Listen free for 30 days
-
The Godfather
- 50th Anniversary Edition
- Narrated by: Joe Mantegna, Anthony Puzo, Angelo Di Loreto
- Length: 18 hrs and 48 mins
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wish list failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
The Godfather
Buy Now for $4.99
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Buy it with
-
Jurassic Park
- A Novel
- Written by: Michael Crichton
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 15 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 1,476
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 1,306
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 1,304
An astonishing technique for recovering and cloning dinosaur DNA has been discovered. Now humankind’s most thrilling fantasies have come true. Creatures extinct for eons roam Jurassic Park with their awesome presence and profound mystery, and all the world can visit them - for a price.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
You will love it
- By Cameron Britton on 2018-07-14
Written by: Michael Crichton
-
Omerta
- A Novel
- Written by: Mario Puzo
- Narrated by: Michael Imperioli
- Length: 8 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 21
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 20
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 20
To Don Raymonde Aprile’s children, he was a loyal family member, their father’s adopted “nephew.” To the FBI he was a man who would rather ride his horses than do Mob business. No one knew why Aprile, the last great American don, had adopted Astorre Viola many years before in Sicily; no one suspected how he had carefully trained him...and how, while the don’s children claimed respectable careers in America, Astorre Viola waited for his time to come.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Big fan if Michael Imperioli.
- By Robbie on 2021-09-26
Written by: Mario Puzo
-
The Godfather Returns
- A Novel
- Written by: Mark Winegardner
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 20 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall3.5 out of 5 stars 7
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 7
-
Story3.5 out of 5 stars 7
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.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Great Side Character Development
- By Kat W on 2021-05-28
Written by: Mark Winegardner
-
The Complete Sherlock Holmes
- The Heirloom Collection
- Written by: Arthur Conan Doyle
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 58 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 86
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 81
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 82
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes tales are rightly ranked among the seminal works of mystery and detective fiction. Included in this collection are all four full-length Holmes novels and more than forty short masterpieces - from the inaugural adventure A Study in Scarlet to timeless favorites like “The Speckled Band” and more. At the center of each stands the iconic figure of Holmes - brilliant, eccentric, and capable of amazing feats of deductive reasoning.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Excellent Reading of the Sherlock Holmes Canon
- By Gentleman Gamer on 2017-09-14
Written by: Arthur Conan Doyle
-
Double Cross
- The Explosive Inside Story of the Mobster Who Controlled America
- Written by: Sam Giancana, Chuck Giancana, Tim Newark - foreword, and others
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
- Length: 13 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 26
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 22
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 21
One of the most feared Chicago mobsters, Sam Giancana, clawed his way to the top of the Mafia hierarchy by starting as a hit man for Al Capone. He was known as one of the best vehicle escape artists, a tenacious business man, and a ruthless killer. He partied with major stars such as Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe and did business with agents ranging from the CIA to the Vatican to the shah of Iran. When politician Joe Kennedy gave Giancana the chance to use mob muscle to get his son John elected, Giancana jumped at the task.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great Listen
- By Anonymous User on 2022-07-22
Written by: Sam Giancana, and others
-
Wiseguy
- Written by: Nicholas Pileggi, Martin Scorsese - introduction
- Narrated by: Ari Fliakos, Corey Brill, Hillary Huber, and others
- Length: 8 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 74
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 63
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 63
This is the true crime best seller that was the basis for Martin Scorsese’s film masterpiece GoodFellas, which brought to life the violence, the excess, the families, the wives and girlfriends, the drugs, the payoffs, the paybacks, the jail time, and the Feds...with Henry Hill’s crackling narration drawn straight out of Wiseguy and overseeing all the unforgettable action.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
great story
- By P. Chamberlain on 2023-05-04
Written by: Nicholas Pileggi, and others
-
Jurassic Park
- A Novel
- Written by: Michael Crichton
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 15 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 1,476
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 1,306
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 1,304
An astonishing technique for recovering and cloning dinosaur DNA has been discovered. Now humankind’s most thrilling fantasies have come true. Creatures extinct for eons roam Jurassic Park with their awesome presence and profound mystery, and all the world can visit them - for a price.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
You will love it
- By Cameron Britton on 2018-07-14
Written by: Michael Crichton
-
Omerta
- A Novel
- Written by: Mario Puzo
- Narrated by: Michael Imperioli
- Length: 8 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 21
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 20
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 20
To Don Raymonde Aprile’s children, he was a loyal family member, their father’s adopted “nephew.” To the FBI he was a man who would rather ride his horses than do Mob business. No one knew why Aprile, the last great American don, had adopted Astorre Viola many years before in Sicily; no one suspected how he had carefully trained him...and how, while the don’s children claimed respectable careers in America, Astorre Viola waited for his time to come.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Big fan if Michael Imperioli.
- By Robbie on 2021-09-26
Written by: Mario Puzo
-
The Godfather Returns
- A Novel
- Written by: Mark Winegardner
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 20 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall3.5 out of 5 stars 7
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 7
-
Story3.5 out of 5 stars 7
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.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Great Side Character Development
- By Kat W on 2021-05-28
Written by: Mark Winegardner
-
The Complete Sherlock Holmes
- The Heirloom Collection
- Written by: Arthur Conan Doyle
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 58 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 86
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 81
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 82
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes tales are rightly ranked among the seminal works of mystery and detective fiction. Included in this collection are all four full-length Holmes novels and more than forty short masterpieces - from the inaugural adventure A Study in Scarlet to timeless favorites like “The Speckled Band” and more. At the center of each stands the iconic figure of Holmes - brilliant, eccentric, and capable of amazing feats of deductive reasoning.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Excellent Reading of the Sherlock Holmes Canon
- By Gentleman Gamer on 2017-09-14
Written by: Arthur Conan Doyle
-
Double Cross
- The Explosive Inside Story of the Mobster Who Controlled America
- Written by: Sam Giancana, Chuck Giancana, Tim Newark - foreword, and others
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
- Length: 13 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 26
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 22
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 21
One of the most feared Chicago mobsters, Sam Giancana, clawed his way to the top of the Mafia hierarchy by starting as a hit man for Al Capone. He was known as one of the best vehicle escape artists, a tenacious business man, and a ruthless killer. He partied with major stars such as Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe and did business with agents ranging from the CIA to the Vatican to the shah of Iran. When politician Joe Kennedy gave Giancana the chance to use mob muscle to get his son John elected, Giancana jumped at the task.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great Listen
- By Anonymous User on 2022-07-22
Written by: Sam Giancana, and others
-
Wiseguy
- Written by: Nicholas Pileggi, Martin Scorsese - introduction
- Narrated by: Ari Fliakos, Corey Brill, Hillary Huber, and others
- Length: 8 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 74
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 63
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 63
This is the true crime best seller that was the basis for Martin Scorsese’s film masterpiece GoodFellas, which brought to life the violence, the excess, the families, the wives and girlfriends, the drugs, the payoffs, the paybacks, the jail time, and the Feds...with Henry Hill’s crackling narration drawn straight out of Wiseguy and overseeing all the unforgettable action.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
great story
- By P. Chamberlain on 2023-05-04
Written by: Nicholas Pileggi, and others
-
Patriot Games
- Written by: Tom Clancy
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 22 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 328
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 289
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 284
It is fall. CIA analyst Jack Ryan, historian and former Marine, is vacationing in London with his wife and young daughter. Suddenly, right before his eyes, a terrorist group launches its deadly attack. Instinctively, he dives forward to break it up, and is shot. It is not until he wakes up in the hospital that he learns whose lives he has saved - the Duke and Duchess of Kent.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
brilliant story, voice work meh
- By Jonathan on 2018-04-28
Written by: Tom Clancy
-
The Last Don
- Written by: Mario Puzo
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
- Length: 18 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 22
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 18
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 18
The last don is Domenico Clericuzio, a wise and ruthless man who is determined to see his heirs established in legitimate society but whose vision is threatened when secrets from the family's past spark a vicious war between two blood cousins. This is a mesmerizing tale that takes us inside the equally corrupt worlds of the mob, the movie industry and the casinos - where beautiful actresses and ruthless hit men are ruled by lust and violence.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
The Last (Ditch Attempt at a) Don.
- By Adele Farough on 2019-03-05
Written by: Mario Puzo
-
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
- Written by: Hunter S. Thompson
- Narrated by: Ron McLarty
- Length: 6 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 223
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 187
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 188
In Las Vegas to cover a motorcycle race, Raoul Duke (Thompson) and his attorney Dr. Gonzo (inspired by a friend of Thompson) are quickly diverted to search for the American dream. Their quest is fueled by nearly every drug imaginable and quickly becomes a surreal experience that blurs the line between reality and fantasy. But there is more to this hilarious tale than reckless behavior, for underneath the hallucinogenic facade is a stinging criticism of American greed and consumerism.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Fun Fun Fun AND Totally Tasteless
- By Destry Rides on 2019-09-01
Written by: Hunter S. Thompson
-
The Family Corleone
- Written by: Ed Falco
- Narrated by: Bobby Cannavale
- Length: 14 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 22
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 20
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 20
For Vito Corleone, nothing is more important than his family's future. While his youngest children, Michael, Fredo, and Connie, are in school, unaware of their father's true occupation, and his adopted son Tom Hagen is a college student, he worries most about Sonny, his eldest child. Vito pushes Sonny to be a businessman, but Sonny - 17 years old, impatient, and reckless - wants something else: To follow in his father's footsteps and become a part of the real family business.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
If youre a fan of the Godfather, this is a must!
- By Jim Bag on 2019-09-20
Written by: Ed Falco
-
Casino
- Love and Honor in Las Vegas
- Written by: Nicholas Pileggi
- Narrated by: Ron Leibman, Fred Neumann, Ken Weitzman
- Length: 2 hrs and 51 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 8
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 8
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 8
A real-life story of love and betrayal set in America's favorite playground, Casino is a Mafia tragedy of Shakespearean dimensions, as well as the inside account of just how the mob lost control of the neon money-making machine it created.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
a bad bet on this one.
- By Anonymous User on 2023-05-25
Written by: Nicholas Pileggi
-
The Family
- Written by: Mario Puzo, completed by Carol Gino
- Narrated by: George Guidall
- Length: 14 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 3
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 3
Mario Puzo first answered the question 'What is a family?' with the creation of the Corleones in his landmark best seller The Godfather. Now, 30 years later, Puzo enriches us all with his ultimate vision of the subject: the story of the greatest crime family in Italian history, the Borgias.
Written by: Mario Puzo, and others
-
SPQR
- A History of Ancient Rome
- Written by: Mary Beard
- Narrated by: Phyllida Nash
- Length: 18 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 89
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 77
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 78
In SPQR, world-renowned classicist Mary Beard narrates the unprecedented rise of a civilization that even 2,000 years later still shapes many of our most fundamental assumptions about power, citizenship, responsibility, political violence, empire, luxury, and beauty.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
watch her on tv
- By Mackenzie on 2019-07-12
Written by: Mary Beard
-
Five Families
- The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires
- Written by: Selwyn Raab
- Narrated by: Paul Costanzo
- Length: 33 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 114
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 100
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 99
Genovese, Gambino, Bonnano, Colombo, and Lucchese. For decades these Five Families ruled New York and built the American Mafia (or Cosa Nostra) into an underworld empire. Today, the Mafia is an endangered species, battered and beleaguered by aggressive investigators, incompetent leadership, betrayals, and generational changes that produced violent, unreliable leaders and recruits.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
very long and great history but boring at times
- By Amazon Customer on 2019-01-16
Written by: Selwyn Raab
-
Alive
- The Story of the Andes Survivors
- Written by: Piers Paul Read
- Narrated by: Paul Ansdell
- Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 88
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 78
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 80
On October 12, 1972, a plane carrying a team of young rugby players crashed into the remote, snow-peaked Andes. Out of the 45 original passengers and crew, only 16 made it off the mountain alive. For 10 excruciating weeks, they suffered deprivations beyond imagining, confronting nature head-on at its most furious and inhospitable. And to survive, these men and women not only had to keep their faith; they had to make an impossible decision: Should they eat the flesh of their dead friends?
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Couldn't put it down
- By Bforsyth on 2021-07-14
Written by: Piers Paul Read
-
Fools Die
- Written by: Mario Puzo
- Narrated by: Kristoffer Tabori
- Length: 19 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 4
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 4
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 4
Set within America's golden triangle of corruption and excess—New York, Hollywood, Las Vegas—the novel plunges into the glittering and ruthless worlds of gambling, publishing, and the film industry, where greed, lust, and violence hold sway. As high rollers, hustlers, and scheming manipulators use power, sex, and betrayal to win, the strongest survive—but fools die.
Written by: Mario Puzo
-
Gangster
- A Novel
- Written by: Lorenzo Carcaterra
- Narrated by: Joe Mantegna
- Length: 5 hrs and 48 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 4
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 3
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 3
Love. Violence. Destiny. These powerful themes ricochet through Lorenzo Carcaterra's new novel like bullets from a machine gun. In Gangster, he surpasses even his best-selling Sleepers to create a brutal and brilliant American saga of murder, forgiveness, and redemption.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Exceptional!!!!
- By Aj on 2022-07-27
Written by: Lorenzo Carcaterra
-
The Day of the Jackal
- Written by: Frederick Forsyth
- Narrated by: Simon Prebble
- Length: 13 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 71
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 64
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 62
One of the most celebrated thrillers ever written, The Day of the Jackal is the electrifying story of an anonymous Englishman who in, the spring of 1963, was hired by Colonel Marc Rodin, operations chief of the O.A.S., to assassinate General de Gaulle.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
One of the best
- By Paul S on 2020-11-13
Written by: Frederick Forsyth
Publisher's Summary
50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION - WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION BY FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA
Mario Puzo's classic saga of an American crime family that became a global phenomenon - nominated as one of America's best-loved novels by PBS's The Great American Read.
With its brilliant and brutal portrayal of the Corleone family, The Godfather burned its way into our national consciousness. This unforgettable saga of crime and corruption, passion and loyalty continues to stand the test of time, as the definitive novel of the Mafia underworld.
A #1 New York Times bestseller in 1969, Mario Puzo's epic was turned into the incomparable film of the same name, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. It is the original classic that has been often imitated, but never matched. A tale of family and society, law and order, obedience and rebellion, it reveals the dark passions of human nature played out against a backdrop of the American dream.
With a Note from Anthony Puzo and an Afterword by Robert J. Thompson
More from the same
What listeners love about The Godfather
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Josh D
- 2017-09-18
Great Book That Is Difficult To Put Down
I bought this book because I have never seen The Godfather movies and wanted to understand what all the hype was about. From the moment I began I found it difficult to stop listening. It was a captivating story, which was narrated very well. I am now planning on clearing my schedule this weekend to marathon the movies.
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lakers Fan
- 2018-09-07
Amazing, incredible. Greatness
This is one of the greatest stories ever told. A more in depth look into the greatest movie ever made. Joe Mantegna is a great narrator. Very cool to have someone from the trilogy narrating the story. To me, Godfather 1 And 2 are the greatest movies ever made. There is so much more detail and insight into what’s going on in the characters minds and a lot of unexplored stories. To those that are new to the novel, it’s the first movie with some of the second as well. It’s a must for any fan. Just wonderful.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2018-05-03
Finally got around to this one!
I've always liked the Godfather films, and have been meaning to get around to the book for years. I'm glad I finally did. There are a lot of places where the book filled in holes left by the films, and as good as they were, I think the book has a more satisfying ending than the trilogy of movies.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazoni Customerr
- 2020-07-13
Very good
Would’ve been nice to have a woman read over the female lines instead of hearing a man struggling trying to make his voice feminine. other than that, it was great
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Lexloco
- 2020-05-31
A great story, well performed
For decades, I have loved the first two films, but had never read ( or heard) the book upon which they were based. I enjoyed going to the source; although the structure of the story is different, as are some characters, many of my favourite lines were here.
The reader, one of the characters in the the third film does a great job.
The newly added extras outside of the novel itself are unnecessary and should be skipped.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ben Denison
- 2019-09-13
A must read for lovers of crime fiction
The Godfather exceeded my expectations, and they weren't low to begin with. Puza's writing style makes for a unique and wonderfully detailed story I couldn't get enough of. Joe Mantegna was also an excellent choice to narrate. His accents and pronunciations were perfect. If you love the films do yourself a favor and buy this book!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mohammed E.
- 2019-08-10
A demonstrated classic and must read
I never understood why people were fascinated with the godfather as I couldn't watch the movie so I decided to give it a read and it beat my wildest expectations. Rich narrative, character development and deep insight into Sicilian mafia proved a powerful combination for this master storyteller.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dave tynes
- 2019-08-03
non stop excitement!
loved it, couldn't stop listening. recommended highly looking forward to the other titles in this series.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- dgypsyme
- 2019-04-05
what can I say.
riveting right to the end. great story, great narrator. I didn't want it to end. I hope his other books are as good! I'm hooked!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kelly C
- 2018-12-20
Fantastic!!
This one surprised me in that even though it was 18 hours long, I was never bored!! and Joe Mantegna was the perfect person to perform it. Very well done.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dana
- 2013-10-04
Huge fan of the movie, loved this audiobook!
I have seen The Godfather movies too many times to count. It's part of the lexicon in my family, we quote lines from it all the time in regular conversation. So, I thought this book might be a little boring, just because I already knew the story so well. Not the case! The book adds so much detail to the story that I think I'll be watching the movie again soon in a whole new light. Joe Mantegna does such a wonderful job narrating this story and I'd absolutely recommend his version as opposed to the other full cast version that's out there, especially for people that are really in tune with the movie.
Give it a try!
127 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Richard Delman
- 2012-09-23
One of a kind. A masterpiece.
The book upon which the movie was based, this is an astonishing feat of fiction writing. Most of us have seen the movie, I imagine, but listening to the marvelous Joe Mantegna tell the story lets us know that Mario Puzo wrote all those incredible scenes that Francis Ford Coppola turned into one of the greatest movies of the 20th century. Listening to the book gives us so much more detail about the Corleones and their fellow Mafia families. Of course Coppola had to leave out much of the book in order to make the movie(s). Even through the third movie in the cycle, there is still more enjoyable detail here. It is impossible not to see the faces of Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall and the rest of the actors. In my view, the actors enrich the book. Even when you know what is coming, as in the scene where Michael shoots Solozzo and Captain McCluskey, the background and all the planning that lead up to the scene in the book will just grab your attention and hold it. Very few movies are a match for a great book. This book is so monumental in how it taught us the story of immigrant families and their struggles to adjust to life in the United States that it informs our understanding of many other immigrant stories. Joe Mantegna is so great at this that it is really hard to imagine any other narrator reading it. The feel of New York is also a wonder in Puzo's description of it. You see Don Corleone's opposition to joining the Solozzos and the other families in the drug trade, and you think, how principled he is, not what a monstrous gangster he is. This, again, is a feat of fiction writing that may never be surpassed. Sit back and enjoy one of the finest audiobooks you will ever experience.
111 people found this helpful
-
Overall1 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story1 out of 5 stars
- Lisalovestoshop
- 2020-11-28
They have edited it! Those bastards!
I knew something had changed. I have had this book in my library since Audible began. About a year ago, it would no longer play. They had me delete and redownload. It is now in three parts. And they have changed it! Ex: instead of dont give to one of our paisan, he says don’t give it to congressman Lutico. That is the least of it! Put it back the way it was written originally. Use the original recording too. It was better.
55 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Donna70
- 2013-02-01
What an enjoyable journey.
What made the experience of listening to The Godfather the most enjoyable?
Joe Mantegna was the perfect choice for the narrator for THE GODFATHER. The timbre of his voice, his varied accents were all the perfect additions for the audio version of this novel.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Just as it was when I read this novel as a young mother, Michael Corleone was my favorite character. However, at this point in my life, I found him in many ways to be the most dangerous of the Corleone family. His choices were made out drop grief and need for revenge, while his father made his choices out of a sense of "necessity" or "practicality."
What about Joe Mantegna’s performance did you like?
Mr. Mantegna's performance was so enjoyable by his inflection and interpretation. He did not try to replicate the female voices, but he just softened his voice. This was much more believable than an attempt to use a higher pitch to his voice. I also was pleased that there was only one narrator. This helped the plot to flow naturally.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
A good book is to be savored, not devoured. Especially since I was revisiting this book, I did not want to rush through any part of it.
37 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anon E Mouse
- 2015-04-15
Simply a classic!
One of the best! A truly moving saga that was fantastic even though I had seen the movie. Much better than any of the sequels or imitations.
22 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tinise
- 2017-03-20
Outstanding!!!!
There is not one single aspect about this that I didn't enjoy. I bought the book many years ago but because of busy everyday mom life, I haven't been able to really dive into it. This gave me the chance to do so and I couldn't be happier. The narrator, the story, all of it. Sublime. A thousand times better than the movie and the movie is one of my favorites.
19 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Elizabeth
- 2014-06-08
Good read, great narrator
I was surprised at how much I liked this story since I am not usually interested in gangster stories. However, this was so good I found myself taking a whole new look at the genre.
Joe Mantegna's voice matches perfectly to the story. His character inflections are especially good. He doesn't overdo the accents and yet each character sounds distinctly different which is impressive considering how many characters are in this book.
I found I liked the complexity of the book and felt more sympathy for the characters than I have ever felt for them in the movies.
16 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Null Hypothesis
- 2013-01-08
Solid.
What did you love best about The Godfather?
Having seen the movie first, I came away from the book very impressed with how well Coppola treated the story. Anyone taking the time for the book will come away with greater insight of the characters and setting and will view the theatrical version with greater perspective. A solid story.
16 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ruth
- 2013-10-02
As good as you'd expect
What can you say about this book that hasn't been said?
Joe Mantegna brings this classic to life. It's flawless and wonderful!
15 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jt1976
- 2013-09-29
wow
What made the experience of listening to The Godfather the most enjoyable?
Its like having a movie in your head as you listen made days at work fly by
What did you like best about this story?
Narrator
What about Joe Mantegna’s performance did you like?
The accents and inflections of his voice for different character
Who was the most memorable character of The Godfather and why?
The Don of course
Any additional comments?
More
11 people found this helpful