The Godfather by Mario Puzo

THE GODFATHER

My most favorite book. So before going in I warn you, my review of the book might not be neutral. “We will manage our world for ourselves because it is our world, Cosa Nostra.”

One of American culture's most resilient narratives is that of the Mafia and its lovable bad guy (anti hero) gangsters, and one of this genre's most popular and pioneering products is Mario puzo’s The Godfather in 1969. The Godfather instantly fixed its place in the American cultural psyche, establishing itself as the de facto gangster novel to which all other subsequent booked in the genre would be compared. It shattered sales record of its time and created trend in novels on organized crime. Its was popular and successful. I would not say it as literature as popular and literature are not mutually exclusive. Mario Puzo has said that he wrote The Godfather as of tales about criminals that he heard while growing up in Hell's Kitchen, an Italian section of New York City, along with imagination. I often try to guess which(or who) might be real-life incidents that served as Puzo's inspirations. Omerta.! In 1972, Coppola adapted Mario Puzo's popular novel for the screen. No guesses, it was a huge hit. Comes up in top 3 in anytime everyone’s list. Coppola said in an interview: "I feel that the Mafia is an incredible metaphor for this country. Both America and the Mafia have roots in Europe … both the Mafia and America feel they are benevolent organizations. Both the Mafia and America have their hands stained with blood from what it is necessary to do to protect their power and interests. Both are totally capitalistic phenomena and basically have a profit motive." He was too honest wasn’t he? Mario Puzo introduces us to gallery of men and women and re-creates the feudal world of the Mafiosi. Every elements of this world sets in place slowly (puzo reveals villan only after 2/3^rd of the story) and then explode electrically to life in this violent and impassioned story.

The Godfather is essentially the story of a man and his power.

Normally I will go into structure and the elements of the story. But as a tribute I am going to write about only one character. The book has made its bones(it has earned its reputation).

We say it is the situation that makes us to choose where we have no choice. Michael Corleone, is a prime example of tragedy in a hero. The changes he goes throughout the book change him from one extreme to another. When we first meet him he is a very honest looking, war hero type,ideal guy who is very distant from the business of his father and the family. He is shown missing in the family pictures, but still loved by the family, especially his father. Attempted murder on his father Vito Corleone's us a new side to Michael. He goes to visit his father in the hospital only to realize that the police were no longer there to protect him. Later after complaints, the police come as well and hit him. The disloyalty of police captain outrage Michael and he volunteers to murder police and sollozo. He does it and escapes to sicilly. This all goes to plan and Michael must hide in Sicily for safety. This is the turning point in the life of Michael. He falls for a thunder bolt(love), just after marriage she dies in a car blast aimed at Michael. Meantime don vito corleone recovers but his elder son santino is murdered. Don makes peace with all newyork families so Michael can come back to America. Michael comes back and inherits the family business. Don guides and teaches him all nuances of the game. They plan for the future. When don dies Michael and corleone family is ready to avenge. How he does read the book to know…..