City on Fire
Author: Don Winslow
Published by: Harper Collins
Pages: 371
Format: Hardback
My Rating ★★★★
Published by: Harper Collins
Pages: 371
Format: Hardback
My Rating ★★★★
Providence, Rhode Island, 1986.
Twenty-nine-year-old Danny Ryan is a hard-working longshoreman, loving husband, loyal friend, and occasional "muscle" for the Irish crime syndicate that oversees much of the city. He yearns for something more and dreams of starting over fresh, someplace far away.
But when a modern-day Helen of Troy triggers a war between rival mob factions, Danny is embroiled in a conflict he can't escape. Now it is up to him to step into the breach to protect his family, the friends who are closer to him than brothers, and the only home he's ever known.
Twenty-nine-year-old Danny Ryan is a hard-working longshoreman, loving husband, loyal friend, and occasional "muscle" for the Irish crime syndicate that oversees much of the city. He yearns for something more and dreams of starting over fresh, someplace far away.
But when a modern-day Helen of Troy triggers a war between rival mob factions, Danny is embroiled in a conflict he can't escape. Now it is up to him to step into the breach to protect his family, the friends who are closer to him than brothers, and the only home he's ever known.
My thoughts:
A big thank you to Harper Collins for sending me out an early edition of the book and inviting me to take part in the online read-along with Tandem Collective.
This is the first of a trilogy by Don Winslow, an explicit contemporary literary take on The Illiad, Helen of Troy and the Trojan War, exploring the timeless themes of violence, family, love, honour, loyalty and betrayal amongst the Irish and Italian mobsters who have until now co-existed peacefully in Providence, Rhode Island.
The star of the novel is Danny Ryan, whose father once ran the Irish side until drink got the better of him. However, Danny still married into local royalty, as his wife Terri is the daughter of the new boss John Ryan.
The spark that ultimately ignites war is a beautiful woman named Pam, who Winslow compares to that of Helen of Troy and her role in the Trojan war. The minute he saw her, Danny Ryan knew she was going to be trouble.
Winslow begins his epic tale of mafia war with quotations from Homer’s Iliad. And you might think that was bold in terms of comparison, but all of a sudden it becomes clear when you are reading that it is, at its core, a retelling contemporary take on the Trojan war, starting with Helen of Troy and her getting stolen away by a prince who lets his brothers and brothers in law fight his battles while he plays in the boudoir with Helen.
When Pam arrives at the annual clambake attended by both gangs, in the company of Paul Moretti, Liam Murphy immediately sets his sights on her. Somehow, he steals her away and the payback and bloodshed that results from this threatens to destroy both families.
The book starts out a little slow while Winslow sets the scene and gives the history of Ryan and the two mobs. The detailed backstory is essential. I really felt the characters come to life on the page and having such an informed knowledge about each member of the two families made it even more intriguing to see the dynamics shift upon the arrival of Pam, the beautiful unknown woman who Danny first spots emerging from the water on page one.
City on Fire stays true to its crime family roots and delivers what it advertises. This is the first time I've read Winslow and I could not be more impressed. The topic isn't one I’d normally gravitate towards, but it didn't take long to hook me in. The storytelling is tight and not one word is wasted. I very much enjoyed the style and felt emotionally invested throughout my time reading.
The author’s approach to his storytelling feels fearless, unapologetic, gritty, bold, full-of-heart and authentic. His writing is so immersive I could perfectly visualise every scene. It feels very cinematic, and this is a book that could easily be adapted for the screen.
Of course, it doesn't take long for things to go haywire, and the story goes to places I wasn't expecting. With some fascinating twists and turns, City on Fire offers a window into these cultures, communities, and the criminal underworld. City of Fire is greatly entertaining, and I will be looking forward to where things go from here. Winslow has already stated that this is the first of a new trilogy, so I’m very curious to read the next two books once released.
Overall reaction:
A big thank you to Harper Collins for sending me out an early edition of the book and inviting me to take part in the online read-along with Tandem Collective.
This is the first of a trilogy by Don Winslow, an explicit contemporary literary take on The Illiad, Helen of Troy and the Trojan War, exploring the timeless themes of violence, family, love, honour, loyalty and betrayal amongst the Irish and Italian mobsters who have until now co-existed peacefully in Providence, Rhode Island.
The star of the novel is Danny Ryan, whose father once ran the Irish side until drink got the better of him. However, Danny still married into local royalty, as his wife Terri is the daughter of the new boss John Ryan.
The spark that ultimately ignites war is a beautiful woman named Pam, who Winslow compares to that of Helen of Troy and her role in the Trojan war. The minute he saw her, Danny Ryan knew she was going to be trouble.
Winslow begins his epic tale of mafia war with quotations from Homer’s Iliad. And you might think that was bold in terms of comparison, but all of a sudden it becomes clear when you are reading that it is, at its core, a retelling contemporary take on the Trojan war, starting with Helen of Troy and her getting stolen away by a prince who lets his brothers and brothers in law fight his battles while he plays in the boudoir with Helen.
When Pam arrives at the annual clambake attended by both gangs, in the company of Paul Moretti, Liam Murphy immediately sets his sights on her. Somehow, he steals her away and the payback and bloodshed that results from this threatens to destroy both families.
The book starts out a little slow while Winslow sets the scene and gives the history of Ryan and the two mobs. The detailed backstory is essential. I really felt the characters come to life on the page and having such an informed knowledge about each member of the two families made it even more intriguing to see the dynamics shift upon the arrival of Pam, the beautiful unknown woman who Danny first spots emerging from the water on page one.
City on Fire stays true to its crime family roots and delivers what it advertises. This is the first time I've read Winslow and I could not be more impressed. The topic isn't one I’d normally gravitate towards, but it didn't take long to hook me in. The storytelling is tight and not one word is wasted. I very much enjoyed the style and felt emotionally invested throughout my time reading.
The author’s approach to his storytelling feels fearless, unapologetic, gritty, bold, full-of-heart and authentic. His writing is so immersive I could perfectly visualise every scene. It feels very cinematic, and this is a book that could easily be adapted for the screen.
Of course, it doesn't take long for things to go haywire, and the story goes to places I wasn't expecting. With some fascinating twists and turns, City on Fire offers a window into these cultures, communities, and the criminal underworld. City of Fire is greatly entertaining, and I will be looking forward to where things go from here. Winslow has already stated that this is the first of a new trilogy, so I’m very curious to read the next two books once released.
Overall reaction:
