’’The Godfather’’ is one of the most popular books ever written. The book is not just a novel, it is a statement on the underworld without taking sides whether it is good or bad.
The Plot
The story revolves around Don Vito Corleone. The story is about how Don Vito came up from humble beginnings to be the Don of the NewYork Mafia. The character of the Don is brilliantly depicted as he tight walks between his high levels of moral justice and ruthlessness associated with a Don. The story takes a vital turn when the Don refuses to get into the Drug Business even after Sollozo (a rival mafia don) promises rich profits. This leads to an amazing series of gang wars, treacheries and backstabbing. The war reaches a high point when there is an assasination attempt at the Don and the Don barely survives.
Till this point in the story, Michael, the Don’s younger son refuses to be a part of the family business. But after this attempt he jumps into the family business. Cool and calculating just like the old Don, Michael goes about and revenges his family and takes over as the Don of New York.
There is brilliant potrayal of the characters of the Don, Luca Brazzi (the Don’s Hitman), Michael, Tom Hagen (The Don’s Lawyer), Sunny (The Don’s elder son) and the Sollozo. The story is very fast paced and it is unthinkable to put the book down.
Pros of the book
1) Brilliant plot.
2) Brilliant depiction of the mafia.
3) Potrayal of the human side of the mafia.
4) Fast paced.
5) Puzo’s writing style.
Cons of the book
Vulgarity in language seems to be one problem plaguing all the novels by Mario Puzo. But even so, the amount of vulgarity in Godfather is much less than in ’’The Family’’.
Summary
If you are interested in action and fast paced thrillers, this is the one to read. In the following years of the release of this book, lots of successful movies based on this story have been made and remade all over the world.