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2nd out of 84 books
—
93 voters
The Sicilian (Mario Puzo's Mafia)
by
Mario Puzo
After Mario Puzo wrote his internationally acclaimed The Godfather, he has often been imitated but never equaled. Puzo's classic novel, The Sicilian, stands as a cornerstone of his work--a lushly romantic, unforgettable tale of bloodshed, justice, and treachery. . . .
The year is 1950. Michael Corleone is nearing the end of his exile in Sicily. The Godfather has commanded M...more
The year is 1950. Michael Corleone is nearing the end of his exile in Sicily. The Godfather has commanded M...more
Paperback, 416 pages
Published
May 1st 2001
by Ballantine Books
(first published June 1983)
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Actually I got caught up in the love story between 1950 bandit/hero Guiliano (based on real life freedom fighter Salvatore Guiliano) and his mistress. I wanted that part of the book fleshed out more as it gave a good counterbalance to the love/envy shown Guiliano by his cousin Gaspare.
But we can't get everything we want, and Puzo does provide a fast paced political intrigue involving the Mafia and the Sicilian government. The inclusion of Michael Corleone from Puzo's Godfather novel gives The S...more
But we can't get everything we want, and Puzo does provide a fast paced political intrigue involving the Mafia and the Sicilian government. The inclusion of Michael Corleone from Puzo's Godfather novel gives The S...more
For someone who has just got into books and reading a book every ten days,it was too much to swallow.As I began to study the last hundred pages of the novel 'The Sicillian' by the famous Mario Puzo again ,at midnight,I knew I was falling into an ocean of unbelievable storytelling.Finishing the book at 2.00 a.m,i could not sleep for the next hour or so.Turi Guilliano, undoubtedly the greatest character that i have ever read about is just too unthinkable and great to forget with time.Puzo with his...more
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This work is peripherally related to the characters and events of The Godfather, Puzo's best-known work. Michael Corleone, Vito Corleone, and Peter Clemenza all play minor (or very minor) roles in the story. The heart of the novel is a fictionalized re-telling of the life of Salvatore Giuliano, a Sicilian bandit and separatist who was active in the late 1940s (the spelling of whose name Puzo has changed to Guiliano in the book). I had not previously heard of this historical figure, but it seems...more
"The Siciian" is a far more better work of Mario Puzo than "The Godfather". This novel is about the hardships and the bravery of the real Sicilian outlaw-hero Salvatore Guiliano (the spelling is intentionally changed) and the cunning and betrayal that awaits him. This book is a beautiful portrayal of real life heroes, of friendship, how selfishness hinders love and how cunning has a foul play in hindering that love.
This book revolves around the outlaw Guiliano who has a price upon his head by th...more
This book revolves around the outlaw Guiliano who has a price upon his head by th...more
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Mario Puzo claims his fame and fortune with The Godfather. He exerts his mastery of writing and storytelling in The Sicilian.
This book offers nearly every addictive literary substance for which the reader's neuro-transmitters scream. Puzo offers action, suspense, national heritage, generational character, moral integrity, filial piety, brotherhood, loyalty, ethical conflict, the power of conviction, and so much more. Turi Giuliano represents the kind of archetypal hero for which every common cit...more
This book offers nearly every addictive literary substance for which the reader's neuro-transmitters scream. Puzo offers action, suspense, national heritage, generational character, moral integrity, filial piety, brotherhood, loyalty, ethical conflict, the power of conviction, and so much more. Turi Giuliano represents the kind of archetypal hero for which every common cit...more
Mario Puzon erinomaisessa mafiaromaanissa (suom. Sisilialainen) tapahtumat sijoittuvat vuosiin 1950, ja aina välillä palataan takaumin päähenkilöiden, lähinnä legendaarisen Salvatore Giulianon varhaisempiin vaiheisiin.
Romaani kertoo siis pitkälti sisilialaisen rosvopäällikön tarunhohtoisen tarinan aina hänen uransa alkuvaiheista aina karuun loppuun saakka. Kertomus on realistinen, ja ”Turi” on keskushenkilö, muita ovat hänen serkkunsa Pisciotta ja muut alipäälliköt Terranova ja Passatempo. Ja ku...more
Romaani kertoo siis pitkälti sisilialaisen rosvopäällikön tarunhohtoisen tarinan aina hänen uransa alkuvaiheista aina karuun loppuun saakka. Kertomus on realistinen, ja ”Turi” on keskushenkilö, muita ovat hänen serkkunsa Pisciotta ja muut alipäälliköt Terranova ja Passatempo. Ja ku...more
The Sicilian is a quick, easy read but entirely worthwhile. I feel as though Puzo wrote a modern day legend in response and homage to stories (as referenced in the text) such as The Song of Roland. Puzo conveys a rich sense of history and it gives the characters a touch of the mythical without becoming laughable by realist sensibilities.
The back cover dubs the main character, Guiliano, as a “modern-day Robin Hood” and I wonder why stories with heroes devoted to redistributing wealth and releasin...more
The back cover dubs the main character, Guiliano, as a “modern-day Robin Hood” and I wonder why stories with heroes devoted to redistributing wealth and releasin...more
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This is quite a good story of organized crime in Sicily after WWII. It's a satisfying story, and has lots of Puzo-esque betrayal and dramatic twists.
But the manner in which it is stapled to the Godfather is somewhat clumsy and entirely unnecessary. I am guessing that this was done to increase sales by having it be part of the Godfather series (this I can understand) but having Michael Corleone be essentially an interested bystander that we occasionally check in with...seems to dilute the Godfath...more
But the manner in which it is stapled to the Godfather is somewhat clumsy and entirely unnecessary. I am guessing that this was done to increase sales by having it be part of the Godfather series (this I can understand) but having Michael Corleone be essentially an interested bystander that we occasionally check in with...seems to dilute the Godfath...more
Hats off to Puzo for actually taking us on a journey to Sicily. You won't come closer to learning about the Sicilian history, mentality, and traditions, by reading any other book than this. Each word is crafted and delivered poetically. Just his word usage gave this book another star. He does a great job at painting a picture of the Sicilian countryside, considering he isn't from there that is impressive.
Considered the "Godfather 2" this books starts out with Michael in Sicily. In all reality P...more
Considered the "Godfather 2" this books starts out with Michael in Sicily. In all reality P...more
The literary sequel to Puzo's most famous work 'The Godfather', 'The Sicilian' begins with Michael Corleone tasked with bringing Sicilian outlaw Turi Guiliano and his testament (a handwritten account of treachery and deceit within the Italian government) to America. The book then goes back in time and tells the story of Turi Guiliano-a poor yet beloved young man who becomes both outlaw and legend for the island for his robin hood antics.
More historical than 'The Godfather', Puzo does an excelle...more
More historical than 'The Godfather', Puzo does an excelle...more
While not nearly as all-around amazing as The Godfather, The Sicilian still remains a rather entertaining read, but as is obvious from looking at the two months it took me to finish the book, it could do with a whole lot of tidying up. As it is, the time-jumps are disorienting and annoying, the language so often abrupt and clunky as to be distracting, and some characters little better than plot devices and nothing more, to say nothing of a few infuriatingly predictable twists regarding certain c...more
Отличная книга! Просто замечательная. И начинаю с сюжета и заканчивая персонажами, все в этой книге превосходно. Сюжет крайне интересен и берет за душу, персонажи все отлично проработаны, атмосфера тех времен прекрасно сохранена, а диалоги все крайне хороши. А финал... Финал вообще никого не должен оставить равнодушным.
В итоге, просто не за что упрекнуть Автора, Марио Пьюзо, гениальная книга, просто гениальная. Хотя и чуть слабее чем "Крестный Отец".
В итоге, просто не за что упрекнуть Автора, Марио Пьюзо, гениальная книга, просто гениальная. Хотя и чуть слабее чем "Крестный Отец".
Booooo. This sucks. Someone recommended it and I loved The Godfather, so I figured it would be okay. Bad, bad, bad. I'm not sure why I finished it.
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I went into this book expecting either a novelization of the Michael Corelone portions of the film Godfather part two, or perhaps something completely different featuring the family. What I didn't expect was a biography-made-fiction of a real Sicilian bandit thinly veiled as a Godfather story through some clever frame-storying. That said, it was still pretty good and exciting at times. I really wish Puzo himself had written more on the family, and my favorite part of this book is at the end when...more
This book started off slow for me and then it really picked up after the first 50 pages. If you like The G-dfather movies, you'll love this book. Puzo is so accurate in describing environment and history, he does a great job of teaching you while entertaining you. I liked this book except wanted a different ending. Young adults and adults should read this book. It follows the relationship of brotherhood, family, and the dynamics of power in society. You will be cheering for the main character al...more
Mario Puzo's "The Sicilian" is a fantastic book, perhaps better than The Godfather, with a quite tantalizing and deep plot, containing many twists and turns. Sicily is described in great detail in this book, outlining the corrupt officials and mobsters and their connections with each other. We have an archetypal hero, Turi Guiliano, who defies the officials and the mobsters in order to build his own revolution. The book portrays his courageous struggle, along with his traitorous and deceitful cr...more
This book got all the Mario Puzo's ingredients - an impeccable character, great plot, friendship, betrayal, love. Add the flavor of his unique outlook of the world, this is a thriller ride. Though the characters and the style is similar to The Godfather, yet the story sucks you in. Though, the lead character is idealistic (was later surprised to find it was based on a real story), yet it is not easy to put the book down.
To say this book is better than The Godfather is almost unfair. Though it is ultimately better for its telling of the history of Sicily and Turi Guiliano's motive to be like Europe's legendary figures (e.g. Roland & Oliver, Hannibal), the story as a whole would not be as rich had I not read Puzo's prequel. The author's narrative style is equally as effective, weaving the stories of multiple characters around similar events so that at some points you are eager to turn a page merely to discove...more
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This was a good "read a the beach" book. Having read "The Godfather" my expectations were high. If "The Godfather" was a perfectly cooked filet mignion, "The Sicilian" is a good bacon cheeseburger. It's satisfying, but it's not a masterpice. The story fits into the window of Michael Corelone's time in Sicily, so the reader gets an enjoyable reunion with Michael, Clemenza, and other familiar characters while being entertained by the sweeping narrative of the new plot. Overall, it's a fine book, b...more
If I could recommend one Puzzo book, it is definitely "The Godfather." For those who enjoyed it, this is more of the same. From the description, I had expected more of an emphasis on "The Godfather"'s Michael Corleone, but this is really an entirely new story - Michael is a very small and (in my opinion) not-that-necessary character. I think the new story could have stood alone.
The twists at the end were foreseeable but not necessarily expected - the story could have easily gone one of many dir...more
The twists at the end were foreseeable but not necessarily expected - the story could have easily gone one of many dir...more
I got into it thinking it was going to be The Godfather Part II, and instead found a totally different story. The entire book takes place in Sicily, following the story of a bandit (Salvatore Guiliano, The Sicilian) living seven years in the hills above his home town of Montelepre. Michael is at the end of his 2-year exile following the murders of Solozzo and McCluskey, and is charged with extraditing Guiliano to America.
While the story is outside the vein of "The Godfather," the style and narra...more
While the story is outside the vein of "The Godfather," the style and narra...more
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The Sicilian is NOT, like some people think, a sequel to the Godfather. It does feature cameo appearances by Michael Corleone and Clemenza, but they are more to tie the story together than anything else. Personally, I found it distracting and unnecessary for them to have been in the book and I felt it would have been a far better book without them.
The unfortunate thing is that it detracted from the real story, and that is the tale of Salvatore Giuliano, the famous bandit of Sicily. (Btw, the ot...more
The Sicilian is NOT, like some people think, a sequel to the Godfather. It does feature cameo appearances by Michael Corleone and Clemenza, but they are more to tie the story together than anything else. Personally, I found it distracting and unnecessary for them to have been in the book and I felt it would have been a far better book without them.
The unfortunate thing is that it detracted from the real story, and that is the tale of Salvatore Giuliano, the famous bandit of Sicily. (Btw, the ot...more
The book was brilliant once I got over my initial disappointment. The book was slow paced in the beginning alright but that wasn’t the reason I was disappointed. You see, when I picked up the book I thought it was story on one my favorite ‘Godfather’ characters Michael Corleone with Salvatore Turi Giuliano playing a secondary character. But as it turns out the book is about Turi and Michael is hardly in it.
Once I got over this fact and made peace that it wasn’t a sequel to ‘Godfather’ (unlike t...more
Once I got over this fact and made peace that it wasn’t a sequel to ‘Godfather’ (unlike t...more
You can't help comparing it to The Godfather because it is a Mario Puzo book, but in my opinion, it's not as good. I enjoyed reading it but towards the second half of the book it became a bit predictable to me. The story is about Salvatore Giuliano, a young Sicilian who becomes a more violent version of Robin Hood and defends his people in his very own way. Guiliano and his cousin/long time best friend Aspanu are very smart characters, which made it interesting to read what they were going to do...more
Sep 14, 2008
Angel
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
fans of <i>The Godfather</i>
Shelves:
fiction
I had read this before many years ago, and I remembered liking it. When I had a chance to pick up a used copy very cheap, I figured it would be a good time to reread it. The book is pretty good, but it is not The Godfather. Then again, for Puzo, Don Corleone's tale is his opus. After that, pretty much anything would seem a bit less. The tale of the Sicilian is pretty good. The only problem I had with the book, and the reason I did not rate it higher, is because at times some of the descriptive p...more
Nov 20, 2012
Chris Ceballos
added it
This is my favorite book of all time. I was definitely a Puzo fan after the classic Godfather but after reading The Sicilian I knew for a fact that Mario Puzo was my favorite author. The details in the story were easy to picture as you read and the suspense he builds with every chapter keeps you from putting the book down. I've read the book a few times already and I'm still surprised at how exciting it still is to me. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a great read
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While The Godfather Trilogy stands out as the greatest Movie ever made (in my humble opinion anyway, I must have watched it a dozen times or more, and would probably do so for the rest of my life), but as far as the books are concerned, The Siclian happens to be far superior to The Godfather.
And I just loved the ending, its probably one of the most heart breaking one you will ever come across, and sadly perfect in so many ways.
Its a must read.
And I just loved the ending, its probably one of the most heart breaking one you will ever come across, and sadly perfect in so many ways.
Its a must read.
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Take note that The Godfather, a master piece, is Puzo's most famous novel, but for me (even thouh the characters are not the same), The Sicilian works almost as a perfect extension of the theme, and a complement to the Michael Corleone-in-Sicily bit of the Godfather. I love the development of the main character in The Sicilian. This is one of those books you'll start reading and'll only put it down when you turn the last page.
i did nt think i wuld ever say this, but very honestly this book is better than god father in a lot of ways, but the only problem with this book is it does nt hav DON VITO CORLEONE. considering tht this is the second part to the godfather i expected more action from micheal corleone bt this time mario puzo has explored the life of a bandit in Sicily named Salvatore Guiliano. exciting ride from start to finish.
IT WAS BRUTAL!!!
IT WAS BRUTAL!!!
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Puzo was born in a poor family of Neapolitan immigrants living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of New York. Many of his books draw heavily on this heritage. After graduating from the City College of New York, he joined the United States Army Air Forces in World War II. Due to his poor eyesight, the military did not let him undertake combat duties but made him a public relations officer statione...more
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“Life is Beautiful”
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“My dear Guiliano," he said, "how is it that you and Don Croce do not join together to rule Sicily? He has the wisdom of age, you have the idealism of youth.”
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