Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

When I saw the title of the book, The Godfather Lover’s Guide to Sicily, two things stood out to me: Sicily and the Godfather. Now, I’m quite the Italophile, and I’m also very curious about the mafia. Plus, I have watched all the Godfather movies, and while I’m not a huge fan, I do admit they’re classics and have put a certain standard on movies of the same kind. I was so intrigued I just had to request that book, and thankfully, Pen and Sword Books (an amazing publisher, by the way, go and take a look at their catalogue!) granted me an e-ARC of this book.

Now, I have so many feelings about this book—I was almost certain to enjoy it, but it exceeded my expectations!

Care to discover how so?

Read on, darling!

The Positive Points
The major thing I noticed is that I was always excited and giddy to pick the book back up and resume my reading! And that’s quite telling!
I find this book amazing! Indeed, the reading sessions flew by; I read an hour at a time!! Which is a lot for me who’s used to reading in chunks of 20 minutes throughout the day.

I am really glad there are numerous photos of the movies and the locations included throughout the book. It makes it way more visual and interactive. Also, there are a lot of colours in this book, even in the squares and sections for info tidbits such as film facts and scene recaps (if you forgot a bit of the movie, that was so helpful). There is also insider information as well as Sicily trivia (like how functions the menu and what is the course order in trattorie and ristoranti). It’s fun to learn such tidbits of info in a more informal manner rather than in the overall text. It sounds as though a tour guide is talking to you, being all friendly. It is refreshing and makes for a nice break. I noticed there are scene analyses from the Godfather, too! While I couldn’t remember all the scenes, it was interesting to see them being dissected like that, according to a topic tackled in the text previously.

Moreover, not only does the author talk about the settings in relation to the movies, she expands on their respective history and their relation to the movies and how it stands nowadays. She also tackles Italian and Sicilian customs related to the movies like the “confetti” Apollonia serves at her wedding party.

She also talks a lot about architecture (no wonder since she is an architect!!!) and art, yes yes yes, it’s lovely and fun!

I love that the whole book, including the trivia and info tidbits, helps see the movie and the Sicilian culture in a new light! It also makes me itch to have a rewatch of the Godfather trilogy haha! I watched the first movie twice and the others once. I love the ambiance and the world it depicts, but I was never a huge fan, yet I find this book exhilarating!

Plus, I love that the author talks about other points of interest like the Museum of the City of Savoca which features a room dedicated to the making of the Godfather movie. If the characters are in a certain setting or go from one point to the next in the movie, the author will mention what you can find in that area or walking the same path as the characters did. It’s really like a tour guide of Sicily and the movies’ locations! And I love it!!
It’s also very fun because there are several anecdotes, facts and unknown stories to us of what really happened while filming these movies. It’s both fascinating and entertaining. Did you know there is a statue of Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola in Savoca? The local artist Nino Ucchini created it to pay tribute to the filmmaker for bringing worldwide renown to Savoca! I think it’s fascinating to learn (and we get pictures of such facts and anecdotes!) This is only one of many, but it shows the impact of that movie trilogy around the world.

And here’s a funny fact about my experience: This book is so interesting that I kept stopping my reading to take notes!! And this is the first time it’s ever happened to me, so WOW!

The Negative Points
Ma che cosa è esso? (But what’s that?)

In Conclusion
I really think The Godfather Lover’s Guide to Sicily is worth a purchase and a read! I am not a fan of the Godfather movies per se, but I found myself to be highly entertained with this book and all I learned in it about Sicily and the behind the scenes of the movies! It also gives interesting locations to visit for tourists looking to recreate the Godfather’s journey in Sicily, or even to just soak into the Sicilian culture and visit a few personal favorite locations from the movie for a special occasion, say a honeymoon or a long-awaited vacation.

I highly recommend this book to the Godfather fans as well as Italophiles like me. It’s a tour guide with an interesting angle for fans all over the world looking to travel from your home or to actually go and visit these places with the book as guide. A gem, I love it!

For all these excellent reasons, I give The Godfather Lover’s Guide to Sicily a fabulous rating of 5 stars out of 5! This book impressed me, and I hope you will feel the same!

NetGalley, Catherine Girard-Veilleux

Are you a fan of The Godfather and have an interest or a trip planned to go to Sicily? Then this is the book for you.

It is full of must see places where the film was set and filmed - those being theatres, churches, villas, temples, cafes, cases and Mt Etna - travelling through the Town of Savoca, Forza D’Agro, Motta Camastra, Taormina and Surrounds, Acireale and Surrounds, Palermo and Surrounds, the Mainland and Corleone.

You can feel the history through the pages and photos and it is also filled with facts about the film, movie scenes and locations.

NetGalley, Nikki Taylor

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Opens with some lesser-published details about the making of the films and the novel they are based on.
Lots of pictures from the film comparing it with the actual locations, and a must have for all Godfather fans.
Loved it.

NetGalley, Didem Durak Akser

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The Godfather Lover's Guide to Sicily by Mediterranean archaeologist Karen M. Spence swiftly pulled me in. All it took was the title as Sicily has a special place in my heart. I am no expert about the film The Godfather but enjoyed watching it, especially as I know many of the settings and locations on the island and mainland Italy. Seeing these places contextually brings the bustle and rich history, food, culture, traditions, architecture, arches, churches, roads, seascape and festivals to life. Sicily is as vibrant as it seems...and more! The 100 photographs include F. F. Cuppola directing actors, beautiful sets, acting scenes, gorgeous buildings, side trips, scenery and food. One of the most striking in ways is the Addiopizzo logo which is a reminder who does and does not rule that shop. Concepts such as vendetta and historical bits such as the founding of Savoca, dessication seats, sugared almond tradition, 'cucina povera', eyes and ears on castle turrets and the role of Trieste are all here. But there's so much more like the meticulous detail in an actor stretching his suspenders with his thumbs for top notch authenticity. I had no idea some of the actors were locals who lived there before and after the film.

In my view, Sicily is the starring character in this enduring classic, an all-sensory experience not to be missed. After detailing sights and sites, the author explains whether they are available to the public or not. She really has done the legwork for the traveler.

My sincere thank you to Pen & Sword and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this captivating book. Bravo!

NetGalley, Brenda Carleton