The Family (Abridged) Audiobook, by Mario Puzo Play Audiobook Sample

The Family (Abridged) Audiobook

The Family (Abridged) Audiobook, by Mario Puzo Play Audiobook Sample
FlexPass™ Price: $21.95
$9.95 for new members!
(Includes UNLIMITED podcast listening)
  • Love your audiobook or we'll exchange it
  • No credits to manage, just big savings
  • Unlimited podcast listening
Add to Cart
$9.95/m - cancel anytime - 
learn more
OR
Regular Price: $31.99 Add to Cart
Read By: Philip Bosco Publisher: HarperAudio Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 9.67 hours at 1.5x Speed 7.25 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: February 2004 Format: Abridged Audiobook ISBN: 9780060752316

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

20

Longest Chapter Length:

46:27 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

40:11 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

43:18 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

8

Other Audiobooks Written by Mario Puzo: > View All...

Publisher Description

“Dazzling, passionate, a masterwork that ranks with Puzo’s best.” —Nicholas Pileggi, author of Wiseguys

“One of his most satisfying works….A thoroughly entertaining posthumous present from one of the masters of popular fiction.” —Booklist

Mario Puzo’s final masterwork. A sweeping epic saga of corruption, greed, treachery, and sin, The Family is the ultimate crowning achievement of the #1 New York Times bestselling novelist who gave the world The Godfather, arguably the greatest Mafia crime novel ever written.  In The Family, Puzo—whom the Washington Post calls, “A serious American talent”—plunges reader into the colorful tumult of the Italian Renaissance, immersing them in the roiling intrigues and deadly affairs of the remarkable family whose name has always been synonymous with power, corruption, poison, and murder: the infamous Borgias.

Download and start listening now!

"I have always liked Jane Green's novels, but this one was a little different, somehow. Two women, living on opposite coasts, have more in common than they could possibly guess. A beautifully written book, both heartbreaking and uplifting. So many strong characters, even when they are at their lowest points, A stirring story about love, betrayal, and family."

— Randy (4 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “Dazzling, passionate, a masterwork that ranks with Puzo’s best.”

    — Nicolas Pileggi, New York Times bestselling author
  • “Head-long entertainment, bubbling over with corruption, betrayal, assassinations, Richter-scale romance, and, of course, family values.”

    — Time
  • “One of his most satisfying novels…The saga is lush, full of detail, with characters who manage to be larger than life while seeming entirely realistic…appropriately epic in scope, mixing fact and fiction seamlessly…A thoroughly entertaining posthumous present from one of the masters of popular fiction.”

    — Booklist
  • “An absorbing, highly entertaining, fictional account of the rise and rule—and eventual fall—of that notorious first family of dysfunction during the Renaissance, the Borgias. Fast-paced and well researched…may well be the most ambitious novel of Puzo’s career.”

    — Barnes & Noble, editorial review

The Family Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.75757575757576 out of 53.75757575757576 out of 53.75757575757576 out of 53.75757575757576 out of 53.75757575757576 out of 5 (3.76)
5 Stars: 7
4 Stars: 12
3 Stars: 13
2 Stars: 1
1 Stars: 0
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Better than I expected, an easy bedtime read, good for when I was tired after work. "

    — Natalie, 2/17/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I enjoyed this book very much, couldn't put it down even though I knew how it was going to develop. Very entertaining. I give it 3.5 stars only because I would have liked it to go deeper in the characters life, especially Eve. "

    — Kitty, 2/16/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " The editor of this book should be fired!!! There are words out of order, words missing, strange word combos (pgs. 40/67/116/129/196/228). Other than that this was a story that kept me interested. Eve's character hit close to home. "

    — Nikee, 2/6/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Good read. I enjoyed it! "

    — Jodi, 2/4/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I couldn't put it down. I enjoy her characters. "

    — Ellen, 1/25/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Loved it! Totally hooked right up until the end! "

    — Rebecca, 1/15/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Evidently the author, Jane Green, is an accomplished author, but this is the first book by her that I've read. She weaves a very good story. The two main characters, women from different parts of the country, find that their lives unexpectedly intertwine. This is a good read. "

    — Donna, 12/26/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I love Jane Green, so it pains me to rate this book so low. The idea of the story was good, but the characters were frighteningly one-dimensional, the writing cliched, and most of it was so unbelievable and contrived that I was not even convinced I would finish reading it. I was very disappointed. "

    — Courtney, 12/16/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Probably really a 2.5. Chick lit personified. Engaging enough, but pretty lightweight. I felt the characters were straight from central casting ... the pampered Connecticut wife, the anorexic daughter, etc., etc. Disappointing. "

    — Terri, 11/9/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I was completely riveted by this book and couldn't put it down.The way that the two families were linked and the illness of Eve was so moving but the female characters were incredibly strong and the book was so uplifting and positive.I loved it. "

    — Lynda, 11/9/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Pretty predictable, but I shunned my other books to finish it, so that says something! "

    — Jenn, 5/28/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " It was a good story but I found it to be way too predictable. "

    — Robyn, 4/19/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I'll write a review when I stop crying! Wow! What a book! "

    — JB, 11/17/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I was a little aggravated at the beginning of the story however stayed patient and enjoyed the book in the end. "

    — Jen, 11/12/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I normally love books by Jane Green but this was not one of my favorites. It felt too disjointed, the storyline didn't flow. "

    — Jodi, 9/3/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I liked this book, but the premise has been done before. 2 women, one on the East Coast, one on the West Coast-both have what they think are good lives. It all falls apart when they find out that their husband is not what they thought. "

    — Pmcdnld2, 8/20/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " It seemed to drag on !! But an ok book "

    — Michele, 6/1/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I liked it! good story! Couldn't put it down! A lot of different and interesting issues! kept my appetite whet the whole book! Good job! "

    — Mimi, 5/2/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Very good book. Every mother who has teenage girls should read this. "

    — Sharon, 4/21/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Yes, it strains credulity. Yes, it's like a lifetime movie. I don't care, I like it! "

    — Christine, 2/14/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Good book, kept my interest. Interesting characters, nice twist at the end. Not my favorite by this author but well worth the read. "

    — Michele, 1/2/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This is the second Jane Green book I have read. I could not put this book down, the characters were so relatable and real. The ending left me hopeful. "

    — Myndi, 12/3/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Though the book was predictable, I still enjoyed the story. "

    — Monica, 10/12/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I really enjoyed this book. I especially enjoyed the strong female characters. And I love the notion that the very worst experiences in life can elevate us to accomplishments we never thought we'd achieve. Since I can personally relate to this right now, it was very powerful for me. Great read! "

    — Jackie, 9/12/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Took me a while to get into- but by chapter 20 I started to like it more. "

    — Lisa, 7/2/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " One of the best stories I have ever read... "

    — Carlos, 5/12/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I never read the Godfather series, but this was a great epic book read over three days. The story focuses a bit too much on the corset ripping but I guess thats what the Borgias were about to most people. "

    — Daisy, 4/25/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I had to read it twice. One heck of a great read. "

    — Kiera, 4/22/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " It's always good to read a historian novel "

    — Lydia, 4/16/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Just started this one - getting ready for the television series "The Borgias" "

    — Jenny, 3/11/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Dramatization of real events in novel form. Not bad. "

    — Jerome, 1/24/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " The Borgia family... well, this turned out to be one of my favorite books. The greed for power again told by Puzo. The good thing is that most of this story is real, I was amazed to see how things worked then (remember that scene with Cesar and his sister?). This is a good way to learn history. "

    — Nicolas, 1/22/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " it was an easy reading, the subject was heavily historical. but the problem is that you dont remember much from book except the title of the book and the author's name. but it was an o.k. reading and i read it only because it was mario puzzo!!! "

    — Duygu, 1/21/2011

About the Authors

Mario Puzo (1920–1999) was born in “Hell’s Kitchen” on Manhattan’s West Side, New York City. Following military service in World War II, he attended New York’s New School for Social Research and Columbia University. In addition to his best-known novel, The Godfather, and other books, he wrote several screenplays including Superman and all three Godfather movies, for which he received two Academy Awards.

About Philip Bosco

Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875–1950), born in Chicago, was educated at Michigan Military Academy and served briefly in the US Cavalry. He began writing while working as a pencil-sharpener salesman, publishing his first piece in 1912 to great success. He authored numerous science fiction and fantasy series but is most famous for his Tarzan books; the suburb of Los Angeles where he lived eventually became known as Tarzana.