Originally posted by DeathByClotheshanger:
With the novel and first two films being damn near perfect, and Part III being a worthy conclusion, perhaps we've set our sights a little too high. I'm about 200 pages into the book, and while it is tedious at times, and head scratch inducing (ie, confusing), I think the book is going pretty well and has picked up its pace where I currently am.
As for Winegardner, perhaps he wasn't the best choice for the book. But you have to admire his changes or expansion of the GF universe. If he was going to simply recycle the same stuff we've seen before, and add nothing new to the universe, then as an author, it wouldn't even be worth writing. While he still manages to recycle some stuff, I think he does a good job bringing new ideas in.
We're always going to be spoiled by the original book and movies. We're always going to expect anything with the GF name on it to be the next masterpiece. Could the book be better? Sure... but at the same time, we have to remembre that it's entertainment, and we're supposed to have fun with it.
My saying is, anything to get me back into the Godfather state of mind is a good thing.
DBC - I respect your views, but please do not shed any tears for this guy. The novel and the movie series have become a part of 'Americana' (no offense meant to our non-American board members)and actually belongs to world culture. He knew the risks. It is fair to say that we know the stories better than he and none of us would dare take the liberties that he has taken (i.e., Fredo 'The Fabulous' Corleone - gives a new meaaning to a the phrases 'a made member' and 'underboss' -
).
A task of this kind has a binary outcome - either it will be magnificent or it will fail. Sure, I applaude his courage and the right to share his voice with the world. But bottom line - nobody asked him to change what was already embraced.
If you see venom spewing from our key boards, it is only because we 'love' the Godfather. No one means Winegardner any ill will - we are simply saying that he violated the Hippocratic Oath - Do No Harm.
