Best books by Mario Puzo
Crime books about the Italian Mafia are always a good read. They unveil suspenseful dynamics between criminal organizations with complex characters and an intriguing story line. Mario Puzo is especially famous for his Italian crime novels like The Godfather.
Gangsters, the Mafia, New York, and Sicily all come to mind when you think of author Mario Puzo. The writer offers valuable insight into the world of criminal organizations.
Let’s get into who Mario Puzo is and the best books he’s written.
Who is Mario Puzo?
Mario Puzo is an American author. He was famous for his best-selling books on the Italian mafia and crime fiction stories. Many know him as the author of The Godfather.
Mario Puzo was the son of Italian immigrants and was born on October 15, 1920 in Hell’s Kitchen, New York. From a young age, he began reading and writing.
Mario Puzo continued taking classes in creative writing after World War II. He published his first novel, The Dark Arena, in 1955. In 1969, he published The Godfather which became his greatest best-seller.
The director and screenwriter Francis Ford Coppola made the work into a Hollywood movie. Starring legendary actors Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, it also won several Academy Awards. Soon, The Godfather had become a household name.
The author lived with his companion Carol Gino until his death in 1999.
The best Mario Puzo books
The best books by Mario Puzo revolve around Italian-American characters. His works are crime novels that explore the hidden relations behind influential crime families. Many of his books are set in Italy, Sicily, and America. The books explore themes like loyalty, legacy, power, society, and family relations.
The Godfather
The Godfather is a classic crime novel. It follows the family relationships in the Corleone Mafia family. The novel tells the story of Don Vito Corleone and later Michael Corleone. The family navigates the world of organized crime and tries to maintain their family traditions.
It has an exciting plot and a set of vivid characters. The Godfather remains one of the most beloved 20th-century novels.
Omerta
Omerta is a thrilling novel by Mario Puzo that focuses on the Sicilian code of silence called “omerta.” The central character is Raymond Aprile, whose life is explored as he deals with his legacy and mortality.
The novel is fast-paced and features complex characters, typical of Puzo’s writing. This one also contains lots of reflection by the main character, as well as action and amazing storytelling.
The Family
The Family is a novel that tells the story of an Italian-American crime family. It explores the dangers that exist in the criminal underground and focuses on family relations.
Many generations come together here for a riveting plot and exploration of loyalty and family ties.
The Last Don
In The Last Don, Mario Puzo tells the story of a powerful Mafia family. They deal with a difficult transition as the last remaining member chooses a successor. The book focuses on the idea of legacy, which is a key theme in many Mafia stories.
The Fourth K
The Fourth K is a novel by Mario Puzo about a U.S. president who is struggling with both his personal life and his duties to the nation. The story explores themes of corruption and relationships between individuals and institutions.
Fools Die
Fools Die is a novel by Mario Puzo that takes readers into the thrilling and dangerous world of Las Vegas casinos. The story follows the struggling writer Merlyn. He becomes fascinated with the gambling world inside Las Vegas.
The Dark Arena
Mario Puzo’s first novel, The Dark Arena, explores post-World War II Germany. A young American soldier navigates the difficult and dangerous world of Berlin and Munich.
The Fortunate Pilgrim
By now, you’ve noticed that Mario Puzo’s novels tend to be crime fiction. The Fortunate Pilgrim is a personal novel. It draws on Mario Puzo’s own experiences growing up in a working-class Italian-American family in New York City.
The Fortunate Pilgrim is not nonfiction, but it still has real-life inspiration.
The Runaway Summer of Davie Shaw
This is a coming-of-age novel. Here, Mario Puzo tells the story of Davie Shaw, a young boy who spends a summer on a farm in upstate New York. He learns important lessons about love, loss, and hardships of the adult world.
Listen to Mario Puzo’s work on Speechify Audiobooks
Speechify is a great place to listen to Mario Puzo’s works and other great thrilling novels. With Speechify, you can listen to audiobooks such as The Last Don and Six Graves to Munich on the go with adjustable playback speed. At Speechify Audiobooks, you can read your first book for free.
FAQ
What order should I read Mario Puzo books?
There is no specific order to read Mario Puzo’s books, but reading The Godfather first is recommended as it is his most popular work and serves as a good introduction to his writing style.
Is it worth reading The Sicilian?
The Sicilian is worth reading for fans of Mario Puzo’s work. It expands on the character of Salvatore Giuliano, who is featured in The Godfather. The initial book reviews were mixed but later, it is considered a classic work.
What is Mario Puzo known for?
Mario Puzo is known for his novels that explore the world of crime and the complex relationships and dynamics that exist within it.
What is the best book by Mario Puzo?
The Godfather is widely considered to be Mario Puzo’s best book. Many consider it a masterpiece of storytelling. He wrote The Making of the Godfather as well, explaining the complex process.
Who starred in the movie of The Godfather?
The Godfather starred Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, and James Caan, among others. Many consider it to be one of the greatest movies of all time.