The Godfather Returns

A Novel

By: Mark Winegardner

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 20 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

Thirty-five years ago, Mario Puzo's great American tale, The Godfather, was published, and popular culture was indelibly changed. Now, in The Godfather Returns, acclaimed novelist Mark Winegardner continues the story, the years not covered in Puzo's best-selling book or in Francis Ford Coppola's classic films.

It is 1955. Michael Corleone has won a bloody victory in the war among New York's crime families. Now he wants to consolidate his power, save his marriage, and take his family into legitimate businesses. To do so, he must confront his most dangerous adversary yet, Nick Geraci, a former boxer who worked his way through law school as a Corleone street enforcer, and who is every bit as deadly and cunning as Michael. Their personal cold war will run from 1955 to 1962, exerting immense influence on the lives of America's most powerful criminals and their loved ones.

Sweeping from New York and Washington to Las Vegas and Cuba, The Godfather Returns is the spellbinding story of America's criminal underworld at mid-century and its intersection with the political, legal, and entertainment empires. Mark Winegardner brings an original voice and vision to Mario Puzo's mythic characters while creating several equally unforgettable characters of his own. The Godfather Returns stands on its own as a triumph in a tale about what we love, yearn for, and sometimes have reason to fear...family.

©2004 The Estate of Mario Puzo (P)2004 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"The Godfather Returns is not only a real book by a real writer. It's also a real pleasure, a fine swirling epic: bitter, touching, funny, and true." (The New York Times Book Review)
"A phenomenally entertaining, psychologically rich saga that spans the entire Godfather years imagined in novel and film by Mario Puzo....A wholly absorbing novel that's written beautifully, with great skill and passion. Godfather fans will love this tale." (Publishers Weeekly)

Puzo lives

What a blast from the past, and literally too! Winegardner takes us back through bits of the lives of our favourite Mafia clan, and even though it is 30 years or so since I read the original it was just like reliving it again (or maybe one of the movies). Altogether an enjoyable day or two spent reading "whatever became of...?"

The Godfather Returns

I can honestly say that I never thought that it was not Puzo writing, the book was seamless in its follow through and carried out to a satisfactory ending, although I wish it was still continnuing. Winegardners writing leaves one with the feeling that the characters were alive and real.

Godfather Returns

Great read. Continues where Godfather by Mario Puzo stops. Answers a lot of questions. I could not stop listening, moves fast.

In Good Hands

Puzo can rest easily, the Godfather Saga is now in the very capable hands of Mark Winegardner. He did a brilliant job fleshing out our favorite characters from Puzoland. An extremely satisfying read, I was sorry when it was over. Kudos to Scott Brick for another masterful narration.

Still a Classic....

The Godfather Returns isn't quite as good as the original, but this is still a classic nevertheless. A must-read and a must listen. Winegardener does a great job in continuing where the first Godfather book left off and this version does certainly explains some of the details that the movie does not go into. In fact, if they wanted they could probably come up with another movie with all of the plot lines that the movies left out. The narration is superb and in general, I would certainly recommend this book for anyone, who enjoys any of the material pertaining to the Godafather Saga!!! My only complaint... I wish the music from the movies' soundtrack with present somewhere on the audio file.

Like the Original

It may not be Puzo, but the rhythm and style of the storytelling sure is similar. The plot has all the depth of the original 'Godfather' and covers all the events that the first books stayed away from.

disappointing

I saw other reviews from people just brimming with praise about how similar the writing is to Mario Puzo''s original.
I don't know what they listened to but it couldn't be this.
He wasn't true to the original characters, not the literary style.
He portrayed the Corleone's as a dysfunctional supporting cast rather than the center of the story .

Agonizingly lush

Stephen King says that the road to hell is paved with adverbs. GR is a good example of that principal in action. No detail is left to chance. Every scene is written in excruciating detail, all thoughts and motivations are explored ad nauseum in truly insipid dialogues. Every decriptive sentence (and there are so, so many) flatten out the characters just a little more. The mystery of the semi-hidden personal forces that drove the characters in the Godfather is completely stripped away. So earnestly are you asked to believe in these characters, spending the hours it takes to make it through the book is akin to spending several hours sparring with an aggressive telemarketer or your cousin who is trying to get you signed up with Amway.

In short, I didn't care for it much. Mario Puzo himself had a very sketchy time writing sequels (of a sort) to the Godfather. Mr. Weingartner certainly didn't succeed where he had trouble.

what a pleasant surprise

heard the auther won an open contest and he is is worthy of the win. enjoyed the book throughout. look forward to reading him in the future.

The story continues

Loved it, I wish the narrator was more expressive with different men's voices. Great read for those curious about the next part of the saga.