The Godfather: 50th Anniversary Edition Paperback – March 1, 2002

Better than I expected and the book is not as long as you would think. I've seen bits and pieces of the movie, but never really thought about reading the book. It's good though. Now I need to watch the movie all the way through

Let me say that I have seen the entire "Godfather" series as they came out on the big screen as a kid , on cable and also have the DVD collection. It's been viewed numerous times and each time it grows on me more largely due to the cast and story. When I was in my young 20s while in college I tended bar in a notorious club in Brooklyn, NY and always had a facination with these "family", wise-guy stories as I witnessed alot in the couple of years working in that environment. A real wake-up reality for me to say the least. So, I finally decided to read the 'Book" itself by Mario Puzo. It is a worthwhile read in that it gives one another view. Is it better? No. Just different. There are times when Mr. Puzo seems to go off the rails as he writes about a womans surgical "pelvic floor procedure" to attain a more youthful body etc.....There are quite a few instances where the reading is not seen in the cinematic version. So there is that.....kind of a bonus if you will. There are some of Mr. Puzos' meanderings I could have done without. Still a good read.

Although the movies have taken on a life of their own - they all started here. The book and the movies are so similar, it demonstrates how well written the novel is, and how strong a template Francis Ford Coppola had for making the movies. Having seen the movies a number of years ago, I came to the novel late. The first 100 pages up to the Johnny Fontaine story are some of the most tightly written, masterly plotted and best characterised prose you will ever read. It reads very much like a Harold Robbins novel, and has a similar feel in terms of prose and story telling. The novel moves along at a break neck speed, and structurally it is also similar, starting with an overview of the story and then diverting to individual stories and back stories on specific characters. The book on Johnny Fontaine could probably have been scrapped with little impact on the overall story, but this in itself is only a minor criticism. The book itself is thrilling, funny and sexy. From Sonny's affair with Lucy Mancini, to Michael Corleone's killing of Solozzo and McClusky, to Sonny instructing Clemenza on how to plant a gun, making sure his brother doesn't walk out of the bathroom "with only his dick in his hand". The book succeeds on so many levels - brilliant characters, a well balanced plot and a genuinely compelling story. You don't read "The Godfather", you live and breathe it - which is surely the highest compliment any reader can give a writer, as they seamlessly enter into their world.

If you have seen the movie but not read the book then do yourself a favor and read it or listen to it on Audio book. Joe Mantegna (spelling) does an excellent job reading it to you.

This book is a mandatory reading for anyone who wants to make it in the corporate world, or in the world in general. The phylosophy of the Don Corleone is brilliant, his cold logic undeniable. The reasoning of Don Corleone is what the reasoning of anybody who wants to be successful should be. You would do well to read this book, let it simmer a little bit, then read it again.

Probably like most people in the present time, I saw The Godfather movie before I read the book. Now, all these years later since first seeing the film perhaps 35 years ago, I've finally read the book. The problem with such a situation is that it is then impossible to approach the original written work with fresh eyes. This book does have its thematic and structural issues, but maybe I'd feel differently had I read it before seeing the iconic film, instead of afterwards. But as for my criticisms, here goes:The author, Mario Puzo, has several inconsistencies in the timelines of his characters. The ages of many of them do not add up when comparing previous events mentioned in the book with current actions of the characters. These errors are relatively minor to the strength and flow of the plot, but they do stand out. Also, though this novel is considered high literature by many, in several parts of the book it reads as nothing more than a titillating potboiler or lurid dime-store paperback. There is a lot of very graphic, rather rough sex, not given to sensitivity or tenderness. And quite a bit of profanity.I hope that Michael Corleone does not show up at my door after reading this, saying, in the same vein as he did when talking to Carlo about Santino, "Todd, you must answer for your review!"On the positive side, fans of the movie are going to love this book for the added background it gives to familiar characters, even very minor "side" characters:You will actually get to read about what exactly happens to the boys who assaulted the girl whom the mortician appeals to The Godfather about at the beginning of the movie.You'll learn about what happens to the young man who blew up Michael's car in Sicily (fans of the film know something much more serious happened that day, but I don't want to spoil it for those who've not seen the film).You'll learn more about Mama Corleone, and Kay Adams.To your horror, you'll learn just how brutal Luca Brasi truly was.And so much more.Reading this very gripping, four-star book (nobody tell the Corleone Family!) will enrich your experience with the five-star movie that much more.

Very well written