I've just finished the novel and, on Turnbull's request I thought it would be nice if I would post my review on the novel.

It gives a lot of detail on what happened and who they exactly were and what there position was. This was very interesting to read, it provides a lot of background that you didn’t knew by watching the movie. That was the reason I asked the novel for Christmas in the first place. It is also very interesting to get a bit more background on characters like: Rocco Lampone, Al Neri, Carlo Rizzi, Petter Clemenza, Sally Tessio and many other characters. It gives you so much detailed information on how the Don thought and how he took care of business and taught Michael, also the disgust of the other Families towards Tom Hagen.

I was a little bit disappointed that the period that Michael became a Don wasn't that big. I've read the novel in Dutch version, and the translations were pathetic, Il Padrino wasn't spelled like that, but it was spelled: Il Patino, and also some translations of other words were far from right. When I've read the novel in English I will post another review on the book.

Because I don’t think that there’s no such thing as "The perfect book" I give it a 9.0. I intended to give the book a rating of 9.5 or higher, but I choose to give it a 9.0 because the translations were far from perfect.

Many thanks for posting, MC14! Appreciate it!
One question: you didn't mention the Bocchicchio Family and how they provided the means for Michael to return from Sicily. I found that one of the most interesting parts of the novel. Did the Dutch version omit that part?

Any time Turnbull!

Yes, it did complement that, I forgot to talk about it, I alsow found it very interesting. The novel in Dutch version says that the Bocchicchio Family was a violent Family on Sicily, and when they went to America they did in the garbage business, and they were sort of "peacemakers", it said that they were hostages for hire, that when something would go wrong with ingociations, they would have the hostage as an ensurance, kind of a weerd job, but interesting.

Yeah that's one of the best parts of the book. I also like it. And what I also found interesting was the extra info about Johhny.

glad you liked it as i did MC14!
i liked the info on johnny but felt that it didn't need to be there; i always felt as if the chapters with jules were going to lead up to something. i was dissapointed when it turned out he didn't do anything!

mick

One thing that the book didn't do for me was convince me of Lucy Mancini's worth in the entire story - I mean who gives a damn about Sonny's mistress? She didn't even show any remorse about his death - she only basked in the monetary benefit the Corleones provided her.


I think the character that stood out for me in the book was Al Neri - I liked his principles even though they are not particularly p.c. Rocco just pales in comparison.

Didn't give a damn? Chapter 22 of the English language version begins thus: "Lucy Mancini, a year after Sonny's death, still missed him terribly, grieved for him more fiercely than any lover in any romance...She missed him for the more imporant rason that he had been the only man in the world who could make her body achieve the act of love."

Well I'll be damned!

I stand corrected Turnbull.

But this still doesn't change my mind about the length of the story dedicated to her and Jules.....to me it was more filler than anything else.

Isn't Bocchicchio in Italian blow job?
Also don't you think they should've put it in, even if Vito would've just said it? I mean it was the only reason he could come back from Sicily, that's my thoughts.

Lead up to something? What are you talking about?

I've got a question, Capo, TB, anyone. How come Vito diden't help Nino Valenti to progress his career? I know Nino wanted to be part of the Don's business, and the Don says that that wasn't the kinda job for him, he had only 1 destiny. So, why diden't he help Nino like he helped Johnny, he was alsow his godson.

The reason, I believe, was that the Don was looking to Johnny to help Nino. There's a bit of dialog in the Don's office at Connie's wedding that points in that direction:
The Don commends Johnny for taking care of his former wife and his kids, but upbraids him for not helping his friends. "You couldn't help him [Nino] a bit?" asks the Don. "He doesn't have enough talent, he's just not big time," says Johnny. "And you, Godson, now that your voice is weak, shall I get you a job on the truck with Nino?" the Don mocks. I think the Don expected Johnny to help Nino as a kind of quid pro quo for the help the Don gave Johnny.

Thats a very good explanation Turnbull! Like Vito, nobody can beat your "reasoning".

Another question: how come that Carlo had his (don't know the right word) gambling business in a candyshop? It's definetly not a place where you'd like to take your childeren to.

At that time (ca. 1946), bookmaking was illegal everywhere in the US except Nevada. But bookmaking was ubiquitous. Candy stores, beauty parlors, groceries--all kinds of small storefront businesses--were used as fronts for gambling. Candy stores were typical fronts because lots of people came in and out to make quick purchases, so lots of betting traffic wouldn't attract a lot of attention.

Thanks Turnbull! I can always count on you!

What's your own opinion on the novel?

The novel was brilliant--big, sprawling, vastly entertaining, shedding light on a fascinating part of American society. Not carefully written, but a masterpiece nonetheless.

Nothing like it back then...remember that it has been over 30 years for people to try...and still it stands out as a great novel if you pick it up for the first time 30 years later....