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.

I tried to warn you, we all tried to warn you. Sorry you had to learn it the hard way :p
I think most of the public, outside of our little circle here, shares our opinion, becuase it seems to be dropping fast on the "charts". Right after the book was released, there was a lot of publicity, and now there's none.

I read only the first chapter, but I felt his language to be dirty and vulgar. Puso wrote much about sex and bloody murders, but he chose such words that it was never offensive to taste. This guy writes even common things so that they leave ugly after-taste of dirt.

Johnny Fontaine -

I really can not belive this shit, how the fuck can this piece of shit author destroy this great character - if I ever fucking see this guy, I will fucking let him know what a dick he is and how bad of a book he wrote!!

Hey it is a spoiler thread. I want to know what happened to johnny fontane in the book. Search for "johnny" gave me no results from previous threads. I am very curious

Svsg -

I have only read the first 12 chapters so others can give more in depth -

But in short they made him a druged up dope addict who cant sing anymore and they say how much Michael does not like him and doesnt care about him etc...

Now we know from the previous Godfathers - they ALWAYS respected Fontane and they loved him, considering he was the Godson to Vito - again the author just makes the characters the way he wanted them and he was just wrong in doing this.

Talk about drugging up old posts...I read this post starting with the line " NOw We know from the previous Godfathers..." Is there more than one book? I ask honestly because I have read the Godfather, and the Godfather returns, and those are the only two that I know about. Now if you are refering to the movies than I can take your post and file it under"Doesn't have a clue." Because the GR is based off the books not the movie. When I had finished reading the first novel I had in my stomach a certein feeling for Mr' Fontane, a dis-taste if you will. I got the impression that while they loved him, and they respected his musical talents, as a man he didn't garner much respect...which I felt that the author protrayed well this time around.

All I know about it's contents makes me think that GFR is based on MW's unhealthy imagination. He was saying that he plans to base it on book, but from the first page he begun strange attempts to fit into the storyline of the movies. And what he did with characters contradicts Puzo's book absolutely. I personally would never compare these books not to offend the great work of Mario Puzo.

All I know about it's contents makes me think that GFR is based on MW's unhealthy imagination. He was saying that he plans to base it on book, but from the first page he begun strange attempts to fit into the storyline of the movies. And what he did with characters contradicts Puzo's book absolutely. I personally would never compare these books not to offend the great work of Mario Puzo. [/b][/quote]But i wasn't comparing the books 2 each other I was just stating that the GF returns is a sequel to the book. Of Course there will be mention of the movies and what might have happened between movies. Personaly took the new book as just a different telling of the Corleone Saga...I don't understand what everyone is so bent out of shape over. If MW woulfd have written this story to fit in to what this webpages says would have been better than basicly he would hae just changed the names and what they were saying and copied MP Godfather...I guess I think people just change...I know if someone was writting a story about my life the chapters tha covered the first 20 years, would paint a different picture of me than the ones that cover my last six years...MC went from Joe College to ordering the deaths of many men...you don't think that might chage a man's personality at all?

Human character is a complex thing that cannot change the way you please. It is developed by everything we encounter, but within it's inner laws. Among thousands students of that college it had to be Michael to head the Mafia. He was not just a random choice, he had it all in him already. He didn't know himself what his character was, until it showed itself. He could change, but in a logical way, consistent and true to his nature. Nobody ever changes without a cause, and killing people was not sufficient cause for such perversions of nature. It was all right with him, yet for you and me it would seem terrible. And btw, he was not the only person MW makes to act out of character. Healthy people do not become at once stupid if they were smart, etc. Puzo makes everyone in his book change, but wery subtly, more like revealing their hidden qualities. That's closer to reality.

To say I was disappointed would be to put it mildly. I didn't expect the book to seemlessly take up where Puzo's book left off, but I was shocked by the new story lines and the ignoring of others.

For instance, I expected Frank Pantangelli to be a character and instead was introduced to Fausto Geraci - why?

I expected to see a clear explanation of the attempted hit on Michael at the Tahoe compound - instead there is a veiled reference to bugs planted in Michael's home and Fredo being duped into helping because his cemetery "get rich quick" scam is being ignored.

The Fredo bi-sexuality is a big disappointment, and is also un-called for. Fredo is portrayed in the movie as weak, but any hint of bisexuality is simply not there. In fact, he is nailing cocktail waitresses two at a time, getting them pregnant.

The biggest disappointment is that the project had such potential, but comes off as an amateur attempt at a sequel. I think the outlines that were presented on this board by some of our fellow board members made more sense, and were better thought out.

This author is the head of the creative writing department at Florida State University, so now I certainly know where aspiring writers should NOT go to school.

Fredo bisexual? I thought Moe slapped him around for banging cocktail waitresses two at a time.

Mike hates Fontaine? Why is FOntaine a guest of honor at the Manhatttan party in GF3?

Geraci a rival to Mike? I dont think so. His tactics are so amateurish he couldnt rise to such a high level.
This book is unreadable drivel, and the sad thing is that it sets us up for a sequel where the JFK figure will get elected president and then be assassinated by "the mob."