Son of the Mob

In Vince’s extended (crime) family, there are a number of men called Uncle: Uncle Pampers, Uncle No-Nose, and so on. Why do you think that these men are nicknamed in this way, and how does it make us see them, as readers? How does Vince seem to see them?

There are a number of movies and novels about the Mafia, some of which are serious (The Godfather) and some of which are light (Analyze This). Why do you think that the Mafia is such an enduringly popular subject, and yet is treated in such different ways? How do you see this novel as fitting in with this tradition? Would you call the novel funny, serious, or both?

Vince’s stated goal, at both the beginning and the end of the novel, is to get as far away from his family as possible. Do you believe that he finds a way to do so? Would you call the ending a happy or a sad ending?

Vince’s family is obviously unusual in some ways, but it is perhaps more interesting to think about the ways in which they are typical. What are some ways in which they remind you of a “normal” family?

Does Vince himself seem like a typical teenaged boy to you (at least in some ways)? Can you relate to some of the pressures that he is under, if not to his belonging to a Mafia family? What are some things about him that are familiar to you?

Vince inhabits two seemingly very separate worlds: that of his ordinary suburban high school, and that of his Mafia family. Do you think that there is any overlap between these two worlds? What are some qualities that you think that the two might have in common?

Ray Francione is one of the more complicated characters in the book. Do you believe that he is ultimately a good person? Why, or why not?

Vince’s mother, like Ray Francione, is also revealed to be a slightly different person than we are initially made to believe. How does the revelation about her involvement in the Mafia change our understanding of her role in the novel?