A Safe Place : The True Story of a Father,a Son,a Murder

A Safe Place is not a book I would have chosen to read or even finish had it not been the selection for my reading group at work. The graphic violence is disturbing, and I might have put the book down because of it. I'm glad I didn't. I don't know whether this book and Sleepers are true, but I know this one is very well crafted with the exception of a little descriptive repetition here and there. The insight into the life of immigrants in Hell's Kitchen, and into the mindset of a wife who withstands years of beatings were worth the pain of reading about those beatings. What's truly interesting is that I refuse to watch The Sopranos or any other "mob" stories because I'm just bored with the whole Mafia scene. But here I was listening to great dialogue that sounded just like Tony Soprano, and understanding possibly why my significant other and millions were fascinated by that series.Carceterra has a gift for authentic dialogue and a style that flows smoothly without being so smooth you forget what he's saying. He includes rich atmospheric detail that puts you there with the characters. He shows you what his life was like, what the times were like, without resorting to pop psychology or trite explanationv -- "You wanna know me? This is me."

Sad story about what life was like in the poor district of the city, spouse abuse, a woman's marital loyalty and the effects that their life had on their son. This story held my interest most of the time. Could have been about 50 pages shorter with less repetition. There were times when I couldn't put it down and times when I just skimmed over several pages. All in all, a good read.

A story about growing up with a physically abusive Father and the effect it had on the son and his abused Mother. There is a lot of violence in the book, not to mention the regular use of vulgar language.

This is an excellently written book about domestic violence and the many ways both women and children cope in their everyday lives. While it is a very dark and disturbing story, there are elements of joy and love. Although for the average person not affected by domestic violence it will be hard to understand how women and children can go through such horrible things and still love the perpetrator. Lorenzo Carcaterra made it through to adulthood and tells his story with compassion and love for both his abusive father and abused mother. God bless him!

This is a story hard to put down. The love-hate relationships that existed in this family is hard to imagine. The violence in a this marriage, wittnessed by their son is deplorable. Read this for an eye opening account of a major dysfunctional family, and what kept it going.

Carcaterra's "A Safe Place" is a blow by blow account from a son's perspective of daily brutality in a Hell's Kitchen home where the son knows that his father can kill his mother at any moment. Poverty born from gambling, respect won in streetfights with shivs, terror from wondering if he'd grow up to be like his father, and the complexity of loving batterer fathers; it's all here. Scenes in Italy, Hell's Kitchen and the Bronx are detailed in vivid conversation with this author's tremendous recall. Keeps you in the moment. The womens'perspectives are not as strong as the mens'. This is a book by a son haunted by his father's past. A worthy read.ANNIE LANZILLOTTOauthor of "L is for Lion"[...]

A great read, so interesting and so well written. Would have liked pictures. And would like to know where your mother ended up. One of the best books I've read this year. I feel so sorry for the mother, what a terrible way to live. Thank you for sharing your story.

Man is this book good. I am so involved in their lives that ending the book leaves me longing for my involvement with Rafaela and her son. This is a story of true abuse and survival. Women have come a long way. God bless this author.

Brutal violent anarchic, it is not without humour and again, anything Lorenzo writes is more than good with me!

very very sad , Lorenzo was a very strong boy to be in that situation, although he had no choice. I can not believe anybody could be so cruel to a child & his mother.

I loved Lorenzo Carcaterra's book Sleepers but never knew about this one until I went looking to see if Sleepers was available on Amazon.This book was brilliant. I was hooked from the very start and couldn't put it down. One of the best books I've read in a long time.

Great read

It all makes for very grim reading, IF this is indeed a true account. Has it been embellished to sell more copies I wonder??