The most interesting part of this novel was the decision to completely abandon omniscient third person narration and, if the reader needed to know something important to the story (or not, as the case occasionally was), attention was directed to another narrative. I think I counted at least six different characters trying to tell the story.

Really, I read this book because I wanted to see if they could pull it off. And because it had a ship on the front. Also it claimed to be an "altern... (show more)

The most interesting part of this novel was the decision to completely abandon omniscient third person narration and, if the reader needed to know something important to the story (or not, as the case occasionally was), attention was directed to another narrative. I think I counted at least six different characters trying to tell the story.

Really, I read this book because I wanted to see if they could pull it off. And because it had a ship on the front. Also it claimed to be an "alternate history" (which is about as accurate as calling The Flintstones alternate history). Unfortunately the gimmicky narrative was distracting and poorly managed, and this book can only really appeal to the readers of rather pedantic and simple ghost stories, and to lovers of a very specific niche of naval history - by which I mean people who are very concerned with what certain types of ropes are called. (show less)

One thing is for certain; Mario Puzo was a terrific storyteller. His recasting of the fascinating story of Giuliano and his adaptation of the folk hero for the purposes of his own Corleone saga is bold, and yet he has the dignity to dip his characters into the periphery, rather than twisting a sensitive myth around his own plot.

The story is true to life, and he tells it with the practised hand of a master, but at times there is a feeling that he is hurrying; rushing himself to get through t... (show more)

One thing is for certain; Mario Puzo was a terrific storyteller. His recasting of the fascinating story of Giuliano and his adaptation of the folk hero for the purposes of his own Corleone saga is bold, and yet he has the dignity to dip his characters into the periphery, rather than twisting a sensitive myth around his own plot.

The story is true to life, and he tells it with the practised hand of a master, but at times there is a feeling that he is hurrying; rushing himself to get through that bugbear of authors everywhere: the montage. He has a little trouble, it seems, in telling seven years of history in a few paragraphs - odd, considering his great successes in doing just that in other books. He more than makes up for this weakness in the strength of his characters, and his tender and respectful way of describing them. An excellent book that might have done well to take its time and stretch another hundred pages. (show less)