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Divorced from the Mob: My Journey from Organized Crime to Independent Woman
Andrea Giovino breaks the Mafia's code of silence and describes the life of a woman born and bred into the Family, and her inspirational escape. Her defiant struggle to break free of her family's criminal legacy is by turns horrifying and heartbreaking. As a child in Brooklyn, Giovino watched her brother become a hit man and helped her mother host card games for local mafiosos. As a sexy, street-smart woman, she earned a seat at nightclub tables next to John Gotti, and took an emotional and bloody ride through organized crime that no HBO series could match. At home, she fought to keep her children safe—keeping the guns out of reach, washing bloodstains out of her husband's clothes—and maintain the household's front as a model of American domesticity. Murders, a DEA setup, and FBI wiretaps finally brought Giovino to the brink of prison. Defiantly, she chose to retain her identity, facing down threats against her life and courageously separating herself and her children from the world of organized crime.
270 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
April 19, 2009
Relatively interesting story, godawful writing. You can tell that she's in therapy because every few pages she inserts commentary about her story, attempting to explain or justify why she didn't realize that her actions would have consequences or that "normal people" didn't engage in such activities.
I'm interested enough to have picked up the book - you don't have to convince me of anything, just tell your damn story without needless interruptions. The caliber of the writing flopped around a lot too - I assume because she had help writing it. But still, if I can tell where you left off and your ghostwriter began, that's not a good thing.
The story was somewhat interesting; it wasn't difficult to see how she ended up tangled in the mob after reading about her early life and family. A little window into how things in that world work; how enemies are dispatched, financial problems solved, and families protected. But mostly it all just sank under the crappy writing and pleas for public understanding.
I'm interested enough to have picked up the book - you don't have to convince me of anything, just tell your damn story without needless interruptions. The caliber of the writing flopped around a lot too - I assume because she had help writing it. But still, if I can tell where you left off and your ghostwriter began, that's not a good thing.
The story was somewhat interesting; it wasn't difficult to see how she ended up tangled in the mob after reading about her early life and family. A little window into how things in that world work; how enemies are dispatched, financial problems solved, and families protected. But mostly it all just sank under the crappy writing and pleas for public understanding.
January 10, 2011
The title is slightly misleading, as none of the author's family or husbands were actually IN the mob. They were more... mob-adjacent. Still, they were quite plainly a bunch of thieves, murderers, drug addicts and dealers, and all around great guys. What's the difference between a corporate executive and these mob-adjacent guys? A hyphen! HAH!
The other half of the title (Independent Woman) is also misleading because she's not - when the book ends, she is waiting for the trial(s) that she sang for, with bills piling up, having been relocated by the government. The book ends without us learning HOW she is going to support her four children or what exactly her "independence" looks like.
This reads a bit like the life story of that friend of yours who keeps going out with bad guys who cause her nothing but trouble yet she just. keeps. finding. them. It's interesting in a "Thank GOD I'm not that dumb," type of way.
I would very much consider this a "Go Ask Alice" for anyone who thinks those Gotti boys are "cute."
The other half of the title (Independent Woman) is also misleading because she's not - when the book ends, she is waiting for the trial(s) that she sang for, with bills piling up, having been relocated by the government. The book ends without us learning HOW she is going to support her four children or what exactly her "independence" looks like.
This reads a bit like the life story of that friend of yours who keeps going out with bad guys who cause her nothing but trouble yet she just. keeps. finding. them. It's interesting in a "Thank GOD I'm not that dumb," type of way.
I would very much consider this a "Go Ask Alice" for anyone who thinks those Gotti boys are "cute."
December 29, 2017
This was an okay memoir of a woman connected to the mob. She told a lot about her early life with a dysfunctional family and how it set her on the path to dating connected men. She says a lot of "there was no excuse for my actions, but this is how I saw it at the time." Unfortunately, that read a lot like excuses for her actions. She did not seem to hold back details from events, but then stopped the book abruptly leading up to her trial. Lots of little things lacking here and there, but I still enjoyed the read.
July 13, 2012
As soon as the book started with "I'm not writing this book because I'm proud of what I have done, and although I didn't see it then I know now that I had other ways to get out of poverty..." I had to stop.
Why is it that publishing companies allow uneducated, boring mental cases and as in this case murderers profit form "telling their story"; as if they had not done enough bad we allow them to glamorize crime. Oh what! Because they publish what sells and will make them money!
Yes, guilty. I did pick up the book but only because it was free! :)
Why is it that publishing companies allow uneducated, boring mental cases and as in this case murderers profit form "telling their story"; as if they had not done enough bad we allow them to glamorize crime. Oh what! Because they publish what sells and will make them money!
Yes, guilty. I did pick up the book but only because it was free! :)
March 26, 2016
I thought this book could have been better ! The title makes no sense because she never became an independent woman . Andrea lived the life of crime through the men she dated. Even gets arrested an puts her kids through a lot of stress. She never learned from her mistakes . Always wanted easy money .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2023
The copy editing could have been better... sometimes the narrative was almost like it was a transcription of a conversation rather than a written narrative. Names were misspelled, then a few paragraphs later spelled correctly. I am glad the author made it to the other side and kudos to her for having the fortitude to undertake telling her story.
October 3, 2009
interesting read about the mob. didn't really like the ending.
did like the comment she quote she wrote about living in a cul-de-sac, you can look at it as a dead end or as a great place to turn around!
did like the comment she quote she wrote about living in a cul-de-sac, you can look at it as a dead end or as a great place to turn around!
January 1, 2020
Interesting. Nothing great about it. Just okay. It may be one of those books that if I look back in a few years, I won't even remember what it was about beyond the description I can read on the cover.
August 22, 2024
I came across this by chance in the library. It interests me how people react to their life environments, especially those from childhood, and in that respect, Andrea's story is an interesting case study. However, I gave up 3/4 of the way in because it became just so much drama (and my brain got supremely tired of the vulgar language), and she doesn't seem to really have learned from her experiences. It galled me that she had no trouble spending drug money as a way of anesthetizing her emotional pain. I'm not sure of the end of her story, but I truly hope she has gotten on a better life path.
The copyediting for this book is abysmal. In fact, in the library copy I read, previous readers were correcting the missing words and grammar!
The copyediting for this book is abysmal. In fact, in the library copy I read, previous readers were correcting the missing words and grammar!
November 13, 2024
Wow! What a life Andi has led! In some instances she acknowledges her own responsibility for her actions, and in other instances engages in Mom-bashing. In any case, she was (and is) very brave to take the final legal actions against the advice of family, friends and attorneys.
Excellent narration by Barbara Rosenblat! She has the rough voice, Brooklyn accent, and inflections you would expect!
Excellent narration by Barbara Rosenblat! She has the rough voice, Brooklyn accent, and inflections you would expect!
September 13, 2017
Very interesting story.
March 8, 2018
(Audible) Quite an interesting idea as we rarely get to hear from the wives of mobsters and how they get sucked into the dark and murky world of drugs, murder, racketeering etc
May 1, 2018
Amazing read, I couldn’t put it down.
April 14, 2021
Interesting!
November 20, 2024
Was a good read. The story flowed pretty well. Andrea lived in a dysfunctional family, and her story was fascinating.
September 10, 2013
I read the reviews on here and almost decided to not read the book at all. I'm happy, though, that I took a chance with it.
While many are correct, about Giovino not being the strongest writer in the world, she explains early on in the book how limited her legitimate education was.
To those who asked when it became so trendy for every whiny person to get a chance to tell their story, the answer is that memoir writing is different then biography or autobiography writing. It is a narrative of a person's experience, from an autobiographical stance. There are entire degree programs based around it at major colleges around the United States. However, if you don't want to read someone else's story, just avoid the genre all together.
All of that being said, I read the book because I was interested in hearing the story of a life unlike my own, and yet found a lot of connection with Giovino. Listening to her talk about her codependency issues was difficult, because I understood them.
Hate her for the roles she played in things, feel whatever you want about her, or the men she chose to be with...but when you listen to her describe her love for her younger brother, or her doing whatever it took to care for her children in the end...and you have to give her at least the nod of "I didn't walk in your shoes, but I can show you the same compassion you feel toward other people."
Re-reading reviews by others, I once again am curious as to how many of you people actually read the book. "You can tell she's in therapy because ____" I could tell she was in therapy because she states it...repeatedly.
While many are correct, about Giovino not being the strongest writer in the world, she explains early on in the book how limited her legitimate education was.
To those who asked when it became so trendy for every whiny person to get a chance to tell their story, the answer is that memoir writing is different then biography or autobiography writing. It is a narrative of a person's experience, from an autobiographical stance. There are entire degree programs based around it at major colleges around the United States. However, if you don't want to read someone else's story, just avoid the genre all together.
All of that being said, I read the book because I was interested in hearing the story of a life unlike my own, and yet found a lot of connection with Giovino. Listening to her talk about her codependency issues was difficult, because I understood them.
Hate her for the roles she played in things, feel whatever you want about her, or the men she chose to be with...but when you listen to her describe her love for her younger brother, or her doing whatever it took to care for her children in the end...and you have to give her at least the nod of "I didn't walk in your shoes, but I can show you the same compassion you feel toward other people."
Re-reading reviews by others, I once again am curious as to how many of you people actually read the book. "You can tell she's in therapy because ____" I could tell she was in therapy because she states it...repeatedly.
August 9, 2009
I liked this book. I think Giovino's insights into her life of crime are interesting. Some reviews suggested she fails to take responsibility for her actions and uses the book as a ploy for sympathy, but I didn't read it that way at all. In fact, I think she works very hard to not feel sorry for herself--and to ensure that the reader doesn't either. She does, however, also attempt to explain where she was coming from in those years--how she got to be who she was, and I think that's the part that's most interesting. How does a woman become so wrapped up in that world that the difference between right and wrong dissolves and blurs so thoroughly as to allow her to look the other way at the murder of another human being? Andrea Givino explains that--and it makes sense, and I think that's what makes her story so compelling.
February 10, 2014
Andrea Giovino's life is interesting. She is raised by parents who place more emphasis on gambling than on putting any food in their ten children's mouths. That where Andrea comes in. Her mother, Dolly, makes her at six years old, steal food left at restaurant doors for delivery.
Her life is tough from the start. Her defense in life becomes an attitude that doesn't put up with anything.
And yet, man after man manages to humiliate her and treat her poorly. She can't figure out why, but she puts up with it time and again.
And partly that is what finally makes the book fall apart; it just becomes the same thing over and over. The book begins to drag. Where it should have been fascinating it just got old.
I felt sorry for Andrea; she tries so hard to look tough and capable but just beneath that layer is a woman who longs for a man who will love her and care for her.v
Her life is tough from the start. Her defense in life becomes an attitude that doesn't put up with anything.
And yet, man after man manages to humiliate her and treat her poorly. She can't figure out why, but she puts up with it time and again.
And partly that is what finally makes the book fall apart; it just becomes the same thing over and over. The book begins to drag. Where it should have been fascinating it just got old.
I felt sorry for Andrea; she tries so hard to look tough and capable but just beneath that layer is a woman who longs for a man who will love her and care for her.v
September 12, 2014
When I first saw this author's name, I immediately recognized it. I saw Andrea's episode of "I Married A Mobster" on Netflix. Her name sticks out because she was the one that successfully extorted money from the government over the situation with Witness Protection...that's difficult to forget.
If you've seen the TV show listed above, reading the book isn't necessary. Andrea's story is interesting, but it's not well written here and doesn't flow properly. The book obviously has a lot more details, but nothing new is learned.
And the epilogue just led me to want to know more.....why do an epilogue like that?! She's leaves out a huge chunk of her life story in a 'f**k you. I'm too busy being a mom to tell you what else happened' kind of way. I figure it has more to do with protecting her family's identity from the witness protection stuff, but I still didn't like it.
If you've seen the TV show listed above, reading the book isn't necessary. Andrea's story is interesting, but it's not well written here and doesn't flow properly. The book obviously has a lot more details, but nothing new is learned.
And the epilogue just led me to want to know more.....why do an epilogue like that?! She's leaves out a huge chunk of her life story in a 'f**k you. I'm too busy being a mom to tell you what else happened' kind of way. I figure it has more to do with protecting her family's identity from the witness protection stuff, but I still didn't like it.
May 5, 2014
Interesting account of the life of a morally-corrupt woman. Her story is actually pretty sad in the fact that she continually justifies her actions and proclaims how great she is as a mother, despite the drugs, crime and violence she was a part of. It is obvious that her early childhood lead her down this path, we can only hope that the cycle does end with her and does not continue with her 4 children fathered by various losers. The audiobook was an entertaining portrayal not unlike listening to an episode of The Sopranos.
January 29, 2015
The thick NY accents in the audiobook held a lot of fascination for me, and the story itself...eh, it's okay. She and her family are mob-adjacent and although she did date a few made guys, she didn't spend much time talking about them. Mostly a memoir of codependence, and like other addiction memoirs, it started to drag. It also started as a therapy journal, but you can only tell every once in a while! Damned with faint praise, I suppose, but I found it pretty listenable. Surely it can't have all been the accents?
June 29, 2013
As a book on tape, this was quite engaging - the narrator did an excellent job with the NY accents. Charts the author's life from childhood in a large dysfunctional Italian family in Brooklyn, through her life with several boyfriends and husbands, many of whom were mob-connected. I enjoyed this book for its ability to take me, in a very personal way, into a world that I would otherwise know very little about.
July 9, 2010
Fascinating look at a life that is so very different from the one I live. This book is similar to Random Family in that it gives you a view of how people are born into a certain life and continue to live it not realizing that they have options. It's scary to think about how many people out there live a life utterly devoid of moral questioning.
March 19, 2012
Awe struck & fascinated by the life of this mob wife and those surrounding her. I found myself asking how things like this happen and continue to happen all around us. Fast paced and well written for a biography, but once again I couldn't finish it because of the harsh language.
December 31, 2008
I would have liked to read more about the 10 years between the last chapter and the epilogue. I guess that means a book 2.....????
July 27, 2009
Interesting summer read (listen, actually), the expected mafioso stuff, but from a woman's point of view.
May 31, 2010
very interesting
July 2, 2011
Nice twist on the true crime book: going straight
October 11, 2011
So interesting to look into someone's vastly different life and upbringing.
January 6, 2015
Not too bad. I listened to the audio book, and it was a great story. Casual in its telling, but great none the less.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews