The Godfather

After the completion of 13 Reasons Why I decided to take on a more old-school classic novel. In this novel I have found The Godfather. The godfather is a brilliantly written tale about the Corleone crime family. At the point where I am in the book it is in transition between books (The book itself is actually compiled into 6 different parts). But in previous parts of the book there are many things that strike as interesting. For one the men in the book are very fair. Much unlike what you would expect from the dreaded “mafioso”, they are very fair and reasonable men. Thus far the book has woven many tales. Most of them pertaining to loyalty to the Corleone crime family. Often in the business of crime you must deal with business and in business cutthroat techniques are often used. Vito Corleone (Or Don Corleone, he is the very infamous godfather), is an honest man. He will do favors for any of his friends, and to him friendship is the most important thing, he does not extort, but is simply given payments out of gratitude for free protection. He is a very powerful man both politically and by pure wealth. He controls the entire olive importation business in new york and is VERY wealthy. When an attempt on the dons life occurs it sends the 5 families of new york, but especially the most powerful Corleone’s into chaos. Sollozo is a man who is a known narcotics importer and distributor. Sollozo offers a deal to the don and the Corleone family about authorizing the importation of poppy, narcotics, heroin, and opium. Don Corleone is a very honorable man, he does not believe in what many would call “dirty” dealing. He controls much of the gambling rackets of new york, as well as prostitution, and business protection (along with his olive importing empire). The don feels that drugs bring much more violence, deception, and chaos than originally exists and declines Sollozo’s offer. Sollozo is a businessman, and without the help of the Corleone family he would be taking a huge risk on continuing the importation of such narcotics without his aid. Sollozo has the backing of the Tattaglia crime family but this is not enough. Sollozo needs the Corleones, and he has been utterly denied. Sollozo as a business man decides to take things into his own hands. He infiltrates the Corleone family through Paul Gatto. Paul Gatto is paid off to give information on the Dons schedule and after this occurs an unsuccessful attempt at the Dons life is made. This causes a near all-out war between the 5 crime families of new york. The way to settle this was concocted by Tom Hagen (family consigliere or second in command), Sonny Corleone, Clemenza, and Michael Corleone. The plan was to strike back against Sollozo and his contacts in the police department through Michael Corleone, by doing so Michael eradicates both Sollozo and the police captain McKluskey. It was the only solution to keep not only the Corleone’s safe, but the strongest of the 5 major crime families.

On another note this book is very graphic, it contains harsh language, drug use, and sexual innuendo. It is very much a boy book. That’s all until I read more thanks alot everyone.

CGB.

~ by cgb123 on 05/10/2009.