A novel becomes nothing short of a masterpiece when the word godfather brings the image of Vito and Michael Corleone(or Marlon Brando and Al Pacino for that matter) in mind, and the term mafia becomes synonymous with the Corleone family.
The Godfather is a story about a formidable and scrupulous Don Vito Corleone and his family, and the circumstances in which his reluctant youngest son Michael takes over the reins when the family is on the verge of losing its clout.
Such is the writing genius of Mario Puzo, that the characters feel like real people or real mafia families, well known to him. His vivid imagination, attention to detail and extensive research on organized crime carved a perfect story with iconic characters. I liked Puzo's style of telling the back story of his characters that serve the purpose of building their fine character arc over the course of the story.
After reading the novel and watching the movie, I can say that both mediums compliment each other. While the novel gives birth to the riveting gangster saga, the movie brings the legendry characters to life. Francis Ford Coppola has done praiseworthy justice to the story by not only incorporating its essence but also the iconic dialogues. The movie's USP is its tight screenplay and the finest performances by legendry Marlon Brando and Al Pacino. On the other hand, the novel has the edge in outlining the finer details of the story, thus allowing the readers enjoy the amazing transformation of the characters and also keeping them on the edge of their seat.
