Sleepers

Wow. That was moving. It was most certainly difficult to read at certain parts, namely through the abuse that these 4 young boys endured, especially if you consider that this is supposed to be based of real events that happened to the author and his friends. I guess there was some controversy with that, some people claiming that this was not based on true events, but I'm not here to speak of that one way or another. Either way I think this was a powerful, emotional journey, and I am glad to have read it. I loved how this book was split up into three separate parts, the beginning which gave you a look at who these boys were, their individual home lives, and the neighborhood they came from, which was almost a living breathing character in itself. Then the middle was the time they spent inside Wilkinson Home for Boys, where the horrific events that changed their lives forever took place. After that came years later with all the boys having turned into men, and you got to see the how changed these people truly are after the events that took place in that year they spent in the Hell that was Wilkinson. And you also got to see a glorious plan of vigilante justice unravel. There were so many elements that made this story as incredible to me as it was. I really enjoyed how their hometown, Hell's Kitchen, was portrayed in this story. You were completely immersed in this place with the characters, which truly felt like it was a world of it's own, separate from the rest of us, with it's own way of living and rules to live by. It was comparable to reading a good fantasy novel, with amazing world building, and I was very impressed by it. I also loved these characters, I feel in love with these goofy, mischievous boys after just a few chapters. And reading about their suffering broke me. It was so crushing hearing the atrocities they lived through, and it brought out my own desperate want for vengeance. It's a pretty solid accomplishment for an author to blur the lines of right and wrong for the readers, and those lines were obliterated in certain aspects in this novel. I rooted for their thirst of blood from the men that had taken so much from them. I ended this book honestly thinking that those monstrous guards at the Wilkinson Home for Boys deserved so much worse than they actually got, and that's something because I'm a pretty peaceful person. It was such an emotional journey, alternating between filling my heart up with love for some of these characters, and hate for others. This story definitely made you question a lot of things though, can vengeance make a difference? Does it even partially fill the hole that was carved in you in the first place? When is the time to take things into your own hands, is it your right to dole out your own form of justice? Can one event change the entire course of your life? What about one poor decision? The relationships in this book were beautifully portrayed. They were enduring of so much. Too much. I also loved Father Bobby, and even King Benny. And then there were the more quite characters, like the English teacher in Wilkinson who gave Shakes the copy of The Count of Monte Cristo, or Marlboro man, the guard who saved them at least one indignity, that made such an impact, even though their actions and appearance in the book in general were so small. You couldn't help but hold onto those small good things. They were a ray of sunshine on the bleakest of days. They gave you a sliver of hope that some people are good, they care. The ending was rather bittersweet to me. I wanted so much more for these people than they ultimately got. I would definitely recommend this novel, to EVERYONE! Seriously, you should read this, it's an incredible story. Now I'm kind of dying to see the movie, Robert DeNiro, Brad Pitt, Kevin Bacon and Dustin Hoffman, that's an all-star cast for sure! And now I'll leave you with a few of my favorite quotes... "I'm beggin' you," he said, his voice breaking, "Try to forgive me. Please. Try." "Learn to live with it," I told him, getting up from the table. "I can't," he said. "Not anymore." "Then die with it," I said. looking at him hard. "Just like the rest of us." "It doesn't take very long to know how tough a person you are or how strong you can be. I knew from my first day at Wilkinson that I was neither tough nor strong. It takes only a moment for the fear to find its way, to seep through the carefully constructed armor. Once it does, it finds a permanent place. It is true for a hardened criminal as it is for a young boy." "Do me a favor, would ya, Ness?" Davenport said, putting the gun in his pocket. "What?" "I ever make it onto your s*** list, give me a call," he said. "Give me a chance to apologize."

Gave book as a gift and the response back was a great read.

This book was excellent. I saw the movies many years ago and it was fabulous. Reading the story was even better as it usually is wjen it comes to books and movies.

I cannot believe it took me so long to read this book. I missed the movie when it came out in the 90s, and then just forgot about it, until the book somehow found its way to my Goodreads suggestions. Now, I am very glad. I never saw the movie so that I could read this incredible novel without any knowledge of the story. This story, reads as a historical fiction, thriller. Yes, I know the author claims this is a true story, that he just changed the names and locations.. However, I have learned there is a lot of questions surrounding the authenticity of the true story claim.. Either way, you as the reader are entertained with a historical backdrop to an incredible thrill ride. This is a story about four friends from Hells Kitchen in NYC growing up in the 60’s the way kids did in that era. Although I grew up about 15 years behind them, their friendship really resonated with me and the way my group of four grew up… These four friends from a poor borough with very little parental guidance navigate the streets of Hell’s kitchen, constantly looking for their next adventure. Although most of their activities are innocent (even if on the mischievous side), one of their pranks goes horribly wrong, causing the four to be sentenced to a juvenile detention center in upstate. While incarcerated they experience torture, and sexual abuse at the hands of the detention guards. Their life in the detention center is beyond imagination and changes them forever. Years later, after a chance encounter, part of the friendship is again in jeopardy of going away to prison but as a result, the foursome has a chance at red redemption. This was such a fun read, reminiscing about the way we used to play as kids growing up in the 60s, 70s and 80s, but also an emotional thrill ride that keeps you on the edge of your seat, waiting for redemption.

Very well written and moving, and such a sad reality for some. Hard to imagine the cruelty that sometimes accompanies power.

Have seen the movie tons of times and hate that I hated Kevin Bacon so much in it but is a testament to his acting in the movie. Had no idea there was a book until I saw someone comment on it. Great read and love how the ending did a good job of giving updates on the characters in the book. Book arrived in good condition just some ink marks along the outside and can tell it’s been read made it easier to keep my place

One out of four ain’t bad. Wait! Yes it is! It is very bad! I really don’t know how to put into words the things I am thinking right now. So I will try to make a list. 1. I taught junior high school for 32 years. I rarely met a “bad” boy or girl, and I never met a stupid child. But I did meet some pretty bad and stupid adults. 2. The life of a child is a terrible thing to waste. 3. There is no adequate punishment for a person who destroys the life of a child for his own pleasure. 4. Who gave these freaks they called guards the power to do whatever they felt like to these children? 5. Where were the people with authority over these guards? Who was holding them to account? Where was the breakdown? Did they just assume things were fine? Did they never once think to check on the cries of pain and anguish coming from the cells? Or could they just not be bothered? After all, these were “bad boys” who got what was coming to them, right? That is a pretty inadequate list, but the magnitude of the crimes against these children cannot even be measured. This book took my breath away. My heart will forever ache for the things these boys had to endure at the hands of so-called adults. I know similar things take place today, and not only in institutions, but in many other places, even within families. How do we stop the abuse? One of the four boys of this story made it through in reasonable fashion to be able to tell the story. And although I am grateful he did, 1:4 is not very good odds.

I don't care how much of the story is fabricated; there's plenty here that's real, especially Lorenzo's often brilliantly rendered dialogue. The plot is brilliant as well. I don't like some of the characters, but I respect who they were and who they became and why. Some of the characters are unforgettable: Fat Mancho, Father Carillo, King Benny, Sean Nokes, Marlboro, Carol, Shakes, among others. I didn't go to reform school, but I spent 9 years in a Texas orphanage where children were either tortured, loved, or tolerated, depending on who was in charge. Many of the scenes and feelings expressed in this story ring true to my experiences there. They could not have been manufactured. It's the overall feel of the story that's convincing and captivates--that driving need for justice (therein termed "revenge"). When you've been tortured as a child, the adult consequences are unavoidable and permanent: mistrust, oversensitivity, the inability to attach and express love--emotionally crippling consequences that haunt one forever. Lorenzo demonstrates clearly an uncommon compassion and understanding of these timeless truths of humanity. If you get nothing else from this story, get that juvenile detention centers can create monsters or angels and violence begets violence.

Such a compelling story. Everyone should read this book! Wonderfully written and brilliantly executed!

The best book, I love the way characters are described, you can feel the emotions in his words, make you feel you are in Hell’s Kitchen

I have read MANY books in my life, and without hesitation, I can say that this is one of the best books I have ever read!!! Let me firstly point out that I have read this book twice now (so far), the first time of which was many years ago, and when I subsequently re-read it, even though I knew the plot, the ending, and everything in between, I was still as hooked all the way through as if it was a brand new read.... That alone is an indication of what a brilliant book this is, and this review is long overdue! I will not discuss the plot in this review, as I do not wish to spoil the experience for anyone. Instead, I will focus on my thoughts and how the story affected me. There were times reading this book where I had to physically put it down and take a deep breath - not because I didn't want to continue, but because the story-telling was so real, so well written, that I was right there with the characters and that I FELT what was being described. To be able to get ME to experience that is nothing short of amazing. There were parts in the story that made my heart cry - again, due to the expert writing skills the author possesses. The fact that this is based on a true story obviously adds some weight to the events being described, but to be honest, it doesn't add much weight and I do not mean that at all in a negative way; it is written SO WELL, that I would have believed every word in this book as if it were true. And when I finished the book, I was filled with pure satisfaction at the ending, and also a wish that I hadn't read it so quickly as I didn't want it to be over! For me, those are the feelings one should have after finishing a great story. This is one of the few books that I will NEVER forget. The mere glimpse of the cover takes me back to the story in my mind, and I can honestly say that I could read this over and again and it would grip me each time, in exactly the same way it did when I first read it. I have BEGGED others to read this, so to say I would recommend it to others is a bit of an understatement (smile). I have spoken about this book to so many people that you would think I was secretly working for the author! (and no, I don't lol) In closing, I dare you to read this and to try and find fault with it, to read it and not FEEL it, to read it and not be impressed. I myself am hard to please, but this book ticked all the boxes for me!

This is the story of four boys who grew up in Hell’s Kitchen NY. They were the best of friends and loved being together and causing mischief. That is until one of their pranks goes terribly wrong and ends up nearly killing a gentleman. The four boys are sentenced to The Wilkinson Home for Boys. Over the course of their year there, their innocence was lost forever. Enduring terrible beatings and horrific sexual abuse all at the hands of four guards. Years later one of them has become a reporter, another a lawyer. And two have grown up to become murderers. All they want is revenge, and they have found the perfect way to extract it. Sleepers is an extraordinary true story of four men who take the law into their own hands. This memoir is so well written and very difficult to put down. It is raw and real and heartbreaking. There were points that I had to put it down to take a breath because what those poor men went through as boys is just devastating.

Diese Geschichte ist in ihrer Intensität manchmal kaum zu ertragen. Sie ist aus einer sehr persönlichen Sicht erzählt und befasst sich mit dem Thema Kindesmissbrauch in einer Besserungsanstalt für Jungen in USA.