I watched the Godfather movie before reading the novel. I liked the novel because it gave insights to the characters actions that were lacking in the movie (for example, the reason why Vito killing Fanucci actually accomplished anything). However, I hated the writing style. I don't even know why, maybe it was too simplistic, with little style of its own. I didn't think I would read another Puzo novel.

But I picked up the Last Don anyway, and I must say that I was very impressed. The background stories do get a little tedious at times, but they really don't detract from the main storyline of the novel (unlike the Lucy Mancini storyline in the Godfather novel).

The story was complex (you really didn't know the main storyline of the novel until past halfway of the novel), but intriguing: I could hardly put the book down.

I also got Omerta, I hope that book is as good as the Last Don.