Rating: 
3.5
Book Title: American Gangster (novelization of the motion picture starring Denzel Washington and Russel Crowe)
Number of pages: 286
Price: Php 335
Where you bought it: Fully Booked, Powerplant
Genre: Fiction (It’s based on a true story.)
Book description
Set in the 1960’s where Harlem was the hip and happening drug city in the United States, and where heroin was consumed like water, Frank Lucas rose out of nowhere, becoming the first black man to monopolize the drug scene. Formerly the driver and right hand man of Bumpy Johnson (then the leading mob boss of Harlem), Lucas restructured the hierarchy of power through cool, calm, calculated yet ruthless moves once his boss suddenly died. Lucas ruled the inner city drug trade scene with a purer product at a better price. He even got the US military in Vietnam to smuggle in grade A heroin through body bags of slain soldiers. It was unheard of for a black man–considering the Italian Mafia had dominated the drug scene.
Richie Roberts, a straight laced cop struggling to get through law school, felt a shift of control in the drug world. He firmly believes that someone is climbing the rungs way above the Mafia families, and that the new player has come out of nowhere. Considered as an outcast by his own colleagues for his seemingly too honest ways, Richie stops at nothing to uncover the mystery of who was now controlling the booming drug trade. The destinies of these two men will somehow intertwine, and only one man can emerge victorious.
Involved in a cat and mouse chase for who really was the bad guy will keep you engrossed throughout this short read. In a world that runs on basic black and white rules, this novel underscores the gray—what really is good? What is bad? What really is moral? Each leading character’s logic and idiosyncrasies can dumbfound you and get you thinking about the way you run your own life.
Good points
A look into the history, setting and colorful stories of the taboo drug world in Harlem will certainly keep you engrossed—the lifestyle of drug dealers (hello bling bling!!! fur coats, fancy cars, beautiful women… the works!!), the seedy underworld of cops (what difference does it have in our own system haha) and the sheer desperation of just providing your family with a better life certainly got me through the book.
I also learned a lot from the ways as to how Frank Lucas got to the top—his methods were that of a very smart, cold and ruthless man. To Lucas, business was business, and to get the best people to do the job at a better price—the mantra of any other businessman out there. He did it with so much class, style and discretion, that people didn’t expect that he was the kingpin, the big fish in this illegal trade. Maybe we can all learn a thing or two from him—minus the drugs at least. Haha.
The suspense in the unraveling of events had me sifting through the pages, never wanting to put the book down. Hope you can get to read it to see for yourself! :p
Bad points
The latter part of the book where everything was coming together was a bit weak for me. The build-up was awesome, not much follow through…
Other interesting points
“You couldn’t change the way things were. You had to accept the world as it was and work within it. And make the world work for you.” – Frank Lucas
I really love this line because it can give you a sense of how to see the world in a more positive light. Sh*t happens in life, and the best way to cope is to make the most out of it. Make the world work for you. :) The world is our oyster, guys! It’s up to us how to make it happen, the way Frank Lucas did.
General comments
This book basically contains adult content, complete with graphic curse words and events. It’s a pretty dark book. If you don’t mind reading through that, then you’re in for one hell of a ride. I recommend the book to anyone who wants to get an alternative sense of history—knowing that this book was based on true events appalled and attracted me even more. If you’re ready to dive into a world where morality is gray, and the world is turned upside down in terms of the good, the bad and the ugly, then this book is for you. J I loved how this book challenged the way I thought about the world, and made me reevaluate my own set of values and beliefs (yuck, sounds so reflection paper! Haha.)
The ending was quite ironic and somewhat frustrating. I won’t spoil it for you, you will just have to find out for yourself.
Galileo Galactic Reviews 