The Godfather by Mario Puzo Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Godfather
Book Review: Excellent
Summary: 5 Stars
I've seen the film The Godfather countless times but until recently never read the book. I picked it up on a whim and found it thoroughly engrossing. It was great to get so much more depth to the characters. It's very well written too and there's never a dull moment. Worthwhile for anyone whether they've seen the film or not.Book Review: Journalism And Fiction
Summary: 1 Stars
There is an abiding tension between the two crafts of journalism and fiction. The practitioner of the latter art searches out, and strings together, detail from real life in a careful arrangement, as a jeweler makes a pearl necklace. The other gathers detail in the manner of a child picking up shells on a beach -- throwing them willy-nilly into a bucket -- constantly in search of the next, more shiny, example.
Reading "The Godfather", one gradually comes to the realization that, while Mario Puzo may not be much of a novelist (or even a writer, for that matter), he certainly must have been a fine, tenacious reporter. There are bits which appear to be lifted wholesale from real life, particularly in that thread of the story which follows Johnny Fontane. Puzo demonstrates a formidable knowledge of the old Hollywood power structure, its parties, its hangers-on, its washed-up starlets, its lusty moguls, its corrosive effect upon the souls of those in its service.
The problem is, however, Puzo never makes anything of these and other details. They are left hanging, unrelated to the development of the story and the characters. The most fully realized character in the entire story is Johnny Fontane, of all people. This is because the character is sunk in a fully-realized world (that Hollywood mentioned above) and ultimately takes on life as result of it.
In some respects, Puzo's approach to novelism is very much of the Tom Wolfe school. That is, the novelist is simply a journalist, in search of the "thousand-footed beast". Although Wolfe is too much of a conscientious artist to see his own precepts through to their unfortunate end (particularly in "Bonfire of the Vanities"), Puzo, a lesser artist, is an example of the danger that such a school may pose. He piles on fascinating detail after detail, probably all the result of painstaking research, but without any regard for their organization or cumulative effect in relation to the story.
In all, the result is not absolutely unreadable -- it is, however, an absolute failure as a work of art.
Book Review: Quite fascinating - an incredibly worthy title to read closely.
Summary: 5 Stars
Dare I say it's almost 'fun' to read this incredible piece of material. Completely familiar with the movie, and having never read this novel before, it was very interesting in comparing the two. For whatever reason, I do not associate the movie actors with the book characters like I always seem to do with other made-into-movie books, and I'm not too sure why. In the end, however, it becomes another one of those books that one wishes they had read first before seeing the movie (even as excellent as the movie was).Book Review: Satan's Advocate
Summary: 3 Stars
This book though very realistically written, seeks to immortalize criminals. The book consistently glorifies outlaws and their unbridled violence. A book that is otherwise a masterpiece, fails to be classed as one, because of its immoral core. It almost appears as if this book is a propaganda mouthpiece for the Mafia. There is no mention of any significant success of the law enforcement. Murders are committed as if there is no law. In this context this novel to some degree, even loses its claim to realism. Wrongs are righted and criminal intentions are ennobled by twisted logic. It is as if the thugs operate in a utopian thuggee dreamland with no strings attached.
A totally negative view of civilization and its institutions are taken. The book achieved its crooked aims by inspiring awe and misplaced veneration for crime in the minds of it's readers, especially the gullible and the easily misdirected youngsters. To this extent , this book has sought to undermine the civil fabric of society.
On the positive side this book has provided some remarkable insights into the criminal mob mind. A narrow slice of the mob world , the Sicilian kind, has been brilliantly portrayed. Every page sizzles with action and suspense.
The story of men who live by the sword and die by the sword ofcourse, the sword is not of the law but of the like-minded mobsters. This book has become a part of the American folklore for the above reasons.
All in all, the book seems to say : that every American organization is a mob peopled by criminals, be it the government or a corporation, only that the Sicilian Mafia is too good at its business. Let the government and the entire society be taken over by the Mafia and that will be only good. The book just stops short of saying that. Thus this book voices the aspirations and dreams of the most disgruntled and frustrated elements of the society.
If this reviewer could be called naive for the above review, he doesnt mind and he hopes to keep alive in his heart the torch of triumph of the law over criminals.
Book Review: This is a true classic.
Summary: 5 Stars
After watching the Godfather films on Blu-ray, I thought, it would be a great idea to revisit the underworld of Don Corleone. This book brings us into the world of Don Corleone and his Mafia family. We learn a great deal about the culture of the Mafia underworld. While some people sometimes say certain forms of violence are "senseless" or irrational, Puzo shows that there are often times a rational reason for such actions. This is not to excuse the violence and illegal behavior--but rather to explain the causes for such behavior. By seeing the world through the lens of Don Corleone, it enables us to understand why such enterprises have been as successful as they have been in certain locations in the United States and around the world. Rituals and rules such as secrecy, loyalty, friendships with important people in high places (Congress, local politicians, judges), and the aggressive use of force against "enemies" who violate the rules--all serve to protect and solidify this type of underworld family business.
The Godfather family is not poor, but yet continues to pursue crime as a business, mainly because it is so successful at it. Despite the loses that occur, and the pain that arises, the family presses on. Ayn Rand would say that the Godfather family's philosophy is quite problematic in that they believe in unearned benefits through wealth distribution, thuggery and the influence of "pull." These are important factors to take into account when reading this book.
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