Sutton

by: J.R. Moehringer
Publisher: Hyperion
Dates Read: October 28 - December 21
Pages: 334
Source: Friend

Why did I read it?
Long story short: I was stranded in the city after riding in in an ambulance with my friend.  A lovely friend of mine picked me up at the hospital in the middle of the night.  I slept at her house for a short time and borrowed a random book since I forgot mine at home in all the commotion.  

Sutton is a piece of fiction the author wrote about a real-life American bank robber.  Willie "The Actor" Sutton is release from prison on Christmas Eve of 1969 on early parole for a life sentence.  A newspaper has bought the rights to his first day out of prison and Sutton spends the entire day travelling around New York City telling him about his life.  

This book is basically one guy's fan fiction for another guy's vaguely known life.  However, I felt it was very well executed.  This book has got love, betrayal, crime and many allusions to classic literature.  While not being the most appropriate book (Canada would probably rate it 14A) it is pretty good.  It kept me on my toes and entertained.  It is not a genre I read often, but I find it refreshing to pick up something a bit darker from time to time.    




Rating: 3.5/5
I more than liked it but I am not sure I would say that I really liked it.  

Recommendation: 
If crime novels are your thing, I would highly recommend this book.  If you are like me and enjoy the occasional "dark" novel, I would also recommend it.  If you are looking for a biographical novel about Willie Sutton, one of America's most notorious bank robbers, you may want to look somewhere else.