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Mob Daughter: The Mafia, Sammy 'The Bull' Gravano and Me!
"It wasn't until I was twelve years old that I knew for certain that my father was a gangster. Even then, I knew not to ask any questions..."
Karen Gravano is the daughter of Sammy 'the Bull' Gravano, one of the Mafia's most feared hitmen. With nineteen confessed murders, the former Gambino Family underboss was John Gotti's right-hand man, and the highest-ranking gangster ever to testify against members of his high-profile crime family. To Karen, though, Sammy Gravano was a sometimes elusive but always loving father figure - he was ever-present at the head of the dinner table and made a living running a construction firm and several nightclubs. But by the age of twelve, Karen knew he was a gangster, and as she grew up, while her peers worried about clothes and schoolwork, she was coming face-to-face with crime and murder. She was nineteen when her father turned his back on the Mafia and cooperated with the Feds, which left her family broken and living in fear of retaliation - this is the compelling true account of her life as a Mob daughter.
Karen Gravano is the daughter of Sammy 'the Bull' Gravano, one of the Mafia's most feared hitmen. With nineteen confessed murders, the former Gambino Family underboss was John Gotti's right-hand man, and the highest-ranking gangster ever to testify against members of his high-profile crime family. To Karen, though, Sammy Gravano was a sometimes elusive but always loving father figure - he was ever-present at the head of the dinner table and made a living running a construction firm and several nightclubs. But by the age of twelve, Karen knew he was a gangster, and as she grew up, while her peers worried about clothes and schoolwork, she was coming face-to-face with crime and murder. She was nineteen when her father turned his back on the Mafia and cooperated with the Feds, which left her family broken and living in fear of retaliation - this is the compelling true account of her life as a Mob daughter.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 11, 2012
156 people are currently reading
1420 people want to read
About the author
Karen Gravano
4 books27 followersKaren Gravano was born in Brooklyn, New York. She is one of the stars of the VH1 reality TV show Mob Wives, which is about the day-to-day struggles family members are faced with after a loved one is sent to prison. She is also producing a movie based on her family's story, and developing a scripted television series about her wild days living in New York City. Outside of the entertainment business, Karen is putting her experience as an aesthetician and her love for skin care into developing her own line of products.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 255 reviews
February 19, 2012
I bought this book for two reasons. One being that I read her father's book Underboss. The second being that I watch Mob Wives every single Sunday.
I regret buying this book. Its horrible. Sentences are clipped. Thoughts are all over the place. At one point she goes from talking about her family being arrested to her nephew almost drowning. Like wait...what? The first, and really only time, she mentioned fellow cast mate Renee Graziano was when she said "She throws her fathers name around all the time, me and the girls (referring to Ramona and her sister Roxanne) don't do that." Umm HELLO!?? Are you serious right now?? YOU are always the one throwing around the "check my bloodline" "I'm Sammy the Bull's daughter" "Do you know who my father is?" I found her "story" to be extremely hypocritical. She also kept saying how this book wasn't about her father yet how the Mafia affected her life. I saw none of that really. What I saw was someone that was completely confused, reaping in the benefits of being "The Bull's daughter" and someone who enjoyed the lifestyle. Once she was shunned, then all of a sudden she hated it.
Waste of money, waste of my time. Frankly, this book just proved what a hypocrite she is (as if the show didn't make her look like one already). If you want a good Gravano read, read her father's book. At least then you say it's "captivating".
I regret buying this book. Its horrible. Sentences are clipped. Thoughts are all over the place. At one point she goes from talking about her family being arrested to her nephew almost drowning. Like wait...what? The first, and really only time, she mentioned fellow cast mate Renee Graziano was when she said "She throws her fathers name around all the time, me and the girls (referring to Ramona and her sister Roxanne) don't do that." Umm HELLO!?? Are you serious right now?? YOU are always the one throwing around the "check my bloodline" "I'm Sammy the Bull's daughter" "Do you know who my father is?" I found her "story" to be extremely hypocritical. She also kept saying how this book wasn't about her father yet how the Mafia affected her life. I saw none of that really. What I saw was someone that was completely confused, reaping in the benefits of being "The Bull's daughter" and someone who enjoyed the lifestyle. Once she was shunned, then all of a sudden she hated it.
Waste of money, waste of my time. Frankly, this book just proved what a hypocrite she is (as if the show didn't make her look like one already). If you want a good Gravano read, read her father's book. At least then you say it's "captivating".
February 7, 2013
Well. It's certainly not Shakespeare, but I knew that going in. It's not the worst book ever written, and does have some interesting-ish insight on mob life, albeit on a second-grade reading level. The audiobook in particular, read by Gravano herself, is pretty awful. She stumbles over difficult words, and from the way she reads, it sounds like she hasn't finished a book herself for a looooong time.
May 13, 2019
4.5 Stars, so I rounded up to 5 :)
"Karen Gravano is the daughter of Sammy Gravano, once one of the mafia's most feared hit men. With nineteen confessed murders, the former Gambino Crime Family underboss”and John's right-hand man”is the highest ranking gangster ever to turn State's evidence and testify against members of his high-profile crime family. But to Karen, Sammy Gravano was a sometimes elusive but always loving father figure. He was ever-present at the head of the dinner table. He made a living running a construction firm and several nightclubs. He stayed out late, and sometimes he didn't come home at all. He hosted meetings at their house, and had countless whispered conversations with a business associates. By the age of twelve, Karen knew he was a gangster. And as she grew up, while her peers worried about clothes and schoolwork, she was coming face-to-face with crime and murder. Gravano was nineteen years old when her father turned his back on the mob and cooperated with the Feds. The fabric of her family was ripped apart, and they were instantly rejected by the communities they grew up in. This is the story of a daughters struggle to reconcile the image of her loving father with that of a murdering Mafioso, and how, in healing the rift between the two, she was able to forge a new life."
"Karen Gravano is the daughter of Sammy Gravano, once one of the mafia's most feared hit men. With nineteen confessed murders, the former Gambino Crime Family underboss”and John's right-hand man”is the highest ranking gangster ever to turn State's evidence and testify against members of his high-profile crime family. But to Karen, Sammy Gravano was a sometimes elusive but always loving father figure. He was ever-present at the head of the dinner table. He made a living running a construction firm and several nightclubs. He stayed out late, and sometimes he didn't come home at all. He hosted meetings at their house, and had countless whispered conversations with a business associates. By the age of twelve, Karen knew he was a gangster. And as she grew up, while her peers worried about clothes and schoolwork, she was coming face-to-face with crime and murder. Gravano was nineteen years old when her father turned his back on the mob and cooperated with the Feds. The fabric of her family was ripped apart, and they were instantly rejected by the communities they grew up in. This is the story of a daughters struggle to reconcile the image of her loving father with that of a murdering Mafioso, and how, in healing the rift between the two, she was able to forge a new life."
May 20, 2012
I really liked this story. I know some people said that the story jumped around a lot, but I really didn't see it.
Yes, the beginning started off where she eventually ended her story, but that is not so much of a stretch that people should have had a hard time grasping the concept.
Also, I think people need to realize that this is the story told from KAREN'S POINT OF VIEW. That doesn't mean that it is gospel, and I am not 100% positive that everything she claims is truthful, but its still her point of view.
I think she did a great job expressing herself.
I am always leery of reading a "biography" where the person telling the story is always portrayed as an angel. Karen didn't do that here. She tells us about a past where her father wasn't the only criminal in the family, and where her actions would sometimes be portrayed as immoral and/or childish. (that takes guts)
Karen, explains to us that she had expressed an interest in the Mob and a yearning for the respect it granted. So, when her father cooperated she immediately plunged herself down a long road of crime and rebellion.
In the end I felt that she really worked hard to prove that although she is nowhere near perfect, she is trying to turn her life around.
Now, whether or not that is true only time will tell, but I think if she is serious about this then more power to her!
All I know is; it can't be easy living practically your whole life in the limelight. Sooner or later your bound to screw up......and people always love to judge from a distance.
Yes, the beginning started off where she eventually ended her story, but that is not so much of a stretch that people should have had a hard time grasping the concept.
Also, I think people need to realize that this is the story told from KAREN'S POINT OF VIEW. That doesn't mean that it is gospel, and I am not 100% positive that everything she claims is truthful, but its still her point of view.
I think she did a great job expressing herself.
I am always leery of reading a "biography" where the person telling the story is always portrayed as an angel. Karen didn't do that here. She tells us about a past where her father wasn't the only criminal in the family, and where her actions would sometimes be portrayed as immoral and/or childish. (that takes guts)
Karen, explains to us that she had expressed an interest in the Mob and a yearning for the respect it granted. So, when her father cooperated she immediately plunged herself down a long road of crime and rebellion.
In the end I felt that she really worked hard to prove that although she is nowhere near perfect, she is trying to turn her life around.
Now, whether or not that is true only time will tell, but I think if she is serious about this then more power to her!
All I know is; it can't be easy living practically your whole life in the limelight. Sooner or later your bound to screw up......and people always love to judge from a distance.
January 2, 2023
This is the second book I’ve read about mafia since I read a book called “The Mafia Man hits Man’s Daughter. Linda Scrapa, have poured her heart and soul. She was very honest her father’s, kingpin mafia which gangster called him “The grim”. I’ve enjoyed reading similar stories and the book I finished reading is called “Mob Daughter: The Mafia, Sammy the Bull Gravano, and Me!” written by Karen Gravano. I felt this book grabbed you in the beginning and kept you till the end. This story offered great insight into gangster life. I learned a lot about the upside and downside of being born into the Mob life. The story unfolds by the age of twelve, Karen knew her father was a gangster in America, the world-famous mafia man named Sammy the Bull, Her father lived in two worlds. One in which he was a loving and kind father contrasted with the mob world of murder, violence and mob brotherhood. As a result, I’m going to read more similar books that don’t show any graphic violence. I enjoy looking at real photos in the books.
March 30, 2012
Mob Daughter
Karen Gravano
Close your eyes and visualize yourself surrounded by four walls, no windows, cameras all around you and no access to the outside world. Keep your eyes closed, as your world is just a black as what you are seeing at this moment. Imagine your family at home wondering if you were alive, what was happening to you and when they might see you again. The world of mob boss Sammy Gravano was now exactly what I have described but ten times worse. No access to his family, one 15-minute phone call a month, behind a plexa glass window when his wife visited him and his words and movements monitored. Think about the fact that he was shackled and could not even attempt to reach out for her even though he could not because of the gravity of his crimes and his designation as a dangerous criminal.
These are the thoughts and descriptions as Karen, her mother, daughter and her nephew take a long car ride to finally see Sammy under the strict guidelines and rules set out by the prison. Open your eyes and look real hard as for the first time Sammy sees his family in a long time, is no longer in solitary confinement but is in a prison in an undisclosed location. Here is my review and my thoughts of Mob Daughter by Karen Gravano.
As Sammy comes into view what they see and the image is not the one they remember. Gaunt, pale and quite thin his physical appearance would remind anyone of a starved person whose body needed more than just nourishment. His grandchildren looking straight at him one wanting to know more about him the other quiet and subdued as Nicholas asked some very pointed questions of Karen on the ride back to the hotel. Honesty and truths you might not use those words when it comes to Sammy but when Nicholas asked him the hard and fast questions about his life, whether he killed and the definition of Mafia he remained calm and explained. He also explained to him why he never wanted him to wind up where he is and made him promise to follow the rules and stay in school. Family has many definitions and when many immigrants came to our shores they needed jobs and would do anything to protect and care for their families regardless of the consequences or end result. Now, let’s take a look back at the beginning when at age 9 Karen realized that her father was part of the Mafia a much different and larger family than most belong to.
Nine years old and enlightened to the realities of her father’s life. As Karen’s family moves to a different neighborhood in Staten Island she learns the truths about their neighbors, her father and his friends. Glad to attend P.S. 60 she is not thrilled to be transferred to a private a more prestigious school. As she was driving around with her father she learned the identity of his mob boss, Paul Castellano, although that is what he told her. Instead, he explained he was in the same business as this man, which was construction. However, there is much more that this curious and smart young child learned. As her new friend referred to him as a gangster she began thinking this term might apply to her father. Slowly and deliberately, she did learn that on her own and never once faltered, questioned her father’s motives or turned away from him, nor did her mother. Allowing Karen into his world did not prevent her from realizing that things were not always the same when visiting his friends, visiting his clubs and learning the protocol involved when greeting people. At age 12 she realized the truth, as one night would bring it all into focus. Asking for a simple sleepover would ordinarily have been no big deal but the events of that night changed everything as one man wound up dead, the end result would put her father in harms way. Learning the definition of Mafia and seeing it in full swing is not the same. Hearing her father’s private conversations, witnessing certain events would bring it all into focus for Karen. Families came to visit but rarely did his father’s friends come alone as one night her father sent her along with her mother and brother back to Staten Island after realizing that a murder was committed and that her father was at the center of what would happen next. Framed for two murders that he did not commit, having to make ends meet for his family did not stop him from taking matters into his own hands, committing crimes and doing as he said after Frank Fiala was found dead, what he had to do.
Sharing the story of how her parents met, their courtship, family reactions and grandparents allows the reader to relive along with Karen the family’s history. Called the Cosa Nostra, many of the families in her neighborhood were part of the Mafia even though her grandparents were not. Cosa Nostra as Sammy defines is Italian for “Our Thing.”
An article about her father in the paper would spell it out. In 1985 he was arrested for tax evasion and money laundering with her uncle in connection with the murder of Fiala. Next her father’s closest friend Stymie was gunned down and at the funeral Karen would learn her father’s new status. Paul Castellano was the next hit and he was the Cap di tuttucapi or the boss of all bosses but when someone wanted you dead it did not matter who you are or where. Learning more about her grandparents, her father’s youth and what led him to become a gangster enlightens the reader and helps you understand the respect he received and the frustration she felt and the family too every time they had to move. Now, as Underboss under John Gotti her father’s position changed and his responsibilities too. Before he was killed he took out someone who wanted him dead. Going from the Colombo family to the Gambino was a step up. Learning who ordered the hit on his friend Frankie angered him. Moving from their huge house in Todt Hill upsetting to Karen but no choice to her father. When the landscape architect of his new house tried to cheat him you can only guess the end result.
But, the story has much more as Karen and her brother learned some very hard lessons and when things were out of control and John Gotti betrayed him instead of going along he decided to testify against him. Going against Gotti should have been a death sentence. Both men placed in the same jail cell and one man not going to back down no matter what. When Sammy decided to become as they say a Rat Karen was enraged and his wife Debra did not support his decision. The end result was not what you would expect and the outcomes became tragic. More lives were lost, many more went to jail and Karen at the age of 19 rebelled. Deciding his fate and his decision would change the lives of many in his family as Karen went into selling weed and other drugs. Along with some of her friends she made it into a lucrative business after closing her flower shop. Her father bought her a flower shop, which was watched by the FBI and caused his arrest and much more. The events you need to read by yourself and the end result you will need to decide whether you agree or not for yourself. One family ripped apart because of one man’s decision to be who he wants to be. One man who took the rap for others and is now serving more time than he should as documents were withheld and information still needs to come to light. As Karen meets Dave, have her daughter Karina and winds up in jail herself, the fear was a wakeup call and her mother fell prey to it too accused of supplying the money for the operation for the Ecstasy drug ring. The final realities will definitely shock the reader as Karen does her own 360 and what she is doing well you need to learn that when you watch Mob Wives and find out about her other enterprises when you read this honest account of her life as a Mob Daughter. Straightforward, from the heart told in her own voice as you hear her inner most thoughts, feel the anger and understand that when you are part of the Mafia you protect your family and never tell on anyone. So, where are they and what about Sammy: his blood family comes first and she hopes he survives and gets out when all is said and done. Open your eyes and see the world clearly and realize that you don’t want to wind up in a cell with no window and walls. Lessons learned, betrayals, lies and deceits a part of her life and one woman that stands on her own.
Fran Lewis: Reviewer
Karen Gravano
Close your eyes and visualize yourself surrounded by four walls, no windows, cameras all around you and no access to the outside world. Keep your eyes closed, as your world is just a black as what you are seeing at this moment. Imagine your family at home wondering if you were alive, what was happening to you and when they might see you again. The world of mob boss Sammy Gravano was now exactly what I have described but ten times worse. No access to his family, one 15-minute phone call a month, behind a plexa glass window when his wife visited him and his words and movements monitored. Think about the fact that he was shackled and could not even attempt to reach out for her even though he could not because of the gravity of his crimes and his designation as a dangerous criminal.
These are the thoughts and descriptions as Karen, her mother, daughter and her nephew take a long car ride to finally see Sammy under the strict guidelines and rules set out by the prison. Open your eyes and look real hard as for the first time Sammy sees his family in a long time, is no longer in solitary confinement but is in a prison in an undisclosed location. Here is my review and my thoughts of Mob Daughter by Karen Gravano.
As Sammy comes into view what they see and the image is not the one they remember. Gaunt, pale and quite thin his physical appearance would remind anyone of a starved person whose body needed more than just nourishment. His grandchildren looking straight at him one wanting to know more about him the other quiet and subdued as Nicholas asked some very pointed questions of Karen on the ride back to the hotel. Honesty and truths you might not use those words when it comes to Sammy but when Nicholas asked him the hard and fast questions about his life, whether he killed and the definition of Mafia he remained calm and explained. He also explained to him why he never wanted him to wind up where he is and made him promise to follow the rules and stay in school. Family has many definitions and when many immigrants came to our shores they needed jobs and would do anything to protect and care for their families regardless of the consequences or end result. Now, let’s take a look back at the beginning when at age 9 Karen realized that her father was part of the Mafia a much different and larger family than most belong to.
Nine years old and enlightened to the realities of her father’s life. As Karen’s family moves to a different neighborhood in Staten Island she learns the truths about their neighbors, her father and his friends. Glad to attend P.S. 60 she is not thrilled to be transferred to a private a more prestigious school. As she was driving around with her father she learned the identity of his mob boss, Paul Castellano, although that is what he told her. Instead, he explained he was in the same business as this man, which was construction. However, there is much more that this curious and smart young child learned. As her new friend referred to him as a gangster she began thinking this term might apply to her father. Slowly and deliberately, she did learn that on her own and never once faltered, questioned her father’s motives or turned away from him, nor did her mother. Allowing Karen into his world did not prevent her from realizing that things were not always the same when visiting his friends, visiting his clubs and learning the protocol involved when greeting people. At age 12 she realized the truth, as one night would bring it all into focus. Asking for a simple sleepover would ordinarily have been no big deal but the events of that night changed everything as one man wound up dead, the end result would put her father in harms way. Learning the definition of Mafia and seeing it in full swing is not the same. Hearing her father’s private conversations, witnessing certain events would bring it all into focus for Karen. Families came to visit but rarely did his father’s friends come alone as one night her father sent her along with her mother and brother back to Staten Island after realizing that a murder was committed and that her father was at the center of what would happen next. Framed for two murders that he did not commit, having to make ends meet for his family did not stop him from taking matters into his own hands, committing crimes and doing as he said after Frank Fiala was found dead, what he had to do.
Sharing the story of how her parents met, their courtship, family reactions and grandparents allows the reader to relive along with Karen the family’s history. Called the Cosa Nostra, many of the families in her neighborhood were part of the Mafia even though her grandparents were not. Cosa Nostra as Sammy defines is Italian for “Our Thing.”
An article about her father in the paper would spell it out. In 1985 he was arrested for tax evasion and money laundering with her uncle in connection with the murder of Fiala. Next her father’s closest friend Stymie was gunned down and at the funeral Karen would learn her father’s new status. Paul Castellano was the next hit and he was the Cap di tuttucapi or the boss of all bosses but when someone wanted you dead it did not matter who you are or where. Learning more about her grandparents, her father’s youth and what led him to become a gangster enlightens the reader and helps you understand the respect he received and the frustration she felt and the family too every time they had to move. Now, as Underboss under John Gotti her father’s position changed and his responsibilities too. Before he was killed he took out someone who wanted him dead. Going from the Colombo family to the Gambino was a step up. Learning who ordered the hit on his friend Frankie angered him. Moving from their huge house in Todt Hill upsetting to Karen but no choice to her father. When the landscape architect of his new house tried to cheat him you can only guess the end result.
But, the story has much more as Karen and her brother learned some very hard lessons and when things were out of control and John Gotti betrayed him instead of going along he decided to testify against him. Going against Gotti should have been a death sentence. Both men placed in the same jail cell and one man not going to back down no matter what. When Sammy decided to become as they say a Rat Karen was enraged and his wife Debra did not support his decision. The end result was not what you would expect and the outcomes became tragic. More lives were lost, many more went to jail and Karen at the age of 19 rebelled. Deciding his fate and his decision would change the lives of many in his family as Karen went into selling weed and other drugs. Along with some of her friends she made it into a lucrative business after closing her flower shop. Her father bought her a flower shop, which was watched by the FBI and caused his arrest and much more. The events you need to read by yourself and the end result you will need to decide whether you agree or not for yourself. One family ripped apart because of one man’s decision to be who he wants to be. One man who took the rap for others and is now serving more time than he should as documents were withheld and information still needs to come to light. As Karen meets Dave, have her daughter Karina and winds up in jail herself, the fear was a wakeup call and her mother fell prey to it too accused of supplying the money for the operation for the Ecstasy drug ring. The final realities will definitely shock the reader as Karen does her own 360 and what she is doing well you need to learn that when you watch Mob Wives and find out about her other enterprises when you read this honest account of her life as a Mob Daughter. Straightforward, from the heart told in her own voice as you hear her inner most thoughts, feel the anger and understand that when you are part of the Mafia you protect your family and never tell on anyone. So, where are they and what about Sammy: his blood family comes first and she hopes he survives and gets out when all is said and done. Open your eyes and see the world clearly and realize that you don’t want to wind up in a cell with no window and walls. Lessons learned, betrayals, lies and deceits a part of her life and one woman that stands on her own.
Fran Lewis: Reviewer
July 18, 2016
I almost didn't finish this book. Another reviewer said it first: I hope I don't get whacked for this review.
This is hands down the worst book I've ever read. The coauthor should be ashamed of what was put on the page. The main author has a middling high school education, and it shows. There is no cohesion to the story. The sentences are poorly written. There is liberal use of slang. It's the world the author lives in, but using words like "whacked" makes her look uneducated.
The first third to half of the book is a rehashing of Underboss, but from a secondhand, hindsight point of view. There is a lot of, "My father was acting weird, and it wasn't until years later that I understood that it was because he was planning to whack Tony the Mole."
In the end, the author is just a low class mob brat who parlayed her father's fame into money and notoriety for herself. Save yourself and just read Underboss.
This is hands down the worst book I've ever read. The coauthor should be ashamed of what was put on the page. The main author has a middling high school education, and it shows. There is no cohesion to the story. The sentences are poorly written. There is liberal use of slang. It's the world the author lives in, but using words like "whacked" makes her look uneducated.
The first third to half of the book is a rehashing of Underboss, but from a secondhand, hindsight point of view. There is a lot of, "My father was acting weird, and it wasn't until years later that I understood that it was because he was planning to whack Tony the Mole."
In the end, the author is just a low class mob brat who parlayed her father's fame into money and notoriety for herself. Save yourself and just read Underboss.
September 27, 2018
Yep, another Mob book for me.......really enjoyed this one ~ 4 stars! But I know it's not everyones thing!?!?!? Back in 1997, I read one of the best Mob books - Underboss: Sammy the Bull Gravano's story of life in the mafia. It's to bad they didn't re-release that book on Kindle or unabridged audio because it really is a fascinating look at how the NY mob operated(allegedly) - and I would totally reread it!!
Anyway, Sammy the Bull Gravano had a daughter - and she wrote her own book that came out back in 2013. She is one of the stars of the old TV show, Mob Wives. I actually thought this book was going to be a lot about her personally, and I'll admit I wasn't sure it was going to be that interesting. So I was pleasantly surprised that this was actually a very brief part 2..of the Sammy The Bull story, from her perspective......and super duper interesting to me!!!!!!
The book briefly recaps their life growing up Mafia and touches on her father's business/home life. Then it moves into her father's arrest and what they did as a family when Sammy went to prison and into witness protection. It then picked up where Sammy the Bull's book left off. It went on to give her account of life after 1997 and the charges, etc that happened between her Dad, Mom and brother. It spent only a few minutes on the decade prior to and during mob wives filming - so I can imagine if you are just a mob wives viewer tuning in this book - you might be wondering where the drama is - cause there really isn't any. It is not a book about a TV star. It's a much better down to earth and honest book about her childhood. Karen also narrated it herself on audio and that always makes it better!!!!
Anyway, Sammy the Bull Gravano had a daughter - and she wrote her own book that came out back in 2013. She is one of the stars of the old TV show, Mob Wives. I actually thought this book was going to be a lot about her personally, and I'll admit I wasn't sure it was going to be that interesting. So I was pleasantly surprised that this was actually a very brief part 2..of the Sammy The Bull story, from her perspective......and super duper interesting to me!!!!!!
The book briefly recaps their life growing up Mafia and touches on her father's business/home life. Then it moves into her father's arrest and what they did as a family when Sammy went to prison and into witness protection. It then picked up where Sammy the Bull's book left off. It went on to give her account of life after 1997 and the charges, etc that happened between her Dad, Mom and brother. It spent only a few minutes on the decade prior to and during mob wives filming - so I can imagine if you are just a mob wives viewer tuning in this book - you might be wondering where the drama is - cause there really isn't any. It is not a book about a TV star. It's a much better down to earth and honest book about her childhood. Karen also narrated it herself on audio and that always makes it better!!!!
August 9, 2016
The book is poorly written, jumping from one subject to the next in the same paragraph. The only reason I read it was I watch Mob Wives every week and reality is my weakness. I do have to hand it to Karen, she's brave in showing her face and story of things that she is obviously not proud of. Could I have done the same? I don't know. I do want to read her father, Sammy the Bull's book to compare. I initially gave the book two stars but didn't think that was fair because the story is real and it took a lot of courage to tell it.
April 11, 2012
I passed by this book in the library and figured, why not read it? I honestly thought it was gonna suck, but I was pleasantly surprised. The book isn't about all the female drama that the show portrays, she talks only a little about the show. The book is about exactly what she says it is about, growing up with as a mob daughter and the impact that it had on her family. Well written, intriguing, and a hard to put down. Shout out to Karen!
February 4, 2014
I give it a two only because it's sort of interesting. It is not written very well. It is not edited at all!
Here's an example... one paragraph starts "My father's parents came to America from Italy." The next paragraph says "My father's mother was Caterina but everyone called her Kay. She had been born in the United States..."
That's where I should have stopped. I give Karen credit for trying but that's about it. I feel like a lot of it is sugar coated...and honestly who could blame her. After all her father would be reading this book!
If I had it to do over, I would have skipped this one.
Here's an example... one paragraph starts "My father's parents came to America from Italy." The next paragraph says "My father's mother was Caterina but everyone called her Kay. She had been born in the United States..."
That's where I should have stopped. I give Karen credit for trying but that's about it. I feel like a lot of it is sugar coated...and honestly who could blame her. After all her father would be reading this book!
If I had it to do over, I would have skipped this one.
February 19, 2012
I read this book in 2 days it was amazing and I recommend everyone to read it. Karen is a great person inside and out. I myself am very family oriented so reading this book brought back some good and bad memories. I would love to meet her and tell her how wonderful she is! She deserves all the credit in the world! Great book!! Love you Karen from one aesthetician to another!!
February 26, 2012
The punctuation could of been better yet I enjoyed the book. It focused on her love for her father her point of view as a child. You can feel through the text the love she has for him. You can understand why she is glorified by the power and respect he gained through being an underboss. Loved the book I felt it was real and from the heart.
July 12, 2012
Completely underwhelming and boring. Revealed nothing, I don't even know why she was given a deal. The writing was terrible, the stories were repetitive, the book went nowhere. I found myself skipping through pages just to get to the end. Save your money, you can glean more info searching the internet or watching the show. Better yet, buy her fathers book, Underboss.
July 26, 2016
This was so boring that I couldn't finish it. I even skimmed the rest of it, just in case, but nope: BORING. Luckily, this is a book by the woman on Mob Wives who used the phrase "escape goat," so there's a good chance her ghostwriter did all the work, she can't even read this herself, and she won't put out a hit on me for bashing her glorified Wikipedia entry on her own father.
March 16, 2012
HORRIBLE PERSON! HORRIBLE BOOK! NO CLASS, NO RESPECT, MOST OF ALL NO REMORSE!! This book is trash....This book is terrible..
April 19, 2012
I didn't know what to expect with this book. But I can say I was disappointed in it. She repeated herself a lot.
January 4, 2026
This was an interesting and fun read, as any story around a Gravano always makes for a good one. Growing up with her father who’s an infamous gangster and the former underboss of the Gambino crime family must’ve been difficult. Even though the mafia has only men sworn into cosa nostra and it’s not supposed to have an affect on their families at home, that’s simply not the case. Side note: I read this book along with the audio book with Karen reading the story herself and I must say, she’s a terrible reader and skips over many words and even paragraphs.
March 24, 2019
This book is about a girl who´s father was in the mob. The book showed his and her challanges anad how they are doing now. this book is nonfiction.
December 28, 2023
ms. gravano is certainly no didion or hemingway but her giving us some crazy ass stories is all i can ask for 🙏🏻
June 1, 2025
Awful book aside, it's incredibly funny this was written with someone whose last name is Pulitzer. And you know exactly why.
August 15, 2020
Non-Italians probably don't get this. Legit Italian-Americans, like those without criminal ties, live our lives around this (formerly) secret society. While a lot of people are fans, finding the mob lifestyle glamorous, this book should help dispel their illusions while casting light into the darkest corners of my own community.
Mind you, Karen's book mostly holds onto the standard propaganda of the mob as "victimless" criminals, who only hurt other bad guys. That's the obvious flaw in her logic and thus this book. But she makes very plain the pure greed and treachery at work, how the whole thing is evil.
Because I watched Mob Wives, I was prepared for Karen's accent on the audiobook. I could listen to her say "remawse" over and over. I didn't expect this to be a literary masterpiece and it isn't. Karen is somewhat lacking in self-awareness. But she does explain how her life unfolded and why, which is what I wanted to know. Basically her role, and her eyewitness testimony, carry a cultural value for me that overrides any literary objections.
For example this book answers my #1 question: how did a black man impregnate Sammy's daughter and live to tell? Like it or not, within the Italian-American community --one part of it, anyway--Sammy is an actual hero, the guy who chose HIS family over THE family. So for me, that's golden. And I do feel like she was forthcoming, giving details that don't make any of them look great.
The things that bugged me in this book? The denial about how much damage the mafia really does to society. Karen makes clear how unglamorous and uncool it is when all of your friends and your whole community puts you on a pedestal for your crimes, and then comes for you when you do the right thing. Her discussions of the prison visits, chaos surrounding Sammy's hits, and the murder attempt on her brother make it clear enough to understand this is not a good life.
She paints Sammy as a straight-shooter (LOL) with a great work ethic, a guy her mother could trust implicitly. That alone makes him a romantic hero in Italian-America, no shit. Famously not into whoring around, Sammy ran multiple legit businesses and covered his kids' backs 100 percent. He's the real-life Fabio on that level, for those of us who live with Italian men. Sammy served and protected his family perfectly.
So Sammy insists she open a flower shop right out of high school. Good for him. I have to wonder on what terms he bought the prior owners out, right? Because the mob never, ever pays full price. If they pay at all. Karen had zero knowledge of flowers, but her business still prospered because everybody wanted to be on Sammy's good side. What about people who love flowers and dream all their lives of owning their own shop? Who would dare shop from them instead of Sammy?
Similarly when her dad's construction company ran into a problem, she credited Sammy's great work ethic (which I agree, I weirdly respect Sammy a lot) with his ability to order the labor unions around. Again, what about people who join a labor union in order to be empowered in their workplace? What does the mafia's agenda have to do with them? Why should that be okay with the legit people of the world? Karen doesn't get that.
But she does answer my question about how Dave didn't get killed for blacking while impregnating Karen. I will probably listen to this again, both to enjoy Karen's accent and get a better handle on the actual crimes, like who was on which crew and murdered who. I really kind of don't care about all of that. But the more I grasp the individual characters, the more interesting the plot can become.
Another person to watch on YouTube if you want to understand the mob from its social implications is John Alite. Alite is an Albanian-American who rose very high in the Gambino organization. Like Sammy, Alite is nice looking, stays in shape, has a great work ethic, not too much of a hothead, and understands that the mafia is all about greed, pure and simple. If he were ethnically Italian he would have owned them, he and Sammy would possibly have had to kiil each other. Anyway his story is another fascinating example of turning on the light in our cultural kitchen and watching the roaches scurry away.
Mind you, Karen's book mostly holds onto the standard propaganda of the mob as "victimless" criminals, who only hurt other bad guys. That's the obvious flaw in her logic and thus this book. But she makes very plain the pure greed and treachery at work, how the whole thing is evil.
Because I watched Mob Wives, I was prepared for Karen's accent on the audiobook. I could listen to her say "remawse" over and over. I didn't expect this to be a literary masterpiece and it isn't. Karen is somewhat lacking in self-awareness. But she does explain how her life unfolded and why, which is what I wanted to know. Basically her role, and her eyewitness testimony, carry a cultural value for me that overrides any literary objections.
For example this book answers my #1 question: how did a black man impregnate Sammy's daughter and live to tell? Like it or not, within the Italian-American community --one part of it, anyway--Sammy is an actual hero, the guy who chose HIS family over THE family. So for me, that's golden. And I do feel like she was forthcoming, giving details that don't make any of them look great.
The things that bugged me in this book? The denial about how much damage the mafia really does to society. Karen makes clear how unglamorous and uncool it is when all of your friends and your whole community puts you on a pedestal for your crimes, and then comes for you when you do the right thing. Her discussions of the prison visits, chaos surrounding Sammy's hits, and the murder attempt on her brother make it clear enough to understand this is not a good life.
She paints Sammy as a straight-shooter (LOL) with a great work ethic, a guy her mother could trust implicitly. That alone makes him a romantic hero in Italian-America, no shit. Famously not into whoring around, Sammy ran multiple legit businesses and covered his kids' backs 100 percent. He's the real-life Fabio on that level, for those of us who live with Italian men. Sammy served and protected his family perfectly.
So Sammy insists she open a flower shop right out of high school. Good for him. I have to wonder on what terms he bought the prior owners out, right? Because the mob never, ever pays full price. If they pay at all. Karen had zero knowledge of flowers, but her business still prospered because everybody wanted to be on Sammy's good side. What about people who love flowers and dream all their lives of owning their own shop? Who would dare shop from them instead of Sammy?
Similarly when her dad's construction company ran into a problem, she credited Sammy's great work ethic (which I agree, I weirdly respect Sammy a lot) with his ability to order the labor unions around. Again, what about people who join a labor union in order to be empowered in their workplace? What does the mafia's agenda have to do with them? Why should that be okay with the legit people of the world? Karen doesn't get that.
But she does answer my question about how Dave didn't get killed for blacking while impregnating Karen. I will probably listen to this again, both to enjoy Karen's accent and get a better handle on the actual crimes, like who was on which crew and murdered who. I really kind of don't care about all of that. But the more I grasp the individual characters, the more interesting the plot can become.
Another person to watch on YouTube if you want to understand the mob from its social implications is John Alite. Alite is an Albanian-American who rose very high in the Gambino organization. Like Sammy, Alite is nice looking, stays in shape, has a great work ethic, not too much of a hothead, and understands that the mafia is all about greed, pure and simple. If he were ethnically Italian he would have owned them, he and Sammy would possibly have had to kiil each other. Anyway his story is another fascinating example of turning on the light in our cultural kitchen and watching the roaches scurry away.
June 20, 2023
I have no words to describe how I felt throughout reading Mob Daughter: The Mafia, Sammy "The Bull" Granavno, and Me! For a person who seemed to like keeping her private life private, she opened up and shared her life as much as possible.
I could not put her story down once I began.
I could not put her story down once I began.
March 8, 2012
“MobDaughter” by Karen Gravano with Lisa Pulitzer, published by Ft. Martin’s Press.
Category – True Crime
Karen Gravano was living the “life” of “lifestyle”. This is another way of saying that her family was part of the “Mafia” or the “Cosa Nostra”.
Karen’s father was Sammy the Bull Gravano. Sammy held several distinctions; he was one of the most feared hit men with at least nineteen murders to his name, and he became the highest ranking gangster to turn State’s evidence against the organization.
Karen tells what it was like growing up in a family that seemed normal on the outside but kept a deep inner secret. Although Karen’s mother attempted to keep the secret from her children, Karen and her brother knew that they were different. They lived a very privileged life where money was no object. Their father, Sammy, although owning several “legitimate” businesses was totally tied into the Gambino and Gotti families.
The Gravano family starts to fall apart when Sammy decides, in his own best interest, to turn on John Gotti.
Karen gives a vivid description of what it was like to leave this type of life, and she found it a very difficult that caused her to continue, in small part, in the footsteps of her father.
This is a read that will be enjoyed by those who like True Crime and stories concerning the Mafia. This will also be of interest to those who watch “Mob Wives” because Karen and her friends are part of that series.
Category – True Crime
Karen Gravano was living the “life” of “lifestyle”. This is another way of saying that her family was part of the “Mafia” or the “Cosa Nostra”.
Karen’s father was Sammy the Bull Gravano. Sammy held several distinctions; he was one of the most feared hit men with at least nineteen murders to his name, and he became the highest ranking gangster to turn State’s evidence against the organization.
Karen tells what it was like growing up in a family that seemed normal on the outside but kept a deep inner secret. Although Karen’s mother attempted to keep the secret from her children, Karen and her brother knew that they were different. They lived a very privileged life where money was no object. Their father, Sammy, although owning several “legitimate” businesses was totally tied into the Gambino and Gotti families.
The Gravano family starts to fall apart when Sammy decides, in his own best interest, to turn on John Gotti.
Karen gives a vivid description of what it was like to leave this type of life, and she found it a very difficult that caused her to continue, in small part, in the footsteps of her father.
This is a read that will be enjoyed by those who like True Crime and stories concerning the Mafia. This will also be of interest to those who watch “Mob Wives” because Karen and her friends are part of that series.
September 28, 2012
Not at all as bad as I thought it might be.Not alot of talk about her dad as a cold blooded killer,just how he was as a dad and he seemed pretty nice to his children.He was a killer because that was the business he chose.She did have many advantages of being a mob daughter like her dad buying her a florist shop when she was 18 which immediately became the 'go-to" spot for mob funerals,weddings,christenings etc if you were in that life you went to her shop. I don't feel bad for anything she or any memebers of her family have gone through and I certainly will never understand how after her dad basically got a pass for 19 murders he gets the whole family involved in an ecstasy running business,which the daughter plays down BTW..Anyway it sounds like this Gravano has her act together and never seemed to use her name to get ahead in anyway.If I were her dad I may have ratted also.John Gotti went above and beyond what was acceptable in trying to control Sammy Gravano.You'll have to read the book to see what made Sammy The Bull turn informant.It benefitted him,sure,but his great friend John Gotti was eventually going to have him taken out-whacked.Only the strong survive although Sammy survives with Graves Disease in some Arizona prison solitary confinement. It's a 2 sit down read.
March 7, 2012
I've always had an interest in the mob and have read a few books on that topic. It was refreshing to read a book about the mob from the daughter's point of view. You could tell by reading Karen's book how difficult it was growing up knowing there was something going on in your father's life but too afraid to ask questions. I also felt Karen's pain not only when her father got in trouble with the feds, but when he agreed to cooperate. She respected him and understood the rules of being in the mob and she couldn't understand why he would do such a thing. It was hard to read how her father returned to prison and the guilt she must live with every day.
I wish the book had been put together a bit better. It seemed to be a lot of Karen's memories just thrown together without much consistency. For example in one paragraph she tells us of her grandfather's passing and in the next paragraph he is alive and she is sharing another memory. The flow of the book was just off. But I could tell that Karen was honest with her life stories and she held nothing back.
I wish the book had been put together a bit better. It seemed to be a lot of Karen's memories just thrown together without much consistency. For example in one paragraph she tells us of her grandfather's passing and in the next paragraph he is alive and she is sharing another memory. The flow of the book was just off. But I could tell that Karen was honest with her life stories and she held nothing back.
Read
July 18, 2012this was a very enlightening book into the life of what people of this life style go through. I feel like I learned a lot. I see values in the way she was raised and how she speaks in the book is very encouraging. I'm happy that she was able to let go of all the anger and try to move on positively with her life. and I'm a huge fan and will probably buy any product for skin she comes out with cause I think it will be amazing. I admire her on so many levels after reading her story and all that she had to go through to becoming the person she is today. she is a strong woman. and I strive to have strength and wisdom like her when I'm her age. and now I'm gonna go look up her brothers sauce on the Internet.
February 14, 2013
this book is an easy read. not one of my favorites. wasn't one of the best well written books I've read but not one of the worst either.
I decided to read this books for a few reasons. one im a fan of mob wives..two I am intrigued by mob stories..and three I wanted to see if my view of karen changed. on mob wives karen, well let's just be honest comes off as a bitch. while her book does bring out a softer shall we dare say relatable side to her I just found her to be even more obnoxious. and basically I didn't read anything new that I didn't hear on mob wives or in the news or that hasn't already been read. if you want a fast read then I say this book will do the job.
comparing mob daughter to this family of mine: growing up gotti my vote goes to growing up gotti.
I decided to read this books for a few reasons. one im a fan of mob wives..two I am intrigued by mob stories..and three I wanted to see if my view of karen changed. on mob wives karen, well let's just be honest comes off as a bitch. while her book does bring out a softer shall we dare say relatable side to her I just found her to be even more obnoxious. and basically I didn't read anything new that I didn't hear on mob wives or in the news or that hasn't already been read. if you want a fast read then I say this book will do the job.
comparing mob daughter to this family of mine: growing up gotti my vote goes to growing up gotti.
April 26, 2012
Let's be honest...she isn't Tolstoy. That being said, it is a very interesting, quick and easy read. You can definitely sense that this story is in her own words...she wasn't influenced by anyone in the "lifestyle" and wrote the truth. Although she had a ghostwriter you can't tell. I thought that she did a great job explaining her father's actions. You see a human side of Sammy Gravano and I personally ended up liking him at the end of the book. Definitely a must-read for all Mob Wives fans.
May 8, 2012
I chose to read this book as a fan of VH1's Mob Wives. Unfortunately, I was extremely disappointed with the writing, which made it extremely hard to continue to power through to the next chapter. The book gave very little detail on her "mob" life, which is already known, if you are watching the show. Honestly, if you want to know about Sammy the Bull, his bosses and hits, and the ecstasy ring in AZ, google it, because you will find more information there then in the book.
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