The Family Corleone

February 27, 2012
Based on an unpublished Mario Puzo screenplay, Falco’s solid Godfather prequel fills in the backstory of the iconic New York City Mafia family over a two-year period. In 1933, 17-year-old Sonny Corleone struggles to come to terms with the truth about how his father, Vito, makes a living. At first, the narrative dwells on the brutal thug Luca Brasi, at the expense of more interesting characters, such as the Corleones’ adopted son, Tom Hagen, who’ll grow up to be the family’s consigliere, and the hotheaded Sonny’s younger brother, Michael. Those who persevere will be rewarded with scenes of Machiavellian plotting by Vito, who fends off both Italian and Irish rivals. Falco (Saint John of the Five Boroughs) takes the story right up to Sonny’s wedding, and if he offers few new insights into characters’ motivations, Puzo fans will find this a refreshing change from, say, Mark Winegardner’s inferior sequels, The Godfather Returns and The Godfather’s Revenge. Agent: Neil Olson, Donadio & Olson.

Starred review from June 25, 2012
Based on a screenplay by Mario Puzo, this effort from Falco tells the tale of a young Sonny Corleone and his emergence as a blazing force in the world of organized crime—a world in which his family will forever be entrenched. Bobby Cannavale delivers standout narration in this spirited audio edition that captures all the raw intensity of the Corleone clan. Cannavale’s deep and gritty voice and New York Italian accent are crisp, honest, endlessly intimidating, and perfectly suited to Falco’s prose. The narrator’s Sonny is just as aggressive and quick tempered as James Caan’s in the famous film franchise. This audiobook captures the essence of Puzo’s classic tale and will have listeners doing their best—or worst—Vito Corleone impression at the dinner table. A Grand Central hardcover.

March 1, 2012
Don Corleone's family navigates opportunity and treachery as Prohibition comes to a close in New York. Playing around in the Godfather universe is a tightrope act. The original novel is a pulpy, popular synthesis of influences, while its film adaptation is a timeless classic. The video games are slushy Grand Theft Auto knock-offs, and Mark Winegardner's sequels are labyrinthine marathons with epic casts. This time, the franchise falls back on more workmanlike writer Falco (Saint John of the Five Boroughs, 2009, etc.), who reels the story back to its roots though moments resurrected from unproduced scripts by Mario Puzo. It's 1933, and the Don is at the height of his power. Peter Clemenza is Vito's capo and Genco Abbandando remains consigliere. Michael and Fredo squabble underfoot but it's Sonny's explosive temper that film fans will recognize. Meanwhile, dutiful college student Tom Hagen is having a harmless fling--that turns out to be not so harmless when psychotic Luca Brasi decides to kill Tom for messing with his broad. In other boroughs, Giuseppe Mariposa conspires with Emilio Barzini and Phillip Tattaglia in his slow tango with the Corleones, while a pair of Irish brothers adds a new element to this dangerous mix. What works well is Falco's depiction of Vito Corleone, which captures both the cool reserve of young Vito and the insight he demonstrates as Don. "To understand the truth of things," he cautions Sonny, "you have to judge both the man and the circumstances. You have to use both your brains and your heart. That's what it's like in a world where men lie as a matter of course--and there is no other kind of world, Santino, at least not here on earth." More obsessive fans also get a reveal about a member of the Don's family, as well as a juicy unveiling of Luca Brasi's back story pulled from The Godfather. A worthy addition to the lurid world of the Five Families, if not quite an offer you can't refuse.

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March 1, 2012
Opinion remains divided on Mario Puzo's The Godfather (1969). Was it a pulp masterpiece or did it merely benefit from the glow cast by Francis Coppola's films? Falco's prequel provides ample opportunity for reevaluation. Based on an unproduced screenplay by Puzo, it channels the original so well that readers will be vividly reminded of Puzo's strengths (family politics, abrupt violence) and weaknesses (important characters who never evolve beyond plot pawns). Set in 1933, the story finds all of the New York families, including the relatively humble Corleones, bracing for the end of Prohibition. That means power shiftsand that means blood. Falco's populous, chatty, gory novel focuses on two characters, Don Corleone's hotheaded 17-year-old son, Sonny, who longs to break into his father's business, and Luca Brasi, a loose-cannon psychopath who throws the entire crime world into chaos. For better or worse, Falco follows every esoteric character with the same steadicam curiosity. His moments of blam-blam-blam, though, are ace. Best of all, he supplies a grand set-piece finalea paradethat will have readers dreaming of just one more movie. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Over 21 million copies of Puzo's original are in print, and legions of Puzo and Coppola fans are still out there, making this an offer they can't refuse.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)