The Godfather Returns: A Novel
Product ID: 5677590
THE MISSING YEARS FROM THE GREATEST CRIME SAGA OF ALL TIME Thirty-five years ago, Mario Puzo’s great American tale, The Godfather , was published, and popular culture was indelibly changed. Now, in The Godfather Returns , acclaimed novelist Mark Winegardner continues the story–the years not covered in Puzo’s bestselling book or in Francis Ford Coppola’s classic films. It is 1955. Michael Corleone has won a bloody victory in the war among New York’s crime families. Now he wants to consolidate his power, save his marriage, and take his family into legitimate businesses. To do so, he must confront his most dangerous adversary yet, Nick Geraci, a former boxer who worked his way through law school as a Corleone street enforcer, and who is every bit as deadly and cunning as Michael. Their personal cold war will run from 1955 to 1962, exerting immense influence on the lives of America’s most powerful criminals and their loved ones, including Tom Hagen, the Corleone Family’s lawyer and consigliere, who embarks on a political career in Nevada while trying to protect his brother; Francesca Corleone, daughter of Michael’s late brother Sonny, who is suddenly learning her family’s true history and faces a difficult choice; Don Louie Russo, head of the Chicago mob, who plays dumb but has wily ambitions for muscling in on the Corleones’ territory; Peter Clemenza , the stalwart Corleone underboss, who knows more Family secrets than almost anyone; Ambassador M. Corbett Shea, a former Prohibition-era bootlegger and business ally of the Corleones’, who wants to get his son elected to the presidency–and needs some help from his old friends; Johnny Fontane, the world’s greatest saloon singer, who ascends to new heights as a recording artist, cozying up to Washington’s power elite and maintaining a precarious relationship with notorious underworld figures; Kay Adams Corleone, who finally discovers the truth about her husband, Michael–and must decide what it means for their marriage and their children and Fredo Corleone, whose death has never been fully explained until now, and whose betrayal of the Family was part of a larger and more sinister chain of events. Sweeping from New York and Washington to Las Vegas and Cuba, The Godfather Returns is the spellbinding story of America’s criminal underworld at mid-century and its intersection with the political, legal, and entertainment empires. Mark Winegardner brings an original voice and vision to Mario Puzo’s mythic characters while creating several equally unforgettable characters of his own. The Godfather Returns stands on its own as a triumph–in a tale about what we love, yearn for, and sometimes have reason to fear . . . family.
| Book 1 Of 2 | The Godfather Returns |
| Dimensions | 4.15 x 1.2 x 6.75 inches |
| Edition | Reprint |
| Isbn 10 | 0345478983 |
| Isbn 13 | 978-0345478986 |
| Item Weight | 2.31 pounds |
| Language | English |
| Print Length | 560 pages |
| Publication Date | August 30, 2005 |
| Publisher | Ballantine Books |
User
Less violence more plotting and betrayal
If the plotting and intricate betrayals are what hooked you into "The Godfather" trilogy, this book will be for you. Lots of intricate planning of betrayals and covering up the traces. A lot more on Tom Hagen, who is one of my favorite characters and gets shorter shrift in the series (not in Film 3 because Robert Duvall asked for more pay and was paid back with the "oh yeah? well, you're dead and you get no backstory" for his temerity.) Nick Geraci is a key figure and well drawn. Son of a low level mob driver in the Cleveland organization, he combines massive physical strength, boxing prowess, and a high degree of smarts with survivor skills. Fun to follow him.The novel is long. Which suits me.
User
Pay attention
I give this four stars because I'm not done with it yet...five might be on its way.I always considered The Godfather to really be about family, not even famiglia necessarily, just family. Puzo's writing examined the characters' relationships much more than it did to explain things they did or experienced.Winegardner's writing focuses much much more on the details of certain events that Puzo only alluded to. His writing seems almost authoritative in his exploration of well known characters. It's kind of like being told all your family secrets you knew existed but were glossed over. In some ways, somewhat because of some lack of drama and trying to fit the story in with existing ones, the book kind of feels like it's an addendum rather than its own novel.For those scared off by the caffones who suggest no one should ever read this book without wearing concrete shoes, let them sleep at the bottom of the ocean.For those that have read the book, I'd encourage you to read this as well. However, if you've only seen the movies, pick up the first book and read it a few times, then read this to fill in some of the wholes.
User
Wow--so many confused readers!!!
First off, this novel is well written, which may stick in the craw of your average Puzo reader... Secondly, this is a novel--not a movie. If you are comparing the movie versions to the novel, then you really don't understand how things work in hollywood. I am always stunned by people who mix genre in reviews--are you totally deranged? How do you compare literature to the spit out drivel of the movie versions? Ultimately, this may be too much within a literary vein for most fans of Puzo--Mr. Winegardner's only mistake was to write at a higher level than most people can understand. This is a great filler for those lost years in Puzo's novels, and sets us up (hopefully) for some more great returns in future novels. Don't believe the grade school reviews out there--this is a fine novel that may have been poorly marketed by the press.
User
Lessons in the Corruption of Power
Mark Winegardner crafts an interesting addition to the Corleone saga in THE GODFATHER RETURNS, which fills in some of the gaps in Mario Puzo's three "Godfather" novels. Nearly all of your favorite wiseguys are in here (and more besides), with Michael Corleone angling icily to make his Family predominant in the country. In the process, he betrays a devoted ally who consequently becomes his bitter enemy.There are so many Machiavellian double-crosses, triple-crosses, and other treachery in RETURNS that it's sometimes hard to determine who's on first. The author's voice is authentically Puzo-ish, and the reversals of fortune are kind of fun if you discount the theoretical human cost. In my opinion, however, Puzo was far superior in making us care about his characters. Everybody in this novel is sleazy and dislikable to some degree, with poor Fredo the most sympathetic of them all. Unless you're a fan intent on consuming all available fiction in the Godfather universe, I'd recommend staying with the original trilogy.
User
First of Mario's Books: Made me want to read the rest.
Like the majority of the human race, I loved the Godfather. So one day I said, what if his other stuff is just as good? And so the journey began. I'm a slow reader. The thing is, that this book was so well written, I read it in three days, a personal record. I hope the rest of humanity sees this review and reads his other work. Sometimes what you think is someone's best work turns out to be good but not as good as the rest. This is a case of that.
User
Good book. Very entertaining.
Good read if you are into the movies. This book is in between part I and II. As well as before part 1 and a little bit of after part II
User
THE THING ABOUT A KNOCKOFF
is how well it imitates the original. This has the usual intricate plot & the usual suspects, though Kay is dumber and Fredo is gay & in the closet. But Winegardner doesn't know the people he's writing about, just how they behaved. Mario's eye is missing, as are his observations & dialogue. He'd have laughed at having a ghostwriter exploit him as a corporate brand. A well made novel & entertaining. Okay for those who want more of the saga and don't care where they get it, but not the real thing, "of course"--a phrase Winegardner should banish from his vocabulary.
User
Good Purchase
This is my Part 2 of The Godfather series and I couldn't wait to get started on it. I thought I was going to wait for a week or so but it actually showed up within the week. Needless to say I go started on this book as soon as it was in my hands. There were no bent corners nor pages. The cover was in perfect conditions as was the book. I love this book. That's all.
User
couldnt put it down
excellent book,well done
User
Muy Bien.
El libro viene en excelentes condiciones; el envío fue anticipado por dos días. La calidad del papel es media. Las medidas del libro son las que se indican.Por el precio, diría que sí vale la pena.
User
Schnelle Lieferung
Obwohl gebrauchtes Buch, ist es in einwandfreiem Zustand und obwohl der Versand aus den USA erfolgte, kam die Lieferung wesentlich früher an als angegeben und erwartet.
User
Five Stars
I love mario Puzo, one summer read all his booksthey are all amazing
User
Improvement is needed
Damage copy receivedAsk for replacementNot yet done
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