Link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0099414740/qid=1089445473/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/202-8078361-7458246

By Mario Puzo

After the Godfather I wanted to read more by Puzo.

It seems that the other films came directly from screenplays rather than books.

The publisher subtitled this book "the bestselling sequel to The Godfather". Actually the Godfather characters play a very small part in it - in fact they are sellotaped onto an almost true story in a rather unconvincing way.

I was surprised that the story is largely true - the main character Salvatore Guiliano did exist in 1950's Siciliy and had the live pretty much described by Puzo. Here's a link to his family's website on him: http://www.sicilian.net/salvatoregiuliano/english/index.html

Despite the tenuous link with the Godfather I found this book very enjoyable and fascinating.

The main character Salvatore is a hero-figure, and I felt motivated to discover how the plot unwound for him.

The other characters were very varied and also interesting.

Beyond that the book gave a fascinating picture of Sicilian society - and the relationship between the people, government, nobility and mafia.

The rules of conduct - very unique and special to that place - were carried across by the Godfather figures into a very different society.

Seeing those rules in their natural context explains much of the motivation and behaviour of the characters in the Godfather book.

The author also paints a vivid picture of the physical beauty of Sicily.

It seems like a wonderful place to visit - although the violence of life at the time makes one wonder if it's safe to visit now!