great items like newspaper clips, FBI intercepted e-mails, profiles, and clever design elements that give the whole story behind the story. there's even some complaint sheets from Livia's stay at the old folks home that are hilarious. The pictures are awesome -- the book overall is very beautiful and worth every cent. Even better, there are interviews with the cast and a longer one with series creator David Chase. This truly is a collector's item, and should be on the top of any Sopranos fan Christmas list!

As a huge fan of the Sopranos, I knew I HAD to have this book! And what a great book this is. This book is full of so many photos (mostly color but there are some black and white photos of Tony's early childhood), quotes from season one and season two, inside information, a mob talk dictionary, and much, much more! Read the letter that Peter Galani, AJ's school psychologist, wrote regarding AJ and his ADD. Read Meadow's online conversations and see a copy of her Discovery credit card bill. Read a rather interesting list of refuse items found in Tony and Carmela's trash collected by the feds. Read the letter that Joan wrote to help get Meadow admitted to Georgetown University. Read interviews, character profiles, in depth descriptions of the episodes of both season one and season two, FBI notes and official documents, and documents on Livia from Green Grove. This book is full of so much information and wonderful photographs--if you are a Sopranos fan, you MUST have this book! After reading it, you'll be saying to yourself Madonn'!!

As a huge (pronounced "yooge") fan of "The Sopranos," I approached this book with some trepidation (pronounced "trepidation"). I've seen every episode at least three times and I've been known to start reciting lines from the show at business meetings and in Church. I worried that the book would be written by some doozybotts who didn't know nothing about the show. I was very surprised to find that, not only does Mr. Rucker know everything there is to know about "The Sopranos," he knows even more about the Sopranos. In other words -- if I've lost you -- he tells us stuff about the family that we haven't learned from the show. The book reads like a Mario Puzo novel in places and not at all like some trashy TV companion book. (I once read "Where the The Real Car 54 Is," allegedly written by Gunther Tooty, and it wasn't worth the paper it was written on.) My only complaint is that the introduction, by crime reporter extraordinaire Jeffrey Wernick, was not longer. That man has some insight! Buy the book today!

This rather odd book would be a great gift for any Sopranos-phile. Instead of just being a glorified fanzine, it is put together in a style that makes it both compelling and enlightening for even the most ardent fan. The book is written as if the author has put together a real life FBI dossier on New Jersey's leading crime family. Included are artifacts and ancedotes that supposedly provide insight to the agents who are trying to bring down Tony and the boys. It is a clever and amusing way to provide fans of the series with detailed background and insight into the show's myriad of characters. But not to fear, it also provides an episode by episode recap of every show from the first two seasons (hence its one drawback, it covers ONLY the first two seasons). Oddities abound, such as a nursing home report on Livia and a discarded credit card bill showing a month's worth of Meadow's purchases. In fact, were it the real thing, the author's obsession with both of Tony's "families" would be downright creepy. This is the kind of stuff you would expect a stalker to have in his possession. Overall, a worthwhile book for fans, but not the sort of thing you would give to someone who hasn't already been initiated.

All the info about the first seasons of the most exciting, complex, and addictive drama on TV today - the episode summaries, the characters (all of them), and most unique - backstory on the characters. Lavishly illustrated (with lots of never-before-seen photos), interviews, quotes, FBI stuff. Even readers who know ALL about the show will be impressed. And new fans who want to catch up with the experts will get a chance. It hasn't been publicized a lot, but this attractive volume is a keeper!

This is most informative book of any tv series.The auther goes to great length to tell us about all the major characters and events over last 2 years.Everybody is here including articles about some of the older family members we hear about in the series also Mr Rucker goes to into great detail to tell us how the family earns and what the wiseguys earn and how the wiseguys earn and this is what makes the book so unique.,but what impressed me most is that the book is written as if the sopranos were a real crime family. I think that every angle of every character has been covered the book just does not leave anything out and with interveiws

with all the stars, this book is a must for all of you who like me have been sucked in to the lives of the sopranos.Excelent,Supberb and brilliant.

Great book to have if you are a die hard Soprano fan like myself. Gives you great insights on the Soprano family tree and it also gives Soprano fans a guide on things that you might have missed out on. Overall, a excellent book! Don't keep this book too far away when you're watching the show because it comes in handy

"The Sopranos" is a landmark in the history of television. Themes and motifs previously avoided on the small screen are common fare on this exquisitely written series. In writing this book, Mr. Rucker has performed an act of extraordinary generosity appreciated by all fans of this weekly drama. My only criticism, however slight, is to echo the complaint of a fellow reviewer and neighbor of ex-President Clinton, Mr. James P. Finnegan from happy Chappaqua, NY. Like Mr. Finnegan, I felt that the ever-lucid writing of Jeffrey Wernick would have been better served in a longer introduction. This a paltry criticism based on a personal admiration for Mr. Wernick's eloquence. Nevertheless, this tome has my unqualified 5-star recommendation.

This book is awesome. The author is a mafia expert and a Sopranos expert, and the combination works well. Some of the highlights include FBI files on the whole family as well as the full history on where the Soprano family fits into the crime world. As a Soprano junkie, this book represents the ultimite fix. This will keep you busy during the cold bleak off season. Buy this book!

I loved this book. I poured over it so many times that I have just about worn it out. It has been like a Bible of sorts to me. Very interesting. Anyone who is a true Sopranoholic like I am will love this book. I just wish they would make an updated version of it. I am going to be so sorry to see the season end and just thinking about the series ending is too much for me to comprehend.

Think of this book as one big Soprano History/Dictionary/Vocabulary book and that is what you can expect. Worth every cent.