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Cabaret is a perfect description of it. You can check it out here and then get yourself the full-length audio book and see if you don't fall in love with Atilla, too. The most likeable worst hockey goalie turned bank robber in history. This debut is the perfect summer read: This is the story of Attila Ambrus, who in the 's in Hungary started as the most dedicated and talentless professional hockey goalie in the world, moonlighting first as a Transylvanian pelt smuggler and then as Eastern Europe's most legendary bank robber.
Filled with incredible details, from his habit of robbing while blisteringly drunk to the ubiquitous corruption This debut is the perfect summer read: Filled with incredible details, from his habit of robbing while blisteringly drunk to the ubiquitous corruption ballooning on the police side of the law, this is the kind of book you impress upon friends. Rubenstein deftly balances the geopolitical climate with Ambrus's rise and fall, sometimes with prose almost too witty. But you can forgive him that—anyone who comes into contact with Ambrus inherits his sense of daring and bravado.
So go read it already. Jun 11, Rebecca Skane rated it it was amazing Shelves: A true crime story that reads better than fiction. I can see why the country of Hungary fell in love with him. The gentleman Whiskey Robber, the folk hero of the masses, Attila Ambrus. Ballad of the Whiskey Robber Book Review. The saga of an alcoholic hockey player turned polite bank robber, who became a news sensation and Hungarian national hero by evading the local and international police for so long. Jul 07, Jenny rated it really liked it. This is a fun and hilarious portrait of a bank robber in the 's and 90's.
The political climate of Romania and Budapest is also discussed, as well as the American influence on Eastern European culture at the time of the fall of communism. Great history lesson for me! The audiobook had a great cast of characters and had me laughing often. I had no idea that Hungary was considered at one time something like the scourge of Europe, at least I got that impression from reading this. Here's a little of the start of the book: Hungary has always been unlucky. Fun stuff not, but at least they have lots of one of my favorite spices, paprika. The story is interesting even if the writing is a little plodding.
Attila Ambrus is portrayed here as almost a folk hero. He dons various disguises using wigs and manages to elude the police robbing about 26 establishments before being caught. This all happens during a unique time in Hungarian history in the 's after the fall of the Berlin Wall and communism and as the country struggled economically with the after effects of new freedoms and losses like of govt health care. They watch as Attila totally befuddles the police and their Robbery Division Chief and cheer, especially when he makes a daring escape after his first arrest.
Why are bank robbers so romanticized? It may have helped that Attila was telegenically handsome even with his odd disguises and polite with the people he robbed. At one of them he even bought flowers. In the end totally fun story that had you rooting for the criminal to get away. Alas he was caught and imprisoned. He was, though, just released from prison in so who knows there may be the rest of the story to tell.
Crazy but true story with lots and lots of heavy drinking involved that's why whiskey is in the title. This would make a great movie. Mar 22, Scott rated it it was amazing. This book is totally nuts, in a good way. Imagine if the movie Airplane were instead about a serial bank robber. That's the way this true-crime story reads.
Very few times and places had the combination of societal and individual volatility of Eastern Europe in the 's, and author Rubinstein does a good job of convincing the reader that Hungary was the maddest of the mad-cap countries freed from the yoke of Soviet-style communism. I cannot really discuss much about the characters or the plot wi This book is totally nuts, in a good way. I cannot really discuss much about the characters or the plot without giving away surprises and delights.
The Whiskey Robber is a Transylvanian-born immigrant who is the unpaid second-goaltender and Zamboni driver for a team in the Hungarian professional hockey league. He robs to fuel the high life of gambling, women, and travel. He is pursued by a completely inept police force - in support of this, I need only point to the fact that one of the top officers in the robbery unit is a character known by the Hungarian nickname "Mound of Asshead," who appears to be most gifted at crashing automobiles.
The story is unbelievably crazy. Nearly every character, no matter how minor, is colorful and odd. And yet, Rubinstein makes these people real to the extent that the reader experiences pathos and begins to understand why the Whiskey Robber becomes a bigger-than-life folk hero and a symbol of those topsy-turvy times. Recommended for anyone wanting a fun read. Dec 20, Dan Spencer rated it it was amazing.
You just can't make up stuff like this. This mesmerizing tale reads like fictional satire, but it's all true. With his exquisitely detailed writing, Rubinstein immerses readers into Hungarian culture circa the post-Communist s.
Print and download Ballad of the Robbers sheet music from Knickerbocker Holiday. Sheet music arranged for Piano/Vocal, and Piano/Vocal/Chords in C Major. Check out Ballad Of The Robbers by Bryce Pinkham on Amazon Music. Stream ad-free or purchase CD's and MP3s now on www.farmersmarketmusic.com
You can tell the author loved delving into this bizarre story, which takes us Westerners into a cubbyhole of the world we rarely see. When people talk of the Third World Attila Ambrus's character arc is wonderfully strange. He begins as an oppressed, indigent, gray nobody who bumbles his way onto a professional? As complex and full of contradictions as any fictional character. A classic charming scofflaw. Add a cast of ludicrous true-life supporting characters, wacky escapades involving hockey and too much whiskey, a daring yet nonviolent crime spree, and a heaping helping of paprika.
The result is a satisfying goulash that will make you wish for second helpings. A book you'll never forget. Jul 13, Robert rated it really liked it. This is quite a complex true tale that Rubinstein briliantly weaves intertwining the corrupt politics of Hungary, Ice Hockey, Bank heists and just trying to make ends meet month to month paycheck to paycheck or heist to heist. I guess that is why it was given the title it was given.
Don't be overwhelmed by the list of characters provided to you in the beginning of the book. It really isn't that hard to remember who is who, due to the fact that as some new characters fade in, others fade o This is quite a complex true tale that Rubinstein briliantly weaves intertwining the corrupt politics of Hungary, Ice Hockey, Bank heists and just trying to make ends meet month to month paycheck to paycheck or heist to heist. It really isn't that hard to remember who is who, due to the fact that as some new characters fade in, others fade out.
I think what made this even better for me was that it was true, and it had a vibe of political history with it. A good amount of amusent is provided by the poorly equipped and possibly corrupt police department who continuosly is at least one step behind each of these bank heists.
Sep 01, Patti Meyerdirk rated it it was amazing. Having lived in the neighboring country of Slovakia during this time period and now living in the city of the setting, this was an incredible read to me! It brought insight into the culture and thinking of those around me that I had not had before reading it. I was also able to relate to much of the atmosphere and ways of the people.
The author was very accurate in his descriptions of the people, culture, and setting. His understanding of the transition from communistic rule to a democratic soci Having lived in the neighboring country of Slovakia during this time period and now living in the city of the setting, this was an incredible read to me! His understanding of the transition from communistic rule to a democratic society was excellent. His writing style was also engaging. This is a book that I will probably reread someday.
View all 3 comments. Apr 02, Madeline rated it it was amazing Shelves: On top of the fact that the story is inherently fascinating and true , the historical, political and social context of the book is thoroughly enjoyable due to the author's dry humor. Such humor even helps to express the plight of the post-Soviet Hungarian. The absurd descriptions of the police force would make the sternest reader smile and the history and politics will interest even the most avid renouncer of history.
The story and its tone give the reader an overall endearing look at how Budap On top of the fact that the story is inherently fascinating and true , the historical, political and social context of the book is thoroughly enjoyable due to the author's dry humor. The story and its tone give the reader an overall endearing look at how Budapest adjusted to capitalism. Jun 12, Tom Buske rated it it was amazing. This book was great. I don't know which made me laugh more, the main character being so drunk when robbing a bank that he slurred his words so badly that the tellers just laughed at him or one of the Keystone Kops chasing him being nicknamed "Mound of Assshead".
All this set against a backdrop of post-Communist Hungary trying to adapt to a capitalist economy and a democratic government. All in all, an extremely enjoyable read. May 27, Jeff rated it it was amazing. Ok, so normally I don't write reviews for Goodreads—got to save the big thoughts for the paying customers. But this book is the first I have given a five star rating to. It is funny, astonishing, and incredibly reported.
I read it in absolute awe. Julian Rubinstein pulled off something awesome.
Jul 21, Kirsti rated it it was amazing Shelves: This is the amazing true story of how the worst goalie ever to play professional ice hockey discovered that he was a very talented bank robber--though he had to get drunk to go through with each heist. I listened to the audio version, which is very ambitious and has lots of famous voice actors and sound effects and music. Ex-goalies, inmates, drinkers, World Bank wonks.
The subtitle says so much, so truthfully. The book promises and delivers. We would find it hard to create a more unlikely hero or a more bizarre, compelling story. Sep 30, Cameron rated it it was amazing. This book is amazing, it has the makings for a perfect movie. I hope they don't do that, but every chapter of this guys life is great. Plus, you learn a lot about hungary and what the fall of communism meant on a larger scale than just the berlin wall coming down.
Mar 30, Wyatt rated it it was amazing. One of the better works of non-fiction I've read recently. I highly recommend this book to everyone. Just a fun, fast-paced read. And if Scott is telling the truth, apparently they're making it a movie. So it's got that going for it, which is nice. Dec 22, Jill Edmondson rated it it was amazing. What a fabulous story!!!
This is nonfiction, but it reads like a novel. Highly recommend this book!!! Sep 09, David rated it it was amazing Recommended to David by: A highly entertaining book that I could not believe was a true story.
Add a dash of contemporary Hungarian culture, and voila! Funny, insightful, and cool. A must read for any Hungarian. Apr 22, Anita rated it liked it. Not a review just notes for book club: How many people in Hungary were literate it said he sold 17k copies of his autobiography which is not many which means: Could you imagine Angela Davis being treated this way!? Although I guess in some sense she is. YouTube was unsuccessful Style: A lot of Un apt metaphors in this book which threw me parliament described as a turd, random idioms dropped like waiting for the other sandal to drop Hockey and pelt smuggling: Chicky Panther is a cute name for a house cat probably Women in this book: One thing people are usually complimentary about when talking about the communization of China is that At Least mao did not bad w gender equality.
Attila Ambrus got into trouble at a very young age for petty theft. As complex and full of contradictions as any fictional character. His understanding of the transition from communistic rule to a democratic society was excellent. His story alone would be worth five stars even told without flair--bank robberies! C Major Product Type: This is a book that I will probably reread someday.
Same w their homophobia. And when did he switch from being the Gentleman Bandit to the Whiskey Robber? Feb 23, Tricia rated it it was amazing Shelves: This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. When I read the first chapter of this book where the Whiskey Robber escapes from prison I was wondering "What the hell am I in for? Attila arrives in Hungary from Romania in strange circumstances.
He becomes a professional hockey player he is actually a terrible hockey player which just adds to the strange tale. This doesn't pay much so he tries his hand at a few different legal professions grave digger, janitor before starting s When I read the first chapter of this book where the Whiskey Robber escapes from prison I was wondering "What the hell am I in for? This doesn't pay much so he tries his hand at a few different legal professions grave digger, janitor before starting some illegal ones - pelt smuggling for one.
C Major Product Type: The Arrangement Details Tab gives you detailed information about this particular arrangement of Ballad of the Robbers - not necessarily the song. Not the arrangement you were looking for? Knickerbocker Holiday Additional Performer: Lotte Lenya Number of Pages: Allegro non troppo Metronome: When first men fled from Eden fair and spread upon the ground, From the Show: Knickerbocker Holiday From the Book: A Centennial Anthology, Volume 1. The Related Products tab shows you other products that you may also like, if you like Ballad of the Robbers.
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