Mob Daughter: The Mafia, Sammy "The Bull" Gravano, and Me!

I was so into hearing about her life after watching MobWives, she touches on all aspects of life with her family and having "Sammy The Bull" as her father. Very interesting how she's come to terms with her Father's life and the whole Mafia life as a whole. It's apparent she's grown into a smart, beautiful, business woman, and leads a life that is now free from that lifestyle she had grown up with!

I will begin this review by stating up front that I like Karen Gravano. I enjoy her on Mob Wives and had a feeling I would enjoy reading her book. I bought the book, read it and did like it. I enjoyed learning about the Gravano's as a family and receiving insight into what it is like growing up in a home with a father of such notoriety. I think Karen was honest in her words and honest in reporting the conflicted feelings she had about her father, the police and the mob, as she grew from a child to a mature woman. I found the book to have all the elements I expect from a biography - happy parts, sad parts, insightful parts, educational parts and and yes, even some humor. Although many reviewers gave this book a thumbs down, I am giving it a thumbs up. It takes guts to write a book about your life, no matter who you are. Karen gave it a good shot and while doing so, she gives us a little insight into what it is like to live the life of a mob daughter.

I am a fan of Mob Wives and like many, I have always been intrigued with John Gotti and Sammy the Bull (and all things Mob related for that matter). I was in my late teens/early 20's when these two guys were in the spotlight and through the years, I've read books about the rise and fall, also watched movies about Gotti and Sammy the Bull. There were parts of the book that were shown on TV or spoken about before, it is public knowledge but if you didn't follow you wouldn't know so these things needed to be explained. What none of the above books/movies ever talk about is exactly what Karen writes about in the book. Being so close to Karen in age, I've often wondered about how she, her brother and mom were doing through all this and how/why did Sammy end up doing 20 years for drug dealing when he was free from crime and the mob life. I found her life to be very interesting yet extremely stressful. She didn't choose to be part of this lifestyle, she was simply born and raised into it and it is all she ever knew. The book shows Sammy as the father and husband figure we never heard about. How she saw her dad, the relationship she had with him and what she thought about it all. None of this stuff has been spoken about on the TV show and I've never missed an episode, there are lots of brand new things to read about. Yeah the book may have not been written to the expectations of some, but I found it to be real and something I could relate to - the simplicity of telling the story the way Karen did got her point and feelings across and now I understand her family dynamic. Several times throughout the book I felt as if I were able to imagine all she went through and being from the "boroughs" myself, I could easily visualize a lot of streets and places she spoke about. Even when she was discussing Arizona, I could picture it all even though I've never been there. All of this equals a very good book for me. I enjoyed reading and got through it in a day, I just wish it was a little longer so I could look forward to reading some more.

This book was great... the other reviews that say its "all over the place" is ridiculous! Sometimes she starts explaining something that doesnt "fit", but its only to set the stage for what shes about to tell. Obviously these people cant follow complex storytelling. Other reviews also state that she is redundant throughout the book. That is true, but what she repeats always pertains to what shes stating at the time, so it was okay with me. Its not an eloquently written book, but its not supposed to be!! I was very wrapped up in this story and couldnt put the book down! An easy and quick read full of juicy details of the mob life! Ignore the haters and snobs and get the book! Im so glad I did!!

The story was not what I was expecting. I thought it was kind of boring

I was very excited to start reading this book and when I did get my hands on it I couldnt put it down! Karen goes into great detail about her life; from the very begining to her life right now. Yes some of her toughts were a lil scattered but its her first book & besides that it was great. I feel she gave each subject the right amount of time, not going overboard on one thing. I felt like I was right there with her growing up, thru all her struggles. I felt like I could relate in the sense where Karen felt lost, confused & loving the wild life and seeing where she has now ended up defenitley gives others hope. I hope a movie can be made from this!!!! I LOVED THIS BOOK!

The only book I've finished in only ONE DAY! This was AWESOME! I am from NY and am about the same age as Karen. I remember all of the news with Sammy Gravano and today I watch Mob Wives every week. I LOVE Karen and LOVE this book! What a great story. Karen was able to touch on so many aspects of her life and lifestyle. I think she was VERY open and honest about herself and her family. She has come a long way and for that, I salute her. I honestly couldn't put this book down, and it leaves you craving more. I hope her father writes another book. Great Job! Team Karen!

I bought this book after watching Karen on Mob Wives....What a wonderful inside look to her life. You never know what makes a person, but Karen does give you a glimpse as to how she grew up, the situations she was put in, how she dealt with them, and what caused her to be the way she is now. I feel after this book, she's more REAL to people, as she once was an everyday person also, before becoming a reality star. You have to admire her strength, and her no nonsense attitude. Definitly worth the money and the time to read it. I read it in 2 days and wished she had written more.

Great read, an interesting insight to how some live. I really enjoyed this book after watching the tv show. I hope she writes another book.

I was discussing Karen's book with my friend today & we are both reading Victoria G's book too & agreed (with respect) that VG's book was probably slightly more open & easier to write because her father is dead. I think Karen held back on her emotions in this book - she's honest & doesn't sugarcoat or glorify anything - but I sense she'll never show her underbelly because she always has to be the strong one. None of us should really be judging her on the culture & lifestyle that she was born into, or expecting apologies from her for her Dads choices & crimes. I believe they got him & his assets in the end - they made a deal with him on the previous stuff - not her fault or his if that is the way the law worked. How many times can someone be expected to pay for a crime? & you have to have some respect for Karen coming through that & I can understand some of her personal choices after the main event because that is all she really knew or had access to. & while I'm at it - I can't help but respect the original code of the Mafia - it was basic community policing & looking after their own because they had to at a time when they had nothing. Obviously in the end it got too big & greedy for the 'legal' governments liking so they came along & took over. I wasn't a fan of Karen Gravano - & it took me a while to buy this book but I'm so glad I did - well written, informative, facts that can be verified (which I like), you get the history & you get an amazing sense of Sammy as a loving parent, & in my opinion a truly inspirational account of a life in 'the life' & how Karen came through the fallout & aftermath. I still wouldn't call myself a fan but I admire her honesty & finished the book wishing I could give her a hug & hoping that the future is bright for the Gravano family.

Che percezione del crimine organizzato ha la figlia di un killer di professione moderno boss/capitano di ventura? Senza sentimentlismi e incolpamenti all'ingiustiza e le immancabili foglie di fico psico-sociologiche che ci si potrebbero aspettare in una confessione del genere. Lo consiglio come antidoto ai birignao dei nostri canzonettisti terapeuti giornalisti mafiologi. Nessuno ti chiede di entrare nella mafia, ognuno é responsabile delle sue scelte e di quello che fa. Karen -come suo padre - non cerca scuse, ha sempre saputo qual era il prezzo di quel che voleva dalla vita. Come tutti sperava nello sconto...

Just a few weeks ago I started watching Mob Wives. Until I actually watched, I thought, 'ach, just another reality show'. I was hooked from the start. This is a great book that shows the affect one man's actions can have on an entire family. The bottom line, whether you agree or disagree is that Karen writes about her FATHER, not a 'Mafia underboss'. This is her story. It's not been easy, but she has come out on top despite everything and for that I admire her courage, determination, and the opportunity to have an insight into her World and the butterfly effect cause which is so far reaching into so many lives...

I am a big fan of the show, so i could not waite to read it. Once i did start it i could not put it down. I read half the first sitting and had to put it down or i would have finished it in one night..great read. loved,loved,loved the book....great job karen and i am looking forward to the next season of the show.