A Novel Goof?

In the novel the Tessio and Clemenza families send representatives to the Don's funeral. Yet, afterwards, it's Clememza and Tessio who are still reporting to Michael. Go figure.

What gives you the impression that TESSIO was reporting to Mike after the Don's funeral?

Clemenza probably did, because he was then involved with the hits on the five families.

But Tessio is not reporting to Mike after the funeral. He comes up to the house to make the phone call about the supposed meeting that he set up for Mike with Barzini, In Brooklyn, on Tessio's TURF , where Mike will be safe.


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Hmm. In a similar vein, in II, the line "your familiy is still called Corleone". Implying a separate Pentangelli family (hence the second person possesive) but yoked to the Corleone family.

So the Clemenza and Tessio "families" of I and the novel are "families" in the sense of semi-autonomous regimes under the command of the Corleone family.

Or perhaps Puzo is referring to the small-f families (ie blood family) as opposed to the large-F Families (the Crime family)?

It's not an impression. The book is quite clear. On the morning after the funeral, the most important officials of the Corleone family assembled on the mall. These included the two caporegimes, Clemenza and Tessio.

Then it's just another Puzo blunder and inconsistency. No other expalaination.

If one part says ..." as did the Tessio and Clemenza families." and then later on it says "These included the two caporegimes, Clemenza and Tessio," Then it's a goof as you have pointed out.


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