kandicez's review against another edition
4.0
Mario Puzo has such a knack for putting you "in" the story. You really feel as if you're a fly on the wall. He worked on, and researched this book off and on for twenty years, and as much as it reads as fiction, the research paid off because it's completely believable. Incredibly disturbing, but believable nonetheless. At his death, the novel was not quite finished, so his longtime partner, Carol Gino, finished it. It's a testament to her skill that I could not tell where Puzo left off and Gino began.
The novel follows Pope Alexander VI from his Cardinalship throughout the rest of his life as the most powerful and corrupt Pope the Catholics had ever seen. We've all been made to believe men of the cloth take a vow of chastity that they live up to. According to Puzo- this wasn't always so. In fact, these men of the cloth not only had lovers, but entire families. Sometimes more than one. Not only wa sthis allowed, it seemed to not even be frowned upon. Pope Alexander (through Puzo) even states that he does not feel it possible to experience the true joy God wants all his creatures to experience without physical love, and in turn fathering children. These men used their religious and political clout to further these families, passing out religious and military posts like candy.
Even if you put aside the sexual escapades of the Pope, his actions are so un-Christian-like as to make the reader shudder. THIS is the man in charge of all Catholics? THIS man has the power of excommunication? THIS man was their conduit to God? He was incredibly corrupt, and let nothing stand in his or his childrens' way to incomparable power and wealth. Vow of poverty my foot!
I think Puzo's magic has always been his ability to write these incredible acts of actrocity in such a way that he could be relaying the weather. You are halfway into a sinful sexual encounter before you realize what's happening. He lulls you with his calm and then BAM! you find yourself frantically flipping back the pages, or rewinding the CD, to see where the heck this started! Because the violence and sins were such a matter of fact, everyday occurence to his characters, he writes them that way, which only serves to make them even more sinful and violent. In a sneaky way.
The novel follows Pope Alexander VI from his Cardinalship throughout the rest of his life as the most powerful and corrupt Pope the Catholics had ever seen. We've all been made to believe men of the cloth take a vow of chastity that they live up to. According to Puzo- this wasn't always so. In fact, these men of the cloth not only had lovers, but entire families. Sometimes more than one. Not only wa sthis allowed, it seemed to not even be frowned upon. Pope Alexander (through Puzo) even states that he does not feel it possible to experience the true joy God wants all his creatures to experience without physical love, and in turn fathering children. These men used their religious and political clout to further these families, passing out religious and military posts like candy.
Even if you put aside the sexual escapades of the Pope, his actions are so un-Christian-like as to make the reader shudder. THIS is the man in charge of all Catholics? THIS man has the power of excommunication? THIS man was their conduit to God? He was incredibly corrupt, and let nothing stand in his or his childrens' way to incomparable power and wealth. Vow of poverty my foot!
I think Puzo's magic has always been his ability to write these incredible acts of actrocity in such a way that he could be relaying the weather. You are halfway into a sinful sexual encounter before you realize what's happening. He lulls you with his calm and then BAM! you find yourself frantically flipping back the pages, or rewinding the CD, to see where the heck this started! Because the violence and sins were such a matter of fact, everyday occurence to his characters, he writes them that way, which only serves to make them even more sinful and violent. In a sneaky way.
novagiordana's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lysskv's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
gunnarbroad's review against another edition
3.0
Wasn't exactly enjoying myself whilst reading this. I missed it when it ended though. Weird.
spacedlaw's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
enzotomatis's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
beefstevens's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This novel by Mario Puzo, author of The Godfather, is equal parts a compelling portrait of Pope Alexander VI (formerly Rodrigo Borgia) and equal parts a scandalous account of his political and religious machinations. With an aim to unify Italy's feudal states under papal rule, this Pope of historical disrepute believed God would ultimately forgive his many sins simply because, as Pope, he is infallible and divine. Historical fiction or based on longstanding gossip? Nevertheless, it has uncomfortable implications for this influential era in Western civilization.
kamja's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
morafresa's review against another edition
5.0
Si no hubiese que dar puntuaciones enteras, le habría puesto 4,5 estrellitas, pero dejemoslo en 5 no más.
Me encantó la caracterización de los personajes, en especial César y Lucrecia
Me encantó la caracterización de los personajes, en especial César y Lucrecia