Update GODFATHER BOOK: I JUST FIXED THE BOOK!

A few days ago I made a post about the godfather book and about how I loved the book , but disliked the long-winded johnny fontane side plot

My argument was that it stood out too much from the rest of the book, went on for too long, and didnt really tie into the rest of the story that much.

in the comments I learned the reason why:

The book was not supposed to be the great masterpiece that the movie became. it was just supposed to be a quick, pulpy cash grab given that Mario puzo was in dire need of a cash injection.

The johnny fontane side plot was supposed to help it boost sales given that fontaine was loosely based on sinatra, who was huge at the time, so the hook was for people to learn about sinatra's alleged ties into mob life. it also tied-in a lot of Salacious sex talk, which is also a good way to hook people in.

apparently the strategy was a success, with the book becoming a best seller, even though critical reception was bad given that the critics saw right trough what the book really was.

anyways...

with that context in mind, I think the book is still a great read. it is an easy read, that can be read in a weekend. it is also a great book for people who want to pick up reading as a hobby.

so how did I fix the book?

again, my main complaint about the book, is the whole fontane side plot, how boring it is, and how it doesnt really tie into the rest of the story because it was just shoved in there by a cash-starved puzo. and also because of how it just goes on and on and on.

I think a great way to fix that side story, would be to tie it into FREDO's story!. fontane, could have formed his little "rat pack" with him, his best friend Nino, and Fredo.

the whole plot could be based around fontane introducing nino and fredo to the glitz and glamour of las vegas and of showbusiness.

it would add excitement by having a goodfella's-style description of the fast life. it would explain how both nino and fredo became so enamourded by it.

it would explain how fredo went from being a shy emo, to banging waitresses two at a time.

and nino from a wide eye, small town musician , to a sexually jaded drunk who hated everyone around him

it would explain nino and fredo's fall into depravity and addiction, while fontane fell into deep depression and insecurity.

and with fontane finally getting his life back together, while his friends became shadows of their former selves, it would add a bittersweet ending to that plot.

this could also explain that it was fontane who witnessed fredo get bitchslapped by his boss.

and it would also build on fredos story. Fredo is the character that we know least about. i think that if we saw the story of his moral decay, we could empathize more with him.

but it could also be fun to see him just discover this exciting new life in which he was granted access to the opulence that was the fruit of his fater's success. Access to luxury, fun, and women, and how it was too much to take in. it would be a nice contrast to his father, who excersiced self control his entire life.

it would also be a GREAT parallel to Michaels storyline.... Fredo would have a taste of unrestricted opulence, and he would be enamoured by it and became addicted to it, leading to his moral decay

in the same way that michael would have a taste of unrestricted POWER, and he would be enamoured by it and became addicted to it, leading to his moral decay.

lastly, fontaines whole sex plot, could be intertwined with fun stories of Fredo's Sexcapades. so theres that.

anyways, how did i do? how's my take on it? should i start writing godfather fanfiction?