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The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1969)

by Jimmy Breslin

Other authors: See the other authors section.

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
327684,829 (3.38)17
Fiction. Humor (Fiction.) HTML:New York Times bestseller: A novel of a messy mob war in Brooklyn that "makes you laugh out loud" (Chicago Sun-Times).
Kid Sally Palumbo has been a loyal servant to the Brooklyn Mafia for years. His specialty is murder, and he is so skilled at it that he has gotten the attention of Mafia boss Papa Baccala. But unfortunately for Kid Sally, murder pays poorly. He wants to make real dough, to get respect, and to be able to tell his colleagues where to sit when they eat dinner. In short, he wants to be boss. The job would be his for the taking—if only Kid Sally weren't a Grade A moron. To keep Sally from stirring up trouble, Baccala tosses him an easy assignment: Organize a bicycle race through Brooklyn, and keep the profits. Kid Sally bungles it, setting off a turf war that quickly engulfs the borough. The dimwitted mobsters are masters in the art of murder, and they are about to put on a show. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Jimmy Breslin including rare photos and never-before-seen documents from the author's personal collection.… (more)
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» See also 17 mentions

English (5)  Spanish (1)  All languages (6)
Showing 5 of 5
not my cup of tea. copping writing style ( )
  kakadoo202 | Jan 27, 2021 |
THE GANG THAT COULDN’T SHOOT STRAIGHT by Jimmy Breslin is one of my all-time favorite reads. I love Breslin’s style - humorous, satirical, ‘pull no punches’ writing. I reread this title as a memoriam to Breslin who died in March, 2017. He was a hard-hitting journalist and a lovely author. He won a Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1986 “for columns which consistently champion ordinary citizens”.
You will chuckle at every page reading about Kid Sally Palumbo and his ‘gang’ of incompetents.
The funniest bit (for me) was the lion in the basement!
THE GANG THAT COULDN’T SHOOT STRAIGHT was published in 1970. One of his first titles was published in 1963 - CAN’T ANYBODY HERE PLAY THE GAME? - his commentary on the New York Mets. A great book, also.
RIP Jimmy Breslin ( )
  diana.hauser | Jul 7, 2017 |
Pretty funny in places. Light fluffy entertainment. ( )
  ndpmcIntosh | Mar 21, 2016 |
Hugely enjoyable, once you accept that everyone is getting what they deserve. I read this once, thirty years ago, and I can still remember Breslin's best lines. ( )
  Coach_of_Alva | Jul 31, 2011 |
A comic novel about the Mafia, an upstart, ambitious, but error-prone crime family and their misadventures trying to take over the Brooklyn organized crime scene. A bike race and an immigrant Sicilian for the love interest are involved, and the whole thing ends in an unexpectedly profound and satisfying wrap-up. ( )
  burnit99 | Dec 31, 2006 |
Showing 5 of 5
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» Add other authors (1 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Jimmy Breslinprimary authorall editionscalculated
Carano, RanieriTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Piñeiro Gonzålez, JaimeTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Fiction. Humor (Fiction.) HTML:New York Times bestseller: A novel of a messy mob war in Brooklyn that "makes you laugh out loud" (Chicago Sun-Times).
Kid Sally Palumbo has been a loyal servant to the Brooklyn Mafia for years. His specialty is murder, and he is so skilled at it that he has gotten the attention of Mafia boss Papa Baccala. But unfortunately for Kid Sally, murder pays poorly. He wants to make real dough, to get respect, and to be able to tell his colleagues where to sit when they eat dinner. In short, he wants to be boss. The job would be his for the taking—if only Kid Sally weren't a Grade A moron. To keep Sally from stirring up trouble, Baccala tosses him an easy assignment: Organize a bicycle race through Brooklyn, and keep the profits. Kid Sally bungles it, setting off a turf war that quickly engulfs the borough. The dimwitted mobsters are masters in the art of murder, and they are about to put on a show. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Jimmy Breslin including rare photos and never-before-seen documents from the author's personal collection.

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