The Godfather

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  "The Godfather" is the quintessential case of "the book was better than the movie." Which is not intended in any way to slight the film which I consider to be fantastic. It is just that there is no way that they could fit everything that makes the book great into a reasonable length movie.

  The book explores in detail many characters who got glossed over in the film adaptation. Sonny's fling at the wedding, Johnny Fontaine, and Momma Corleone are all given much more f... (show more)

  "The Godfather" is the quintessential case of "the book was better than the movie." Which is not intended in any way to slight the film which I consider to be fantastic. It is just that there is no way that they could fit everything that makes the book great into a reasonable length movie.

  The book explores in detail many characters who got glossed over in the film adaptation. Sonny's fling at the wedding, Johnny Fontaine, and Momma Corleone are all given much more face time in the novel. The reader also gets the dubious pleasure of learning just how truly evil Lucca Brassi really was.

  However, I think for me the deciding factor that makes the book the superior rendition of the story is the way Puzo managed to convey his protagonists in a sympathetic light that the film was not able to capture. Reading the book the reader sees the horrible things that Michael and Vito sometimes do, but somehow the empathy that the author builds up is not shattered by these acts of violence. (show less)

   

   

  by Matt Hric on Jun 10, 2009 at 10:13PM

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  Puzo's prose is so descriptive and melodic it makes you forget that you are reading a tale of unspeakable violence. That the violence is combined with such a sharp sense of right and wrong, good and bad, honor and dishonor makes it all the more compelling to read.

  Even as a voracious reader, it took me until my forties to find this book - I'd seen the films and thought that I knew the story of the family well enough. I was wrong - and I especially encourage those that know the Don and his ... (show more)

  Puzo's prose is so descriptive and melodic it makes you forget that you are reading a tale of unspeakable violence. That the violence is combined with such a sharp sense of right and wrong, good and bad, honor and dishonor makes it all the more compelling to read.

  Even as a voracious reader, it took me until my forties to find this book - I'd seen the films and thought that I knew the story of the family well enough. I was wrong - and I especially encourage those that know the Don and his family only on the screen to grab the book and get to know them on the page as well. While the stories are the same, the experiences are different.

  There are few books and movies that can stand alone from each other or combine to give a fuller picture - this book and Coppola's film are that rare combination. Each is a masterpiece in its own right but being able to view the story of the Corleone family and imagine it for oneself are both gifts.

  Truly an amazing book - whether you've seen the movie or not. (show less)

   

   

  by Jennifer Grosner Mentzer on Mar 09, 2009 at 10:25PM

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