Review of 422:
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Kanika Tandon
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Review of 422:
[Following is a volunteer review of "422:" by Danny Range.]
All Bruno Marchesi wanted was to leave his old life behind and start over. Although he hailed from an Italian mafia family, he desired to live a clean and honest life. He fantasized about being wealthy, attending school, having a good job, having a wife and kids, and the whole nine yards. He took pride in the fact that as a former addict and a patient of mental illness, he was able to pull himself out of that dark period of his life. He had been sober for five years when he landed the job of his dreams at Crow Marketing. However, things begin to go downhill for him when he gets enamored with his colleague, Sandra. He becomes completely obsessed with her, enchanted by her beauty and charm. Much to his chagrin, Sandra is already involved in an illicit relationship with their married boss and the president of the company, Ricky Right. Bruno, drenched in rage and jealousy, soon falls back into his old ways. He goes on a bender, indulging himself in alcohol and mindless sex with a vengeance. Soon, his latent mental issues re-emerge and grip him with their tentacles. The lines between reality and illusion begin to blur as Bruno tries to claw his way out of the rabbit hole he has fallen into.
422: Scandalous comes from the twisted mind of Danny Range, the author of this scandalous book. The mood of the book is dark and pensive. The author has gone to great lengths to address the elephant in the room. He has explicitly described the psychological effects of drug abuse. Drawing from his own past experiences, the author manages to create a raw and vivid picture of the mental issues that Bruno suffers from. Bruno Marchesi appears to be Range's fictional doppelganger. The author has attempted to paint an accurate portrait of people suffering from severe mental illness through him. Bruno's pain and suffering were so palpable that it was impossible not to sympathize with him. Bruno is a survivor through and through. Although often in the book I got an impression he might not pull through and felt a chill run down my spine. I have to commend the author because he was successful in conveying his message through his book. He has also emphasized the importance of seeking psychiatric help as well as the importance of proper and ongoing medication. I would also advise against skipping the Foreword section of the book.
Now I'd like to address the issues I had while reading this novel. Unfortunately, I had several. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't connect with the main character. Bruno frequently came across as a whiny guy and lacked depth. Ricky Right, the book's antagonist, was by far the most annoying villain I've recently encountered. That may have been how the author chose to present him. Scandalous Sandra, as she is referred to in the book, is a character who is underdeveloped. She is also spineless and indecisive, and she cannot be deemed as the female lead. The other characters left no impression and are unmemorable. The only character I truly enjoyed was of the "Reaper".
The writing fell short for me. There were a few words and phrases that were used repeatedly throughout the book. Their constant use began to irk me after a while. It is a professionally edited book, as I found only two minor errors in the reported speech. However, there are far too many flaws in the writing and character development. So, with great regret, I will have to rate this book 2 out of 4 stars.
This book is intended for mature bibliophiles who are not offended by the frequent and extreme use of severe profanities. There are also a few sexual scenes in the book, so readers who are sensitive to them should proceed with caution. Anyone who wants to understand the devastating effects of drugs on one's well-being and how mental illness can destroy your life if not addressed properly should read this book as well. However, if you find the aforementioned topics distressing, I advise you to stay away.
******
422:
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
All Bruno Marchesi wanted was to leave his old life behind and start over. Although he hailed from an Italian mafia family, he desired to live a clean and honest life. He fantasized about being wealthy, attending school, having a good job, having a wife and kids, and the whole nine yards. He took pride in the fact that as a former addict and a patient of mental illness, he was able to pull himself out of that dark period of his life. He had been sober for five years when he landed the job of his dreams at Crow Marketing. However, things begin to go downhill for him when he gets enamored with his colleague, Sandra. He becomes completely obsessed with her, enchanted by her beauty and charm. Much to his chagrin, Sandra is already involved in an illicit relationship with their married boss and the president of the company, Ricky Right. Bruno, drenched in rage and jealousy, soon falls back into his old ways. He goes on a bender, indulging himself in alcohol and mindless sex with a vengeance. Soon, his latent mental issues re-emerge and grip him with their tentacles. The lines between reality and illusion begin to blur as Bruno tries to claw his way out of the rabbit hole he has fallen into.
422: Scandalous comes from the twisted mind of Danny Range, the author of this scandalous book. The mood of the book is dark and pensive. The author has gone to great lengths to address the elephant in the room. He has explicitly described the psychological effects of drug abuse. Drawing from his own past experiences, the author manages to create a raw and vivid picture of the mental issues that Bruno suffers from. Bruno Marchesi appears to be Range's fictional doppelganger. The author has attempted to paint an accurate portrait of people suffering from severe mental illness through him. Bruno's pain and suffering were so palpable that it was impossible not to sympathize with him. Bruno is a survivor through and through. Although often in the book I got an impression he might not pull through and felt a chill run down my spine. I have to commend the author because he was successful in conveying his message through his book. He has also emphasized the importance of seeking psychiatric help as well as the importance of proper and ongoing medication. I would also advise against skipping the Foreword section of the book.
Now I'd like to address the issues I had while reading this novel. Unfortunately, I had several. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't connect with the main character. Bruno frequently came across as a whiny guy and lacked depth. Ricky Right, the book's antagonist, was by far the most annoying villain I've recently encountered. That may have been how the author chose to present him. Scandalous Sandra, as she is referred to in the book, is a character who is underdeveloped. She is also spineless and indecisive, and she cannot be deemed as the female lead. The other characters left no impression and are unmemorable. The only character I truly enjoyed was of the "Reaper".
The writing fell short for me. There were a few words and phrases that were used repeatedly throughout the book. Their constant use began to irk me after a while. It is a professionally edited book, as I found only two minor errors in the reported speech. However, there are far too many flaws in the writing and character development. So, with great regret, I will have to rate this book 2 out of 4 stars.
This book is intended for mature bibliophiles who are not offended by the frequent and extreme use of severe profanities. There are also a few sexual scenes in the book, so readers who are sensitive to them should proceed with caution. Anyone who wants to understand the devastating effects of drugs on one's well-being and how mental illness can destroy your life if not addressed properly should read this book as well. However, if you find the aforementioned topics distressing, I advise you to stay away.
******
422:
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Unfakeable Code® by Tony Jeton Selimi
-
Muskan Upadhyaya
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- Latest Review: Wisdom by Arun mago
I like the plot of this story. I really want to know what will Bruno do about Sandra and his attraction towards her.
Latest Review: Wisdom by Arun mago
