Customer Reviews

This Family of Mine: What It Was Like Growing Up Gotti

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Gotti is forthcoming and brutally honest in telling the real truth about growing up in one of Americas most famous families. I found this book to be a quick and fast-paced yarn that left me crying, laughing and wanting more....It is also well written and quick moving--I strongly suggest this book for anyone who enjoys memoirs and family drama.

I give Victoria Gotti credit...Do not underestimate her - she IS a good writer. I also have her out-of-print book "Superstar" and at first I thought I wasn't going to get into reading the book but I did. The family history and struggles in her current memoir to just survive when she was growing up I can relate to. What drew me in was her living in Brooklyn and Queens (I currently live in Queens still even though I am Brooklyn born). Who isn't interested in reading about the Mafia? A thumbs up on this one.

Finally a factual and truthful book about John Gotti! I could not put it down!

Victoria Gotti wrote this book with obvious love and adoration for her father but never does she put on rose tinted glasses to paint her father as anything other than the true John Gotti, warts and all. There were many times throughout the book that I was expecting denials and excuses over some of the more famous incidents in Gotti's criminal career but Victoria was honest or at least honest to the best of her knowledge.

She takes us through a journey of her father's pitiful childhood which really makes you understand how criminals are made not born. Her mother's childhood was just as sad. She also takes us through her own journey of very serious health problems, an ex husband who had some major psychological problems and the heartbreak of watching her brother struggle along as he followed the footsteps of his father. For all the wannabe's out there and those who envied the fame, glamour and wealth, I don't know many people who would want to trade places with her after reading her book.

Say what you want about the criminal John Gotti but as a Dad he was great. I've read a hundred books like this but Victoria is a very talented writer and brings her own unique perspective to a story we were all dying to hear. Too bad MacKenzie Phillips didn't have a father like John Gotti.

I have to admit not only was the book a wonderful read but I was totally impressed with Victoria Gotti's skill as a writer. She really paints a picture in your head. From the opening pages describing the cemetary gate and surroundings to the upbringing and family dynamics of the Gotti family.

I could not put the book down and Ms Gotti's interviews with 48 hours was an impressive backdrop as well. My only complaint, which is not the authors fault so it does not affect my rating is the Kindle Price of the book. I noticed that the hardback and Kindle price are only some change apart. That in my opinion, is ridiculous. Since when does the ebook cost as much?

Other then that I would get it and plan to sit down with no interruptions you will NOT want to put it down.

One last thing, I commented under the post but I am going to convey the short version here of the negative review (as of now there is only one) posted.

NOTHING annoys me more then people who rate low based on their FEELINGS about the subject matter. I have no problem with bad reviews if you have read the book, however as you can see this person didn't and for some reason believes we are rating his feelings about subject.. it brings ratings down and is beyond idiotic.

Feel free to ignore this and other reviews like it (I am sure there will be more) and read it for yourself, you are sure to learn alot and find this an entertaining biography.

This book held my interest so much that I could not put it down. I never knew Victoria went through so much in her life health wise. Judging from her book she is the one that went through so much but against all odds she fought her problems and won. She is a true winner. I like that she was very truthful about her father in that she was not in favor with his lifestile and was very pround that her brother John got out of it when he had the chance. I did not like her fathers lifestyle also but deep down insdie he had a big heart. He was kind of a Robin Hood and helped many along his way. This book is a must to everyone to read

A sincere thank-you to Victoria Gotti for again sharing her exceptional writing skills, this time offering such a special invitation for us to enter her incredible world. The only problem when a book is so good is that you hate when you turn the last page. You too will enjoy every word, anxious to read the next. I have purchased two more copies as gifts. Wishes of good health and happiness to Victoria and the entire Gotti family.

I had really mixed feeling on this.

It was well written.
I even believe that Victoria truly believes everything she was told and has written.
So in that respect, it does tell a good tale from her perspective.

However, Victoria needs to take off the rose-colored glasses when it comes to looking at those she loves. Being a good to your family and having certain values does not give someone the right to commit crimes. There were too many times when it felt like the author chose to pick and choose her facts. For example, she would show evidence that someone was a liar or rat but sentences yet use the same person's admissions to exonerate her dad. She repeatedly insists that she didn't support her dad's lifestyle yet the entire book is written to justify it. Her father was only convicted because of lies (which may be but this book would have you believe he never did anything to justify what happened either).

I don't watch a lot of TV, so didn't realize that she had a reality show. However, it does put this book into perspective. I can see why her fans rated this book so highly.

The book is an entertaining read but it is clearly written as if it were a PR piece for John Gotti. His only acknowledged faults were that he had a temper when provoked and he trusted the wrong people at times.

I gave it 3 stars because it was very readable and I would recommend it, depending on the reader's expectations. This is a book about the unconditional love between members of the Gotti family. Admirable in its own way if you choose to overlook the rest.

My problem was that it was so one-sided I ended up wondering what to believe and what not to (or what to take with a grain of salt). So at the end, I wasn't sure I learned any more about the Gotti family or what "the life" was really like than I might have from renting the Sopranos (which I do recommend as it doesn't pretend to be something it isn't)

For too long the media myth of the Gotti family has painted them as one dimensional monsters. As a long time friend, and as one of their lawyers, I can attest to the falsity of the myth, and that this family has not only been prosecuted by the government but persecuted by them. This Family of Mine shows the humanity and tragedy of this family, and is recommended reading for anybody with an open mind about the Gottis and who they really are.

This is probably the best and most honest knowledge we will ever have about John Gotti so we have to go with it. I was always fascinated with him and the Mob so I was glad when this book came out. I trust her stories and recollections and appreciated her letting us into the personal side of John Gotti.

I did kind of get the feeling that she isn't too crazy about law enforcement agencies and while that doesn't surprise me---I have also always felt that if you don't give the police or the law any reason to, they won't come looking for you. On the other hand, she doesn't deny that her father was a mobster. She just feels that law enforcement is a more organized crime organization than The Mob is---and I suppose in some respects it might be true. Their tactics and methods and sometimes the people within play by the same rules it seems.