The Sunday Macaroni Club: A Novel

by Steve López

"It’s a city of bottom feeders. With no bottom." Assistant District Attorney Lisa Savitch has a problem. Her boss wants her to nail the Sunday Macaroni Club-five remnants of the old political machine led by Augie Sangiamino, a former U.S. Senator with a conviction for fraud, now a political consultant. Why are these has-beens so important when there are children in Philadelphia dying of leukemia in the vicinity of an oil refinery? As for Augie, it's like he says at grace on "We thank you, Lord, for this wonderful macaroni dinner. But we could use a little help, to tell you the truth, in this campaign." His two candidates are way behind in the polls, and he needs a miracle, divine or otherwise, to reverse the trend. Miracles, of course, cost money, and that's where the Sunday Macaroni Club dives into a glorious-and usually hilarious-carnival of greed, ambition, and self-preservation. Its hoorifying politics are democracy in America, and few people understand those better than Steve Lopez or have more fun painting them large. The characters of The Sunday Macaroni Club spill off the page with a furious energy and unexpected decency-by turns appalling, alluring, and endearing, they are altogether unforgettable.

Genres: Fiction, Novels

384 pages, Hardcover

First published June 2, 1997

About the author

Steven M. López (born 1953) is an American journalist who has been a columnist for The Los Ángeles Times since 2001. He is the son of Spanish and Italian immigrants.

(wikipedia)

Reviews

[Dave Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly engaging novel set in 1990's Philadelphia, more of the "old-school" city on the cusp of the more modern place where I've lived and worked for over 12 years now. Political machinations and schemes of all kinds abound: bribes, illegal campaign contributions, covering up environmental pollution. They're all intertwined through some fairly broad, almost caricature-y characters, though with detail and colorful backstories lavished upon nearly all of them. The book opens with Diane Savitch, although she's not really the main character, and we come to know so many on both sides of the blurry line between law enforcement figures and criminals. The titular club of crooked yet somehow noble South Philly politicians (and politician-adjacent hangers-on) ends up at the center, its makeup altered at the novel's conclusion but unrepentant and largely unreformed, old-school to the end.

[Robert Kope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Torn between 3-4 stars, so i'll give it up. Unique to say the least, and very entertaining. Dragged and got repetitive (or lazy?) at times but well worth the read due to how good it was per genre.

[Belinda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I always finish a book once started but th
is one was a struggle.

[George Cahlink]

First

[Stefanie Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

""

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you didn't know that these guys were based on real Philadelphia politicos, wise-guys and the assorted wannabes of both, it would only be a little less funny. Lopez describes scenes that you know happened, in a way that doesn't make you want to be there, as much as make you want to tell people you were there.
It's all very "inside", but too real to be dismissed as caricature. There are probably guys in your city that you will think are guys you know, thanks to the personality of Lopez's writing.

[Wendy Wilkins Valdez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt like I was reading today's headlines with this book!! It was amazing how many things it had within its storyline that are current and ongoing problems (corrupt AG, local politicians, ward bosses, etc.) I was surprised to see it was written 20 years ago - showing that in Philly (and PA) nothing at all really changes despite their rallying cries.

[Doreva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny book; filled with local Philadelphia color. It had me chuckling on the train. Fair warning: the book reveals some typical inner-city prejudices and the coarse language that goes along with them - this book is not for kids.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just fun to read.

[Devalina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the dialogue and the Philadelphia scenery but that's pretty much it. Disappointing read since Third and Indiana was so good.

[Adina · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book started well but then I lost interest. Too trite, too many Philly stereotypes. Didn't finish it.

[Cara Bregy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed that it was set in Philly. so a nice home feel to it. the story was not bad, but sometimes it felt like a chunck of the story was missed.

[Barbara Gavin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good beach read.

[Robin Straight · Rating 1 out of 5]

Slow slow slow moving book!! I felt the whole book could have been written in 150 pages...I didn't get attached to characters till page 200. I don't recommend!

[Mary]

from Uncle Brian

[Mel · Rating 1 out of 5]

boring! read all the way to page 60 & it never caught my attention