In the novel do they say if Sonny Tom and Freddie make their bones ?
You know kill someone like Rocco did to Paulie.

The novel only traces the criminal career of Sonny. We read that he commits a clumsy armed robbery as a kid, then Clemenza takes him in hand and teaches him the gun, the knife, the garrot, etc.
SPOILER!
Later the Don is wounded by an Irish gunman, and Sonny steps in, showing a "genius for urban guerilla warfare." Presumably that's how he made his bones.
Nothing is said about any violence connected to Tom and Fredo. No doubt Tom "made his bones" when he graduated from law school.
Why not buy or borrow the book and read it? You'll be glad you did!

I can't even imagine Fredo "making his bones"! He is so different than Sonny and Michael. Maybe he was left by gypsies!


TIS

I can't imagine Fredo banging cocktail waitresses, 2 at a time but he did.

Must have been his exquisite wardrobe that attracted all the ladies hu?


TIS

Not to mention his b'yoodiful hair (or lack thereof)!

Mick

it makes me think that Fredo did'nt bang cocktailwaitresses, he's just curling their hair or putting manicure on them.

GoodFella

Yes turnbull but lets remember that the garrot wasnt the fav of Sonny and that disappionted Clemenza

there´s a passaGe in the novel where sonny wonders aloud about how fredo has become when he´s in shock after the assasination on the Don. sonny states that he doesn´t understand since fredo had always been a very touGh Guy. so maybe novel-fredo hasn´t been as whimpy as movie-fredo. in his description he´s also much more massive and masculine. so actually he may have made his bones in the traditional way. novel-fredo at least.

there´s no way Tom "makes his bones" since he´s not one of the touGh Guys (it´s not necessary) and finally killinG someone is a thinG that´s not really tolerated if you are an aspirinG lawyer. your professors miGht not understand, that stuck-up lot.

I agree, there's no way tom would have had to make his bones, a good consigliere shouldn't have to go around killing people and should use his head.

Thats true as well, in the book fredo is no way as wimpy as he was in the movie, so in the book, he may well have made his bones.

Like The Turk says "Relax Tom, we know your not in the muscle end of the family etc." The same was said by Clemenza to Sonny about Michael in the kitchen when Mike wanted to visit Kay in the city after the Don was shot. So until Mike shot Sollozzo and McCluskey he was not expected to make any bones and Hagen of course never did. Fredo is left to the imagination as far as bones go, but being the Don's son I doubt if he had to actually kill someone in the classic make your bones sense.

wil.

In the Book He is refered to as the Toughest of the Lot