Carol GinoRecensioni

Great

37-5

El autor nos transporta al Renacimiento, al mundo de Alejandro VI, el Papa Borgia, y de sus hijos César, Juan, Lucrecia y Jofre. Ésta es la historia de una familia cuya ambición y sed de poder la llevarían a la cima del mundo, y la crónica del alto precio que pagaron por ello.

This book increased my appreciation for the Showtime series "The Borgias" with its attention to detail and the show made me appreciate and visualize all the scenes in the book all the better. Plus, thanks to Showtime, I now know how to pronounce all those Spanish & Italian names properly! Mario Puzo is an excellent storyteller and his books are always a good, enjoyable read. Plus, if you like Puzo's Godfather books and movies, read this book; the Borgias could definitely hold their own against the Borgias.

El retrato fascinante de una familia cuya ambición y sed de poder los llevaría a la cima del mundo, y la crónica del alto precio que pagaron por ello. Puzo nos conmueve con unos personajes crueles y cautivadores, víctimas de sus feroces ...

Mientras la peste negra devastaba Europa, la edad Media tocaba a su fin y la rígida doctrina religiosa empezaba a perder poder. A medida que la sed por las Cruzadas disminuía, los hombres le dieron la espalda a Dios y la razón volvió a reinar. Aquellos fueron tiempos de grandes logros en la filosofía, en el arte, en la medicina y en la música. La cultura floreció pero las viejas leyes se rompieron antes de crear otras nuevas que las suplieran.
Tras el Gran Cisma, cuando la existencia de dos papas dividió la Iglesia y redujo de forma drástica sus ingresos, la restauración de un único trono papal en Roma auguraba una nueva etapa de esplendor para el papado, pero al mismo tiempo la corrupción amenazaba a la Iglesia. Altos mandatarios eclesiásticos mantenían una vida disoluta, aceptaban sobornos y comerciaban con las bulas papales.
Así era la vida en el Renacimiento, así era el mundo de la familia Borgia. Se apellidaban Borja y eran valencianos, pero han pasado a la historia con la forma italianizada de su nombre, Borgia, rodeados de la leyenda negra que forjaron sobre ellos sus rivales (los Sforza, los Medici,…). La trama de la obra se centra en el momento de mayor esplendor de la estirpe, con la ascensión al papado, en 1492, de Rodrigo Borgia como Alejandro VI, quién inició con sus hijos César, Lucrecia, Jofré y Juan una política de matrimonios, guerras e intrigas para aumentar su poder. Este es el retrato fascinante de una familia cuya ambición y sed de poder la llevarían a la cima del mundo y la crónica del alto precio que pagaron por ello.

Para Adultos
Disponible en todas las bibliotecas municipales de Leganés

El autor nos transporta al Renacimiento, al mundo de Alejandro VI, el Papa Borgia, y de sus hijos César, Juan, Lucrecia y Jofre. Ésta es la historia de una familia cuya ambición y sed de poder la llevarían a la cima del mundo, y la crónica del alto precio que pagaron por ello.

The topic - the Borgia family - is great, however I just couldn't get into the writing style of this book.
I don't believe I've read anything else by Puzo (just seen the movie!), so I'm not sure if this is his usual style, or if it's because he passed away without finishing the novel. I thought the bulk of it read more like research notes than like a completed story. Events and background material were laid out in a very didactic way, almost like reading a non-fiction history text. That wouldn't be so bad - except that this book doesn't make a large effort to be historically accurate, and some of the events were not at all convincing. I like to be able to at least think, "Well, it MIGHT have happened like that." Instead, I was saying "no way did that happen," to myself.

The novel wasn't one of Puzo's best efforts although not being his worst either. Following Puzo's signature theme of royalty, loyalty and of course, family, the story depicts the rise and fall of the infamous Borgia Family. Merely portraying their treacherous acts to govern and rule by sacrificing love and innocence, the book does not really deliver the flavors of terrorizing crime nor an intelligent story. Brilliantly sculptured characters however left a promising satisfaction which Puzo brilliantly delivers in all his books.

The novel wasn't one of Puzo's best efforts although not being his worst either. Following Puzo's signature theme of royalty, loyalty and of course, family, the story depicts the rise and fall of the infamous Borgia Family. Merely portraying their treacherous acts to govern and rule by sacrificing love and innocence, the book does not really deliver the flavors of terrorizing crime nor an intelligent story. Brilliantly sculptured characters however left a promising satisfaction which Puzo brilliantly delivers in all his books.

The Family is a fitting ending to a terrific writing career. Completed after his death, Puzo tells the story of the Borgias, what he considered to be the first Mafia family. It starts with the coronation of Rodrigo Borgia as Pope Alexander in 1492. Pope Alexander’s reign as Pope had little to do with religion and had everything to do with amassing power for him and his family. Alexander had children and lovers and a taste for all worldly goods. He sets up his oldest son Cesare as a cardinal with the thought of him taking over as Pope. He marries off his other children to influential families in order to solidify his power base. His son Juan is set up to lead the papal armies and take over lands. Meanwhile his only daughter Lucrezia has a torrid incestuous romance with her brother Cesare. Things eventually start to unravel as the Pope makes many enemies including within his own family.

This is a bit of a departure from some of Puzo’s Mafia fiction, taking place during the Italian Renaissance. He has an easy going narrative style that makes for enjoyable reading. From a technical standpoint, I thought he did a little too much summary narrative and could have dug into his scenes a little better. The characters were strong and memorable. They are all very flawed but still likeable. Cesare, in particular, was a character to root for. I enjoyed cameo appearances by Machiavelli, Michaelangelo, and Leonardo Da Vinci. I have always been a Puzo fan, and although this doesn’t stand up to his best fiction, this was still a very enjoyable read that I would recommend for readers of historical fiction and high drama.

Carl Alves – author of Two For Eternity

this was the last book mario puzo wrote. it was a book that was excellently done. you could really feel the presence of the time. i haven't gotten the borgia history down and so this was quite interesting. i realize it's labled as fiction but so is the sicilian (which was based on a real person) and so i kindof figure this is probably the same sort of thing. he will be missed but i'm so happy i got to read this and it was finished.½

This book had the makings of something special. The Borgias are an original mob family. Instead of owning a territory or even a city...they owned nations and religions. In the hands of Puzo? WOW!

I don't know at which point Puzo stopped writing and Carol Gino picked up. I can only guess that Puzo didn't get very far and/or the editors made a terrible mess of what was left. The story has absolutely no depth, and the characters have even less. The story, if one can call this narrative a 'story', is more of an outline than anything else I can describe. One can almost imagine the bullet points preceding each paragraph. I desperately wanted the early overview chapters to be a foundation upon which a masterful "Godfather"-like story would rest.

Instead, I became desperate to put the book down. And so I did.

Quite simply, this book is unreadable.

Elu pape en 1486 sous le nom d'Alexandre IV, Rodrigo Borgia fut l'une des plus extraordinaires fripouilles d'une époque qui, pourtant, n'en manqua pas. Il eut également de nombreuses maîtresses, dont deux lui donnèrent des enfants, Juan, César et Lucrèce. Ce roman dépeint les luttes entre le clan Borgia et les puissantes familles rivales de la renaissance italienne pour conquérir puis conserver le pouvoir.

Mientras la implacable peste negra asolaba Europa, una nueva cultura empezaba a florecer en las ciudades y el estudio de las grandes civilizaciones clásicas iniciaba una época de esplendor para las artes, las letras y las ciencias. En Roma, la restauración de un único trono papal auguraba una nueva etapa de poder y fausto del papado, pero al mismo tiempo la corrupción amenazaba la Iglesia. Altos mandatarios eclesiásticos visitaban los burdeles y mantenían varias amantes, aceptaban sobornos y comerciaban con las bulas papales que perdonaban los pecados más atroces. Así era la vida en el Renacimiento. Así era el mundo de Alejandro VI, el Papa Borgia y de sus hijos César, Juan, Lucrecia y Jofre. Ésta es su historia, el retrato fascinante de una familia cuya ambición y sed de poder la llevarían a la cima del mundo, y la crónica del alto precio que pagaron por ello. Resultado de una labor de más de diez años y de la maestría literaria de Mario Puzo, Los Borgia evoca de modo incomparable las grandes pasiones que mueven la Historia.

A memorable and touching tale about a nurse's work - very moving but realistic, it gives a good account of a draining but rewarding profession.

I've just read this book. I found it interesting, although some roles could have more depth. It seems accurate with the Alexander VII's known history.

In the afterword written by Carol Gino, we found out that the book was written in a 20 years span. Perhaps that was the reason for a certain lack of unity in the book.

After all, The Family is worth reading, in my opinion.

Saga da família Bórgia e toda a sua ambição.Retrato da época.½

While this book was somewhat interesting, it was written with such a detached point of view and such matter-of-fact prose that it was difficult to become involved in the book. This book is not nearly as good as some of his other works.

Well it seems that the Borgias were and weren’t as bad as I thought. Particularly Lucrezia who has the reputation of a vicious, ambitious poisoner. She was actually just a pawn like everyone else in Alexander’s life. It’s hard to believe that the church wielded so much power in those days. There was no Italian king, instead, each region of the country had it’s own king and was considered a Papal state. It was Alexander’s mission to unite the Papal states and keep out Spain and France. He used all his kids to do that.

Unfortunately, most of the characters are only drawn on the surface and we don’t really get to see what they were like in private. What drove them to do the things they did. Was it because there was no evidence? Surely an author of historical fiction could have taken some liberties? He must have taken a few.

For example, it was rumored (for real) that Lucrezia was 6 months pregnant when the College of Cardinals annulled her marriage to her first husband on the grounds of impotence. Ha! Too funny. So he weaves a tale of doting daddy not wanting his daughter to be deflowered by some stranger. He offers her to both of his sons to do it first. Ceasare is the one chosen, by Lucrezia herself in this scenario, and the two become lifelong lovers. This is why she is pregnant and it seems there are actual documents written by Alexander in which one states Ceasare is the father and the other, himself.

Eventually, the death toll is unbelievably high. All in an effort to sustain the Borgia power in the face of Alexander’s eventual death (by poison). Of course, like everything, the Borgia reign is short. Alexander’s biggest rival and detractor gains the Papacy after his death and Ceasare is captured and imprisoned. After a while he is smuggled out and sponsored by a distant relative, and aristocrat in Spain. While on a mission to put down an uprising for this King or Prince or Duke or whatever, Ceasare is betrayed by the army and is killed fighting all alone.

The story ends with the youngest Borgia still alive and a Cardinal under the reign of the new Pope. I think it was this Jofre who was the most evil. Because he tried to keep the appearance of good. His brother Ceasare is often blamed for the murder of their older brother Juan, but Puzo’s book puts forward the theory that Jofre did it as revenge for Juan having an affair with Jofre’s wife.

Warning: If you are strictly devote to the Roman Catholic Church this book is most likely not your cup of tea.

I picked up this gem in the "Friends of the Library" section of my local library. Having never read any of Puzo's work I decided to give this book a try. The back panel of this paperback contained the following passage as its only description. "We are family," Alexander told his children. "And the loyalty of the family must come before everything and everyone else. For if we honor that commitment, we will never be vanquished-but if we falter in that loyalty, we will all be condemned."

Again knowing little of Puzo outside of his works on world renowned titles such as The Godfather and The Last Don I figured this book was another in the line of Italian Mob stories. Man was I off, by a couple of centuries no less.

This story has none to do with a modern day crime family and all to do with a 15th century semi-ficticious Popes' reign. Although originally feeling baited and switched (more to my lack of research than the authors intentional misdirection) I was drawn into this story. I have not traditionlly been one to care for any story written before or about time periods prior to the 18th century. But I must say that Puzo's style drew me in quite quickly. Additionally, The Family was Puzo's last work as it was completed by his longtime girlfriend Carol Gino. I must say I cannot decipher the point where Puzo left off and Gino took over. As it turns out The Family was written over a 20 year period of time.

Per my Catholic Faith warning at the heading of this review, this book is not for the unwillingly challenged faithful. This book is the story of an extremely sinful pope who uses his power more to benefit himself and his family (yes I said family, I will let you work that one out) than to that of the Mother Church to which he was appointed the vicar of Christ. Although the pages within contain acts of the utmost mortal sins committed by Pope Alexander VI, it is probably not all that far from the reality of the leaders of the church in that day. But without a doubt if this book were on any previewed reading list of the Vatican, it would certainly be reported back to the masses as a morally objectable piece of literature.

If you are able to see past religious sanctioned murder, insest, treachery, and deciet, then you are in for a well written story. If not then it is my hope, that my review has prevented you from reading this treacherous work of heresy and has therefore saved you from eternal damnation.

This book is written to show us the beginings of the true Italian Crime family, of course they are Spanish. The Borgias are the essence of getting and keeping power for the family. I feel that the book was much longer than required. But this is probably to be expected, since Mr. puzzo was not able to finish his work. You can tell the author loved this period of time. He is trying to show us that Pope Alexander was not only the 1st Don but the greatest.

The book contains 4 main story lines and several secondary tales as well. The Borgia Pope and his 4 children take center stage, and the quest to unite Italy is the book's theme. The battles that span most of Italy and even the Island of Elba should read at the pace of military battles and the campaign they entail. This would be my favorite part, but the battles are mostly just briefly mentioned and this is most evident when Cesare conquers Elba in a matter of a few hours and a handful of pages in the book. Though I understand that this is not a Military history book.

Though not not my favorite book, it is worth reading. Espically if interested in that period and to see just how corrupt the church was at that time. I am glad that Carol Gino took on the task to complete this work.

One of the most infamous women of the Renaissance, Lucretia Borgia seems to have a wealth of rumors surrounding her. This book examines the Borgia clan (papa the Pope, the caniving sons who seem ill-suited to their stations, and Lucretia-the beautiful pawn in her father's political games). Puzo does a wonderful job describing the culture, the time, and the thoughts that governed the Church and Europe in those times.

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Really good: it portrays the real low life of the Borgias in all its splendor. It leaves you in awe.