Many people know The Godfather, the movie not the book. The Godfather film was adapted from the book by Mario Puzo and it is among the best movies of all time. The Godfather was published in 1969. It is a tale of Vito Corleone famously known as the Godfather and his family that came into power in New York.
About
Mario Francis Puzo was an American author and a screenwriter. He is known for his crime novels The Sicilian, The Last Don and The Godfather. Puzo participated in World War II and after that he became a writer. His novels were good but could not make enough money. In 1960s, Puzo was in a large financial debt, so he decided to write a novel that will make him a fortune, resulting in The Godfather. It was later adapted into Academy Award-winning movie trilogy. Mario Puzo used to write screenplays too. He died in 1999 of heart failure.
Overview
The Godfather revolves around the Corleone family which is one of the five mafia families shown in the book. Don Vito Corleone is the head of Corleone family. A well-respected, authoritative and a feared man. He is shown as a man with legendary influence and with great principles, the only person whose power reigns above the law. That is why he is known as The Godfather in the underworld. Don Corleone loves his family and he especially treasures his sons. Don Vitos' downfall begins as he grows old and after a deadly is fighting for his life in a hospital, his family strives for survival.
Michael Corleone, younger son of Vito Corleone did not intended to enter into his mafia-family-business. But as his father is gravely injured and older brother Sonny dies, he takes matter into his own hands and replaces his father, Don Vito. Soon Michael becomes the new Godfather, despite everyone's thinking that he will not fulfill his father's shoes and rebuilds his father's empire.
Favorite Quotes from the Book
- I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse.
- Friendship is everything. Friendship is more than talent. It is more than the government. It is almost the equal of family.
- Revenge is a dish that tastes best when served cold.
- A man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man.
- Accidents don't happen to people who take accidents as a personal insult.
- He should be careful. It's dangerous to be an honest man.
- Time erodes gratitude more quickly than it does beauty.
In my opinion, the Godfather is the best book written on organized crime. The events in the book are somewhat violent and fast-paced but do not feel out of the way, you do feel connected to the story. When you are reading this book, it shows criminals as well-mannered, smart business men (with a damn good fashion sense too) not like any other stereotypical way.
The Godfather creates a whole new insight on the gangsters and underworld. The policies and principles of Don Vito on which he runs his whole mafia-business keeps you attached to the book and that's what makes this book a very good one an and hard to put down.