Criminals : my family's life on both sides of the law

"The Siegels of New York are a singular creation--quirky, idealistic, shaped in large part by Siegel's father, a lovable, impossible man of gargantuan appetites and sloppy ethics, a criminal defense attorney who loved his drug dealing clients a little too much and went to prison as a result. Siegel's mother decided to pour her energies into making her children refined, art loving mavens of fine dining in international settings--all the things that his father was not, with Robert as her most targeted ally. Once out of prison, Siegel's father struggled with depression, attempting to re-enter legal practice, with age and finances nipping at their heels. Robert, as a son and later as an author, attempts to put all of these pieces together to make a coherent shape of family before realizing perhaps no such thing exists. What is right, what is wrong? How does one family join the greater world of normal people beyond the demimonde of drug dealers, bikers, schemers, rock musicians and artists that swirled around them? Criminals explores those questions without easy judgements, creating a prism of an eccentric collection of characters bound together as the mysterious tribe of family"--;MILK / Eileen Myles -- Memory loop -- Criminals -- Stan, darling -- Gourmets -- Two angels -- Everyone wants to be a Hells Angel -- Self-portrait on acid -- Psychedelia -- Smash -- Choke -- No English -- The floating bridge of dreams -- Mono no aware -- Unreliable tour guide -- Shopping -- Homesteaders -- First car -- Sean -- The window -- How I learned to be a writer -- Lockjaw -- Friends -- Voicemail -- Haiku for my father -- The heron -- Nothing that wants to run away -- A year in Taiwan -- Fragments from a Taiwan notebook -- Stilt walking -- My mother, my writing student -- Summer house -- The dream book. A prismatic, provocative look at one family—led by a charismatic, defense attorney father—whose bonds exist on both sides of the law The Siegels of New York are a singular creation—quirky, idealistic, shaped in large part by Robert Anthony Siegel's father, a lovable, impossible man of gargantuan appetites and sloppy ethics, a criminal defense attorney who loved his drug–dealing clients a little too much and went to prison as a result. Siegel's mother decided to pour her energies into making her children art–loving mavens of fine dining in international settings—all the things that his father was not—with Robert as her most targeted ally. Once out of prison, Siegel's father struggled with depression, attempting to reenter legal practice, with age and finances nipping at his heels. Robert, as a son and later as an author, attempts to put all of these pieces together to make a coherent shape of family before realizing that perhaps no such thing exists. Where is the thin, permeable line between right and wrong? How does one family join the greater world of normal people beyond the demimonde of drug dealers, bikers, schemers, rock musicians, and artists that swirled around them? Criminals explores those questions without easy judgments, creating a prism of an eccentric collection of characters bound together as the mysterious tribe of family. A prismatic, provocative look at one familyled by a charismatic, defense attorney fatherwhose bonds exist on both sides of the law The Siegels of New York are a singular creationquirky, idealistic, shaped in large part by Siegel's father, a lovable, impossible man of gargantuan appetites and sloppy ethics, a criminal defense attorney who loved his drug-dealing clients a little too much and went to prison as a result. Siegel's mother decided to pour her energies into making her children refined, art-loving mavens of fine dining in international settingsall the things that his father was not, with Robert as her most targeted ally. Once out of prison, Siegel's father struggled with depression, attempting to reenter legal practice, with age and finances nipping at his heels. Robert, as a son and later as an author, attempts to put all of these pieces together to make a coherent shape of family before realizing perhaps no such thing exists. What is right, and what is wrong? How does one family join the greater world of normal people beyond the demimonde of drug dealers, bikers, schemers, rock musicians, and artists that swirled around them? Criminals explores those questions without easy judgments, creating a prism of an eccentric collection of characters bound together as the mysterious tribe of family. "The Siegels of New York are a singular creation--quirky, idealistic, shaped in large part by Siegel's father, a lovable, impossible man of gargantuan appetites and sloppy ethics, a criminal defense attorney who loved his drug dealing clients a little too much and went to prison as a result. Siegel's mother decided to pour her energies into making her children refined, art loving mavens of fine dining in international settings--all the things that his father was not, with Robert as her most targeted ally. Once out of prison, Siegel's father struggled with depression, attempting to re-enter legal practice, with age and finances nipping at their heels. Robert, as a son and later as an author, attempts to put all of these pieces together to make a coherent shape of family before realizing perhaps no such thing exists. What is right, what is wrong? How does one family join the greater world of normal people beyond the demimonde of drug dealers, bikers, schemers, rock musicians and artists that swirled around them? Criminals explores those questions without easy judgements, creating a prism of an eccentric collection of characters bound together as the mysterious tribe of family"-- Provided by publisher The Siegels Of New York Are A Singular Creation-quirky, Idealistic, Shaped In Large Part By Siegel's Father, A Lovable, Impossible Man Of Gargantuan Appetites And Sloppy Ethics, A Criminal Defense Attorney Who Loved His Drug Dealing Clients A Little Too Much And Went To Prison As A Result. Siegel's Mother Decided To Pour Her Energies Into Making Her Children Refined, Art Loving Mavens Of Fine Dining In International Settings-all The Things That His Father Was Not, With Robert As Her Most Targeted Ally. Once Out Of Prison, Siegel's Father Struggled With Depression, Attempting To Re-enter Legal Practice, With Age And Finances Nipping At Their Heels. Robert, As A Son And Later As An Author, Attempts To Put All Of These Pieces Together To Make A Coherent Shape Of Family Before Realizing Perhaps No Such Thing Exists. What Is Right, What Is Wrong? How Does One Family Join The Greater World Of Normal People Beyond The Demimonde Of Drug Dealers, Bikers, Schemers, Rock Musicians And Artists That Swirled Around Them? Criminals Explores Those Questions Without Easy Judgements, Creating A Prism Of An Eccentric Collection Of Characters Bound Together As The Mysterious Tribe Of Family-- Robert Anthony Siegel. Criminals is a brilliant and lovingly told story of one family's progress through the years, from Robert's childhood in NYC in the 1970s to his father's death in 2002. The Siegels of New York are a singular creation—quirky, idealistic, shaped in large part by Siegel's father, a lovable, impossible man of gargantuan appetites and sloppy ethics, a criminal defense attorney who loved his drug dealing clients a little too much and went to prison as a result. Siegel's mother decided to pour her energies into making her children refined, art loving mavens of fine dining in international settings—all the things that his father was not, with Robert as her most targeted ally. Once out of prison, Siegel's father struggled with depression, attempting to re-enter legal practice, with age and finances nipping at their heels. Robert, as a son and later as an author, attempts to put all of these pieces together to make a coherent shape of family before realizing... General Fiction