Product Description

From the blockbuster author of The Godfather, here is the international and New York Times bestseller about the feverish world of a big-time gambler. Reissue.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #307856 in Books
• Published on: 1979-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 544 pages

About the Author
Mario Puzo was born in New York. He is the author of the bestselling novel The Godfather and many other acclaimed novels. Puzo also wrote many screenplays, including those for the three Godfather movies, for which he won two academy awards. He died at his home in Long Island, New York, at the age of seventy-eight.

From AudioFile
Gardner dramatizes this analysis of the weak, sinful side of an essentially good person. Reading briskly with a slight nasal tone, Gardner brings realism to this novel about flawed choices in life. Amid the glitter and glamour of Las Vegas, New York City, and Hollywood, Merlyn the magician, Osano, Artie, and Janelle battle their own indulgences and watch others become consumed by lust, power or violence. Gardner barely differentiates gender but uses pacing, accents and intonation to differentiate the many male characters. S.C.A. (c) AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Customer Reviews

Better than Godfather
Godfather is a shallow action thriller compared to Fool's Die. Don't be fooled by the superficially simple title, this tale of a mans life is a modern David Copperfield. At times I consider Fool's Die my favorite book of all time. This seems to be Puzos sleeper novel, I can't believe there are no other reviews for it. The most enjoyable aspect is the main character's realistically flawed choices in life, a man at once both honorable and improvident. This book is required reading to all intelligent men, especially aspiring writers(the main character is a writer), who should relate to the main character's dilemmas and trials.

A Masterpice From A Brilliant Storyteller!!!
I first read this book when it was released back in 1979 ( Ah, My Sweet Lost Youth!!!)and I was so impressed by it that I wanted to write a letter to the author teling him how much I enjoyed it. This book has it all. Lust, greed, treachery, deception, sex and violence all the way from the High Roller Gambling Rooms of Las Vegas to the Shores Of Japan. The main character is a guy named Merlyn who somehow believes that he is a type of magician who can control his destiny.Another character worth mentioning is the writer Osano who desperately seeeks refuge from his loneliness in a heady mixture of drugs, casual sex and booze. All of this is deftly handled by Mr. Puzo and the reader is in for one heck of a roller coaster ride!!!

Captivating Developed Characters
The book starts off with a bang - a distillation so to speak of the work of character in the book.

You can read the first few pages on Amazon. I did and it inspired me to go to the local bookstore and buy the paperback. Well, after the short and introspective "book 1," the scenes shifts to an introduction to the initial characters and the setting is the Xanadu in Las Vegas.

Many cool intricacies of the casino and its management are extra added info as the flow of character development builds nicely.

Of particular interest though throughout is the relationships between men and women. The thinking and vocal great author Osano, he of seven wives, gives some very interesting thoughts concerning this subject!

Gronevelt is brilliant. The tough casino operator who lives and dies by "the percentage." Countdown Cully is memorable, so slick and sharp. Jordan figures heavily in the beginning. Merlyn is mostly the narrator throughout and most things are seen through his eyes and written by his pen. Merlyn himself - a study in contrasts and surprises.

Bisexual Janelle, who loves Merlyn more than any other man is comprehensively explored. Merlyn loves her deeply.

But he also loves his wife who makes him happy. She though, in contrast with other characters, is hardly developed at all.

The hollywood crowd is vistited upon also. Not very nice people those folks, one would think after reading Fools Die!

All in all, this book has plenty of merit even in addition to the fact that it was fun to read.