One of the things I enjoy most about this blog series is adding must-reads to my list. I've watched The Godfather many times, but never considered reading the novel; now I will. Read on to discover how Mario Puzo's bestseller was a literary inspiration for my guest J. H. Bográn.
How I Met The Godfather
By J. H. Bográn
The first time I read The Godfather I
was a teenager who’d never sat through the movies because I found them boring.
The book however, proved more influential in both my writing and my personal
life. And no, I don’t mean I leave stallion heads on people’s beds.
The Godfather “the novel” follows the
life, death, passions and deals of the Corleone Family, particularly its first
Don, Vito Corleone. It opens with three people in dire situations and coming to
the conclusions that they need the help of Vito Corleone to resolve them. Don
Vito sees to his friends' problems. Later in the novel we see the passing of
power to the next generation, and Michael later making the hard decisions that
would preserve the family's honor and respect.
I read and reread the book several
times. Sometimes I'd take it and search for a specific scene, such as when Tom
Hagen must tell his Don about the murder of Sonny Corleone. That exchange in
particular is one of my favorites. The other one is when Michael removes Tom
Hagen from the post of "consigliore."
The Godfather was the first novel
that captivated me from start to finish, the first book to leave me wondering
about the characters for a long time after I finished reading the book.
During the opening of Kill Bill Vol.1
appears a saying: "Revenge is a dish best served cold." It is
attributed as an old Klingon Proverb. Knowing that the phrase had entered pop
culture from The Godfather--book and movies--, I didn't like it. But I let it
slide because Kill Bill is such a great movie.
So, from me to you, here's my offer
that you can't refuse: Add this classic novel to your summer reading list. You
won't regret it.
Writers Guild and the International Thriller Writers where
he also serves
Thrill.
Labels: #TheGodfather #thrillers #mysteries #literaryinspirations #films #MarioPuzo #
