Why am I passionate about this?
I grew up in a troubled, violent family in a violent, Mafia-controlled neighborhood. I did a tour in the Air Force and spent some time in Vietnam, surrounded by unseen enemies. When I got out, I stayed in London, surrounding myself with unsavory characters, narrowly avoiding trouble and wondering if I would ever see the twenty-first century. Having lived through so many troubled times, I can identify with those people in history who have overcome overwhelming odds to accomplish their goals, and I enjoy reading about them. They give me the strength to face each day.
Art's book list on historical fiction heroes overcoming challenges
Why did Art love this book?
I liked this book so much that I read it three times. Of all of DeMille’s novels, which take place throughout the Northeast of America, I particularly liked this one because it combines mystery, romance, and the Mafia. It was thrilling; he painted the locations so vividly that I felt like I was there.
2 authors picked The Gold Coast as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.
The Great Gatsby meets The Godfather in this #1 New York Times bestselling story of friendship and seduction, love and betrayal.
"[Demille is] a true master." - Dan Brown, #1 bestselling author of The Da Vinci Code
Welcome to the fabled Gold Coast, that stretch on the North Shore of Long Island that once held the greatest concentration of wealth and power in America. Here two men are destined for an explosive collision: John Sutter, Wall Street lawyer, holding fast to a fading aristocratic legacy; and Frank Bellarosa, the Mafia don who seizes his piece of the staid and unprepared…