Possibly the best gangster novel ever written. (The Godfather - Mario Puzo)

Member Name: Boonoiy

Product:	The Godfather - Mario Puzo
Date:	22/10/01 (1894 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A great book and a fast paced read, Don Vito Corleone

Disadvantages: None

Mario Puzo's The Godfather - who in this world has not heard of this magnificent book? It has it all, in my opinion, feeling, action, romance, a deep horrific undertone (if you like that sort of thing) and strong family values - of a sort.

The Plot:
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You've probably all seen the film so know the outline to this book but here goes: the family, headed by The Don - Vito Corleone, enter into a "war" with the 5 families of New York. This war is started over the proposal by Virgil Solozzo to the Corleones to enter into the Heroine business together, when he is refused he attacks and nearly kills the Don and the 5 families back Solozzo. What follows is a that a tremendous battleground develops in the streets of New York, each side fighting each other with ways both fair and foul.

Solozzo is killed by the "civilian" of the family, Michael (played by Al Pachino in the film) who then has to emigrate to Sicily to escape vengence. This does not take up as much of a huge role in the film as it does in the book, about half of the book is dedicated to Mike's time in Sicily and the problems he encounters there while staying in a villa of the local Don's, a favour set up by Tom Hagen, adopted son of the Godfather and family lawyer. The young Mikey is being preened to succeed the Don as head of the Corleone family and this time abroad is a little bit of preparation, Vito didn't want Mike involved but saw the necessity of his actions leading to his excile.

The Power of Don Vito Corleone is displayed throughout the book, he has a lot of influence in the city and the nation as a whole, with his "family" organised into 2 batallians he can fight off any enemy, his police contacts and "friends" in congress and the judicial system make him immune from prossecution and he grants favours where he can. Michael describes the Don as being like an Arctic explorer, leaving caches
throughout the land for him to pick up when he needs them, these are the favours he grants, thjey will be picked up when he needs them and the recipients had better pay on demand!

The whole family are likeable, they all have a soft spot for their father (he's got 3 sons and a daughter) and will always follow his word. Their lives are colourful and exciting, never wanting for anything.

The Characters:
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Vito Corleone (The Godfather) : He escaped murder in Sicily when his father killed the local Don who's family called for vengence. They missed him and he fled to America. After working for a friend in his grocery store he was approached by 2 local thieves who could cut him in on a deal. He went along with the heist and made a fortune for himself and his family. After killing the local hard man he was treated as a "Man of Respect" and took over as local peoples' representative, never refusing a favour and always getting results! He made his fortune bootleging through prohibition times and by the end of the war controlled all the gambling in New York. He loves his kids and Godkids and really only wants the best for his family.

Michael Corleone : The Civilian of the family, never wanted to join the family business, never interested in anything dodgy. He went away to university and trained to be a maths professor, when WW2 cam,e along he signed up for the marines and went away to fight. On his return the family is at war so he kills the agressor and flees to Sicily, marries and settles down until he gets into trouble, his wife is killed in an explosion which was ment for Mikey and he returns to be at his father's right-hand.

Santino (Sonny) Corleone : The most brash and powerful of the Corleone kids, a married man cheating on his wife. He takes over as head of the family in the Don's absence (following Vito's shooting) and goes blood thirsty. He is killed by a plo
t involving his Sister's husband and the Corleones' enemies, he beats her up and Sonny goes flying off to get him, stopped at the Causeway's toll boothes he is brutally killed by the assasins of the 5 families.

Fredo Corleone : Weakest of the family members, he leabves New York for Vegas after witnessing his father's shooting, becomes a dandy and a ladies man with no further part in the family ways.

Connie Corlione : She does not play a major part in the book, her wedding is the setting for the opening of the story and her husband leads to Sonny's demise, she's not an interesting character at all.

Tom Hagen : Although Sonny grows up to be a deadly assasin and an evil man to his enemies, to Tom Hagen he is something of a God. Tom was orphaned in his early years, had an eye infection, he was taken in by Sonny and got better under the influence of the Don. He wanted to join the family business but the Don would not hear of it, he was sent away to law school and became the family lawyer and consigliori (councellor) in later years.

Clementza and Tessio : The Caporegimes, heads of the 2 batallions of the Don's army. These were the 2 thieves who came to offer Vito the deal when he was first in America.

Luca Brassi : The head "Button Man" of the outfit, he's only used when the Don has extreme violence to give out to someone. My favourite character by far.

Overall:
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I love this book, you pick it up and cannot put it down, there are a number of subplots involved which seem to take the story on a totally different tangent until the strands all tie in at the end. The book is gripping and exciting, only 500 pages long, you could read it in 2 days.

I love the feeling that the Don is a nice guy helping his friends but the fact that his methods are morally improper. It's a great mixture, the villan is always the most appealing in fiction and the
Don is likeable beyond belief.

The book is quick, sad, exciting and really well wtritten, I'd really reccomend it to those with a liking for blood and a soft spot for a strong family unit. (Horse's Head scene is included!)

Lovely.

Summary: