Since I read the Godfather, it was my duty to read this one as well, but it was a big disappointment. While "The Godfather" had boring parts, it was essentially a good book, and especially the movie made it even better, with the great Marlon Brando being the quintessential Don Corleone.
Well, "The Sicilian" is not a good book. It is boring as hell. That's why it took me almost two months to finish it. Too boring. Michael Corleone appears only in the first and last few chapters, while the rest is about Turi Guliano, a bandit and a type of Robin Hood in Sicily, who steals from the rich and gives to the poor. The majority of the book is about Turi's exploits as a bandit and a lover of middle-aged widows, while trying to go against the government "in Rome" which is the most corrupt government, which is typical for Italy.
Nevermind, the ending is that Turi's best friend betrays him and kills him (Aspano) and then he's poisoned by Don Croce, the 'cappo di tutti cappi' of Sicily's "Friends of Friends", as the Mafia is known locally. The majority of the book is about the exploits of Turi, kidnappings, murders, the occasional massacre, and similar uninteresting stuff about some backwards sticks and boonies in Italy. All in all, a waste of time, but when I start something, I have to finish it, so I did.
Oh yes, Michael Corleone eventually escapes Italy and returns to America where he is appointed successor of the Family, since his brother Sonny was killed. So, this book ends at about 2/3 through "The Godfather", where the last 1/3 happens after the events of this book.
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