Decoding a classic

I am not a dumbhead trying to review a classic that was published 10 years before I was born and that has been inspiring generations of writers and film makers to come up with interpretations galore- yes, the book I am referring to is nothing but the father of crime fiction genre- The Godfather by Mario Puzo. I have been toying with the idea of reading this one for years together. I did try a couple of times earlier as well but could not complete it since the flow was not there. Reading through a very visual narrative style used to take me to the world of the Corleons- I used to imagine that I was living in the same mall on Long Island, NY where the whole story was unfolding. I was Sonny sometimes, Johny sometimes and Mike sometime else. That is the sheer power of Puzo's writing- his plot engulfs you into it without you even realizing it! It is not about just one character- it is about a generation of people who influenced the country they were living in and thus somewhere it becomes the story of a country that is the United States of America post the second World War and the massive destruction and confusion it caused. It is precisely for this reason that the novel stands out. Its vast canvas and wide variety of characters and how the author justifies and gives a strong background to each and every character is what enhances the beauty of the plot! If it is about wielding massive power justifiably like Don Corleone on the one hand, it is also a coming of age story as in the case of Michael Corleone. As far as Johny Fontane is concerned, it tells us how bad it is to get carried away by fame and fortune and by forgetting one's basics. Sonny suffers due to misuse of power and a bad temper while Freddy thinks through his balls and not his brains. We also have Tom Hagen who is forever indebted to the family that gave him life and shows his gratitude throughout. Carlo Rizzi is punished for being untruthful, so is Tessio for forgetting his past. Kay Adams gets rewarded for her undying love while Connie suffers on account of her foolishness. The silent sufferer is epitomized by Mama Corleone. The sheer variety of characters and the wide gamut of emotions and relatable situations that they go through keeps this larger than life drama close to reality and that probably is the reason why the Godfather turned out to be a classic read and re read by a generation! The word "Mafia" became common place thanks to Puzo and whatever anyone would say, there is no denying the fact that the Godfather has at least a handful of characters a reader can reconcile with. No wonder, this one has stood the test of time. I think I should grab a copy of Francis Ford Coppola's screen adaptation of the book starring that majestic Marlon Brando and ever dependable Al Pacino. Will shoot out my thoughts after I watch the movie!