Call number
Series
Collections
Publication
Barcelona: Edicions 62, 2001 (2a ed.); 590 p.; 24,3 cm (El Balancí; 419)
Description
Classic Literature. Fiction. Literature. Mystery. HTML:50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION�??WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION BY FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA Mario Puzo�??s classic saga of an American crime family that became a global phenomenon�??nominated as one of America�??s best-loved novels by PBS�??s The Great American Read. With its brilliant and brutal portrayal of the Corleone family, The Godfather burned its way into our national consciousness. This unforgettable saga of crime and corruption, passion and loyalty continues to stand the test of time, as the definitive novel of the Mafia underworld. A #1 New York Times bestseller in 1969, Mario Puzo�??s epic was turned into the incomparable film of the same name, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. It is the original classic that has been often imitated, but never matched. A tale of family and society, law and order, obedience and rebellion, it reveals the dark passions of human nature played out against a backdrop of the American dream. With a Note from Anthony Puzo and an Afterword by Rober… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member kaionvin
Indeed, dear reader, I did not hate The Godfather. I h-aa-ted it.
How much did I hate it? Well I could start with a long dissemination of Mario Puzo's simplistic and repetitive prose. Puzo seems to think the reader needs a reminder of plot points that occured ten pages ago, and that unnecessarily
Or I could give you a thorough cataloguing of how very poser-y The Godfather, with its bombastic ideas of masculinity and supposed gritty crime plotlines. And yet for moral convenience, the only people we see the Corleone Family harm are fellow mobsters they are at "war" with (and somehow the Corleones are never the instigators) or else, terrible human beings who are child molesters (I'm not kidding).
I have an essay on my hard drive about how the worship of this book and the character of Vito Corleone is misguided, as he better represents the utter failure of the American Dream and its corruption of true values... that is if one takes Puzo's vision seriously at all, which one really shouldn't, as it is just another weak attempt at the myth of the Single Man, as well as obviously only prodding history for hopefully salacious material, rather than having an insight into the times.
And I could talk on forever about the greatest myth of Puzo's "history" is his adherance to the Madonna-Whore view of his female characters, only slightly amended more specifically in Puzo's case to the Long-Suffering-Wife (Whose-Willingfully-Ignorant-Devotion-To-Her-Husband-Is-Only-Matched-By-Her-Spiritual-Devotion-To-Praying-For-His-Soul) and the Body, of which there are two subtypes, the Vagina (Woman-Who-Only-Exists-As-A-Sexual-Object) and the Victim (Woman-Who-Exists-As-A-Punching-Bag-Usually-For-Plot-Device-Purposes).
But really that would involve spending more time about thinking about this truly wretched book, and really just this*:
There's a whole character in this book-- a secondary character who gets several chapters devoted to PoV-- who is defined by her gaping vagina. Yes, literally. Her whole character is about her large vagina. We get a whole decades-spanning arc about her large vagina, because really, what else could possibly be more riveting about any woman? What other possible characteristics could any woman have that would be more important than that?
Do I really need to say more?
*It was this or an haiku about watching the pages burn, but I don't believe in book burning and I could never top Bradbury anyway, so this is what you get instead.
How much did I hate it? Well I could start with a long dissemination of Mario Puzo's simplistic and repetitive prose. Puzo seems to think the reader needs a reminder of plot points that occured ten pages ago, and that unnecessarily
Show More
drawing out an obvious reveal by splitting it up into three points of view counts as suspense.Or I could give you a thorough cataloguing of how very poser-y The Godfather, with its bombastic ideas of masculinity and supposed gritty crime plotlines. And yet for moral convenience, the only people we see the Corleone Family harm are fellow mobsters they are at "war" with (and somehow the Corleones are never the instigators) or else, terrible human beings who are child molesters (I'm not kidding).
I have an essay on my hard drive about how the worship of this book and the character of Vito Corleone is misguided, as he better represents the utter failure of the American Dream and its corruption of true values... that is if one takes Puzo's vision seriously at all, which one really shouldn't, as it is just another weak attempt at the myth of the Single Man, as well as obviously only prodding history for hopefully salacious material, rather than having an insight into the times.
And I could talk on forever about the greatest myth of Puzo's "history" is his adherance to the Madonna-Whore view of his female characters, only slightly amended more specifically in Puzo's case to the Long-Suffering-Wife (Whose-Willingfully-Ignorant-Devotion-To-Her-Husband-Is-Only-Matched-By-Her-Spiritual-Devotion-To-Praying-For-His-Soul) and the Body, of which there are two subtypes, the Vagina (Woman-Who-Only-Exists-As-A-Sexual-Object) and the Victim (Woman-Who-Exists-As-A-Punching-Bag-Usually-For-Plot-Device-Purposes).
But really that would involve spending more time about thinking about this truly wretched book, and really just this*:
There's a whole character in this book-- a secondary character who gets several chapters devoted to PoV-- who is defined by her gaping vagina. Yes, literally. Her whole character is about her large vagina. We get a whole decades-spanning arc about her large vagina, because really, what else could possibly be more riveting about any woman? What other possible characteristics could any woman have that would be more important than that?
Do I really need to say more?
*It was this or an haiku about watching the pages burn, but I don't believe in book burning and I could never top Bradbury anyway, so this is what you get instead.
Show Less
LibraryThing member memccauley6
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but the movie was better than the book. It tightened up the plot and eliminated (to my mind) the unnecessary sub-plots. Like the story of Lucy’s move to Las Vegas. And her doctor boyfriend. And the part about her vaginal surgery that made me want to throw the
Show More
book across the room (but I couldn’t because I was reading it on Kindle) Show Less
LibraryThing member datrappert
Impossible to put down. Puzo is not a great writer by any means - he repeats certain descriptions to the point that you want to scream - but the story is absolutely compelling. I had this book around the house for years, then picked it up in desperation when I needed something to read in the
Show More
bathroom - and it was pretty much nonstop from there! Show Less
LibraryThing member JGolomb
A friend recently loaned me her copy of this book. I've seen the movies, love them all, and, not surprisingly, enjoyed the book. As is often the case, a movie just can't compete with the level of detail and nuance that a full novel can provide.
In this case, I couldn't help but connect my memories
The story, in large part due to its familiarity, reads very quickly. The plot points are thick, though the conclusions rather abrupt - as abrupt as a bullet shot through a revolver. Puzo blends plot conclusions which their preceding detail, in a very stylistic way - Sonny's bullet-ridden body is brought to the funeral before we find out how he was hit during an ambush at a toll booth. The final scenes read very similar to Francis Ford Coppola's signature chop-cut conclusions to his "Godfather" films, and one gets some insight into the vision behind the visuals.
This is a terrifically iconic work and I highly recommend the read to any fan of the films. This will only build on the mythology and intensity and depth of the individual characters.
In this case, I couldn't help but connect my memories
Show More
of the movies with the particulars of the novel. The faces, the accents, the atmosphere. The mythology of "The Godfather", for me, is completely tied to the movie and so my expectations were just a little off-kilter when reading the book. The story, in large part due to its familiarity, reads very quickly. The plot points are thick, though the conclusions rather abrupt - as abrupt as a bullet shot through a revolver. Puzo blends plot conclusions which their preceding detail, in a very stylistic way - Sonny's bullet-ridden body is brought to the funeral before we find out how he was hit during an ambush at a toll booth. The final scenes read very similar to Francis Ford Coppola's signature chop-cut conclusions to his "Godfather" films, and one gets some insight into the vision behind the visuals.
This is a terrifically iconic work and I highly recommend the read to any fan of the films. This will only build on the mythology and intensity and depth of the individual characters.
Show Less
LibraryThing member evernon
How on earth can anyone discuss this book without mentioning the subplot of the woman whose life was ruined because her VAGINA WAS TOO BIG. This is a dime store novel that somehow got turned into an amazing and hugely popular movie, it's not a good or well written book.
LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
The first two Godfather films are considered two of the greatest films of all time. I can't say the same of the novel. It's not Great Literature (tm) on a par with novels of Austen or Hugo, but it's not quite a trashy Jacqueline Susann read either. Although like Susann's Valley of the Dolls and
The raw material out of which were created the mafia legend are right in the book. I'm not sure how accurate is the portrait of organized crime. I have heard that those in organized crime themselves adopted The Godfather, liked to think of themselves in its light. That suggests the book glamorizes organized crime. It certainly paints both Don Corleone and his heir Michael, if not as heroes, then as very shrewd men with leadership qualities and touches of genius. It's telling that the book takes as its epigraph a quotation of Balzac, "Behind every great fortune there is a great crime." This is at heart a very cynical book that sees little difference between the political power as wielded by statesmen, the economic power of entrepreneurs and the brute force of criminals. The book and the films wink at us and tell us we're naive to think there is any difference. One phrase you hear over and over in the book as people are betrayed. “Nothing personal, just business.” The words signaling the most chilling of responses is "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse." I don't think Puzo paints the mafia men as honorable, and Michael calls the mafia a "cancer" on Sicily. To see the book as glorifying the mob is to miss a lot of the book's irony and anti-capitalist theme.
In the first third of the novel I was completely sucked in. I thought Godfather, if no great work of literature, might still count as a minor classic, such as The Scarlet Pimpernel or The Hounds of the Baskervilles still being read and enjoyed over a century after publication. However, the book proved very uneven. There's this entire subplot taking up major portions of the book involving the Frank Sinatra-like character, Johnny Fontaine, I thought a pointless distraction. The portion involving Vito Corleone, the "Godfather 2" material, felt too tell, not show in the book, and was better realized in the second film. I didn't feel that parts not found in the films enriched it as much as they diluted the central story about Michael Corleone, and I thought the first two Godfather films were better structured than the book. Nor does the book really give you enough of a look at Michael's inner life so you gain insight into how he changed beyond the bare events of the novel and film. The film also excises a lot in the book that is just plain crass. Film director Coppola is simply a better storyteller in his medium than author Puzo. I don't think you gain anything from reading the book--the first two films are far richer.
Show More
many a tawdry bestseller, it has the quality of a roman-a-clef with part of the fascination being you feel you're reading a thinly disguised tale of people such as Frank Sinatra. Yet despite the first "Book" of around 190 pages being very true to the films I'd seen several times, I found that part completely absorbing, with so much that has become iconic ("making his bones," "going to the mattresses," "sleeping with the fishes.") The raw material out of which were created the mafia legend are right in the book. I'm not sure how accurate is the portrait of organized crime. I have heard that those in organized crime themselves adopted The Godfather, liked to think of themselves in its light. That suggests the book glamorizes organized crime. It certainly paints both Don Corleone and his heir Michael, if not as heroes, then as very shrewd men with leadership qualities and touches of genius. It's telling that the book takes as its epigraph a quotation of Balzac, "Behind every great fortune there is a great crime." This is at heart a very cynical book that sees little difference between the political power as wielded by statesmen, the economic power of entrepreneurs and the brute force of criminals. The book and the films wink at us and tell us we're naive to think there is any difference. One phrase you hear over and over in the book as people are betrayed. “Nothing personal, just business.” The words signaling the most chilling of responses is "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse." I don't think Puzo paints the mafia men as honorable, and Michael calls the mafia a "cancer" on Sicily. To see the book as glorifying the mob is to miss a lot of the book's irony and anti-capitalist theme.
In the first third of the novel I was completely sucked in. I thought Godfather, if no great work of literature, might still count as a minor classic, such as The Scarlet Pimpernel or The Hounds of the Baskervilles still being read and enjoyed over a century after publication. However, the book proved very uneven. There's this entire subplot taking up major portions of the book involving the Frank Sinatra-like character, Johnny Fontaine, I thought a pointless distraction. The portion involving Vito Corleone, the "Godfather 2" material, felt too tell, not show in the book, and was better realized in the second film. I didn't feel that parts not found in the films enriched it as much as they diluted the central story about Michael Corleone, and I thought the first two Godfather films were better structured than the book. Nor does the book really give you enough of a look at Michael's inner life so you gain insight into how he changed beyond the bare events of the novel and film. The film also excises a lot in the book that is just plain crass. Film director Coppola is simply a better storyteller in his medium than author Puzo. I don't think you gain anything from reading the book--the first two films are far richer.
Show Less
LibraryThing member DabOfDarkness
Set in the 1940s and 1950s in mostly New York, the Corleone family is at the heart of a well organized crime ring. Vito Corleone, the Don of the family, keeps his fingers in all the local businesses, legal or otherwise. He’s always a gentleman, holding manners and respect in high regard. However,
Even though I haven heard quite a bit about The Godfather (book and movie) over the years, I had never experienced either. It was a bit of a whim that I picked this book up and I’m glad I did! This story was so much richer than I expected. I’d heard people talk about all the violence in the movies (and indeed there is violence a plenty in this book), but I had not come across anyone who talked about the depth of this novel. I really enjoyed how much Puzo put into the main characters. Vito Corleone, who plays such a vital role in this book, is a vibrant man who comes from a culture of strict rules concerning respect. His children, Sonny, Fredo, Mike, and Connie, are all Americanized and don’t share all of their father’s cultural norms. Of course this clash of cultures becomes a key piece of drama for the book.
I was quite taken with Tom Hagen, the family’s in-house lawyer. He was informally adopted as a kid when he followed one of the Corleone kids home. He didn’t have a real place to stay, so Vito’s wife made him feel right at home. Tom is always so patient and elegant. He knows that he’s not of the family, not being Sicilian or even Italian, and yet he knows the Don best. He was often the glue that kept the family together. His informal adoption into the family is just one example of how giving the Don can be.
While the women of the story are wives, sisters, mothers, and sex objects, Puzo does give them a little more depth than I expected. I found myself taken with Lucy Mancini, though not at first. Initially, she really is a sex object, however, in the later half of the book she meets up with Dr. Jules Sagal in Nevada. Now I was quite surprised that the book went into so much detail about Lucy’s unusually large vagina, what causes that, and how to fix it but I also applaud the author for doing so. This is something that is interesting but may also serve to enlighten people about a little talked about medical issue.
There is plenty of violence throughout the story, but not nearly as much as in today’s action flicks. Also, I felt that the author did a good job of portraying realistic outcomes of each violent episode. I did feel a bit for the horse but I also understood that the Don was making a statement without the loss of human life. Then later on, the wife of one of the sons is accidentally murdered and that was a little bit of a tear jerker. Each violent episode brought some emotion out of me.
Finally, let’s talk a little about Johnny Fontane, the Hollywood star and godson to Vito Corleone. He has this life that’s been strongly influenced by the Don and yet he lives this very different and separate life out in California. I found his life a bit sad and a little dramatic. He’s surrounded by other stars who all have egos as big as his. Yet he finds his most satisfaction in visiting his ex-wife and their two children. They have an unusual and yet very practical arrangement. As side characters, I found them pretty interesting.
All in all, this novel (which was first published in 1969) was more than I expected. I’m sure several bits of this book were considered taboos in 1969 (Lucy’s large vagina, Johnny’s irregular relationship with his ex-wife, etc.) and perhaps are still considered a bit rude to talk about in public these days. The character depth for the main male characters was unexpected but definitely appreciated. Also, I thoroughly enjoyed Vito’s back story. Puzo definitely caught my eye with this classic novel and I will be reading more of his works soon.
The Narration: As you can see, there’s a huge list of narrators; full Cast directed by Michael Page: Dan Price, Lorna Johnson, Don Stroup, Terry Bozeman, Richard Lavin, Amy Sunshine, Larry Brandenburg, Rose Nadolsky, Peter Syvertsen, Jane Brody, Bob O’Donnell, Joe Van Slyke, Marie Chambers, Si Osborne, Chuck Winter, Charles Fuller, and Malcolm Rothman. Sometimes I liked that there were so many voices since this book has a sizable list of characters. However, sometimes it was clear that some parts conversations were recorded with the narrators at different times. I sometimes found that while one character was dramatically narrated, the other character in the same conversation would sound much more down to Earth. So the performance as a whole teeters on that edge between radio drama and a decently narrated novel. Quite frankly, I think I would have preferred a version narrated by 1 or perhaps 2 people.
Show More
not everyone else holds to his old Sicilian ways. When war breaks out between the Corleone family and another crime lord, known as the Turk, manners are left in dirt.Even though I haven heard quite a bit about The Godfather (book and movie) over the years, I had never experienced either. It was a bit of a whim that I picked this book up and I’m glad I did! This story was so much richer than I expected. I’d heard people talk about all the violence in the movies (and indeed there is violence a plenty in this book), but I had not come across anyone who talked about the depth of this novel. I really enjoyed how much Puzo put into the main characters. Vito Corleone, who plays such a vital role in this book, is a vibrant man who comes from a culture of strict rules concerning respect. His children, Sonny, Fredo, Mike, and Connie, are all Americanized and don’t share all of their father’s cultural norms. Of course this clash of cultures becomes a key piece of drama for the book.
I was quite taken with Tom Hagen, the family’s in-house lawyer. He was informally adopted as a kid when he followed one of the Corleone kids home. He didn’t have a real place to stay, so Vito’s wife made him feel right at home. Tom is always so patient and elegant. He knows that he’s not of the family, not being Sicilian or even Italian, and yet he knows the Don best. He was often the glue that kept the family together. His informal adoption into the family is just one example of how giving the Don can be.
While the women of the story are wives, sisters, mothers, and sex objects, Puzo does give them a little more depth than I expected. I found myself taken with Lucy Mancini, though not at first. Initially, she really is a sex object, however, in the later half of the book she meets up with Dr. Jules Sagal in Nevada. Now I was quite surprised that the book went into so much detail about Lucy’s unusually large vagina, what causes that, and how to fix it but I also applaud the author for doing so. This is something that is interesting but may also serve to enlighten people about a little talked about medical issue.
There is plenty of violence throughout the story, but not nearly as much as in today’s action flicks. Also, I felt that the author did a good job of portraying realistic outcomes of each violent episode. I did feel a bit for the horse but I also understood that the Don was making a statement without the loss of human life. Then later on, the wife of one of the sons is accidentally murdered and that was a little bit of a tear jerker. Each violent episode brought some emotion out of me.
Finally, let’s talk a little about Johnny Fontane, the Hollywood star and godson to Vito Corleone. He has this life that’s been strongly influenced by the Don and yet he lives this very different and separate life out in California. I found his life a bit sad and a little dramatic. He’s surrounded by other stars who all have egos as big as his. Yet he finds his most satisfaction in visiting his ex-wife and their two children. They have an unusual and yet very practical arrangement. As side characters, I found them pretty interesting.
All in all, this novel (which was first published in 1969) was more than I expected. I’m sure several bits of this book were considered taboos in 1969 (Lucy’s large vagina, Johnny’s irregular relationship with his ex-wife, etc.) and perhaps are still considered a bit rude to talk about in public these days. The character depth for the main male characters was unexpected but definitely appreciated. Also, I thoroughly enjoyed Vito’s back story. Puzo definitely caught my eye with this classic novel and I will be reading more of his works soon.
The Narration: As you can see, there’s a huge list of narrators; full Cast directed by Michael Page: Dan Price, Lorna Johnson, Don Stroup, Terry Bozeman, Richard Lavin, Amy Sunshine, Larry Brandenburg, Rose Nadolsky, Peter Syvertsen, Jane Brody, Bob O’Donnell, Joe Van Slyke, Marie Chambers, Si Osborne, Chuck Winter, Charles Fuller, and Malcolm Rothman. Sometimes I liked that there were so many voices since this book has a sizable list of characters. However, sometimes it was clear that some parts conversations were recorded with the narrators at different times. I sometimes found that while one character was dramatically narrated, the other character in the same conversation would sound much more down to Earth. So the performance as a whole teeters on that edge between radio drama and a decently narrated novel. Quite frankly, I think I would have preferred a version narrated by 1 or perhaps 2 people.
Show Less
LibraryThing member terricoop
Hmmm . . . how to review “The Godfather.” This book is the pinnacle of Mario Puzo’s career. I’ve read all of his novels, and while they are all fine, Godfather is his ultimate triumph.
The story of the Corleone family is the story of America and one version of the American Dream. The book is
However, “The Godfather” is a stunning and engrossing read. Historical facts are woven into the fictional narrative and the scenes and dialogue ring true. Michael Corleone is a brilliant character as he develops from a naive and rebellious young man to assume the mantle of Godfather. The set of scenes based on the infamous ‘Night of the Sicilian Vespers’ when Michael settles all of the family’s business in one day is unforgettable.
Not for the kids, very violent and graphic. Also not very politically correct, some folks get their little sensibilities bruised by the treatment of women and minorities. Too bad, so sad, get over it. It’s a book!
Why readers should read this book:
One of the few novels you’ll read that are not spoiled by a movie adaption and one of the few movies that aren’t spoiled by the novel. They go hand in hand. Watch the movie and then read the novel. You can fit the actors right into the characters. A great dramatic novel.
Why writers should read this book:
Mario Puzo created one of the enduring characters in American fiction in Michael Corleone. The character arc is perfect. Some have called the character ‘Shakespearean’. Not a bad model to emulate. Puzo is also a master at depicting violence without making is gross or overly in your face. The deaths of Luca Brasi and Sonny Corleone were masters of understatement, yet the reader never doubted the violence behind those deaths.
The story of the Corleone family is the story of America and one version of the American Dream. The book is
Show More
so well-written and compelling that I have to remind myself that the Corleone family is not real and that the honor and ethics of the family was more a figment of Puzo’s imagination than anything else. Mobsters are criminals - pure and simple.However, “The Godfather” is a stunning and engrossing read. Historical facts are woven into the fictional narrative and the scenes and dialogue ring true. Michael Corleone is a brilliant character as he develops from a naive and rebellious young man to assume the mantle of Godfather. The set of scenes based on the infamous ‘Night of the Sicilian Vespers’ when Michael settles all of the family’s business in one day is unforgettable.
Not for the kids, very violent and graphic. Also not very politically correct, some folks get their little sensibilities bruised by the treatment of women and minorities. Too bad, so sad, get over it. It’s a book!
Why readers should read this book:
One of the few novels you’ll read that are not spoiled by a movie adaption and one of the few movies that aren’t spoiled by the novel. They go hand in hand. Watch the movie and then read the novel. You can fit the actors right into the characters. A great dramatic novel.
Why writers should read this book:
Mario Puzo created one of the enduring characters in American fiction in Michael Corleone. The character arc is perfect. Some have called the character ‘Shakespearean’. Not a bad model to emulate. Puzo is also a master at depicting violence without making is gross or overly in your face. The deaths of Luca Brasi and Sonny Corleone were masters of understatement, yet the reader never doubted the violence behind those deaths.
Show Less
LibraryThing member mohi
Works somewhat better than the movie as it expands more on the characters, especially Don Corleone himself (a story that only got told in the second movie). Some parts of it seem pulpish and unnecessary like the whole story on Ms. Mancini and her *anatomy*.
LibraryThing member deemhall478
Excellent book! As I was reading the book I was imagining the scenes in the movie as the book was describing them.
LibraryThing member sensitivemuse
The Godfather is every bit the classic as the movie and one of the few where I like both the book and the film. In my opinion, this is the heart of all Mafia type novels and I think there can be nothing better than this book.
The book starts off with an introduction on what kind of a person Don
The characters are rich and filled with life throughout the book. I think it's thanks to these "mini stories" you have throughout the novel and it gives the characters more "flesh" so to speak. I like how they're all connected somehow with the Corleone family either through family relations, friendship, or the "favour" being done so the debt is being repaid. There's not too many characters to make it confusing, and there's even a specific part in the book where Puzo takes the time to explain to the reader which Don is which and of which family he is leader of, also he explains the ranks of Mafia as well to help the reader understand. He does a great job with explaining carefully that you're not left lost or wondering who is who. It may feel like there's a lot of characters but there's really just a group of central characters that you have to focus on which makes it less confusing and a much enjoyable read.The plot is very well done. There are certain parts where the plot "takes a break" and it may bother some readers, it didn't bother me I actually enjoyed the mini stories and in some cases it helps you understand how a certain character's relationship with the Don came to be.
Things that may bother some readers, some gory details, naturally this is a Mafia book so there will be blood. There are racial slurs and moments of misogyny and sexism. If you can read through that without bothering you, then this book will be a great read. I think it's a classic. The only real beef I have with this particular edition of the book is there are a lot of grammatical and spelling errors. I don't know why there's so many errors but it does get in the way of certain phrases and some spelling errors are so blatantly obvious.
Overall a great Mafia read and although it's a whopping 500 plus page book I don't regret it. It's definitely worth the time. I like both the movies and the book and will probably put this book among my favorites.
The book starts off with an introduction on what kind of a person Don
Show More
Corleone is. He oozes respect and class. The first few lines you read about him, you know that although he's the type of person you would turn to and someone you can trust, there's another side of him you wouldn't want to see and better off not knowing. Throughout the book you get mini stories in between the actual real plot. You get the inside-out of other characters and their background stories. It does aid the plot in some areas, in others, it's just a way of knowing some extra information - which still makes it a great read. Yes, you do get the classical Mafia wars that's an automatic requirement to make this a "mob novel" but it's done in such a way where it's classy and although it's unfortunate to happen to some characters in the novel, you're left thinking: "Well..you should have known better in the first place". The characters are rich and filled with life throughout the book. I think it's thanks to these "mini stories" you have throughout the novel and it gives the characters more "flesh" so to speak. I like how they're all connected somehow with the Corleone family either through family relations, friendship, or the "favour" being done so the debt is being repaid. There's not too many characters to make it confusing, and there's even a specific part in the book where Puzo takes the time to explain to the reader which Don is which and of which family he is leader of, also he explains the ranks of Mafia as well to help the reader understand. He does a great job with explaining carefully that you're not left lost or wondering who is who. It may feel like there's a lot of characters but there's really just a group of central characters that you have to focus on which makes it less confusing and a much enjoyable read.The plot is very well done. There are certain parts where the plot "takes a break" and it may bother some readers, it didn't bother me I actually enjoyed the mini stories and in some cases it helps you understand how a certain character's relationship with the Don came to be.
Things that may bother some readers, some gory details, naturally this is a Mafia book so there will be blood. There are racial slurs and moments of misogyny and sexism. If you can read through that without bothering you, then this book will be a great read. I think it's a classic. The only real beef I have with this particular edition of the book is there are a lot of grammatical and spelling errors. I don't know why there's so many errors but it does get in the way of certain phrases and some spelling errors are so blatantly obvious.
Overall a great Mafia read and although it's a whopping 500 plus page book I don't regret it. It's definitely worth the time. I like both the movies and the book and will probably put this book among my favorites.
Show Less
LibraryThing member MarthaJeanne
I first read this when it was a new book. The librarian probably should not have recommended it to the schoolgirl I was then, but I quite understand why she did. I had only remembered an incident in the first chapter and the last page or two. It seems to me today that the sex scenes are hardly
I'm glad I reread it.
Show More
worth mentioning given the strength of the whole novel, but of course they are more common now in mainline fiction.I'm glad I reread it.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Stahl-Ricco
I can't believe it took me this long to read this book! I've seen the movie easily dozens of times, but not read this. AND, it was published the year I was born! What was I waiting for?
"He claimed that there was no greater natural advantage in life than having an enemy overestimate your faults,
Anyway, the genius of the movie is self-evident within these covers! A great deal of the movie is literally plucked from these pages - dialogue too! Book I is awesome, and Book III is the story of Vito Andolini - they storyline in Godfather II with Robert DeNiro as the young Don to be. I really liked the extra information about Genco Abbondando, the weird (my words) appearance of a "Coppola" character in Book I, and the extra background stories of Luca Brasi and Albert Neri. All of the stories about the Corleone family just rocked!
That brings me to my negatives. Book II was almost like filler, but for no reason. Johnny Fontane in Hollywood. Big whoop!?! Seriously, skip it and it absolutely won't matter to the Corleone storyline. And the lengthy bits about Lucy and her doctor? Why on earth are they in this book? So we can learn about reconstructive vaginal surgery? Wha, wha, what? Again, none of it mattered AT ALL to the main story! Puzo must have had some kind of page number minimum he felt he must reach, so vaginal surgery it is! Cut out Fontane, Lucy, and the doctor, and this would be one of the best books ever written!
I'm super glad I read this, and when I do re read it, I'll skip the parts that I mentioned and it will be epic!
"He claimed that there was no greater natural advantage in life than having an enemy overestimate your faults,
Show More
unless it was to have a friend underestimate your virtues."Anyway, the genius of the movie is self-evident within these covers! A great deal of the movie is literally plucked from these pages - dialogue too! Book I is awesome, and Book III is the story of Vito Andolini - they storyline in Godfather II with Robert DeNiro as the young Don to be. I really liked the extra information about Genco Abbondando, the weird (my words) appearance of a "Coppola" character in Book I, and the extra background stories of Luca Brasi and Albert Neri. All of the stories about the Corleone family just rocked!
That brings me to my negatives. Book II was almost like filler, but for no reason. Johnny Fontane in Hollywood. Big whoop!?! Seriously, skip it and it absolutely won't matter to the Corleone storyline. And the lengthy bits about Lucy and her doctor? Why on earth are they in this book? So we can learn about reconstructive vaginal surgery? Wha, wha, what? Again, none of it mattered AT ALL to the main story! Puzo must have had some kind of page number minimum he felt he must reach, so vaginal surgery it is! Cut out Fontane, Lucy, and the doctor, and this would be one of the best books ever written!
I'm super glad I read this, and when I do re read it, I'll skip the parts that I mentioned and it will be epic!
Show Less
LibraryThing member longhorndaniel
Top 5 books of all time; makes you love and hate people at the same time; gives you characters that just can't be real then you see them lose it all; makes you feel all the sadness; heartache; triumphs and celebrations of life while seeing the ugliness of man and how low he will go to get what he
Show More
wants Show Less
LibraryThing member cmwilliams
The Godfather, by Mario Puzo traces the brutal history of the Mafioso Corleone family. Puzo illustrates the relationship between business and family, and to what cost the Don is willing to stand up for his beliefs to keep his business “clean.” Don Corleone doesn’t want his business to be
This relates to the theme, Search for Self, because the Don has to analyze how far he will go to stay true to his beliefs. Although the Corleone family already runs an illegitimate business, the Don hopes to pave the way to legitimacy, especially for his son, Michael. The Don has to choose whether it is worth it to stand up for what he believes will discredit the Corleone family, or keep the peace and join in the narcotics business.
Mario Puzo wrote the quintessential gangster story. It holds the stereotype for most Italian-Americans. My grandfather was a first generation immigrant from Italy, which sparked some personal interest in the book. I think that if you have a lot of time on your hands, and you are interested in the life of a Mafioso, this is the book for you. Overall it was a very long book, and hard to follow because of its length and long character list. The book is definitely intended for a mature audience due to all of the violence and other adult content. Overall, the book was very long, and hard to follow, but the plot was exciting and worth the read if you have the time.
Show More
tainted with the selling of narcotics. By trying to stay out of the business of narcotics, the Don creates an underground war, resulting in the death of many of his family members. This relates to the theme, Search for Self, because the Don has to analyze how far he will go to stay true to his beliefs. Although the Corleone family already runs an illegitimate business, the Don hopes to pave the way to legitimacy, especially for his son, Michael. The Don has to choose whether it is worth it to stand up for what he believes will discredit the Corleone family, or keep the peace and join in the narcotics business.
Mario Puzo wrote the quintessential gangster story. It holds the stereotype for most Italian-Americans. My grandfather was a first generation immigrant from Italy, which sparked some personal interest in the book. I think that if you have a lot of time on your hands, and you are interested in the life of a Mafioso, this is the book for you. Overall it was a very long book, and hard to follow because of its length and long character list. The book is definitely intended for a mature audience due to all of the violence and other adult content. Overall, the book was very long, and hard to follow, but the plot was exciting and worth the read if you have the time.
Show Less
LibraryThing member jayne_charles
As a straightforward, easy read with a lot of action, this was fine. The quality of the writing was generally poor, the grammar needed tidying up, and the toe-curling section with Lucy and the doctor could have been lost altogether without spoiling the book. Puzo knows about the Mafia, though, and
Show More
he has a brilliant story to tell; I'm probably the only person left on the planet who hasn't seen the film, and I don't feel as though I need to. Show Less
LibraryThing member FieryNight
Everyone should read this book. It shows society/the world/America for what it is.
LibraryThing member Nateparrish
the greatest book I've read. The true great American Novel.
LibraryThing member tejas
Finally read the book, had been meaning to do so for the past few years. Found the book to be really good, but must say that the movie version was almost as good or better than the book. Very few instances where I have seen that happen.
LibraryThing member gazzy
Good book telling the story of a composite of the new organized crime in this country. however, may have the distinction of being the only book that is not as good as its cinematic remake.
LibraryThing member shousers
This, combined with the Sopranos uber-marathon currently running in my household, added to my love of all things "paisan" makes me feel rather like an expert/member of The Family. It's a quick, easy, and addictive read. Molto buon!
LibraryThing member seanoc
A book that nicely compliments the three movies,and makes for an entertaining read with parts in the book that you will not find in the films .Unlike some books written to go with films,this one can be read and enjoyed even if you have seen the films .
LibraryThing member TheLoisLevel
Maybe this story just isn't as fresh after the movies and "The Sopranos." Quite readable but not earth shatteringly interesting. I suppose it does show how "dons" are made.
LibraryThing member amaxion1
i read 300 pages out of 340 pages.The Godfather dies. The Godfather's son kills a cop. He is killed, the killer was forgiving by the new Don which is Michael. Sonny started the war against the Tatatglia.I chose this book because i always love watching the GodFather movies.
LibraryThing member booksandwine
I loved this book. It was so easy to get caught up in the world of the Corleones. It's suspenseful, romantic, and epic.
Subjects
Awards
Golden Globe Award (Winner — Best Screenplay — 1972)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1969-03-10
Physical description
590 p.; 24 cm
ISBN
8429749535 / 9788429749533