Mario Puzo has clearly written a masterpiece! This is honestly my favorite book. I"m not exactly an avid book reader because not many books can keep me focused for long periods of time. This book was an exception. I don't know if it was because of the suspense, or if it was the lessons that were taught. .
This masterpiece is about how an organized crime family transforms after the death of Don Vito Corleone. Don Vito Corleone was the most powerful leader in the mafia underworld. He started from scratch and received all of his power from his showing of respect and his ruthlessness. Along with having a powerful crime family, he also had other ventures in gambling. He refused to let his family business go into something as dirty as prostitution or drugs. After he turned down a business proposal from a powerful drug lord, he found himself starring down a couple of .50 calibers. Even though he survived the assassination attempt, his power in the family slowly faded off. He knew his time was coming and he wasn't sure which of his three sons would have the total package to take over the family business. Sonny Corleone was the oldest of Don Vitos sons. He took over for a minimal time, but was way too aggressive and didn't exactly think things through well enough. Then there was Freddy, or as he was called by friends, Fredo. He was the middle son and probably followed his fathers word the best. He looked at his father as more powerful than God. But Fredo was too timid. He didn't have the aggressive side it took to lead a powerful organization. Michael Corleone was the youngest of the three. He was kind of the black sheep in the family. He was the only one to refuse his fathers direction. He went to an Ivy League school and also joined the army. Both of these were against his father's word. But Michael was the only one that had the character, intelligence and total respect from everyone in the Coleone family business.
