Fools Die

By: Mario Puzo

Narrated by: Kristoffer Tabori

Length: 19 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

From the blockbuster author of The Godfather comes this bold international best-seller about the feverish world of a big-time gambler.

Merlyn and his brother, Artie, obey their own code of honor in the ferment of contemporary America, where law and organized crime are one and the same.

Set within America's golden triangle of corruption and excess—New York, Hollywood, Las Vegas—the novel plunges into the glittering and ruthless worlds of gambling, publishing, and the film industry, where greed, lust, and violence hold sway. As high rollers, hustlers, and scheming manipulators use power, sex, and betrayal to win, the strongest survive—but fools die.

©1978 Mario Puzo (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

More a series of short stories

Felt more like a series of short stories that were loosely linked. Was an ok read

some good, some tedious

Parts of this are interesting and move right along, and other parts, particularly the parts where the narrator is perseverating about women, get extremely tedious. The reader is wonderful. The best reader I've ever heard. I actually chose this book partially because he was the reader.

Wonderful book!

This book takes place in Puzo's imaginary world of New York, Las Vegas and Hollywood, and has some familiar characters from The Last Don. But, this book is a bit different than many Puzo books as the mafia and even Italian culture have been left out except for an occasional mention. The book's protagonist is said to be Puzo, himself. He's an excellent story teller, and the book naturally sucks you into its universe. I definitely recommend this book!

Loghard

I read the book 40 years ago as a teenager and made me cautious about gambling and women and I think it’s really important to understand what Puzo is saying in this story .
Recommend reading for the full story of Puzo and how writing is to help people understand each other and the betrayal they feel in getting away with.

Puzo is a master of the tale and Tabori is the cream voice that transports us.

This tomb is a great proof and repudiation of Puzo as only a mafia writer. He is a writer's writer, a critic's writer, a film maker's writer, a gambler's writer, a lover's gossip and such a truthful liar. Once you get into the thick of this one you're indebted throughout. All the things you're busy with in life will be colored by the magic of this book; by its magician, by the brandishing of Puzo's wry wit and honesty. And Tabori pours it all like such honey into your ears. You're hooked like a fool fish on a buttered line. Everything is felt, because nothing should be missed. We all live as such glorious fools and Fools Die.

Buy this.

Narrator Kristoffer Tabori is a treasure and his talent is especially showcased with this material. Very recommended.

better to be read to

I actually enjoyed the audio performance more than reading the book myself. Very, very well done.

Mediocre Story but Outstanding Reading

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Nope. Find a good story read by Kristoffer Tabori

Would you ever listen to anything by Mario Puzo again?

Less likely

Any additional comments?

Mediocre book but outstanding performance by Kristoffer Tabori, the reader. Plenty of sex, though more in quantity than quality, but very little drugs, violence, or suspense, which is expected in a Las Vegas story. Several illogical twists near the end.

I liked it

Brilliant In my opinion. I would like to hear more about the Xanadu hotel chronicles

Great story, lousy audio

This story is really fun. The audio is perhaps the poorest effort from audible.com.