This was my choice for our Book Club (yep Im in a book club, because clearly 100 books to read just isn't enough) and it was unanimously agreed that The Godfather is a fantastic read. It has everything you would want in a book; family, power, corruption, tradition, history, love, respect, murder, humour, tension. It’s amazing. It’s also littered with social references that you’ve heard of but never really understand unless you’ve read the book or seen the film – the horses head in the bed; sleeping with the fishes; going to the mattresses – all from the mafia world of The Godfather.
From the very first page you are immediately drawn into the story, the mafia underworld and the imposing character of Don Corleone, as well as the status and reputation that he holds within his society. And that’s it - you’re hooked on this rollercoaster of a book from there on out. There are two narrative climaxes within the book which made my heart race so fast I thought it was going to jump out of my chest - but there are also some slower paced parts which go further in depth into the Corleone family history. Some people in our Book Club found that this created a lull in the middle of the book, but I found that whilst the pace certainly slows it is here that as the reader you learn more of the history and the characters. This then serves to make The Godfather a more rounded novel and certainly increases your understanding of the characters and the world this is set in. I found this was not only a relief but something I was asking for and wanting to know as a reader.
I must admit, I’ve always dismissed this as a ‘boys’ book’ or as a book that people had on their shelves but never really read....I have no idea why! But it’s not at all – it’s really well written with in-depth well rounded characters that you really feel for and care about, even though to the normal outside world they are pretty awful gangsters and murderers. Yes, it’s violent at times, but it is in line with the narrative and not especially glorified.
I think watching someone read this book must be like a spectator sport - the faces I was pulling on the tram on the way to work were getting me some seriously odd looks, and the girls in book club said that many people would stop them when they were reading this in public to discuss it. And if you’ve seen the film but not read the book, read it. I watched the film after reading this and although it is very true to it, as always it’s not a patch on the book itself.
Already, I cannot wait to re-read this.
Respect.
Don Crandon.
