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83rd out of 296 books
—
443 voters
The Fortunate Pilgrim
by
Mario Puzo
Before The Godfather and The Last Don, there was Puzo's classic story about the loves, crimes and struggles confronted by one family of New York City immigrants living in Hell's Kitchen. Fresh from the farms in Italy, Lucia Santa struggles to hold her family together in a strange land. At turns poignant, comic and violent, and with a new preface by the author, The Fortunat...more
Paperback, 304 pages
Published
September 28th 2004
by Ballantine Books
(first published 1964)
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This book gives an inside look at an Italian family struggling in Hell's Kitchen (NYC) in the two decades before World War II. Some have said it is the prequel to the Godfather books, although not directly. Mario Puzo took great care in every sentence he wrote and his work reflects those efforts. This wonderful story was a great read and I highly recommend it.
A gorgeous, vivid depiction of daily life of one Italian family in pre-war New York. In The Fortunate Pilgrim, Puzo shares the joys and travails of Lucia Santa as an immigrant to America. In some ways, the book is little more than a familial narrative with only the timeline of life serving as its plot. And yet, the way Puzo lays bare the shortcomings of this family, tempers their triumphs, describes inter-family relationships, all while recreating the New York of long ago, you will not miss the...more
I'd give this book another half star if I could.
I've seen this story described as 'the prequel to The Godfather' and is based in some way, however loosely, on Puzo's own mother. It is the story of a bride, Lucia, who is sent from Italy to NYC into an arranged marriage. From an impoverished farm, she is thrust into an impoverished tenement, wed to a man from her village she barely knew. This is Lucia's story, she is the fortunate pilgrim, with her marriages and her children and their future in...more
I've seen this story described as 'the prequel to The Godfather' and is based in some way, however loosely, on Puzo's own mother. It is the story of a bride, Lucia, who is sent from Italy to NYC into an arranged marriage. From an impoverished farm, she is thrust into an impoverished tenement, wed to a man from her village she barely knew. This is Lucia's story, she is the fortunate pilgrim, with her marriages and her children and their future in...more
The first assigned reading that I really sped through and wanted to read. I seriously couldn't wait until I could read the next section. Full of suspense and the ending is perfect. You are left punched in the gut, but also satisfied. It's weird, but that's why I love this book, because I didn't know what to expect.
An Italian family is assimilating to the United States (well, most of them). Lucia Santa, the protagonist and mother, stays true to her Italian ways. All she wants is the American Dre...more
An Italian family is assimilating to the United States (well, most of them). Lucia Santa, the protagonist and mother, stays true to her Italian ways. All she wants is the American Dre...more
First time through- a portrait of immigrants in 1920's New York. Stories of the mother Lucia Santa, as well as her children from the first and second marriage. The "haves" include the railroad, shipping business clerks, bakers... Other struggles against the police, child services/welfare department/government, the mafia, doctors, illness/madness, TB. Saving money to plan for a better future, moving out of the city, buying a house and moving to New Jersey. Education was thought of as important, b...more
There are a few things about this book that will stick with me for a long time, and one of them is the fact that when I checked it out of the library a page was still folded down. Someone started but did not finish this book? Unthinkable! This book is damned near perfect: hilarious, tragic, soaked in olive oil and mischief. The idea that you would meet the Angeluzzi-Corbo family and then walk away from them before the story's end is something I cannot fully grasp. Maybe that previous library pat...more
This story blows 'The Godfather' out of the water; in fact, the matriarch/protagonist Lucia Santa was the basis for the Don, himself, and she rules her family with an iron fist. I absolutely loved how Mario Puzo seamlessly paints Great Depression Manhattan; you are also trying to cool off on Tenth Avenue with the rest of the residents of the West Side's Italian tenements on a hot July evening -- coincidentally, the same streets where I now work today. It's a quintessential American tale of comin...more
Meh.
Although I kept on reading, I suppose it's a good thing this book drew some sort of reaction out of me, and that was a load of sympathy for Lucia Santa, matriarch of the Angeluzzi-Corbo family. I find that in ethnic lit (what I've encountered of it at least) that women are hardcore - in that I mean they are made of iron, almost unbreakable no matter what kind of shit life throws at them. Pverty, struggle, and some sort of way out are all tropes to this genre. I couldn't stand most of the ch...more
Although I kept on reading, I suppose it's a good thing this book drew some sort of reaction out of me, and that was a load of sympathy for Lucia Santa, matriarch of the Angeluzzi-Corbo family. I find that in ethnic lit (what I've encountered of it at least) that women are hardcore - in that I mean they are made of iron, almost unbreakable no matter what kind of shit life throws at them. Pverty, struggle, and some sort of way out are all tropes to this genre. I couldn't stand most of the ch...more
As I read somewhere, in a patriarch society like India, women are defined not by their individuality but by their relationships with a man- a wife, a sister, a daughter. Italian Emigrants are not very different in that aspect. But here Puzo carves an identity of a strong Italian woman, forced to battle the tides that have swept her from her Italian farm to an America, a land of unknown.
The Italian Patriarch values juxtaposed against the caprices of fate, she battles a lone battle with destiny, a...more
The Italian Patriarch values juxtaposed against the caprices of fate, she battles a lone battle with destiny, a...more
Very different from others Puzo's books I had read. But I liked it very much. It was nice to read about italians in USA and the lifestyle of 50's and 60's. I recommend this for all who are interested past lifestyle and italians.
Puzo describes this as his best and his favorite book in the new foreward from 1996. I would say that it was one of my least favorite of his works, although I did enjoy it. The focus here is on an Italian immigrant to New York City in the early twentieth century, and the events and troubles of her life over the subsequent few decades. Some of the characters are sketchy at best, while others are more fully brought to life. I didn't feel there was always a point to some of the scenes, but it was i...more
While enjoyable, it is obvious this novel was written early in Puzo's career and lacks the character development and plot structure of his later books. All of the characters are one dimensional, never, ever acting out of character, never having any element of surprise. Physical circumstances change; the characters do not.
That being said, it's a pretty good story and told with flair. Puzo creates an atmosphere where you can smell the garlic and olive oil in the hallway as you walk up the staircas...more
That being said, it's a pretty good story and told with flair. Puzo creates an atmosphere where you can smell the garlic and olive oil in the hallway as you walk up the staircas...more
Realistic touching family drama.
I loved The Godfather and this book is a favorite as well. This is a story of an Italian family living in poverty and how they struggled through. It's not just about family members prevailing through tragedy, but it's also each member finding a role in life. It's an inspiring tale of a family in the Depression era and of family stife and love, sacrifice and pain. Looking at the family's struggle from today's wealth it is hard to comprehend a family never knowing w...more
I loved The Godfather and this book is a favorite as well. This is a story of an Italian family living in poverty and how they struggled through. It's not just about family members prevailing through tragedy, but it's also each member finding a role in life. It's an inspiring tale of a family in the Depression era and of family stife and love, sacrifice and pain. Looking at the family's struggle from today's wealth it is hard to comprehend a family never knowing w...more
Amazing Story!
I suppose like a lot of other people I started reading Mario Puzo book the Godfather and just loved the story. I wasn't happy with "The Silician", but I was surprised by this book: "The Fortunate Pilgrim". For a brief summary, this is the story of Lucia Santa an immigrant from Italy living in New York City during the 1930's. Lucia has six children and a bad marriage. Mario Puzo descriptions of the section known as Hells Kitchen are amazing and his detail of the city and hardships t...more
I suppose like a lot of other people I started reading Mario Puzo book the Godfather and just loved the story. I wasn't happy with "The Silician", but I was surprised by this book: "The Fortunate Pilgrim". For a brief summary, this is the story of Lucia Santa an immigrant from Italy living in New York City during the 1930's. Lucia has six children and a bad marriage. Mario Puzo descriptions of the section known as Hells Kitchen are amazing and his detail of the city and hardships t...more
I read this book for a class, but really enjoyed it. It's by the author of The Godfather, Mario Puzo, but this was the book that he wrote before his more well-known work. Puzo, as well as critics, generally cite this work as his best work, although it never achieved the same popularity.
This book traces the life of a first-generation Italian immigrant mother and her American-born children in New York City.
It is interesting, though-provoking, engaging and you really feel like you are a part of th...more
This book traces the life of a first-generation Italian immigrant mother and her American-born children in New York City.
It is interesting, though-provoking, engaging and you really feel like you are a part of th...more
Jan 02, 2012
Elizabeth (Alaska)
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
rwswinter11-12,
kindle
This is the story of an Italian immigrant family in New YorkCity, late 20s to WWII. They are a poor family, living in the tenements on 10th Avenue, near the railroad yards. A good story told by a good story-teller, perhaps not brilliantly written, but written to entertain.
This was fascinating to me as much for the time and setting as anything. I have never been to New York, unlikely ever to go, as a matter of fact. And so it added to my knowledge, which I appreciated.
This is another borderline...more
This was fascinating to me as much for the time and setting as anything. I have never been to New York, unlikely ever to go, as a matter of fact. And so it added to my knowledge, which I appreciated.
This is another borderline...more
I liked the portrayal of the time and Hell's Kitchen - the Italian immigrant story - and as the great-grand daughter of a woman whose husband died shortly after she immigrated to the US so she quickly married a fellow immigrant to give her sons a father and supporter - I understand it.
I am just not a big Mario Puzo fan. Never really got the Godfather books, didn't see the romance or glamour of them - but I did like the way the women (at least the mom, daughter and godmother) are described and p...more
I am just not a big Mario Puzo fan. Never really got the Godfather books, didn't see the romance or glamour of them - but I did like the way the women (at least the mom, daughter and godmother) are described and p...more
I felt like the character development took over the book. The characters could have been much more interesting IF they had more interaction w/ each other and others. THey seemed like they were meant to be interesting...but it all came off a bit fragmented. Plus, it is never a good thing - in my opinion - when you reach the end of a novel and realize, "oh, so that was the climax?"... The story just seemed to amble along...lots of conflicts, but the overall BIG conflict of an immigrant living in p...more
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I cannot believe my mother allowed me to read The Godfather when I was only 14 years old. The book was published in 1969 and the movie came out in 1972. I recall the horrific violence (the book was even worse than the movie) but I remember loving them both. I was also reading and viewing A Clockwork Orange around this time. And I can't forget Bonnie and Clyde. The bad thing is they all glamorized violence. Made it sexy.
I recently heard about this book on NPR where it was hailed as the quintessen...more
I recently heard about this book on NPR where it was hailed as the quintessen...more
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I believe this is one of the best books I have read in a long time. Puzo takes us on the journey of a mother who came to American from Italy with a husband she barely knew. The journey is her caring for and raising her children in NY. The stereotypes and prejudices were strong back then even between the Italians themselves. The struggles she endured in trying to keep her family together after her husband dies and her second husband goes crazy.
She is a strong, powerful woman that endured...more
I believe this is one of the best books I have read in a long time. Puzo takes us on the journey of a mother who came to American from Italy with a husband she barely knew. The journey is her caring for and raising her children in NY. The stereotypes and prejudices were strong back then even between the Italians themselves. The struggles she endured in trying to keep her family together after her husband dies and her second husband goes crazy.
She is a strong, powerful woman that endured...more
Pros: Very well-written, paints a nice picture of growing up poor in 19201950 New York City as Italian immigrants and first generation. Describes in detail the ultimate goal of moving out of the tenements in the city to a real house in Long Island.
Cons: not a terribly engrossing story, not a lot of building conflict. Reads much more like a family history than a novel. Has been described as Puzo's best novel. I don't see it that way.
Cons: not a terribly engrossing story, not a lot of building conflict. Reads much more like a family history than a novel. Has been described as Puzo's best novel. I don't see it that way.
Absolutely one of my most favorite books ever.
Semi-autobiographical fictional (you know what I mean) account of Mario Puzo's mother's experience as an Italian American immigrant in New York in the beginning of the 20th century. Essential read for those interested in Italian American history or immigrant history. Puzo later wrote the Godfather using his mother as part of his inspiration for Don Corleone (eek!).
Semi-autobiographical fictional (you know what I mean) account of Mario Puzo's mother's experience as an Italian American immigrant in New York in the beginning of the 20th century. Essential read for those interested in Italian American history or immigrant history. Puzo later wrote the Godfather using his mother as part of his inspiration for Don Corleone (eek!).
What a treasure to find! It's Puzo's voice in a new environment. I loved these characters, so believable. You feel like you live in the family. His details are so rich he can really paint a world, oily pastas sauce smells and the clatter of family and dishes in a tiny apartment, you fall into it. I liked seeing their struggle and success. Plus it was interesting to see NYC before it was cleaned up.
I adore Mario Puzo's work, adore it! He's one of my favourite authors. I know Mr Puzo considered this is finest work but unfortunately, I didn't really feel it.
I know it's basically a snippet of Italian immigrant life in Little Italy, New York, America and it was a VERY personal story for the author (it's based primarily on his mother's life), but without a plot driven story, I found my interest waning.
I still got a huge thrill from Mr Puzo's rich prose and I'm glad I finally added it to my co...more
I know it's basically a snippet of Italian immigrant life in Little Italy, New York, America and it was a VERY personal story for the author (it's based primarily on his mother's life), but without a plot driven story, I found my interest waning.
I still got a huge thrill from Mr Puzo's rich prose and I'm glad I finally added it to my co...more
So far I am pleasantly surprised. I am teaching this book in my Women's Literature class and this is the story of an Italian woman and her struggles living in NYC. The imagery and language in the book is what keeps you reading. It flows beautifully, and the relationship between Lucia and Octavia is reminiscent of most mother-daughter relationships. One of the better books I have taught in my class this year, and many of the students have really enjoyed it. Lucai is a strong character throughout,...more
Puzo once said that one of his biggest disappointments was that The Godfather gained much more popularity than The Fortunate Pilgrim. This was his best book according to him. And as a person who has read both, I would have to agree. A book about an italian immigrant family in america; a book that portrays both 'the tenderness of love and gut wrenching sorrow of grief and regret'.
Like most everyone else, the only books I had read of Mario Puzo were the Godfather series. I liked this story even more than those. This is novel is written about Italian immigrant life in the United States in the 1920's and 1930's. The author himself says that it is autobiographical in nature. The characters are incredible and the story moving. I recommend this one.
Mario Puzo is the master of the strangely enthralling read. His prose is straight-forward and clear, but full of emotion--an offshoot of his Italian heritage? This has the same beautiful writing of the Godfather, but with a stronger family focus, and with Lucia Santa as an effective Godfather stand-in. Great glimpse of Italian-Americans in the early 20th century.
I really loved this book. I haven't read any of the Godfather books and came across it by chance. The characters are so fully developed and human, the family so flawed yet normal. It was a slice of life where I kept waiting for the standard, expected plot twists or surprises but they never came. It was beautifully written and I truly enjoyed Puzo's style. It seemed as though this was written from the heart. Strongly recommended.
This is a classic book on Italian immigration to the USA and is the masterpiece of Mario Puzo. Puzo is known for his book of Italian-American crime called the Godfather. I have read many books on Italian immigration and this book is a stand out for me and remains with me decades after I read it.
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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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