Criminal men
Mario Puzo's classic work The Godfather was immensely popular when it first hit bookstores throughout the globe. Based on the saga of the Corleones, the topmost crime family of New York, the much acclaimed novel and probably the best known work of Puzo wowed the readers . So it was not a surprise when it got its exposure on the silver screen of Hollywood. But the book in review, The Godfather Returns, is not a sequel to the original Puzo masterpiece or the script of any Hollywood flicks with Pierce Brosnan in the leading role. So Godfather enthusiasts are likely to be a little bit disappointed by the feat of Mark Winegardner, who has incorporated new characters and made experimentations with some characters in the plot of the story. But on the whole, Winegardner deserves kudos for this brilliant piece of work.
As the story unfolds, the readers go back to the depression period of the 1920s. Then Vito Corleone, the head of the Corleones, was working in a grocery store to eke out a living. But as history was in the making, he happened to murder a local gangster and so shot to the limelight, eventually taking the lead in community affairs. This unfortunate incident propelled his entry into the underworld. Soon he was engaged in illegal trade and businesses and acquired enviable power and riches he never dreamt of. Although he proved himself to be a powerful don, he never wanted his children to be engaged in the tentacles of the shady crime world. His son Michael, the protagonist of the storyline, did well in studies and was admitted to Columbia University but was compelled to drop out because of conflict with his father. He despised his father's illegal businesses and wished that he never had a life like his father. During this period as the First World War was on, he joined it like others as he had nothing to do in particular during this time. But then, destiny had other things in store for Michael. After the expiry of Vito Corleone, he found himself holding the reins of the Corleone family in the 1950s. He proved his mettle in the criminal world through eliminating his rivals such as the Barzinis.
With smart and dependable cohorts Tom Hagen, Nick Geraci and the likes in his side coupled with a vibrant network in the underworld from New York to Washington and from Las Vegas to Cuba plus different tiers of the government and administration, he focused on consolidating his power and aimed at making all the illegal businesses legal which would put the Corleone Family in the limelight as the Kennedys.
In the meantime, Michael's loving wife Kay came to know of the true colors of her beloved husband as Tom Hagen, one of the accomplished figures of the Corleone Organization, informed her about all the secrets of Michael, including his innumerable murders and sins. Kay was crestfallen at first but regained her composure soon. Interestingly, she did not desert him as she believed that though he was a criminal, he still loved her. She even took for granted his first marriage with an ordinary girl when he was undercover during the police hunt . Michael was cunning enough to convince her about his feelings for her --- taking her to travel with him to dream places and showing genuine care for her and the family through various means. But when her perceptions were proved to be wrong and she realized that Michael's love was fake, she had no other alternative but to divorce him in order to regain her dignity. However, in the parallel of the storyline, other incidents such as Francesca's ( Michael's brother Sonny's daughter) falling in love with Billy and his infidelity, Fredo's ( Michael's brother) marriage with Hollywood actress Deanna Dunn and her secret wantonness, Michael's long-lasting cold war with his right hand man Nick Geraci provide spice to the whole plot.
In the grand finale, Michael proved himself to be the top man of the crime world of New York, coordinating and controlling various international crime syndicates and eliminating his rivals, including Nick Geraci. He was also tough in dealing with human emotions but was successful in taking care of his own Corleone family and protecting it well from all dangers. But he had to pay a heavy price for all these. His family disintegrated, Francesca's family broke down, close associates were not found nearby but he stood alone with his cunning and intelligence as the kingpin of American dons. Vous et dificille vous, Michael Corleone.
In this fast paced book of crime, murder, intrigue, infidelity and betrayal, readers are most likely to get the taste of a first-rate crime novel. The entire gamut of the crime world and its nitty-gritty have come to the forefront, to the delight of readers. If you are scheduled to travel by air or train, keep aside this book in your travel bag. This masala book and new sights and sounds are a formidable combination.
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