What do you think?
Rate this book
Fools die
Very good in very good dust jacket. Hardcover first edition - Heinemann,, (1978). Hardcover first edition -. Very good in very good dust jacket.. First UK printing. A novel about big time gambling and the movie industry by the author of "The Godfather." 474 pp.
Hardcover
First published October 1, 1978
338 people are currently reading
5334 people want to read
About the author
Mario Puzo
156 books4,865 followersPuzo was born in a poor family of Neapolitan immigrants living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of New York. Many of his books draw heavily on this heritage. After graduating from the City College of New York, he joined the United States Army Air Forces in World War II. Due to his poor eyesight, the military did not let him undertake combat duties but made him a public relations officer stationed in Germany. In 1950, his first short story, The Last Christmas, was published in American Vanguard. After the war, he wrote his first book, The Dark Arena, which was published in 1955.
At periods in the 1950s and early 1960s, Puzo worked as a writer/editor for publisher Martin Goodman's Magazine Management Company. Puzo, along with other writers like Bruce Jay Friedman, worked for the company line of men's magazines, pulp titles like Male, True Action, and Swank. Under the pseudonym Mario Cleri, Puzo wrote World War II adventure features for True Action.
Puzo's most famous work, The Godfather, was first published in 1969 after he had heard anecdotes about Mafia organizations during his time in pulp journalism. He later said in an interview with Larry King that his principal motivation was to make money. He had already, after all, written two books that had received great reviews, yet had not amounted to much. As a government clerk with five children, he was looking to write something that would appeal to the masses. With a number one bestseller for months on the New York Times Best Seller List, Mario Puzo had found his target audience. The book was later developed into the film The Godfather, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The movie received 11 Academy Award nominations, winning three, including an Oscar for Puzo for Best Adapted Screenplay. Coppola and Puzo collaborated then to work on sequels to the original film, The Godfather Part II and The Godfather Part III.
Puzo wrote the first draft of the script for the 1974 disaster film Earthquake, which he was unable to continue working on due to his commitment to The Godfather Part II. Puzo also co-wrote Richard Donner's Superman and the original draft for Superman II. He also collaborated on the stories for the 1982 film A Time to Die and the 1984 Francis Ford Coppola film The Cotton Club.
Puzo never saw the publication of his penultimate book, Omertà, but the manuscript was finished before his death, as was the manuscript for The Family. However, in a review originally published in the San Francisco Chronicle, Jules Siegel, who had worked closely with Puzo at Magazine Management Company, speculated that Omertà may have been completed by "some talentless hack." Siegel also acknowledges the temptation to "rationalize avoiding what is probably the correct analysis -- that [Puzo] wrote it and it is terrible."
Puzo died of heart failure on July 2, 1999 at his home in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York. His family now lives in East Islip, New York.
At periods in the 1950s and early 1960s, Puzo worked as a writer/editor for publisher Martin Goodman's Magazine Management Company. Puzo, along with other writers like Bruce Jay Friedman, worked for the company line of men's magazines, pulp titles like Male, True Action, and Swank. Under the pseudonym Mario Cleri, Puzo wrote World War II adventure features for True Action.
Puzo's most famous work, The Godfather, was first published in 1969 after he had heard anecdotes about Mafia organizations during his time in pulp journalism. He later said in an interview with Larry King that his principal motivation was to make money. He had already, after all, written two books that had received great reviews, yet had not amounted to much. As a government clerk with five children, he was looking to write something that would appeal to the masses. With a number one bestseller for months on the New York Times Best Seller List, Mario Puzo had found his target audience. The book was later developed into the film The Godfather, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The movie received 11 Academy Award nominations, winning three, including an Oscar for Puzo for Best Adapted Screenplay. Coppola and Puzo collaborated then to work on sequels to the original film, The Godfather Part II and The Godfather Part III.
Puzo wrote the first draft of the script for the 1974 disaster film Earthquake, which he was unable to continue working on due to his commitment to The Godfather Part II. Puzo also co-wrote Richard Donner's Superman and the original draft for Superman II. He also collaborated on the stories for the 1982 film A Time to Die and the 1984 Francis Ford Coppola film The Cotton Club.
Puzo never saw the publication of his penultimate book, Omertà, but the manuscript was finished before his death, as was the manuscript for The Family. However, in a review originally published in the San Francisco Chronicle, Jules Siegel, who had worked closely with Puzo at Magazine Management Company, speculated that Omertà may have been completed by "some talentless hack." Siegel also acknowledges the temptation to "rationalize avoiding what is probably the correct analysis -- that [Puzo] wrote it and it is terrible."
Puzo died of heart failure on July 2, 1999 at his home in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York. His family now lives in East Islip, New York.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 382 reviews
September 1, 2021
Reading annually since 2006, I have yet to read a more original work that is this innovative. This has been out since 1978 and still waiting for another book to move me like Fools Die did. I've never liked a book where I loved the author more than the book I have been reading. I love Fools Die and because of it, I love Puzo even more. I understood him with this work. And admired him for it. Still, do.
What makes Fools Die stand out among all the contemporary work, and what I truly like about this book, is that, unlike its peers, Fools Die is not a defeatist book. Despite the prevalent theme of death, the book is about life and the joy of living.
No book has quite captured the tragedy of being a writer than Fools Die.
A truly underrated book, a classic that you can actually enjoy and laugh aloud with. Read this and tell me that I am wrong.
This remains my favorite book, a book that has touched me like no other, despite sometimes lacking in depth and character growth but that was the part of the theme. How the monsters in us remain unchanged. No matter what, no matter where no matter when, this book will always amaze me, it will always inspire me.
A perennial love, this book always will be for me.
This is Mario Puzo at his philosophical best. Heck, Tyrion Lannister could have written this book or Rust Cohle! No No. Not the Taxman, haha. But it contains some very sage advice, in a skewed kind of way.
What I love most about Fools Die, apart from its unusual, unique style of writing complete with split narration alternative point of view chapter the fact that it was one different pov chapter is what makes it special and so close to my heart, is that nothing is spelled out for us. We don't know the protagonist's former name before he legally changed it. We don't know his children's names. We didn't know the title of his first novel. We never got to know Janelle's last name. Basically, all the things that are necessary for storytelling. Puzo just skirted around that, like that. I loved how we are supposed to guess the timeline too. The book is set after WWII sure, the early part is the 1950s definitely. Somewhere around midway, it's the 60s because JFK is mentioned, then toward its end, it's 1970 or something because Love Story the movie is there. And that our hero remained the same even when he stopped being one and became a villain. He never stood up for those who were always there in his corner, rooting for him. I love that.
Give it a try
Now.
You won't find Merlyn anywhere else.
Even if you have Eva Green beside you.
Which you don't.
This is not 2014.
January 26, 2018
This was a very interesting and entertaining read! A mid-life crises thrusts the narrator into a world of vice and sin, where he spends many years skirting the edge of and gazing into the abyss that is this world. He watches his new friends and acquaintances fall victim to this world, and in the end finds a new appreciation for life and the importance of contentment.
"Virtue is its own reward, and fools are they who die".
"Only fools die".
This book is by no means a suspense thriller, but rather, an exploration into how those in pursuit of fame, fortune, and lucrative lifestyles cope with the challenges that this entails and how often these people end up bringing about their own demise. Lust, greed, gluttony, sloth, wrath, envy and pride all play a part in America's Golden Triangle of Corruption. Puzo draws out this world superbly with exquisite imagery, compelling narrative and near genius poetry.
If you enjoyed The Godfather, I would say, absolutely, give this book a chance. I will acknowledge that this is a book that most people will either love or hate. Me, I was completely sucked into the world that Puzo had drawn and was blown away.
"Virtue is its own reward, and fools are they who die".
"Only fools die".
This book is by no means a suspense thriller, but rather, an exploration into how those in pursuit of fame, fortune, and lucrative lifestyles cope with the challenges that this entails and how often these people end up bringing about their own demise. Lust, greed, gluttony, sloth, wrath, envy and pride all play a part in America's Golden Triangle of Corruption. Puzo draws out this world superbly with exquisite imagery, compelling narrative and near genius poetry.
If you enjoyed The Godfather, I would say, absolutely, give this book a chance. I will acknowledge that this is a book that most people will either love or hate. Me, I was completely sucked into the world that Puzo had drawn and was blown away.
November 11, 2015
أنت بتنتظر الكثير من مبدع (العرّاب ) , لما بتقرأ رواية تحمل اسمه بتعلى بسقف طموحاتك من المتعة المُنتظرة , وللحق : العمل كان عند حسن الظن به.
فى افتتاحية الرواية يقول الكاتب : (تذكر أنني أستاذ في السحر , يمكنني أن أسوق هؤلاء البشر جميعًا أحياء . أستطيع أن أريك ما الذي يفكرون فيه حقا ويشعرون. ستبكي من أجلهم , من أجلهم جميعًا , أعدك بهذا. أو ستضحك فقط. على أية حال , سننال قسطًا كبيرًا من المرح . ونتعلم شيئًا عن الحياة. الأمر الذي لا فائدة كبيرة فيه. )
وقد كان الكاتب صادق بشكل مفزع فيما ذكر , فقد كان من القوة والتأثير أن نجح فى توصيل مشاعر وانفعالات أبطال روايته كاملة , فقد نقلني إلى عالمه بكل أريحية منه.
الرواية هي تجربة حياتية خصبة تنقلت بين أكثر من عالَم , وكل عالَم بظروفه وأحداثه نقلهم الكاتب لك : فمن فيجاس والقمار وانفعالات المقامرين (من فائز وخاسر) إلى عالم الكتابة وما يعتريه من مساومات وتجارب , إلى عالم هولييود المبهر ظاهره الزائف في حقيقته .
رواية عن المجتمع الأمريكي بطبقاته المختلفة , قدّم لك الكاتب أمريكا التى نادرًا ما تراها إلا فى بعض اللحظات العبقرية عبر شاشات فيلم عظيم أو صفحات رواية عظيمة مثل تلك الرواية .
رواية تُعبر عن تملك الكاتب الجيد من أدواته وتمكنه منها , فقد ظل مسيطر على أحداث وشخوص روايته من بدايتها لنهايتها , خيط متين محكم على مدى العمل كله .
العمل ينضح بتجربة حيايتة خصبة وثرية .
حتى إذا التأمت جروح الطفولة فإنك لا تكبر على كونك غير حصين , ليس العمر حصنًا من الصدمات , عبر حياة أحد أبطاله عرض الكاتب لتفاصيل الحياة المهمة وما قد يقابلنا تترك أبلغ الأثر على مسار حياتنا .
أحداث كثيرة قد نتجاوزها وقد ننهار أمامها ولكن لنعلم إن لكل امرئ عذرًا لانهياره من حيث الفضيلة . لكن الحقيقة أن المرء ينهار عندما يكون مستعدًا للانهيار
ولم يخل الكتاب من اظهر معرفة عظيمة بالشخصيات والعمق النفسي المرافق لها , فالكاتب خبير بمواقف الحياة متمرس فيها فيقول على لسان أحد شخوصه على النساء : لا تعامل امرأة فط على نحو جيد أكثر مما ينبغي . إن النساء يلتصقن بالسكارى والمقامرين , وأسياد العواهر , وحتى بالمؤذين ضربًا . إنهن لا يمكن أن يتحملن فتى طيبًا عذبًا , أتدري لماذا ؟ إنهم يسأمن . إنهن لا يردن أن يكنّ سعيدات . فذلك ممل
وهكذا يتنقل بنا الكاتب عبر الرواية معلمًا لنا بارعًا في تقديمه.
من المواقف الطريفة عن أحد أبطاله (وكان يعمل كاتب مشهور) وكان عاشقًا للنساء مولع بهن , انه طلق زوجته لتطاولها على (سكون فيتزجيرالد ) ولم يطلقها لخيانتها إياه.
فى المجمل عمل مميز ورائع : قدّم المشاعر الإنسانية بكل عمقها ودفئها وحرارتها بصورة خالية من الابتذال .
فى افتتاحية الرواية يقول الكاتب : (تذكر أنني أستاذ في السحر , يمكنني أن أسوق هؤلاء البشر جميعًا أحياء . أستطيع أن أريك ما الذي يفكرون فيه حقا ويشعرون. ستبكي من أجلهم , من أجلهم جميعًا , أعدك بهذا. أو ستضحك فقط. على أية حال , سننال قسطًا كبيرًا من المرح . ونتعلم شيئًا عن الحياة. الأمر الذي لا فائدة كبيرة فيه. )
وقد كان الكاتب صادق بشكل مفزع فيما ذكر , فقد كان من القوة والتأثير أن نجح فى توصيل مشاعر وانفعالات أبطال روايته كاملة , فقد نقلني إلى عالمه بكل أريحية منه.
الرواية هي تجربة حياتية خصبة تنقلت بين أكثر من عالَم , وكل عالَم بظروفه وأحداثه نقلهم الكاتب لك : فمن فيجاس والقمار وانفعالات المقامرين (من فائز وخاسر) إلى عالم الكتابة وما يعتريه من مساومات وتجارب , إلى عالم هولييود المبهر ظاهره الزائف في حقيقته .
رواية عن المجتمع الأمريكي بطبقاته المختلفة , قدّم لك الكاتب أمريكا التى نادرًا ما تراها إلا فى بعض اللحظات العبقرية عبر شاشات فيلم عظيم أو صفحات رواية عظيمة مثل تلك الرواية .
رواية تُعبر عن تملك الكاتب الجيد من أدواته وتمكنه منها , فقد ظل مسيطر على أحداث وشخوص روايته من بدايتها لنهايتها , خيط متين محكم على مدى العمل كله .
العمل ينضح بتجربة حيايتة خصبة وثرية .
حتى إذا التأمت جروح الطفولة فإنك لا تكبر على كونك غير حصين , ليس العمر حصنًا من الصدمات , عبر حياة أحد أبطاله عرض الكاتب لتفاصيل الحياة المهمة وما قد يقابلنا تترك أبلغ الأثر على مسار حياتنا .
أحداث كثيرة قد نتجاوزها وقد ننهار أمامها ولكن لنعلم إن لكل امرئ عذرًا لانهياره من حيث الفضيلة . لكن الحقيقة أن المرء ينهار عندما يكون مستعدًا للانهيار
ولم يخل الكتاب من اظهر معرفة عظيمة بالشخصيات والعمق النفسي المرافق لها , فالكاتب خبير بمواقف الحياة متمرس فيها فيقول على لسان أحد شخوصه على النساء : لا تعامل امرأة فط على نحو جيد أكثر مما ينبغي . إن النساء يلتصقن بالسكارى والمقامرين , وأسياد العواهر , وحتى بالمؤذين ضربًا . إنهن لا يمكن أن يتحملن فتى طيبًا عذبًا , أتدري لماذا ؟ إنهم يسأمن . إنهن لا يردن أن يكنّ سعيدات . فذلك ممل
وهكذا يتنقل بنا الكاتب عبر الرواية معلمًا لنا بارعًا في تقديمه.
من المواقف الطريفة عن أحد أبطاله (وكان يعمل كاتب مشهور) وكان عاشقًا للنساء مولع بهن , انه طلق زوجته لتطاولها على (سكون فيتزجيرالد ) ولم يطلقها لخيانتها إياه.
فى المجمل عمل مميز ورائع : قدّم المشاعر الإنسانية بكل عمقها ودفئها وحرارتها بصورة خالية من الابتذال .
July 5, 2022
But it was never true. It is, finally, never true. Nothing is. Even my reasons.
*
Only those we most love can cause our death, and only of them we must beware. Our enemies can never harm us. And at the core of my brother’s virtue was that he feared neither his enemies nor those he loved. So much the worst for him. Virtue is its own reward and fools are they who die.
*
Neither of us said anything. I felt really lousy, but we had our rules. We could never reproach each other anymore, just take our revenge.
*
And I said seriously, “Sure,” and it was true, but I said it in that way to tell her that even though I loved her, it didn’t make any difference, that we could never be the same again and that I would never be at her mercy again, and I saw that she recognized that immediately.
*
Only those we most love can cause our death, and only of them we must beware. Our enemies can never harm us. And at the core of my brother’s virtue was that he feared neither his enemies nor those he loved. So much the worst for him. Virtue is its own reward and fools are they who die.
*
Neither of us said anything. I felt really lousy, but we had our rules. We could never reproach each other anymore, just take our revenge.
*
And I said seriously, “Sure,” and it was true, but I said it in that way to tell her that even though I loved her, it didn’t make any difference, that we could never be the same again and that I would never be at her mercy again, and I saw that she recognized that immediately.
January 14, 2013
This is a big, sloppy, at times poorly edited book. But, it was also ambitious, energetic, poetic and at times genius. Puzo swung for the fences with this book and 'tho the heavens may fall' he did whatever he wanted to. The storyline is almost nonexistent. Instead you follow Merlyn, the protagonist, as he lives his life as a sometimes gambler, government clerk, husband and father, successful writer, Hollywood hack, and loyal friend to some old Vegas buddies.
I love these kinds of books. Books with ideas so big that there was never any chance they would fit inside the book jacket. Mailer had a few books like that (incidently check out Puzo's character Osano). There's something wonderfully arrogant about saying to the reader that the story isn't nearly as important as my preaching! HA! I love it. Defiant pricks!
This is the only time I can think of (possibly Fortunate Pilgrim fits this as well, possibly), where Puzo got up on a pulpit and preached. The whole book is nothing but his philosophy. I loved reading this. This has to be the most personal thing Puzo ever wrote. It's a shame he didn't write more books like this, but what a document he left for us.
I love these kinds of books. Books with ideas so big that there was never any chance they would fit inside the book jacket. Mailer had a few books like that (incidently check out Puzo's character Osano). There's something wonderfully arrogant about saying to the reader that the story isn't nearly as important as my preaching! HA! I love it. Defiant pricks!
This is the only time I can think of (possibly Fortunate Pilgrim fits this as well, possibly), where Puzo got up on a pulpit and preached. The whole book is nothing but his philosophy. I loved reading this. This has to be the most personal thing Puzo ever wrote. It's a shame he didn't write more books like this, but what a document he left for us.
October 19, 2025
Лас Вегас отнема всичко на съществата оплетени в лъскавите му комарджийски мрежи.
Страхотна история, Пузо е истински майстор!
Страхотна история, Пузо е истински майстор!
April 20, 2015
I'm having a hard time deciding how to rate this book.
I truly enjoyed the first half of it, I was hooked from the very first Chapter and once again blown away by Puzo's masterful writing. Some scenes felt like they were coming right out of a movie (the gambling ones in particular) and I quickly became attached to the characters, with their believable background stories, their flaws and their motivations. But then, this all turned into a big mess and a big waste when it became apparent the book didn't have any storyline.
Instead, we got introduced to uninteresting characters (and THEIR backstories), tedious affairs, poorly written sex scenes, painfully repetitive dialogues and drama. The book had lost focus and it kept dragging on and on.
Yet, I kept listening, hoping for some kind of twist or something that would tie everything together... sadly it never came. When I finally reached the end of the book, I was left with disappointment.
I still think Mario Puzo is a phenomenal writer with a true talent for creating characters and making them real and likeable (even the worst crooks & sexists), and I'm looking forward to read more of his books.
I can't recommend Fools Die tho, unless you're a hardcore fan. I've read that it's the author's favorite and it's true that the book sounds very personal at times with its reflections on death, love, and writing, but maybe it's also why it also felt so self-indulgent and too long.
I truly enjoyed the first half of it, I was hooked from the very first Chapter and once again blown away by Puzo's masterful writing. Some scenes felt like they were coming right out of a movie (the gambling ones in particular) and I quickly became attached to the characters, with their believable background stories, their flaws and their motivations. But then, this all turned into a big mess and a big waste when it became apparent the book didn't have any storyline.
Instead, we got introduced to uninteresting characters (and THEIR backstories), tedious affairs, poorly written sex scenes, painfully repetitive dialogues and drama. The book had lost focus and it kept dragging on and on.
Yet, I kept listening, hoping for some kind of twist or something that would tie everything together... sadly it never came. When I finally reached the end of the book, I was left with disappointment.
I still think Mario Puzo is a phenomenal writer with a true talent for creating characters and making them real and likeable (even the worst crooks & sexists), and I'm looking forward to read more of his books.
I can't recommend Fools Die tho, unless you're a hardcore fan. I've read that it's the author's favorite and it's true that the book sounds very personal at times with its reflections on death, love, and writing, but maybe it's also why it also felt so self-indulgent and too long.
December 28, 2007
This is Puzo's finest hour....except no one really gets it. This book is about real people and fate and magic. The story goes in several directions but manages to come back home in a solid fashion. Everyone should give it a read, I've read it several times.
April 14, 2013
Един Пузо, съвсем различен от онзи, когото срещнах в „Кръстника”.
„Умират глупаците” за мен е трудът на живота му.
Някаква определена сюжетна нишка, за която да се хванеш, липсва. Книгата е особена. Много повече е израз на философията на Пузо, отколкото просто роман. Хаотичен израз при това, амбициозен, огромен във всеки смисъл.
Интересното е, че ми трябваше година, докато прелистя и последната страница. Поредното доказателство, че всяка книга си има точното време, в което да бъде позната, разбрана и обикната. Когато я отворих за първи път, бях грабната още от началния абзац и въпреки това в следващите месеци на три пъти я започвах и на три пъти не я довършвах. Лесно бих могла да сметна, че сме се разминали – а просто е трябвало време самата аз да порасна по някакъв начин.
Книгата си има и своите недостатъци, разбира се. Има страници, които лесно се изкушавах да чета по диагонал. На моменти действието забуксува. Откровено съжалявах, че не мога да опонирам директно на някои от героите на Пузо – дотолкова не бях съгласна с това, което мислят. По-важни обаче са онези редове, заради които не спирах да държа молив в ръката си, готова да подчертавам поредното изречение, което уцелва право в целта.
Ако обрисувам с няколко ключови думи на какво е посветен романът, някой лесно би могъл да се подлъже, че няма какво толкова да се открие в него: Вегас, хазарт, жени, измами, писател, литература, Холивуд. Но зад тази повърхностна рамка се крие много, много повече. Крият се универсални идеи и мисли, и взаимоотношения. Крият се отговори дори за въпросите на кротко девойче, обикновено студентче като мен, отдалечено на километри от света, рамкиран в книгата.
„Умират глупаците” за мен е трудът на живота му.
Някаква определена сюжетна нишка, за която да се хванеш, липсва. Книгата е особена. Много повече е израз на философията на Пузо, отколкото просто роман. Хаотичен израз при това, амбициозен, огромен във всеки смисъл.
Интересното е, че ми трябваше година, докато прелистя и последната страница. Поредното доказателство, че всяка книга си има точното време, в което да бъде позната, разбрана и обикната. Когато я отворих за първи път, бях грабната още от началния абзац и въпреки това в следващите месеци на три пъти я започвах и на три пъти не я довършвах. Лесно бих могла да сметна, че сме се разминали – а просто е трябвало време самата аз да порасна по някакъв начин.
Книгата си има и своите недостатъци, разбира се. Има страници, които лесно се изкушавах да чета по диагонал. На моменти действието забуксува. Откровено съжалявах, че не мога да опонирам директно на някои от героите на Пузо – дотолкова не бях съгласна с това, което мислят. По-важни обаче са онези редове, заради които не спирах да държа молив в ръката си, готова да подчертавам поредното изречение, което уцелва право в целта.
Ако обрисувам с няколко ключови думи на какво е посветен романът, някой лесно би могъл да се подлъже, че няма какво толкова да се открие в него: Вегас, хазарт, жени, измами, писател, литература, Холивуд. Но зад тази повърхностна рамка се крие много, много повече. Крият се универсални идеи и мисли, и взаимоотношения. Крият се отговори дори за въпросите на кротко девойче, обикновено студентче като мен, отдалечено на километри от света, рамкиран в книгата.
September 23, 2019
تجربتي الثانية مع ماريو بوزو بعد العراب
وكانت تجربة جميلة .. أطول من الأولى نعم لكنها خفيفة
أشعر أنها أقرب لسيرة ذاتية منها لعمل قصصي
لم اقرأ سيرة ماريو بوزو ولست مهتما .. لكني أحسست أنه يتحدث عن نفسه
كمقامر وكروائي وككاتب وكسيناريست وطبعا كرجل أو فلنقل كذكر
أسهب في الحديث عن كل هذه المواضيع كشخص في قلب الحدث
كانت رحلة ماتعة .. يموت فيها كل الحمقى إلا أكبرهم
ولكن أين المفر
جُلنا حمقى ولكن الأكيد هوأن كلنا إلى زوال
أنهي باقتباس استعاره من ديستوفيسكي :
" إنني أعاني ولكنني مع ذلك لا أزال أحيا، إنني س في معادلة لا تحل، أنا نوع من شبح في الحياة فقد كل بداية وكل نهاية."
وكانت تجربة جميلة .. أطول من الأولى نعم لكنها خفيفة
أشعر أنها أقرب لسيرة ذاتية منها لعمل قصصي
لم اقرأ سيرة ماريو بوزو ولست مهتما .. لكني أحسست أنه يتحدث عن نفسه
كمقامر وكروائي وككاتب وكسيناريست وطبعا كرجل أو فلنقل كذكر
أسهب في الحديث عن كل هذه المواضيع كشخص في قلب الحدث
كانت رحلة ماتعة .. يموت فيها كل الحمقى إلا أكبرهم
ولكن أين المفر
جُلنا حمقى ولكن الأكيد هوأن كلنا إلى زوال
أنهي باقتباس استعاره من ديستوفيسكي :
" إنني أعاني ولكنني مع ذلك لا أزال أحيا، إنني س في معادلة لا تحل، أنا نوع من شبح في الحياة فقد كل بداية وكل نهاية."
February 28, 2018
I've tried listening to this twice. The introduction is awful - long & boring about what sort of story this would be. I think it was supposed to be funny, but it was just grating. I remembered it well enough that I skipped through it quickly.
The story itself starts off by introducing 4 or 5 people in a Las Vegas casino. There was a lot of detail without much happening. I didn't like any of them nor did I care enough about them to even dislike them. The 'action' picked up to some gambling & I moved on. I decided that if they ever got around to doing anything interesting, I wouldn't care anyway.
The story itself starts off by introducing 4 or 5 people in a Las Vegas casino. There was a lot of detail without much happening. I didn't like any of them nor did I care enough about them to even dislike them. The 'action' picked up to some gambling & I moved on. I decided that if they ever got around to doing anything interesting, I wouldn't care anyway.
February 2, 2010
This book is like a different Puzo. Reading the reviews at the beginning I got the feeling that the critics were not especially crazy about this one and after reading it I understood why. Puzo's The Godfather earned him the reputation of a writer that gives the reader a good thrill. No need to really enter the minds of the characters, their deeds speak for them. When you see a Puzo you expect a down and dirty tale of men's vices, violence and deeds done in the dark, especially those of the Mafia.
However, with Fools Die I was caught totally by surprise. And my surprise and fascination grew as the story progressed. I had to readjust to the fact that the was not just another thrilling fast-paced tale, this went deeper. Puzo was....deep. Very surprising, but not really a bad thing.
Many would say that this was a tale of gambling and Vegas, of women and money, but that would be largely inaccurate. I say it is a story about the workings of the mind of man who has a lot to say and the will to say it. It gives me a whole new picture of Puzo as man and perhaps his aspirations as a writer.
However, for all its merits as a deeply touching yet unsentimental tale, there were moments when my mind wandered while my eyes kept moving, just so that I could get to the next page.
However, with Fools Die I was caught totally by surprise. And my surprise and fascination grew as the story progressed. I had to readjust to the fact that the was not just another thrilling fast-paced tale, this went deeper. Puzo was....deep. Very surprising, but not really a bad thing.
Many would say that this was a tale of gambling and Vegas, of women and money, but that would be largely inaccurate. I say it is a story about the workings of the mind of man who has a lot to say and the will to say it. It gives me a whole new picture of Puzo as man and perhaps his aspirations as a writer.
However, for all its merits as a deeply touching yet unsentimental tale, there were moments when my mind wandered while my eyes kept moving, just so that I could get to the next page.
October 12, 2009
Just an opinion but...I feel Mario Puzo was resting on his laurels from The Godfather when he wrote this book. It rambles on for over 5oo pages without going anywhere different, exciting or important. I really wanted to like it but by the end I was choking my way through it!
July 21, 2018
Нямах нерви да го дочета това, а се мъчих, хич да не е. Комар, хазарт, игри на късмета, рулетки, покер, взе че ми писна и айде.
April 15, 2025
I cannot tell you what this was about
August 8, 2014
كتاب جعلني أعيش المعني الحرفي لعبارة " طفح الكيل"
في الصفحات الأولي من الكتاب , كتب المؤلف مقدمة , تجعلك تشعر و كأنك بصدد إحدي روائع دوستويفسكي , بل و ربما أروع , بل إن الكاتب يعدُك فيما يعدك بأنك ستزداد فهماً للحياة بعد هذا الكتاب و أشياء أخري كثيرة من هذا القبيل .
في الحقيقة , هذا الكتاب الذي تقل صفحاته عن السبمعائة بقليل من القطع الكبير, عبارة عن هُراءٍ خالص .
لا شئ , لا قصة , لا حبكة , لا عظة , لا أي شئ .
بل إنني مع الوقت بدأت أفقد أعصابي , و أصب جامّ سخطي علي
"المجلس الأعلي للثقافة "
المبجل , الذي تطوع و ترجم و نشر هذا الكتاب الذي برأيي لا يستحق حتي أن تضيّع لأجله ثانية من حياتك تنظر له فيها .
غالَبْت نفسي لقراءته , أملاً مني أن يحتوي علي شئ ما , أي شئ
حتي وصلت إلي الصفحة ال 550 و هنا حقا لم أستطع أن أقرأ سطرا واحدا إضافيا
فالكاتب هنا , ترك كل شئ في الحياة , و نهض ليدافع عن حرية تعدد الشركاء الجنسيين للمرأة, و يفعل ذلك بحماسة و انفعال شديدين حقا , و لا يري في ذلك أي مشكلة , سوي أنها ستكون أكثر عُرضة للأمراض التناسلية ! هذا فقط ؟!!
بل و كذلك لا يري أي خطأ في أن تكون المرأة سحاقية , تشتهي الرجال و النساء علي السواء !!
و يدافع أيضا عن ذلك , و يري أن فيه ميزة بحيث لن يضطر الرجل للاهتمام بزوجته لأن حينها ستكون لديها من تتفهم مشاعرها و احتياجاتها أكثر منه و هي شريكتها النسائية !!
طفح الكيل !
لعن الله من علّمك الكتابة
رُغم أن ميعاد انتهاء الاستعارة لم يأتِ بعد , إلا أنني أصررت علي الذهاب إلي المكتبة و التخلص منه , و أخبرت أمينة المكتبة برأيي فيه , و رجوتها ألا تعرضه للاستعارة مرة أخري .
أما عن الجهود و الأموال التي بُذلت في ترجمة و طباعة هذا العمل , فعليها السلامة , لم أستطع حتي الآن أن أتفهّم سبب الاختيار أو كيفيته و من ثمّ ترجمته
اتقوا الله في اختياراتكم
اتقوا الله فيناأو ارحمونا منكم
November 16, 2016
This is a book from the author best known for The Godfather. In this one, the author tells a story about love. It isn't exactly a love story. It tells about different viewpoints of relationships and different kinds of relationships.
This isn't my typical book but I was immediately engrossed by this novel. The author does a fantastic job of setting the mood. We open in Las Vegas where four strangers have become friends because of the gambling world. We don't see the glam side of Vegas but we get a view of the melancholy side and it sets the tone for this novel. Throughout this book we are not offered "Once upon a time" and "they lived happily ever after". We get to see the combative nature of relationships or how people play games during a relationship. This book explores all viewpoints and gets into some graphic detail. This novel offers up some terrific characters like the eccentric writer who keeps saying his next novel will win the Nobel Prize. I could not help wondering if we were getting a peek into Mario Puzo's real life.
This book is a great example of an interpretation of love and life. The first half of the book was amazing and beautiful with its mood. The second half did become long winded and that is the reason I lowered my rating to four stars.
This isn't my typical book but I was immediately engrossed by this novel. The author does a fantastic job of setting the mood. We open in Las Vegas where four strangers have become friends because of the gambling world. We don't see the glam side of Vegas but we get a view of the melancholy side and it sets the tone for this novel. Throughout this book we are not offered "Once upon a time" and "they lived happily ever after". We get to see the combative nature of relationships or how people play games during a relationship. This book explores all viewpoints and gets into some graphic detail. This novel offers up some terrific characters like the eccentric writer who keeps saying his next novel will win the Nobel Prize. I could not help wondering if we were getting a peek into Mario Puzo's real life.
This book is a great example of an interpretation of love and life. The first half of the book was amazing and beautiful with its mood. The second half did become long winded and that is the reason I lowered my rating to four stars.
August 14, 2013
this book truly took me to another world and I was completely swept up into the world of gambling and literary critique occupied by the main character. another excellent piece by a fantastic author. highly recommend it
January 23, 2012
A big disappointment from someone like Mario Puzo.Seems a bit stretched and is quite boring in between.He has written better books so don't waste your time on this.
An Average read!
An Average read!
February 27, 2020
Though okay but not the best of Mario Puzo.
Read
August 15, 2022Did not finish this one. I thought it was a continuation of the Godfather. It's not. I won't live a rating.
March 7, 2021
I picked this up in a second hand book shop. I had never seen a book by the Godfather author before, but this is probably not the best one to start with. There were some truly engaging moments but overall it was two uneven.
The main character, Merlyn, is an orphan made good. A successful writer who marries and is faithful, until he goes to Hollywood, where he has a bad experience adapting his book for the silver screen.
The other main character is Cully Cross, linked to Merlyn through a Vegas experience that opens the story. He’s an interesting character but his arc is limited and ends unsatisfactory.
Puzo reputedly had plenty of first hand experience of the gambling world and I found the scenes in Vegas to be the most interesting.
There is less praise for Hollywood, but I don’t believe that was inspired by Puzo’s personal experience, as he did further screen writing work after adapting his own Godfather novel for film.
It has some interesting things to say about love and relationships, although it is very chauvinistic in places. But there are also arguments against the presumption of chauvinism, as an assumed right of men. The Me Too movement would tear this to pieces. And the story arc about Merlyn finally taking a mistress didn’t really add much value, in my opinion.
There isn’t really a plot to speak of. We bounce around between certain characters that Merlyn meets, often learning their backstory. Some of these are more interesting than others.
I wanted to give this four stars, but in the end it was too uneven to earn it. It didn’t take me 12 days to read it - I had to put it down to read a book club choice.
The main character, Merlyn, is an orphan made good. A successful writer who marries and is faithful, until he goes to Hollywood, where he has a bad experience adapting his book for the silver screen.
The other main character is Cully Cross, linked to Merlyn through a Vegas experience that opens the story. He’s an interesting character but his arc is limited and ends unsatisfactory.
Puzo reputedly had plenty of first hand experience of the gambling world and I found the scenes in Vegas to be the most interesting.
There is less praise for Hollywood, but I don’t believe that was inspired by Puzo’s personal experience, as he did further screen writing work after adapting his own Godfather novel for film.
It has some interesting things to say about love and relationships, although it is very chauvinistic in places. But there are also arguments against the presumption of chauvinism, as an assumed right of men. The Me Too movement would tear this to pieces. And the story arc about Merlyn finally taking a mistress didn’t really add much value, in my opinion.
There isn’t really a plot to speak of. We bounce around between certain characters that Merlyn meets, often learning their backstory. Some of these are more interesting than others.
I wanted to give this four stars, but in the end it was too uneven to earn it. It didn’t take me 12 days to read it - I had to put it down to read a book club choice.
December 30, 2020
Fool's die is a breaking bad story with seemingly no consequences for the main character. While it is true that nearly every character around him is killed (very obviously foreshadowed in the beginning) the protagonists constant insistence that he doesnt care gives me little desire to do the same. At times I felt like I understood where this story was going, only to have that expectation subverted for no narrative purpose but to be subversive, and this left the story with a conclusion that I'm either simply to ignorant to understand or that serves no narrative purpose whatsoever.
The pages spent in Las Vegas were fantastic, and I wish this had been more of a focus.
Also, where the f@!k is the climax?
The pages spent in Las Vegas were fantastic, and I wish this had been more of a focus.
Also, where the f@!k is the climax?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2024
For me - personally - this book just goes nowhere. I'm having a hard time connecting to the character(s), because mostly there's just rambling about how the character tries to live their life, his carreer and who the people around him sleep with. I roughly flew over the last half of the book, because there was just nothing exiting happening... The first chapter and the ending was okay tho.
Of course, that's only my opinion. As there are many readers who enjoy puzos' writing style 📖 happy reading everyone!
Of course, that's only my opinion. As there are many readers who enjoy puzos' writing style 📖 happy reading everyone!
September 18, 2010
Just one thing - do not believe to the reviewer that is inevitably quoted on the back-page of this book saying that this book is better than the Godfather. It clearly is not, as you expect other type of books when reading Puzo. Still worth the try.
February 9, 2012
رواية جميلة جدا لماريو بوزو فليس غريبا على من كتب الاب الروحى أروع فيلم فى التاريخ أن يكتب رواية مثل هذه
March 15, 2012
Mario Puzo is an author I have been hearing about for years, mostly due to the Godfather films. When I found a few of his books for sale, I decided to check them out. Fools Die was the first of his books that I read. Perhaps I went into it expecting a bit more blood and guts; a bit more action and violence. After all, what would a Godfather fan expect?
The story revolved around a budding author and the events that occur in his life following a gambling streak in Las Vegas.
Well, I was disappointed in the lack of action to say the least. Perhaps this novel would have been better without expectaions, but I don't think so. Although Puzo is an excellent writer, Fools Die was more of a drama than I am interested in reading. I found it to be filled with repetative and wordy notions that left me wanting to skim through pages instead of reading them. Even the ending was unsatisfying. I also felt that a number of elements were introduced for no reason.
I was not particularly fond of any of the characters. I have very little interest in gambling or casinos. I have never been to Vegas. I am not that into reading about sex. Maybe if any of the last facts I mentioned were not a reality, I would have enjoyed this more.
I still have a couple more of Puzo's books lying on my "to read" stack. I will get to them at some point, but this one didn't make me want to put them anywhere near the top of the heap. I just hope the next is faster paced and easier to get through.
The story revolved around a budding author and the events that occur in his life following a gambling streak in Las Vegas.
Well, I was disappointed in the lack of action to say the least. Perhaps this novel would have been better without expectaions, but I don't think so. Although Puzo is an excellent writer, Fools Die was more of a drama than I am interested in reading. I found it to be filled with repetative and wordy notions that left me wanting to skim through pages instead of reading them. Even the ending was unsatisfying. I also felt that a number of elements were introduced for no reason.
I was not particularly fond of any of the characters. I have very little interest in gambling or casinos. I have never been to Vegas. I am not that into reading about sex. Maybe if any of the last facts I mentioned were not a reality, I would have enjoyed this more.
I still have a couple more of Puzo's books lying on my "to read" stack. I will get to them at some point, but this one didn't make me want to put them anywhere near the top of the heap. I just hope the next is faster paced and easier to get through.
November 14, 2012
I opened this book with a big urge to read it. After all it was the second Mario Puzo book i had picked up after being thoroughly engrossed and impressed with 'The Godfather'. This book surprised me as it wasn't a regular Puzo style writing.
The book begins with the story of four people who became friends at a Las Vegas casino and plays all night, leading a wave of luck. Merlyn, who changed his name after making sure that he was the magician of King Arthur, Cully, the master of the 21 counts, Jordan, a man abandoned by the woman, who leads the largest of all sorts in baccarat and Diane, a decoy Xanadu casino. The four form a friendship and an uneasy alliance. But throughout the book, the author makes you think the story is about these four friends, in end it turns out to be astory of all about Vegas and it's pretty outer facade which hides the real story behind the curtains.
It's amazing how every time that I thought I knew the character entirely, everything changed. This book is a must for people who love to read different things and want to study different ways of storytelling and writing. This is a book about the human being, in fact, perhaps even a book about the sins of humans. Any information I give, for example, which character takes over the narration of 1 person, would be just a spoiler. I must say ... if you're interested in reading an entirely different genre of story, buy a copy of Fools Die. You won't regret it.
The book begins with the story of four people who became friends at a Las Vegas casino and plays all night, leading a wave of luck. Merlyn, who changed his name after making sure that he was the magician of King Arthur, Cully, the master of the 21 counts, Jordan, a man abandoned by the woman, who leads the largest of all sorts in baccarat and Diane, a decoy Xanadu casino. The four form a friendship and an uneasy alliance. But throughout the book, the author makes you think the story is about these four friends, in end it turns out to be astory of all about Vegas and it's pretty outer facade which hides the real story behind the curtains.
It's amazing how every time that I thought I knew the character entirely, everything changed. This book is a must for people who love to read different things and want to study different ways of storytelling and writing. This is a book about the human being, in fact, perhaps even a book about the sins of humans. Any information I give, for example, which character takes over the narration of 1 person, would be just a spoiler. I must say ... if you're interested in reading an entirely different genre of story, buy a copy of Fools Die. You won't regret it.
January 7, 2024
As I’m writing this review I’m still not sure of how much I liked this book. On one hand, I really like Puzo’s simple but intriguing writing style however, I feel like this book lacks having a purpose. Probably it was also my fault for expecting a mob type book like the Godfather or The Sicilian but still even thought it was not what I was expecting I was still quite addicted to the book.
(Spoilers from now on)
Getting back on the “lacking a purpose” part, at some points I felt like I was listening to a story told by a 5 y.o, like out of nowhere there’s 150 pages about Janelle, then Merlyn goes to Japan with Cully, then people start to die and I’m still wondering why this book started with Jordan’s suicide.
Also, some parts just doesn’t make sense for me, like how’s Merlyn so worried about ethics in the beginning and also when he’s taking bribes at the army job but then when he starts having an affair with Janelle it’s like nothing happens.
I think this also reflects a bit of Puzo’s experiences, the fact that Merlyn sold the rights for his novel to Malomar Films for the exact same amount of money Puzo’s sold the Godfather to Paramount Pictures seems to be a bit more than just a coincidence and the details on the Hollywood’s chapters are insane.
All that said it was a very pleasant read, still not sure if I recommend it or not.
(Spoilers from now on)
Getting back on the “lacking a purpose” part, at some points I felt like I was listening to a story told by a 5 y.o, like out of nowhere there’s 150 pages about Janelle, then Merlyn goes to Japan with Cully, then people start to die and I’m still wondering why this book started with Jordan’s suicide.
Also, some parts just doesn’t make sense for me, like how’s Merlyn so worried about ethics in the beginning and also when he’s taking bribes at the army job but then when he starts having an affair with Janelle it’s like nothing happens.
I think this also reflects a bit of Puzo’s experiences, the fact that Merlyn sold the rights for his novel to Malomar Films for the exact same amount of money Puzo’s sold the Godfather to Paramount Pictures seems to be a bit more than just a coincidence and the details on the Hollywood’s chapters are insane.
All that said it was a very pleasant read, still not sure if I recommend it or not.
May 19, 2015
Pocas palabras pueden hacerle justicia a este libro, solo queda recomendarlo.
Contiene en sus casi 600 páginas ideas tan grandes que no cabrían en un simple prólogo. De hecho la edición que leí, ni siquiera tenía una.
Me sentí tentado de leerlo por varias razones, entre ellas:
1. Mario Puzo es el autor de la novela "El padrino"
2. Nunca había leído nada de este autor.
3. La portada de mi libro
El inicio engancha, pero luego se tarda unas 100 páginas en tomar forma y asentarse, una vez llegado a ese punto se hace imposible parar.
La trama se desarrolla en varios lugares (esencialmente Las Vegas y Tokio), mantiene el nivel gracias a la maestría narrativa del autor que ahonda en la psique de cada uno de sus personajes de una manera excepcional, motivo por el cual tiendo a pensar, que hay mucho de autobiografía en este libro.
Contiene en sus casi 600 páginas ideas tan grandes que no cabrían en un simple prólogo. De hecho la edición que leí, ni siquiera tenía una.
Me sentí tentado de leerlo por varias razones, entre ellas:
1. Mario Puzo es el autor de la novela "El padrino"
2. Nunca había leído nada de este autor.
3. La portada de mi libro
El inicio engancha, pero luego se tarda unas 100 páginas en tomar forma y asentarse, una vez llegado a ese punto se hace imposible parar.
La trama se desarrolla en varios lugares (esencialmente Las Vegas y Tokio), mantiene el nivel gracias a la maestría narrativa del autor que ahonda en la psique de cada uno de sus personajes de una manera excepcional, motivo por el cual tiendo a pensar, que hay mucho de autobiografía en este libro.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 382 reviews