[BOOK REVIEW] Casino: Love And Honor In Las Vegas by Nicholas Pileggi

TITLE: Casino: Love And Honor In Las Vegas
AUTHOR: Nicholas Pileggi
SUBJECT/GENRE: True Crime/Mafia Story
PUBLISHER: Simon & Schuster
NUMBER OF PAGES: 368
PUBLICATION DATE: October 1995

For those who have ever seen the movie "Casino" starring Robert Deniro and Joe Pesci, then this story will be very familiar to you, because this is the story the movie is based on. The names in the movie were changed, so the only difference between the movie and the book, is that the book uses their actual names. The story of Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal, a bookmaker from Chicago working in organized crime, who was sent to Las Vegas with partner Anthony Spilotro in 70's and early 80's to control certain casinos. Rosenthal would supervise the casino while Spilotro and his crew would provide security. They'd skim some money from the Casino and send it back to the big bosses to keep them satisfied. This operation should have ran smoothly and could have even last quite a long time if Frank Rosenthal didn't have an obsession of running the town and Anthony Spilotro didn't act like a maniac in public.

A fued between 2 long time friends, a failed marriage that wasn't really much of a marriage to begin with and plenty of crime and murder is what's to come between these pages. Now at the very least I like to read a chapter a day of whatever I may be reading, just to make sure I'm reading a bit each day, but this was one of those books that I couldn't put down. I definitely read a few chapters a day rather than one. Watching the movie of a story can be very exciting and easy to capture a picture in your mind, but with the book, you get much more than that. You get a deeper understanding and outlook on the lives of the main characters in this story. Not just their lives in Vegas, but who they were before, and what they came to be. I found that very interesting. In the movie, they kind of just get right to it, but in this book, you'll get an understanding of just who Frank Rosenthal was (as well as the others) before they ever thought about Las Vegas.

CHARACTERS:

Frank "Lefty" Rosethal

Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal, portrayed by Robert Deniro in the film, was a skilled gambling man from Chicago, Illinois whose specialty was anything to do with gambling. Whether it be basketball, baseball, football, the horse races, you name it, Lucky put money on it. When he was sent to Vegas, it was to do a job, which he was set out and determined to do, but a lot of the lifestyle you might say, went to his head a bit. His ego grew as his success came to him. He was out every night, he was quick to fire anyone at any moment for absolutely anything he disapproved of and at one point he even started a talk show and was on cable TV every single night. Which I can imagine the big guys in Chicago didn't quite understand fully. I mean, if I was tied to organized crime, I'd stay as far away from any cameras as I could, right? Ultimately it all came crashing down on him. Betrayed by both his long time friend and wife and even surviving an assassination attempt, escaping from a car bomb that could have taken his life.

Anthony "The Ant" Spilotro

The fourth child out of six children, Anthony Spilotro, was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Portrayed by Joe Pesci in the film, he was part of the muscle and security sent to Vegas with Rosenthal, Spilotro was also the head of "The Hole In The Wall Gang", a group of criminals that he performed numbers of robberies. They got their name by drilling holes in the walls and cielings of buildings that they burgalarized. Anytime someone needed to be taken care of, you can believe that Spilotro probably had a hand in it. Only problem with him was that his ego was bigger than he was. Majority of time he would act out in anger, eventually getting himself put on a list of people that aren't aloud to step foot in any casino in Las Vegas at all. Not even the parking lot. But that didn't stop him, of course. He became out of control to the point that not even Frank, one of his best friends, felt safe around him. He was later found murdered beside brother, for his mistakes.

Geri Rosenthal

Geri Rosenthal was an American model and a Las Vegas showgirl, who married Frank Rosenthal and portrayed by Sharon Stone in the film. In 1969 she took a leap and married Lefty, but from what I could gather, it wasn't much about love. In fact I believe she never really loved him at all. I think the money was a large reason why she married Frank. She was very much a material woman. And possibly the most beautiful woman in Las Vegas at the time. Every one wanted her and eyes were on her when she walked into a room. Frank thought he loved, hypnotized by her beauty probably, but he thought he could turn a woman like this into his perfect housewife, but that's just not what she was. Eventually she was hooked on drugs, constantly causing scenes with Frank and even trying to take all of his money at times. Running away when she felt she needed to. Which in the end led to her death.

SETTING:
Las Vegas, between 1970's and 80's

OVERALL RATING:
4 out of 5

Definitely one of the best books I've ever read so far, but not THE best. I wish I hadn't seen the movie yet before I read the book, but, you know how that goes. I kind of saw it all coming. But hey, that'll happen. While I did know the important parts of the story, I can definitely say that I didn't know EVERYTHING. Gave me much more depth to my previous understandings and made sense of some things here in there. I definitely recommend it if you're interested in True Crimes, it is in no way disappointing. Undoubtedly a good read, so pick it up!