Godfather: Bucketlist buster

                      Starting the bucket list with this book was easy. It is a simple read, yet the complexities of it blows my mind. I started reading it because my friend pushed me to do so, and I am so glad I did. The book revolves around a multi-layer plot which Mario Puzo ties up together perfectly. I am not going to talk about the most obvious of the things that most before have said. I am going to talk about what I loved when I read the book. The thing about this book is on the surface it is about, as is obvious by it's name, The Godfather (Vito Corleone) is a man of few words, telling silences and great perceptions; but it devles more deeply into the human psyche, the practicalities of the world, the bonds that human beings form and plays it out to one of the most simple but exciting climaxes I have ever come across. The genius lies, and here I repeat myself, in the simplicity of the book.

                      Vito Corleone is a man who can look into your soul, make you squirm yet one you cannot despise or ignore. The book revolves around him, his family and his experiences in life. The highlight of course is his emerging as the Godfather, but to understand just what it means, Puzo has added a number of characters to ensure that the impact of the title sinks in deep right in beginning of the book. The layers of complexities are bought in by conflicting characters whose vested interests somehow seem parallel.  but the thing that will keep you going is the fast turn of events. Not for a moment will you feel that the book is becoming monotonous and boring.


                 The book manages to steer clear of the various cliches that it could have very easily have fallen into, allowing it to emerge like a unpolished pearl from an ocean of confusing literature about slick Italian mafia. The book treats each character with dignity, allowing it to act and react as it would, allowing it to develop a life of it's own. No character is in disposable, the love is only for the plot. Puzo allows himself to go back and forth between events to keep the reader interested, yet gives enough information to ensure that the reader doesn't feel cheated or confused. The end is complete and leaves one feeling satisfied, yet I would read six other continuations, if each was as enthralling as this was. The epic of Godfather unfolds and grows on the pages, his legacy is clearly developed by his son Micheal and the conflict of family and of practical matters is best captured in Santiano (sunny), who is my favorite because he wears his feelings, and of course his temper, on his sleeves.


                 I would recommend everyone to read the book, even if they have watched the movie. Everyone may love Micheal, but for the real Godfather will always be Vito, a simple man with a mind so complex that one could even fathom imagining it knew everything that was going on.