A review by thecriticalreader
The Godfather: Deluxe Edition by Mario Puzo

dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Synopsis:
The Corleone Family is one of the most powerful Mafia families in New York, headed by the powerful Don Corleone, also known as the Godfather. When Don Corleone’s power is threatened by rival mafia families, he and his family must use all of the resources at their disposal to reclaim their position. 
 
Review:
 
Of course, most people know The Godfather as the classic 1972 film by Francis Ford Coppola but not everyone might know that the movie is based on the 1969 book of the same name by Mario Puzo. I started reading the book with a bit of skepticism. I am not someone who believes that the book is always better than the movie, and as a fan of the film, I was not sure that the book would live up to Coppola’s masterpiece. Fortunately, Puzo’s novel is entertaining and captivating source material.
 
One thing Puzo excels at is drawing the reader into the world of the Mafia and making the Corleone come alive. Don Corleone and his family commit countless heinous acts, but Puzo writes them in a way that compels the reader to root for them on some level. They are admirable, sympathetic, impressive, greedy, cruel, pitiful, honorable, terrifying, and deplorable: somehow, in Puzo’s story, these qualities co-exist rather than clash, resulting in a psychologically fascinating and entertaining story. 
 
The Godfather contains many instances of extreme misogyny and sexism. On the one hand, Puzo seems to adjust the level of sexism and objectification depending on each character’s point of view, suggesting that these deplorable perspectives belong to his characters rather than himself. On the other hand, one can detect a strong undercurrent of the male gaze that pervades the novel that threatens to tip the scale from “a story about sexist characters” to “a sexist story.” Similarly, some of the racist views expressed seem congruous with the characters who espouse them, but Puzo’s choice to include them is slightly distasteful since they are unnecessary for the story’s development. 
 
I did not find that my love for the movie prevented me from enjoying the book. The book encompasses a much wider cast of characters and perspectives than the movie, which remains tightly focused on the story of Michael Corleone’s role in the family dynamic. Puzo spends time exploring the lives of many people connected to the Corleone family, from the Don himself to the people who come to him for favors. All of these stories are well told and entertaining, although at times Puzo strays so much from the central story that it becomes slightly bizarre (anyone who has read the book will have surely puzzled over the part about Lucy Mancini’s surgical procedure). The book in no way detracts from the movie, and the movie does not detract from the book: on the contrary, they complement each other nicely. One does not need to read the book to appreciate the movie or vice versa.
 
The Godfather takes place in the years immediately following World War II, but it was a highly relevant story in 1969. The Mafia remained a powerful presence in the United States, especially in New York City, and newspapers reported frequently on their crimes. Trials of Mafia bosses were of particular interest. The Godfather played into this public fascination, and in doing so catapulted the story of the fictional Corleone family into the fabric of the national culture.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings