When Don Raymonde Aprile, an old-school Mafia leader who has retired, is killed, it is not his children, who were kept strictly away from their father's business, who seek to avenge him, but his Sicilian-born ward, Astorre, the son of an even greater Mafia chieftain.
Not Puzo's best. It lacks subtlety, and its story line meanders kind of pointlessly, scenes that should be exciting often fizzle out and the characters lack dimension. I have heard critics assert that, since this was released posthumously, that it was finished off by unskilled editors and/or publishers in an effort to cash in one last time.... I don't know if that is the case but in any event it does feel kind of unfinished. Perhaps it was a draft that never got polished because of Puzo's death.
In any event, Puzo was a genius, so even his worst book is still pretty entertaining, all things considered. I consider this a 'porch' book; that is to say, a good read on a summer afternoon on the porch, like an Elmore Leonard or a James Patterson novel.
Comment
Add a CommentNot Puzo's best. It lacks subtlety, and its story line meanders kind of pointlessly, scenes that should be exciting often fizzle out and the characters lack dimension. I have heard critics assert that, since this was released posthumously, that it was finished off by unskilled editors and/or publishers in an effort to cash in one last time.... I don't know if that is the case but in any event it does feel kind of unfinished. Perhaps it was a draft that never got polished because of Puzo's death.
In any event, Puzo was a genius, so even his worst book is still pretty entertaining, all things considered. I consider this a 'porch' book; that is to say, a good read on a summer afternoon on the porch, like an Elmore Leonard or a James Patterson novel.
classic mafia story on paper -- not the best of stories -- which is why it wasn't a full moton picture ... but a good read for true fans.