Review: Drenched in 1950s Lingo & Atmosphere!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 31, 2014
Jack Tunney (penned by Anthony Venutolo) opens this book with the line, “My mood was raw enough to make a blonde cry.” From there, he plows ahead into the 1950s fight game, dropping one-liners and slang like Johnny Appleseed.The main character is newsman Nick Moretti, former fight journalist, who catches a tip on a fix in the fifth round with long odds. So, of course, Nick decides to cash in. He teams up with an old flame and a pigeon and bets a bundle.Big mistake.Saying any more would only ruin the story for you. It’s a story that twists and turns in ways you won’t expect. It’s a story that is full of the atmosphere of the underworld of the 1950s, which in itself is an interesting contrast with the Happy Days image many people have of that era. Most of all, it is a story that drips with the edgy character and engrossing voice of Nick Moretti. As I read, I was transported to his world.This book would make a great film, a retro-noir, shot in black and white and directed by Darren Aronofsky or someone of similar sensibilities. And Venutolo should write his own script, because he’s got a way with words.