Potboiler immortalized by film adaptations
As a big fan of the Godfather movies (well, who isn't?), I was curious to read the book on which they were based. While I wouldn't go so far as to call this "hackwork", like some of the reviewers, I certainly agree that it was Francis Ford Coppola's screen adaptations that immortalized a rather run-of-the mill book.
To be sure, the book has some vivid creations (the horse's head incident, the mafia conference, the whole conceit of honorable mafiosi) but I found myself wondering if my enjoyment derived mainly from the impressions I retained from the movies, rather than from anything inherent in the book. The writing is prosaic and repetitive, unnecessarily vulgar (with long disquisitions on Sonny's penis and his goombada's vaginal malformation), and Puzo bizarrely focuses an inordinate amount of pages on boring peripheral characters like Johnny Fontane, Sonny's ex-mistress and her new boyfriend.
In addition, his characters just don't seem to have any flesh on them. Puzo provides a lot of facts about them (the Godfather's sexual rectitude, Sonny's teenage criminality, etc.) but they still seem like shadows in comparison to what we saw on screen. Marlon Brando told us more about Don Corleone with one glance than did all the backstory that Puzo wrote for the character. So, read it if you must, but know that anything of value in it was infinitely improved by being translated to film.
This book is missing about 60 pages
My book is also missing pages 181 to 244, like the earlier reviewer, obviously this is not an isolated incident.
The Godfather
The book is missing pages 181 to 244. I was really enjoying the story until I got to page 181. I am returning this copy of The Godfather for credit.
If you liked the movie, you'll love the book
Did the movie leave you begging for more? Well, there are the sequels, but this story is the strongest one, and the book gives you all the extras that would never fit into one film. Get the book and many of the side stories that were only touched on in the film will suddenly spread out before you in full detail. Definitely a gripping and enjoyable read.
You liked the movie...you love this!
This book has differences with the movie, in fact Mario Puzo was kid mad with Coppola por the arrangements on the movie but it is marvelous is a must to every fan of The Godfather. You got more nervous, tense and excited with the book!
(365 reviews)
