I was just wondering whether I am the only person who found Lucy Mancini's vaginal operation totally superfluous and unnecessary to the plot? I know that Mario did not go into great detail to it, but I'm curious as to what his motives were for including it in an otherwise masterful story?

JGeoff, you seem to be knowledgeable in all things Corleone. Perhaps you know?

PK

I think that it may have something to do with Puzo telling us how, uh, "well endowed" Sonny is.

And because of Lucy's, um, "problem", Sonny was the only man that was ever able to "satisfy" her.

But I'd agree. Sonny's size and Lucy's problem were really unnecessary details.

"Too much information", as they say.

Gratuitous sex. It was a big thing (excuse the pun) then in fiction of the day.

Puzo was one of those authors, like Ian Fleming of "James Bond" fame, who couldn't resist putting in every bit of erudite or esoteric knowledge he'd picked up in his life. I'm certain that some female friend or relative of his had the gynecological condition (which isn't uncommon) that he gave to Lucy. As a result, he probably learned all about the operation. That whole (totally unnecessary) chapter on Lucy and Jules was put in the novel, IMO, solely for the purpose of allowing him to show off what he learned.
Boring as it was, the Lucy/Jules/operation chapter wasn't half as boring (and unncessary) as all that Hollywood BS he threw into "The Last Don." That was practically unbearable.

I think it had some purpose in characterisation of Fredo's sexual life. You remember details, or I'd better post them here?

yeah that is the perfect sentence to describe that whole chapter. maybe with the addition of the word b-o-r-i-n-g!