***********THIS POST CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS***********

More observations....

-- I agree 100% with Don Provalone in his previous posts. What Puzo originally wrote in The Godfather, and what he co-authored with Coppolla in the three screenplays, is the gospel, even though some details the films do diverge a bit with the original novel.

Any attempt at sequels should stick 100% to the facts already presented by the original author(s).

-- Fredo's involvement in Roth's plot against Michael which lead to his (Fredo's) death, are unbelievably glossed over to the point of ridiculousness. Fredo is a major character in GFR, at least while he is still alive, and while you know his death is coming, you expect a lot more detail (or, at least some). I certainly would have been interested in Winegardner's theory of how the assassination attempt in Tahoe went down and what Fredo's exact role was, but he gives us nothing.

-- No Pentagelli, not even is passing. Even the Rosato Bros. and Don Altobello get at least a mention.

-- One of the things I loved about Puzo's original was the unique writing style that I felt he employed. For me at least, The Godfather had, at certain times, some characteristics of a book that was written in another language (Italian?), and then translated into English.

Whether intentional or not, Puzo uses certain idioms that ordinarily would not be used when writing in English. At one point, Puzo uses the term "racing tracks", rather than "racetracks", he writes of Don Corleone's men "having their pockets stuffed with silver and paper money", and almost always refers to "cars" as "automobiles".

Now, while I'm not saying that Winegardner should have been imitative of Puzo's style, and altho there were a few instances where he was, overall I didn't care for the style in which the book was written.

-- The plot was weak and predicatble to a certain extent...."Michael wants to become completely legitimate, but first he must eliminate his enemies who are plotting against him". Where have we heard that one before?

-- The character of Nick Geraci, who, according to the flyleaf of the book is Michael's "most dangerous adversary yet" and "every bit as deadly and cunning as Michael", is a huge disappointment, and the promise of this character is never delivered. He doesn't even begin to compare with Hyman Roth (to whom the GFR gives an all-too brief acknowledgement) for dangerousness and cunning, and, in fact, can barely be considered any more of a major character than many of the others.

I did like the end of the book far more than the first 400 pages or so. Despite it's many flaws, after reading the whole thing I was naturally curious to see how the plot threads would be tied up.

**********MAJOR SPOILER COMING HERE**********

I particularly liked the way the sub-plot with Franscesca was resolved. The irony of how a phone call from her husband's "whore" girlfriend ( a la Connie & Carlo) led to the death of her husband, and the ironic twist at the end of how Billy was really working for the Corleones, rather than against them.

I also liked the way it was implied that it was the Bocchicchio clan who were responible for the assassination of President Shea as an act of revenge for the death of Carmine Marino, the CIA sponsored would-be assassin of Castro.

***********END OF SPOILERS***********

Anyway, I recommend the book for all Godfather fans, if only to see where a professional writer takes the story.

Fortunately, though, I don't think too many people other than GF fans are gonna read it, and I predict a short run on the bestseller lists, followed by a quick fade into oblivion.

And hopefully, no more sequels by this guy.