Posted By: Don Vanchenzo
*Spoiler* This is the most God-awful book I ever read! *Spoiler* - 12/29/04 03:25 AM
This is the worst book I've ever read. How in the hell this steaming pile ever got by the Puzo family is beyond me. I was going to break it down to reviews of each of the Books within the Novel; however, it's hideousness cuts through each chapter like a ribbon woven into Lucy Mancini's bridesmaid dress.
Where to begin? Here's a shot:
*Fredo's bisexuality is probably the most plausible liberty taken. It is written as a politically incorrect inevitibility to Fredo's Vegas lifestyle of drugs, booze and debauchery. Fredo does suffer the exaggerated pains of his duel lifestyle; however, if you want to watch a depiction of a man suffering alone with the taboo that came with homosexuality in the 1950's, see Dennis Quaid's excellent performance as Frank Whitaker in Far From Heaven
*Nick Geraci is the new character and "foil" to Michael Corleone. He is underdeveloped, shallow and a charactature of a Soprano's capo. His involvement in setting up Fredo's murder is laughably ridiculous. If a capo really had that type of vision, he'd have been a boss by the time of Geraci's attempted murder.
*Michael Corleone is left undeveloped also. Even in the chapter that flashed-back to 1920-1945, nothing was written to define him as the man he became.
*Johnny Fontaine. Enough said
*Sex, sex, sex. It borderlines on literary pornography. Have you ever wondered how many people can have sex in the dog position in a single novel? The answer is too many! The constant, vulgar references to sex took away from the entire storyline.
*This Novel is inconsistant with the Godfather Universe in that it contradicts much of the movies upon which it is admittedly based and ultimately connected. No mention of Frankie 5 Angels, Clemenza's death in a kitchen loaded with his men (thus eliminating the reference to a "hot shot" given him by the Rosatos as Cici suggests to Fredo), Fredo's obsession with a cemetary deal that was never mentioned in the movies; yet, it was supposedly the basis for his murder; Tom Hagan appointed to the US Congress. The inconsistencies go on and on.
In summary, let this one go. Save your money, borrow the book if you MUST read it; but don't say I didn't warn you. Finally, light a candle and whisper a prayer that it will never, ever see the light of day as a movie of anykind. Not even a WE or Lifetime Movie of the week.
F-; two thumbs way down; no stars.
Where to begin? Here's a shot:
*Fredo's bisexuality is probably the most plausible liberty taken. It is written as a politically incorrect inevitibility to Fredo's Vegas lifestyle of drugs, booze and debauchery. Fredo does suffer the exaggerated pains of his duel lifestyle; however, if you want to watch a depiction of a man suffering alone with the taboo that came with homosexuality in the 1950's, see Dennis Quaid's excellent performance as Frank Whitaker in Far From Heaven
*Nick Geraci is the new character and "foil" to Michael Corleone. He is underdeveloped, shallow and a charactature of a Soprano's capo. His involvement in setting up Fredo's murder is laughably ridiculous. If a capo really had that type of vision, he'd have been a boss by the time of Geraci's attempted murder.
*Michael Corleone is left undeveloped also. Even in the chapter that flashed-back to 1920-1945, nothing was written to define him as the man he became.
*Johnny Fontaine. Enough said
*Sex, sex, sex. It borderlines on literary pornography. Have you ever wondered how many people can have sex in the dog position in a single novel? The answer is too many! The constant, vulgar references to sex took away from the entire storyline.
*This Novel is inconsistant with the Godfather Universe in that it contradicts much of the movies upon which it is admittedly based and ultimately connected. No mention of Frankie 5 Angels, Clemenza's death in a kitchen loaded with his men (thus eliminating the reference to a "hot shot" given him by the Rosatos as Cici suggests to Fredo), Fredo's obsession with a cemetary deal that was never mentioned in the movies; yet, it was supposedly the basis for his murder; Tom Hagan appointed to the US Congress. The inconsistencies go on and on.
In summary, let this one go. Save your money, borrow the book if you MUST read it; but don't say I didn't warn you. Finally, light a candle and whisper a prayer that it will never, ever see the light of day as a movie of anykind. Not even a WE or Lifetime Movie of the week.
F-; two thumbs way down; no stars.