Title: The Godfather
Author: Mario Puzo
Genre: Historical Fiction, Crime
Format: Paperback
Date of Publication: September 23rd 1983
Publisher: Signet
ISBN13: 9780451167712
The Godfather—the epic tale of crime and betrayal that became a global phenomenon.
Almost fifty years ago, a classic was born. A searing portrayal of the Mafia underworld, The Godfather introduced readers to the first family of American crime fiction, the Corleones, and their powerful legacy of tradition, blood, and honor. The seduction of power, the pitfalls of greed, and the allegiance to family—these are the themes that have resonated with millions of readers around the world and made The Godfather the definitive novel of the violent subculture that, steeped in intrigue and controversy, remains indelibly etched in our collective consciousness.
The word that pops up in my head while writing this review is subtle. The book was subtle. The writing was subtle. The characters were subtle. I also enjoyed the subtle art of planning and killing your enemies. But the impact of reading this novel was not subtle. While I was reading this novel, I was wondering why I hadn’t read this book earlier. And the next thought was this was the right time to read the novel.
This book is not for everyone. It’s slow paced and takes quite a few detours before focusing on the main plot. But these qualities were necessary for the book to work. No where was I bored or felt the plot dragging. I was constantly on the edge of my seat, wondering what happens next. The book was so engaging I went on reading it for hours (which I rarely do). The writing used the simplest of words but somehow it managed to say all the complicated and difficult things. The writing also helped in showing who the Godfather worked and to what extent he can go, and this sent chills down my spine. It felt as if every word was carefully selected and written with purpose. The characters were all so well fleshed and real. Can’t say who was my favourite or who was I rooting for, everyone of them played their role to perfection.
One thing I have learnt from this book is that you don’t want to be in the bad books of the Corleones.
Final Verdict –
The Godfather by Mario Puzo gets 5 out of 5 stars from me.