The Godfather

Another good book,

very easy to read, a real page turner. Perhaps the most interesting thing is the differences between the book and the film,. for instance there is a whole story line revolving around Johnny Fontane, the Frank Sinatra type character, which is completely omitted from the film. In addition there is a whole chunk of the story about Connie which we don't hear.

The book is in many way more violent and darker to some degree. However it has to be said that the Godfather character does not come across quite as charismatic as Brando. I suppose this is testament to the great actor. Although the author tells us of the respect and the awe people hold him in, theres something about his dialogue of its delivery thats missing.

The ending is also different, I suppose they didn't need to set it up for a sequel.

I've now moved on to satanic verses.

Great Expectations

Howdy,

Well, another Dickens novel. This is one of his latter novels. Whereas the earlier one I read (Oliver) was one of his earlier. This was also initially serialised in a newspaper and you can still see that in it.

The book start off great, with one of my favorite lines. The book is set in three parts. The inital part is pip growing up and highlights a turblent part of his life where he comes across many wierd and wonderful characters. I like this part of the book the best because Dickens is soo good at creating characters. The second part out lines his education in london and the third part ties up the loose ends.

As it turns out many of the chacaters double up, and this means that there is a lack of new characters. hard to explain unless you read it. I have to say I found the book very hard to follow in places and quite labour intensive in others, much like Oliver. Pip isn't a particulaly likable guy, he doesn't learn many lessons, he seems niave.

The strong characters suffer and the weak characters prosper. but maybe thats life.

So long, on to the Godfather, light stuff alltogether.

Til then

g