My brother paid tribute to my Dad for introducing him to the Mafia Genre. I remember my Dad's library in his surgery with the very many books he had collected over the years. One of the first books I read from that Library when I as old enough was "The Godfather". Over the years, I have read and reread the Godfather and watched the movie as well. It is by far one of my best books and a hard copied version occupies an important space on my very own bookshelf.
So, I was of course drawn to OMERTA when I paid some old friends a visit. It was among the many books on their bookshelf . I was sure to be intrigued by it and finished reading it during the short space of time I had - in between catching up on old times, babysitting their kids and bonding with my daughter. My son has suggested that I read the Sicilian and my brother has proposed the Valachi papers. So I may just be reading Mafia books which continue to grip my imagination and marvel at the Cosa Nostra - Our Thing. Were they really worse than others or was it bad press they received?
OMERTA is the Sicilian Code of Silence which was the cornerstone of the Mafia's anti-snitching (in modern parlance) sense of honour for centuries. Who likes snitches anyway? During the Mafia days you snitch at your own risk and that of your loved ones. From the book, it appears that another code of honour was the family..."Eshienyu ne Shienyu" as my people, the Luhyas would say.
OMERTA is interesting...Not as gripping as the GODFATHER but exciting nonetheless. It rotates around the Raymonde Aprile family. However it really is the story of Astorre Zeno who was brought up in the Aprile family as a cousin. He himself was a child of a Mafia Don who died when Astorre was an infant.
What did I learn?
(a) Each time I pass via a Bank I will definitely ask myself whether it had Mafia links. After all many of the Mafia families - when the going went tough - laundered their activities and joined the mainstream. It is said in the book that humans would forget the bad things of 30 years and provide accolades for the 'rehabilitated' businesses.
(b) Politics & Church have also been strange bedfellows. The Mafia were deeply religious and many of them ensured there was a place in heaven for them, their kith and kin...all their evil acts notwithstanding. After all money can buy anything even the favour of the church. Don Zeno said "I commend myself to God. He will forgive my sins, for I have tried every day to be just". Who are we to judge God...He is beyond understanding as narrated in the book of Job...Did He not forgive the thief on the cross?
(c) Human beings are treacherous by nature. Any good acts done for people in the past will quickly be forgotten. Do not count on the gratitude of people for actions done in the past as most people conveniently forget. This is a broad and very cynical generalization of the human race. I have friends from decades past who I am certain have continued to be like Astorre Zeno and stand for me through thick and thin. Of course we have all experienced others who sell there souls to the highest bidder.
As for America...The books ends by describing it as the land of vengeance, mercy and magnificent possibility.
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