my next read

well ive read the godfather and the sicilian already. and i just started the omerta. what book should i raed after i finish it?(any puzo book or mafia related book)

The Last Don is a good read, you can check the reviews on the other threads. . .

GoodFella

If you're into crime novels, I'd strongly recommend two by George V. Higgins: "The Friends of Eddie Coyle" and "The Digger's Game," two of the best ever. If you're after non-fiction crime books, try "Little Man - Meyer Lansky and the Gangster Life" by Robert Lacey, and "The Black Book and the Mob" by Ronald A. Farrell and Carole Case, which gives a splendid history of gambling in Nevada and Mob influence in the industry.

Go with Last Don, just to complete the cycle of Puzo mob books. I have an hour drive to work each way so I get books on tape to listen to in the car.

Turnbull whats the black book and the mob about? It sounds like a book about Vegas and the mob.

It is, DonPalentino. But despite the sensationalist title, it's a serious book, by two UNLV professors about the history of gambling and organized crime in Nevada. The "Black Book" of the title refers to creation of the Nevada Gambling Commission in 1959, which then got the power to license key employees of hotel/casinos, and to create a list (the Black Book) of people who could be barred from even entering a casino, much less owning or operating one, because of current and past associations. Since you're a "Casino" fan, you'll recognize the key-employee rule as the one that sank Ace Rothstein, and the Black Book rule as the one that kept Nicky out of the gaming halls. Many photos, too, including the real-life Lefty Rosenthal, as well as Anthony (the Ant) Spilotro and his brother, who are absolute dead-ringers for Pesci and the guy who played Dominic.

I strongly suggest The Dark Arena. It was Mario Puzo's first novel. Absolutely sensational.

i have this book (the family) i bought a few months back. i'm stocked in chapter 3, still have'nt find time continuing the read. . .

GoodFella

I have a question. I have heard about MP's first few books and I was wondering what his first three books are about. Are they Mafia related?

The Dark Arena was his first book and it's a World War II book. The main character, Walter Mosca was in the war, and returns home to America when it's over. But he met a girl over in Germany and goes back in search of her. That's just a very basic outline, worth checking out. It's not really a love story like I've just made it sound, but it's different from all of Puzo's other books I thought.
His second novel was The Fortunate Pilgrim, about an Italian immigrant family. The plot isn't the easiest to explain without giving things away, but it tells of a family and their struggles in America.
Puzo's third book was The Godfather, which I don't think I need to go into detail on.
I hope I helped you there, Domenico.

hi liz thanks.. which do you recommend? i've read The Godfather, The Sicilian and The Last Don, all excellent, especially The Sicilian which i found literally godlike - very emotional makes you really sad and really romantic all the way through especially the hair cutting scene lol... ok which do you recommend now?

hey partagas, i'm not a girl by the way, just liked the name i love The Sicilian sooo much. Me and my friend found it seriously unbelievably amazing.. the way it explores your emotions into loving Turi and Aspanu.. and the way Puzo makes Aspanu free of any treachery in the reader's minds. The way when you hear about Turi's body you ASSUME its a fake and when you find out its real the rest of your day is engulfed in depression I'm about to off and buy Fool's Die. The book store where i live doesnt have Omerta

lol sorry i didnt know how it was spelt hehe.. anyway im on page 100 or so in Fools Die.. yeh the book is starting to get interesting now with the true plot (as before it was laying the foundation mostly). that reminds me i might take an early night t read few hours

Fools Die and The Fortunate Pilgrim are my two favourites, after The Godfather, of Puzo's. Whenever someone asks which is my second favourite Puzo book, I always say one of them, depending on which I read more recently.
Those two I recommend, hope you enjoy them.

WOW.. Fools Die is absolutely excellent, maybe slightly better than Last Don for me. I found it really sad the way his loved ones were being erased from life one by one. Though i havn't ever lost a loved one i can somehow relate to it. I'm only 15 so i have them experiences ahead of me.. sadly
liz, or anyone could you recommend my next read? problem is in my town they only have a few of Puzo's books, i remember seeing Dark Arena and few others. They dont have The Family or Omerta (yet)

The Dark Arena was a good book, but not as good as The Fortunate Pilgrim I didn't think. Until you find copies of Omerta and The Family, stick to those two. If you're lucky, you'll find copies of Puzo's two non-fiction books, The Godfather Papers and other Confessions, and Inside Las Vegas.
Enjoy.

Fools Die, Dark Arena, and Omerta were my favorite. Only Omerta is a mafia book.