A memoir about two siblings who loved each other (sometimes); the thrill of the shoplift, the power of the written word, the agony of addiction, and the joy of someone who understands you and still stays true ? Steve Geng--thief, addict, committed member of Manhattan's criminal semi-elite--was a rhapsody in blue, all on his own. Women had a tendency to crack his head open. His sister? Also unusual: Veronica Geng wrote brilliantly eccentric pieces for The New Yorker, hung with rock stars and Pulitzer Prize winners, threw the occasional typewriter, fled intimacy. They were parallel universes, but when they converged, it was . . . memorable. Spanning decades of unresolved personal drama and rebellion, Steve Geng's memoir, Thick as Thieves, is the story of their lives, the bond between them, and all the things they shared. Raw, real, and funny, Geng follows his unique family history from Philadelphia to Paris, Greenwich Village to Riker's Island. We meet lovable, often treacherous characters (B.J. the Queen of Crime, Tina Brown). We hear the rants of the Geng's father, the Colonel; the malicious invective of publishing; the patter of hardened criminals. This is a memoir that will lift your spirit, kick you in the shins, and help you remember the person who understood you the most. Geng has made a lot of mistakes in his life. Thick as Thieves may just make up for them. ? ?
I found it a moving story and an easy read. It was interesting but sad at times. Well written.
sad but riveting memoir
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
I am floored by Geng's ability to admit his faults and shortcomings. He is able to embrace his flawed family and tried to learn from the pain he caused others. A powerful read. You can almost feel his pain when he suffers loss and knows he has harmed loved ones. I hope I can read more of his work.
What a Rollercoaster Ride!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
I couldn't put this book down. And that is saying a lot because I have the attention span of a gnat. I own so many books that I started and couldn't get into. This one grabbed me in the first line. What a story. It is amazing that Steve Geng is alive to tell this tale. Boy, talk about a cautionary tale!
Wow!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago
Wonderful writing by an apparently reformed drug/booze addict who survived on shoplifting for many years while idolizing his sister, a well known New Yorker humorist who died at 56 while the author was unaware of her condition. This is a brother-sister tale with superbly drawn portraits of childhood, dysfunctional parents and young adulthood struggles. The author managed to land some acting roles in the Miami Vice TV series in the 80s, then very late in life, after an AIDS diagnosis, turned to this memoir, which is an amazing display of literary talent. In between, the reader relives Geng's various misadventures, jail sentences, near fatal beatings, failed love affairs and relationships with a colorful cast of New York and Florida losers. It's beautiful writing, a work which the sister would envy and be completely proud of, all at once. Do yourself a favor and check this one out.
clear-eyed, honest, and rare
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago
I read a few pages of "Thieves" in the bookstore and was gripped, which hasn't happened to me in years. The story isn't "about" a drug-addicted alcoholic bum and his jail & travails; it's about turns not taken, words left unsaid, connections lost out of ignorance ... and the redemption, at least partial, that's available as long as there's life. Geng tells his tale with a near-total lack of sentimentality, the kind that can crack the heart. The book is also a sweet, achingly distanced portrait of his gifted sister, Veronica. I just finished reading it last night. I think I'll start again.
ThriftBooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. We personally assess every book's quality and offer rare, out-of-print treasures. We deliver the joy of reading in recyclable packaging with free standard shipping on US orders over $15. ThriftBooks.com. Read more. Spend less.