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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Ever heard the saying the book is better than the movie? In this case, the opposite is true. Don’t get me wrong The Godfather is a good book but it is nothing compared with the book. It’s also clearly written by a man, the way it depicts its female characters. But it’s still gripping, Shakespearean, and still an American novel, and a classic one at that.
This is a perfect example of the film being just as good, if not better, than the original text. Don’t get me wrong, the book is good. Strong characterization, interesting plot, and a great ending. But the writing is only ok.
However, I think what keeps me from fully loving the book is the treatment of women. Lots of yucky statements like “she was worried which made her look old and unattractive.” As if a woman always needs to be attractive even when she’s worried about her husband’s life. Women are very much objects in the book. And I don’t think it’s purposeful to demonstrate the gender politics of the Sicilian mafia in the 60s and 70s. I think it’s very much Puzo’s own misogyny influencing his writing. I think Coppola does a better job in his depiction of women than Puzo here.
Despite the shortcomings of Puzo’s writing, the book is still great. If you like the movie, the book is worth a read.
However, I think what keeps me from fully loving the book is the treatment of women. Lots of yucky statements like “she was worried which made her look old and unattractive.” As if a woman always needs to be attractive even when she’s worried about her husband’s life. Women are very much objects in the book. And I don’t think it’s purposeful to demonstrate the gender politics of the Sicilian mafia in the 60s and 70s. I think it’s very much Puzo’s own misogyny influencing his writing. I think Coppola does a better job in his depiction of women than Puzo here.
Despite the shortcomings of Puzo’s writing, the book is still great. If you like the movie, the book is worth a read.
Very well written. The dynamics between characters and relationships were complicated and emotional while still feeling entirely realistic. I liked the way the story was laid out with smaller stories encapsulated in the larger whole to give us history and detail on the main characters before they branched out into the overall plot. The author does an excellent job of making the reader care about what happens to the characters, despite what they may have done or what type of person they may be. The audio book is also expertly read by Joe Mantegna, Anthony Puzo, and Angelo Di Loreto.
If it was possible to give this book ten stars out of five, I would.
A friend should always underestimate your virtues and an enemy overestimate your faults
It's been so long since I've last seen the movies. I really enjoyed this book. I would say that the movie is pretty faithful to the book, and that the book only has a few details that they chose not to put into the movie.
Not sure how to describe the book without the context of the movies, since the movies are so popular and well-known.
Not sure how to describe the book without the context of the movies, since the movies are so popular and well-known.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes