BOOK REVIEW- THE SICILIAN

Long time since I wrote a book review. This time too, its one of Mario Puzo’s books- The Sicilian (the first one was his ‘The Godfather’). I never cease to wonder at his knowledge about the Mafia. Maybe he fantasized them. This book can actually be taken as a sub-plot in ‘The Godfather’. I say so because the major characters in the former book make their presence felt in this book, namely, Michael Corleone, Peter Clemenza and The Don- Vito Corleone himself. But they aren’t the characters around which the book is centered.

Those credits go to the following characters,

1. Salvatore ‘Turi’ Guiliano,
2. Aspanu Pisciotta,
3. Don Croce,
4. Professor Hector Adonis,
5. Stefano Andolini- Fra Diavalo ( Brother Devil),
6. Terranova,
7. Passatrmpo,
8. Canio Silvestro,
9. The Abbot- Manfredi,
10. Justina,
11. La Venera,
12. Maria Lombardo,
13. Inspector Velardi,

14. Minister Trezza

And many more.

The story revolves around the life of Salvatore Guiliano, also known as Turi. It’s about how Turi grew from being a good natured kid to a feared bandit, A Sicilian Robin Hood. He and his chiefs- Aspanu, Andolini, Terranova, Passatempo and Silvestro loot the rich and feed the poor. Although some of his chiefs had views that were different from his, he was able to command respect from them.

Don Croce, the head of The Friends of the Friends (an organization of all the mafia groups) commanded the 6 local mafia chiefs, namely, Don Siano from Bisacquino, Don Arzana of Piani dei Greci, Don Piddu of Caltanissetta, Don Marcuzzi of Villamura, Don Bucilla of Partinico and Guido Quintana of Montelepre.

The author shows his mettle by showing a crystal clear picture of Sicilian ways of life, their peoples’ nature during the end of WWII. The realistic description of the towns, the terrain surrounding them, the mountains etc. make the book even more interesting.

The Don and Turi aren’t on the best of terms to start with. But later they combine forces but Turi is tricked by the Don. Finally, Turi is forced to leave Sicily for America. Michael comes into the scene to help Turi out of Sicily. The author introduces Michael as the son of Vito Corleone, who had murdered a Police Chief in his homeland and was in Sicily to escape the wrath of the other Families of America.

This, we remember as the storyline of ‘The Godfather’.

Treachery, loyalty, love and affection form the crux of the book. I put treachery first because it was to be the final undoing for Turi. The end is tragic- Guiliano dies, killed by his cousin/ best friend/ second-in-command, Aspanu.

Overall the book is very good, but second only to The Godfather (as of now, because I haven’t read The Last Don)

The book is so famous it finds itself in the wikipaedia. Chk out the link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sicilian

As in the case of The Godfather, The Sicilian too was made as a movie.

For details of the movie visit the below link.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093966/

The cast of the film.

Christopher Lambert ... Salvatore Giuliano

Terence Stamp ... Prince Borsa

Joss Ackland ... Don Masino Croce

John Turturro ... Pisciotta

Richard Bauer ... Hector Adonis

Barbara Sukowa ... Camilla, Duchess of Crotone

Giulia Boschi ... Giovanna Ferra

Ray McAnally ... Trezza

Barry Miller ... Dr. Nattore

Andreas Katsulas ... Passatempa

Michael Wincott ... Cpl. Silvestro Canio

Derrick Branche ... Terranova

Richard Venture ... Cardinal of Palermo

Ramon Bieri ... Quintana

Stanko Molnar ... Silvio Ferra

See u later with another review...bye.