The Godfather

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant
Review: THE GODFATHER is a great novel. I read it when I was 15. I went back and read it again when I was 32. I feared that--like a lot of books I re-read from when I was younger--I would be shocked that I liked something so bad. But THE GODFATHER was one of the few books I re-read after a number of years that was BETTER than I remembered it. I believe that if THE GODFATHER had been written in the 1800's, it would be considered a classic today. But since it was written in the 1960's, when "plot" and action were considered low brow conceits, it was unfairly dismissed as pulp. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DRIVES ME NUTS IS THE STANDARD LINE THAT PUZO'S NOVEL WAS PULP CRAP THAT COPPOLA SPUN INTO GOLDEN MASTERPIECES (G.F. I & II). THIS IS UTTER CRAP. PUZO CO-WROTE THE SCREENPLAY FOR THE MOVIES (and won two Oscars, too). AND HIS NOVEL IS A MASTERPIECE THAT WAS BROUGHT EFFECTIVELY TO THE SCREEN WITH COPPOLA'S DIRECTION. (The only other time Coppola made a masterpiece movie--"Apocalypse Now"--he had a masterpiece novel to work from: Joseph Conrad's HEART OF DARKNESS.) If there was ever a brilliant talent in the Godfather equation, it is Puzo. I believe that THE GODFATHER will become a classic in the future, taught in universities, long after Don DeLillo is out of print. (How someone who wrote something as great as THE GODFATHER could write something as inanely bad as THE LAST DON I don't know. But THE GODFATHER is still a masterpiece).

Rating:
Summary: The godfather is a great book!
Review: The godfather is the best book I have ever read. It's a must-read if you like to know more about the business of the mafia!

Rating:
Summary: A MUST FOR EVERY LIBRARY
Review: I have read this book over 15 times in less than 1 year. And am still not bored from it. It takes the reader to a fantasy land, which nothing else can compare. Some people say that it is not realistic, but hey, do books have to be realistic. Mario Puzo, makes the reader absorb all the characters of the book and gives them a realistic personality. And that is what makes the book amazing.

Rating:
Summary: It was OUTSTANDING!!!!!
Review: I have always had a strange, obsession, if you will, with the Mafioso. When I saw the movies "The Godfather" parts 1, 2, and 3, I knew that I had to read the book! It left me speechless. Although there were many parts in the book that weren't in the movies, I felt that I had just fallen into the latter 1940's in New York! Mario Puzo is the master at telling stories, I have never read anything better than this. I do recommend, however, that if you do intend on reading the book AND seeing the movies, that you see the movies first, because like moet movies based on books, there are SO many details in the book that aren't in the movies. If you are as fascinated with the Cosa Nostra as I am, this book is an absolute MUST READ, and I do think that you'll enjoy it a lot!

Rating:
Summary: More quantity than quality but it still delivers well
Review: This book is a real treat and the following reviews tell much of the reason why. So let me bring up the drawbacks. 1) Real mafiosi are not this articulate or intellectual -- as the characters are -- nor do they have quite the sense of honor. 2) The book makes up in content and story what it lacks in style. It is not a deep vivid emotional tour of individuals, but alot of good stories efficiently told. The main story, the ascent of Michael Corleone to Mafia leadership and his descent into cruelty and malice, is told long but not deep, yet still with enough meat to hold your interest.

Rating:
Summary: WHAT DID I LEARN?
Review: I would have given this book a "10" if not for two things. One, I didn't clearly see the point of the story. Vito Corleone has a position in his family to get revenge on any yo-yo who wreaks havoc on his family. Period. I don't see how the theme or purpose of the story could be justified (if one exists) being based around The Don's vigiliance. Secondly, it's too aggressive. I hate aggression and it would take a real hardhead not to see the lack of emotion in the carachters. The Don's reaction to the death of Sonny Corleone, however, saved the day. It was entertaining, and a great learining experience about the Italian Mafia. Read it.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent detailing and visualization
Review: The book is overwhelming and hits you Whammo! It gave me an insight of the American Mafia, if that is the way it really is. It is a clever and well thought-out book. It is gruesome,terrifying and lovable all at once.The characterization is great - I can see all of them in my mind's eye.It's a powerful book if there ever was one - I never wanted to put it down and go to sleep! It's a book I would recommend everybody to read.

Rating:
Summary: The Godfather is brilliant!
Review: The Godfather was by far the best book I have ever read. Often I find myself having trouble focusing on a book, but with The Godfather I had no trouble. I couldn't put it down. It goes into such detail with every scene, especially about the meeting between all the heads of the families. I had seen the movie before reading the book and I thought it would be impossible to better the movie but it did. It was interesting to learn about the characters and the situations they were in. I loved the additional detail in the book. One example of this detail is when they explain how Michael returned from Sicily because of Ttaglia's son. They hardly touched this subject in the movie. Also, in the movie there were large time gaps, unlike in the book. Anyone interested in the mafia or organized crime would love this book. I have only read the book once, but I plan to read it again. No disrespect to the movie, it is my favorite movie too. This is a must read.

Rating:
Summary: A good book makes a good movie!
Review: The Godfather by Mario Puzo is without a doubt...a classic in every sense of the word. At first glance, the story revolves around the Corleone crime Family. Yet, it is much more than this. It is a story of a family and its struggles to accept itself and others. And not only is this a great book, but check out the movie too!

Rating:
Summary: Required Reading for Everyone!
Review: I was required to read this book as part of a class assignment, but let me tell you -- I'm glad I was! Reading this turned me on to an entirely new genre of fiction and gangster films: Wiseguys, Goodfellas, The Sicilian, Donnie Brasco, etc. But none compare with good ol' "Il Padrino" (The Godfather)