The Boys of Bensonhurst

by Salvatore La Puma

Seven stories set in prewar Brooklyn, describe the experiences of young men caught between their families, the Church, and the Mob

Genres: Short Stories

136 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1987

Reviews

[Rowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really enjoyed this collection of short stories, circa World War II, about a group of boys from well, Bensonhurst.
they are raised as good Italian boys, usually the first of their generation to be born in America.

gangsters, unemployment, death, first loves and sexual experiences and the shadow of the second world war are all subjects of these well-written, concise stories.

it's a quick but thoughtful read. each story feels like a mini-novel, my favorite way of reading them.

[Dave Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Echoes of Fante and maybe Christ In Concrete, but with its own characters and vision. It’s about the neighborhood and getting out and failing. And your parents. And how hard everybody works, even the criminals, or especially the criminals.

[Veronica Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

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