Clemenza's Sleepless Night

More sloppy writing by Puzo....

The night Don Corleone is shot, Puzo writes that Sonny, Clemenza, Tessio, Tom, and Michael are up rather late making their plans and working on their "Hit List":

(It was nearly four o'clock in the morning as they all sat in the corner room office.)

Sonny has already determined that Paulie Gatto is the traitor, and makes it clear to Clemenza that I don't want Paulie around here anymore. Make that first on your list.

Puzo begins the very next chapter by writing:

Peter Clemenza had slept badly that night. In the morning he got up early and made his own breakfast.....he pondered on the day's work that lay ahead of him.....Last night Sonny Corleone had made it very clear thta Paulie Gatto was to be taken care of immediately. It had to be today.

Presumably this is the same morning as the conference which lasted until 4:00 A.M.

So when exactly did Clemenza sleep?

4.00 am to 7.00 am could be??
Don't know what would be 'early' morning for clemenza

Well, a little bit later when Clemenza telephones Rooco to enlist him as a helper in the Gatto whacking, Puzo writes:

(Clemenza) was pleased to note that despite the early hour, Lampone's voice was not surprised or dazed with sleep.

From that I infer that Puzo is writing about an "early hour" in general, not what an early hour would be for Clemenza.

Good spot plaw. It's probably worth noting that wiseguys' hours are faily messed up. Doesn't Puzo also describe four a.m as being a "late" hour for Luca Brazi (re. his meeting with Bruno tattaglia and his death), who sleeps during the day?

Maybe Clemenza grabbed a few hours before the conference, or a quick half-hour during breaks. Maybe he slept 4.30 - 5.30 am and then phoned Rocco at 6 am ish? Now that would be "sleeping badly"

The book is loaded with them.

I found one or two more the last couple of which I haven't posted yet.

What, you start to write The Godfather Sequel, get many compliments about your writing abilities and now your an expert who is pointing out Puzo's flaws?


Don Cardi

How about this one:
At Connie's wedding, the Don is described as so handsome in his tux that he could have been the bridegroom. But later, at the hospital visiting Genco, Dr. Kennedy notes the Don in his "ill-fitting tux." Perhaps the tuxedo rental company had a timer on their product that changed the fit after midnight, just like Cinderella's carriage?
Another of my faves: Sonny's heart is as "big as his organ." A regular J.S. Bach...

no way the Godfather wears rented clothes..