The Godfather, novel by Mario Puzo, published in 1969, which became one of the

most successful fiction books ever—selling some 21 million copies worldwide,

spawning three critically and financially successful motion pictures, and placing its
characters into the contemporary American cultural mythology. Although Puzo had no
personal knowledge of organized crime, thorough research gave him the details he
needed for his chronicle of a fictional Mafia family, the Corleones.
Puzo collaborated with director Francis Ford Coppola on the screenplay of The
Godfather (1972) and its two sequels (1974 and 1990). The first two won
nine Academy Awards, including best picture and best screenplay Oscars for each.

Summary
I will describe the plot of the book a little, without telling important spoilers
Vito Corleone grew up in Sicily. His father died and he escaped with his life. They
call Vito the Don, or the Godfather. If you need true help, where do you go? Nothing
exists outside the laws of our land. Except the law of the Godfather, and his law of
power, and money, and business.

Vito loves his sons. They mean essence of life to him. Vito grows old. He gets shot
several times and lands in a hospital bed. The family strives to keep and protect in this
war of mob families. Sonny Corleone, the Godfather’s eldest son takes over interim.
Will they protect from losses? Will they further the family business in the time of
testing and vulnerability? The plot begins here, and leads to blood, deception and the
smell of gun-smoke trailing a highway for the Angel of Death.

Characters

there are a lot of characters in this book, so the ones presented are far from everything.
Vito Corleone
Vito Andolini Corleone is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's novel The
Godfather and in the first two of Francis Ford Coppola's film trilogy. He is the leader
of the Corleone crime family, as well as the patriarch of the Corleone family.

Carmela Corleone
She is the wife of Vito Corleone and the mother of Sonny, Fredo, Michael and Connie
Corleone, and the adoptive mother of Tom Hagen.

Santino "Sonny" Corleone

He is the oldest son of the Vito and Carmela Corleone. He has two brothers, Fredo
and Michael, and a sister, Connie.

Fredo Corleone
 He is the second born son of Vito and Carmela Corleone, but is passed over when his
younger brother Michael succeeds their father as head of the family due to Fredo's
incompetence.

Michael Corleone
He is the third son of Vito and Carmela Corleone. His journey from family outsider to
ruthless Mafia boss and eventual redemption is the central focus of the novel and the
films.

Connie Corleone
Connie is the only daughter and youngest child of Vito and Carmela Corleone. he first
film and novel begins with her marriage to her abusive husband, Carlo Rizzi. After
her husband's murder is arranged by her brother, Michael, she becomes estranged
from her family. She eventually becomes one of Michael's closest allies.

Tom Hagen
He is a consigliere and lawyer for the Corleone crime family. He is also an informally
adopted member of the Corleone family.

I don't really like to read, but I liked this particular book. I can say that it is written
very interestingly for me. It was my first book, which was about the mafia and
gangsters. It very vividly describes post-war America, the whole criminal world,
which was hiding from prying eyes. It was exciting to read about various showdowns,
revenge and the change of some characters, both for good and for bad.
If you want to read the Godfather, then everything is written there quite easily,
although there are many different Italian names, but everything is described in detail
and translated in footnotes. In addition, it's easy to get confused in the characters at
the beginning, but you get used to it over time.
Some Facts

1. The novel is based on a group of real-life Mafia figures in New York.

2. The original draft of The Godfather was 744 pages long.

3. Don Corleone, the head of the Mafia family, was based on Puzo's own mother.
4. According to Forbes magazine, the book has earned more than $160 million.
5. The Corleone family is surname means “Lionheart” in Italian.