Rating: 
Summary: An excellant book
Review: If you enjoyed any of Mario Puzo's earlier works of writing then you will surely enjoy this one. It gives you a different perspective on the Mafia because this one starts in sicily the home of the Mafia. Turi the main character is the head of a group of bandits and outlaws who fight the government, mafia, and police. He is revered as a hero to the local sicilians. This novel is a very exciting and sad story.
Rating: 
Summary: Much more than a mob story
Review: If you thought Mario Puzo was just about American-Italian goodfellas who kill people, drive around and eat good pasta in New York City, you will be pleasantly surprised. The plot is set in Sicily, and the author's love and understanding of the long-suffering land shines through. Mario Puzo presents a captivating, page-turning story about the life of a post-war Sicilian outlaw, his climb to the top of criminal hierarchy and associated betrayals, cunning treacheries and loyalty that never should be taken for granted. At the same time, you get a deep insight into the mindset and culture of Sicily and its people who, through centuries of suffering at the crossroads of occupation and oppression, have learnt to trust no one. Historical and cultural background is presented so subtly, inobtrusively and with such writing skill that you will not realize that you, in fact, read a brilliant history book. Never before have I seen a crime thriller that would also be so educational. And, as an added bonus, Puzo is a true master when painting the scenery - dusky mornings, lush Sicilian gardens with fragrant lemon trees, ancient ruins and heat of the Meditteranean night. Read this book and you will see that you have got much, much more than you have bargained for.
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Summary: The Sicilian
Review: In Mario Puzo's suspenseful novel The Sicilian he employs situational irony with skill and precision as only a great author can. Situational irony is described as, when what happens is not what should happen or what is expected to happen. With this literary device Puzo crafts the entire storyline. His character Salvatore Gulliano is supposed to make a trip to America with Michael Corleone from the oppressed Sicily. But because of Gulliano's reputation of a tenacious bandit the people of Sicily do not want him to leave. This is where Puzo employs situational irony, Gulliano's most trusted friend and his own cousin, Aspanu Pisciotta brutally slays Gulliano a few hours before he is to leave Sicily. This event in the story is ironic because Pisciotta and Gulliano grew up together and started Gulliano's band together. Out of all the characters in the book Puzo allows the reader to think that Pisciotta would never betray his best friend. In the story Puzo goes on about just how treachorus the other members of Gulliano's band can be. For example one of Gulliano's own men attempted to kill him. While Gulliano was liberating a jail, one of the guards sprung at Gulliano with a pistol and squeezed the trigger. Fortunatly for Gulliano there was a defective bullet in the gun. Later in the story one of Gulliano's men told him that the same man that had tried to kill him wanted to join him. What is ironic was that Gulliano hired him. Those are just two examples of how Puzo effectively uses situational irony.
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Summary: Trust no one except Mario Puzo
Review: its a great story that i ever been read in this life. he is so cool and the story too. he is the best writers in this milenium.
Rating:
Summary: Mario Puzo- The Sicilian
Review: Mario Puzos fifth work "The Sicilian" (1984) is a masterpiece in its genre, a powerful epic about Sicily, the Mafia and one mans stand. The many characters from the story: hero Turi Guiliano, to Don Croce, Aspanu Piscoitta, Hector Adonis, and Michael Corleone and many more, make this book a very entertaining read. Turi Guilano never wanted to hurt anyone, but fate and his promise to himself to maintain his honour led to his decision to fight all those who came for him after he was gunned down for minor smuggling. We watch Turi and Aspanu grow from two young peasant men into the leaders of Sicilys most powerful bandit gang, one which challenges the police,the army, the government, and ultimately the Mafia while gaining the hate of some, and the love of many. Danger lurks around every corner, and treachery is never far away in this story, but there is also alot of love in the story, such as: Sicilians love for there country, a mothers love for her son, and the friendship of two young men. Puzo's storytelling and imagery keep the reader addicted, and make this book a hard one to put down. "The Sicilian" is an excellent read, recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good read.
Rating:
Summary: Mario Puzo- The Sicilian
Review: Mario Puzos fifth work "The Sicilian" (1984) is a masterpiece in its genre, a powerful epic about Sicily, the Mafia and one mans stand. The many characters from the story: hero Turi Guiliano, to Don Croce, Aspanu Piscoitta, Hector Adonis, and Michael Corleone and many more, make this book a very entertaining read. Turi Guilano never wanted to hurt anyone, but fate and his promise to himself to maintain his honour led to his decision to fight all those who came for him after he was gunned down for minor smuggling. We watch Turi and Aspanu grow from two young peasant men into the leaders of Sicilys most powerful bandit gang, one which challenges the police,the army, the government, and ultimately the Mafia while gaining the hate of some, and the love of many. Danger lurks around every corner, and treachery is never far away in this story, but there is also alot of love in the story, such as: Sicilians love for there country, a mothers love for her son, and the friendship of two young men. Puzo's storytelling and imagery keep the reader addicted, and make this book a hard one to put down. "The Sicilian" is an excellent read, recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good read.
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Summary: An Admirable Component to the Godfather
Review: Not Many have heard of this prequel/sequel to the Godfather. Set after Michael Corleone's two year stay in Sicily, he is sent on a final task which explains changes his character change in the Godfather. From the Italian American focus of The Godfather, the novel reaches into the very heart of Sicily, the island that bore so many of the characters in American Crime literature. Rich and almost lyrical, Puzo describes the life of one Salvatore Guilliano, a Sicilian Robin Hood but with greater purpose and less fantasy. He seeks to reform the underground world that has sprung on him after he is shot and left for dead on account of stealing cheese for his family. This gem of a book is gifted with great storytelling and greater understanding of a world we don't know and Puzo beautifully explains. Even if you have never read the Godfather, you will love this book for its truthfulness and wisdom.
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Summary: Fact from Fiction
Review: The Sicilian by Mario Puzo I really like historical fiction that spurs me on to seeking out fact from fiction and The Sicilian certainly did that. And it is no easy chore to do so in this case. In final analysis Salvatore Guiliano (Turi) and Salvatore Giuliano (Turridu) are so similar, especially in locations, such as Montelepre, and incidents, such as the massacre of Portella Della Ginestra, it becomes actually confusing. The betrayal and final end of the lives of both Guiliano and Gaspare Piscoitta (Aspanu) in the novel agree primarily with the reported accounts of reality, but the novel has led us to be emotionally invested with a much more loving Turi and a much more complex Aspanu than history presents. The fact that Giuliano remains a hero, the anti-communist pro-separation hero, of Sicily to this day encourages the more romantic approach taken in Puzo's story. History shows Giuliano to be a good deal more the politician and a good deal less the Robin Hood of the novel and his position with the Mafia a good deal less defined. But that is as it would be. After all, in the novel we are brought into the story through our old friend Michael Carleone and his faithful protector Peter Clemenza. And then there's characters that are so believable, like Hector Adonis who lives in more than one world and Don Dommonic Croce who lives in a world of his own making. These stories within the story are fascinating, worthy of novels all their own. All in all, I glad I read The Godfather first and had that detailed presentation of the core Sicilian mentality to fall back on before I came to this novel. Otherwise I might have been tempted to hate Don Corce and be disappointed by the novel ending. And it was a pleasure to see my wise old friend, Don Corleone, once again who could pick up all the pieces Michael had missed and complete the picture for us.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful example of Puzo's work
Review: The story goes from younge Salvatore 'Turi' Guiliano's childhood with his childhood paisan and cousin, Aspanu Pisciotta in the mountains surrounding Palermo discovering the remains of a sort of elephant or mammoth. They yearn to become powerful 'men of respect' and Guiliano soon establishes himself as the leader of the two boys which Aspanu seems to accept. Guiliano is driven to defend the poor and hard working Sicilians who bey the law of Omerta, and swears to bring down the hypocritical empire made of wealth and fear inspired by the dukes and other political powers. At the peak of his power, when his attacks on the 'police' is becoming more and more daring and he is giving more and more protection to the poor Sicilianos he is approached by Don Croce, a local Mafioso who is the head of the 'Friends of the Friends' a group of families, that sell teir services to the highest bidder, protecting crops, or enforcing personal vendettas etc. Croce urges the naive Guiliano to join with him and that he will ignore all the acts he has comitted against his protectees. He promises that together they could rules Sicily and have more power than the 'hypocrites' in Roma. Turi refuses and sets of to a underworld war between Guiliano - who all the Sicilians look to for protection and thus support him, and Don Croce - who has massive political and media influences which allows him to persuede Roma to send an entire army to Palermo to eliminate Guiliano. As this massive force begins to take out his caporegimes, and vital influences he is presented with an opportunity to flee to America with Michael Corleone. He send his new wife ahead and the eve before his journey he is betrayed by his closest friend, Aspanu. Aspanu kills Guiliano and is granted a pardon and a substantial amount of funds is wired to him as the military force commander takes credit for the victory.
Rating:
Summary: THE SICILIAN
Review: THI BOOK MADE ME FALL IN LOVE WITH THE CHARECTOR TURI GULLIANO HE WAS SUCH A TENDER MAN BUT AT THE SAME TIME HE WAS TOUGH AND STAND FOR WHAT HE BELIVE IN AND STAND FOR JUSTICE ,TO HELP POOR PEOPLE HIS OWN COUNTRY MAN EVENTHOUGH HES LIFE WAS ON THE LINE HE PROTECT HIS MOTHER AND FATHER BUT MOST OF ALL HIS FELLOW MAN UNTIL HE WAS BETRAY BY HIS OWN COUSIN.
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