Omerta

Rating:
Summary: 5 Stars
Review: Nothing can match THE GODFATHER, but I liked OMERTA. It's Puzo doing what he does best: making you, emotionally, such a part of a gangster organization, that you actually sympathize with them. They are corrupt, but within that corruption, have a code they live by. And that is, perversely, admirable in a way. Talk about cultural relativism! Anyway, this was probably the best thriller-read I've had since Craig Furrnas' THE SHAPE. Puzo was one of my favorite novelists (he was a gent himself, which made it that much easier to like his writing), and I was truly saddened when he died. Even if you're waffling about buying this book, I recommend you do, because, sadly, there ain't gonna be no more Puzo books after this one.

Rating:
Summary: The Last Novel of The Don of Mafia Writing
Review: I like novels like this one. It has all the elements that one could hope for in a novel. It has depth; is easy to follow; and can be done in a couple of sittings. I did not think The Last Don was as good as The Godfather, and I expected Omerta to be worse than The Last Don. Yet, this new tale of Mafia Suspense rivals The Godfather in twists, turns, and can't-put-it-down suspense. The language is VERY easy to read. I had no problem progressing even after a hard day at work. You don't really have to think about much; it is all there for you. The story is excellent. The plot seems like it took a long time to write out, and it is worthy of an author like Puzo. The progression of the Character development is the only problem that the book runs across. A few of the characters are not explained well, and this is mostly because there are just so many characters in the book. After reading the book, I cannot safely say that I know the motives surrounding any of the characters. I think this is kind of a good thing, though; it leaves much of the character/motives to be interpeted and inferred by the reader's own mind. If the characters were explained better, I am certain that the book would be too simplistic. I would definetly reccommend this book to anyone, as it is an easy romp of a read. And don't be suprised if you get a little bit of a Scicilian accent by the end of the novel.

Rating:
Summary: Omerta
Review: This book reads more like an outline than a novel.The characters are scketchy at best and the story is very weak.It was as if Mr.Puzo knew he was running out of time and couldn't flesh out the book.Someone should take the book and finish it and it might be a passable novel.Save your money wait for the movie.It might be the only time a movie is more developed than the book.

Rating:
Summary: A ghost writer wrote the ending after Puzo's death
Review: I am a true fan of Puzo, and have read all of his books and enjoyed them, Fools Die, being the weakest to date, but Omerta built up superbly and was a great let down. I agree w/ another reviewer, things fit too well in the end. Also,the was no way possible Astorre could have planned the end to be as cute as it was. It ended like a made for tv movie.

Rating:
Summary: Very good but a bit short ...
Review: As an avid fan of all the Godfather movies/book, The Last Don etc I was thrilled to see the newest Mario Puzo book. The book is exciting and attention grabbing but I could not help but wonder why is seemed so short? There seems to be less violence and more action in this title. Some characters were nicely developed and others seemed under developed. I found it easy to get through and interesting to read. I was also left wanting more ...

Rating:
Summary: Always a Great Read
Review: Puzo did it again! This final volume lives up to all of my expecations, filled with as much great writing, color, and excitement as every one of the master's earlier books. The only book I have read this Summer that I enjoyed as much -- and that made me laugh as well as think -- is Maria Laurino's "Were You Always an Italian?" I'm recommending them both to all my friends.

Rating:
Summary: May his soul rest in peace, this is not a very good book
Review: Instead of living up to the great standard set by The Godfather and The Last Don, Puzo's last novel belongs closer on his resume to wacky, unfeasibly over-the-top stories like The Fourth K. For starters, Omerta is WAAAAAY too short. Most details and background are glossed over or even completely skipped. This book might as well be titled "Omita." When I finished, I peeked inside my copy of The Godfather and was amazed at how much more type I saw, how small it was and how cramped together it was, not to mention the 100 or so more pages. Secondly, Omerta is very contradictory in its portrayal of the modern Mafia. At first we are to believe it is in shambles, yet the the two surving families seemingly have an endless arsenal of money and soldiers. It's a far too romantic view of organized crime in the 1990s, not only in America but in Italy as well. Plus, everything in the story fit together too neatly and conflicts were too easily solved by Astorre. I don't know if a movie or miniseries is planned for Omerta, but if they can't make it better than the book, I hope they don't even bother.

Rating:
Summary: Unfortunately the last Puzo...
Review: I've read everything written from Mario Puzo (including The Godfather, The Last Don, and Fools Die) and I am very sorry to say that his last wasn't close to the same league of his other novels. It seems rushed at the end, and while the lean meat of the characters are there (and they are fascinating, vintage Puzo) they aren't nearly as fleshed out as you want them to be. I put down the book fairly unsatisfied. That being said, even his mediocre writing is better than most people's best efforts, and its definitely worth a read.

Rating:
Summary: OMERTA
Review: Mario Puzo is back! In his greatest work since The Gofather, Mario Puzo tells a griping story of how a true MAFIOSO digs into his vast resoures to secure his familys holdings and future. No one can tell quite a story on the Mafia as can Mario Puzo. Although Fiction, Mario Puzo's unbelievable accuracy on how the Old Mafia conducted their business, OMERTA, is truly a masterpiece of work.

Rating:
Summary: Needed a good editor and rewrite
Review: After Mario Puzo died, he left Omerta as an unfinished novel. It is given to us in a largely unfinished form. With lots of inconsistencies and repetitive phrases, the book could have been at least polished by a good editor. The estate would have been well served to have hired a writer to develop the characters, now just flat 2-dimensional caricatures. The plotting is servicable and at times quite exciting. The novel could have lived up to promise had Puzo been alive.