Chopper

I seen the movie, therefore I had 2 read his book. Wow, amazing. What a life!! This book is the best book I've ever read, a little better than the movie, even though it's my all time favorite movie. I think I just love Mark Branden "Chopper" Read, r.i.p.!! This book is written by "Chopper" himself and he can't even spell, he's *Simi bloody illiterate*, his words, not mine lol. This book is very detailed and has pictures, it's funny, crazy and very interesting. If your into Australian prison documentaries, real life havoc, getting even or "Chopper" himself then I definitely recommend this book. Id also recommend watching the movie *Chopper* played by Eric Bana, also was in the latest Incredible Hulk flick, (he played the Hulk). This book shipped on time, and in perfect condition.

This is a follow-up of sorts to my tribute to Mark "Chopper" Read back on October 9th, 2013. I ordered his autobiography (which got put on my enormous back burner), and here's the review at long last. I was fascinated to find what Chopper and I had in common. He is two days older than me, owned a .44 Ruger Super Black Hawk single-action Magnum, was a published author and claimed to be absolutely fearless. Fortunately for me, that's where the similarities end.Most of Chopper's book is chest-thumping tongue-in-cheek bravado. Yet if as much as 75% is true (which I suspect it is), he certainly lives up to the title of Scourge of the Australian Underworld. Before writing this review, I did some research on the Aussie prison system and verified Chopper's accounts. Prison guards routinely accept bribes, turn their backs on violence, encourage feuds and rivalries and even bet on fights between inmates. Chopper was the cock of the walk wherever he was sent, even in Jika Jika (the Aussie version of Alcatraz) where he was its first inmate.He spent thirty-three years of his life as a professional criminal, thirteen while incarcerated in maximum security. During that time he built a reputation as Australia's most dangerous criminal, largely due to his record for killing or maiming rivals in prison. When he got out, he became a 'toe cutter', a man who kidnapped gangsters and tortured them to gain access to their getaway stashes. The Australian police took advantage of Chopper's campaign and gave him a favored status which allowed him to wreak havoc throughout the underworld. Chopper finally retired, fleeing to Tasmania from where he wrote a number of his memoirs.The final chapter of this book is where he lowers his guard and reveals his true feelings. He had been stabbed in the head with an ice pick, shot, strangled, beaten, and escaped countless attempts on his life. Despite the bravado and sadistic humor he displays throughout the book, he admits at the end that his life had been a total waste. He ended his days as a toothless lion, forever looking over his shoulder to see if one of his hundreds of enemies would come to extract vengeance at last.I doubt he lived his last days in fear. He just wanted to see it coming. And don't we all? Au revoir, Chopper. You were one of a kind.

A little after high school a close friend of mine had introduced me to a film called "Chopper" starring Eric Bana. This was my first experience with good ol' Chop Chop, and Eric Bana as well.I was completely intrigued and hysterical by Mark Brandon Read aka Chopper's funny yet crazy demeanor, and Eric's great acting chops. Little did I know Chopper had put out quite a few books, and even more since then. And Eric..well I'm sure everyone knows who he is at this point heh.I picked up this book after getting slightly bored while reading Dante's Divine Comedy, not to say I didn't like it. Just wasn't in that kind of mood at the moment. Anyhow, this book is not for the faint of heart. Chopper talks about funny stories, crazy ones, murders, robberies and in pretty graphic detail. I had read on Amazon a few sample pages of the book and was completely over taken just as I was with the film, his humor mixed with sociopath-type tendencies and sadism were just enthralling. I could see some people getting turned off by this type of writing or humor, but this man really has a soft warm side littered through out his book as well. Albeit some of it is hidden behind Aussie slang you may have to Google ;).One of my favorite stories talks of a hit put out on our friend Chopper. For the first and probably last time Chopper had been tripped up, and caught by a would be gangster looking for the bounty on Chop's head. Eventually Chopper get's thrown into said "gangster's" trunk and I believe he had said Dean Martin was blaring on the radio. Anyhow, eventually Chopper talks about how this was the only time he was scared enough to relieve himself on his person, and that he could never hear Deano sing again without thinking of this moment. He then goes into great detail about how he yuks it up with the gangster, who is trying to make him dig his own grave mind you...He then proceeds to fake not being able to dig very will with the restraints on and bare handed. Eventually Chopper has a small pick axe type tool and is now cuff-less, which was the gangster's very big mistake. Well with one blink of the eye or turn of the head by the gangster, Chopper proceeds to pay him back in spades. He also gets away with the gangster's car and lived to fight another day.If my little snippet of information from this book doesn't sound like your cup of tea, it most likely isn't. Chopper proclaims to be semi-illiterate and doesn't have much of an education. But boy does he have personality, charm, and a violent streak that would make any fan of the movie, or even gangster films/books blush.I whole heatedly recommend this book for those who don't mind a little violence with their humor, and can take some of it for what it's worth. Most likely a yarn.Stories: AWriting: AOverall: A

Brutally honest. Hell, this guy pulls no punches. He calls a spade a spade and the reader does not have to read into any hidden meaning. I enjoyed the comments about the punishment of predatory criminals. Justice is swifter than any courts. Harsh, funny and intriguing. Very entertaining. Unlike many criminal stories, Mark Read makes no bones about the sorry existence that most criminals live. It really breaks the mold of the Hollywood image of glamour and adventure. Some parts had me laughing my butt off. My only beef is the lack of chronological order. But I notice the same thing with Mad Frankie Fraser's book as well. The book still kept my interest. Two thumbs up for the honesty about crime, law enforcement and the probable future of crime in Austrailia. I look forward to his other books and the movie.