I just read The Sicilian, and I loved it.
I´m a Godfather nut, but I couldnt read the novel twice...
What I liked the most about The Sicilian is that Puzo really puts you inside the head of, well, Sicilians. You understand and appreciate how the think, and how they understand...
You get an appreciation of all the unspoken language of a true Sicilian.
Read it.