Fools Die Book

Reading annually since 2006, I have yet to read a more original work which 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.