A groundbreaking major bestseller in Italy, Gomorrah is Roberto Saviano's gripping nonfiction account of the decline of Naples under the rule of the Camorra, an organized crime network with a large international reach and stakes in construction, high fashion, illicit drugs, and toxic-waste disposal. Known by insiders as "the System," the Camorra affects cities and villages along the Neapolitan coast and is the deciding factor in why Campania, for instance, has the highest murder rate in all of Europe and why cancer levels there have skyrocketed in recent years.
Saviano tells of huge cargoes of Chinese goods that are shipped to Naples and then quickly distributed unchecked across Europe. He investigates the Camorra's control of thousands of Chinese factories contracted to manufacture fashion goods, legally and illegally, for distribution around the world, and relates the chilling details of how the abusive handling of toxic waste is causing devastating pollution not only for Naples but also China and Somalia. In pursuit of his subject, Saviano worked as an assistant at a Chinese textile manufacturer, as a waiter at a Camorra wedding, and on a construction site. A native of the region, he recalls seeing his first murder at the age of fourteen and how his own father, a doctor, suffered a brutal beating for trying to aid an eighteen-year-old victim who had been left for dead in the street.
Gomorrah is a bold and important work of investigative writing that holds global significance, one heroic young man's impassioned story of a place under the rule of a murderous organization.
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"It took me forever to read this book, but I'm glad I stuck with it. The whole Neapolitan structure of business, construction, import/export, waste removal, etc. is outlined and then explored in depth. The influence and control of Naples on the world economy, by both illegal and legal enterprises run by "the System", are carefully and thoroughly investigated in Saviano's book. Saviano lives under police protection, following the publication of this book. It's no wonder that he needs protection. With all the harassment, murders, and illegal dealings exposed here, there must be a high price on his head. Saviano's courage in writing this detailed account of the "System" in action, borders on insanity. I respect the information in his book, but question the choice that he made to write it. His life will forever be in danger. "The System" and all its secret dealings and violence, makes the mafia of "The Godfather" movies look like a bunch of amateur, low-level bullies! It's frightening that the Italian people, especially those in the South, have lived with this reality for so long. And, frightening as well, is how we are affected globally by this entity.
The writing is difficult to read. Sometimes the difficulty comes from the actual content...people being tortured and murdered. Mostly, the difficulty is Saviano's writing. I don't know if it's his style or that something is lost in the translation from Italian to English, but the words, sentences and paragraphs rarely flow easily. Part of the problem may be that the numerous geographic locations and abundance of horrendous events don't lend themselves easily to a cohesive reporting style. Factor in the numerous names and nicknames of the participants and well, it's no surprise that the writing is choppy. All said, the information contained within this book is pretty incredible and uncovers an entire underworld that I would have never known existed! I hope Saviano remains safe. His life is forever changed by the writing of this book. I can only hope that he considers the great risk he has taken by exposing this as being 'worth it'. I wish him well."
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Doreen (4 out of 5 stars)