I’ve just finished reading The Godfather, by Mario Puzo. I’d picked it up at Waterstones as part of their Big Read tie in promotion. I’m now on “The Catcher in the Rye”, and have “Memoirs of a Geisha” to look forward to.
So, The Godfather was excellent. Puzo has a wonderful story telling ability, and I found it very hard to stop reading. I’ve seen the film (indeed, I watched it again on Saturday), which follows the book extremely closely. And it’s no problem that they are so close. In fact, it’s enjoyable to read more about the characters and their backgrounds.
There’s more exploration of Fredo’s time in Las Vegas, as well as more detail with the singer/actor Johnny Fontane and his rise. There is perhaps too much detail with regard some plastic surgery undertaken by Lucy Mancine (Sonny’s er, girlfriend at the wedding) . Best of all there’s much more detail with the goings on within the Regime’s, that underpin the Godfathers power.
The most enjoyable aspect though is the story telling ability of Puzo. It does a wonderful job of portraying morally abhorrant characters in a rich and enjoyable way, far more so than is done in the film - which just seems to portray them rather in a rather shallow way, and doesn’t fully touch on the distance Michael has to travel in his ascent. Kay’s transformation and character is noticably different in the film. The ending stuck with me from the book far more than the film, where she just seems to grasp what Michael has become at the end. In the book she does as well, but in a more touching way and less suddenly.
It deserves its place in the Big Read Top 100, and I’d certainly recommend it as a thoroughly enjoyable and well written novel. 5/5.
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June 10th, 2003 at 4:11 pm
I was impressed at your recent reading programme. So many people these days - perhaps especially technie types - read very few books. I bought “The Godfather” more than 30 years ago after I had been stunned by the film (see review here: http://www.rogerdarlington.co.uk/clfilms.html#Godfather) - but I still haven’t read it! Your blog entry has encouraged me to do so sometime soon.
June 19th, 2003 at 12:07 pm
Personal updates
As you’ll have seen, I’ve moved my personal (non-techy) entries to one side to better focus this blog on my techy interests. However, I figure I’ll collate them all every now and then over here for any aggregator readers. I’ve been ploughing my way thr…
July 15th, 2003 at 6:37 pm
Kay Adams is so sexy
September 21st, 2003 at 2:00 pm
I’m a Chinese student and this film was introduced by my teacher and I’ve enjoyed it in class.Without any doubt,this film is the best I’ve seen so far.
October 2nd, 2003 at 4:56 pm
fascinating story, i couldnt put the book down anywhere i went. i loved it:D after i read it, i read omerta aNd the sicilian also by mario puzo
October 2nd, 2003 at 4:57 pm
fascinating story, i couldnt put the book down anywhere i went. i loved it:D after i read it, i read omerta aNd the sicilian also by mario puzo
December 4th, 2003 at 7:13 pm
the book was awesome and i definitely recommend the book to anyone who likes a book with many different twists and turns in it. i found it to be suspencful and a joy to read!!! hope you felt the same!
March 7th, 2004 at 1:30 pm
One of the best books i’ve read. the way Mario Puzo gives way to these characters are so amazing, and the way he builds up the story all along gives you a full image of every character and every action that is taken.
10/10 no doubt!