Review of The Road to Moresco
Posted: 05 Jan 2024, 17:55
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Road to Moresco" by Mark Jamilkowski.]
The Road to Moresco by Mark Jamilkowski is a historical fiction book that follows the life of the Moresco family from the very beginning of the family to the present day. The story begins in 1910, in Italy, and travels in time to Florida in 2020, but the real focus of the story falls on Maria-Luisa Moresco and her daughter, Chiara. As Maria-Luisa’s life is influenced by war and loss, she becomes an absent mother to her daughter, who, in return, wishes to be the center of attention for those she loves. After World War II, Chiara meets Robert Glennon, and soon they relocate to America, leaving the rest of her family behind in Germany. But life in America might not be as perfect as Chiara (now Clara) expected, especially after some events take her farther away from Maria-Luisa. What happened between Maria-Luisa and Chiara? Will they see each other again? At the end of life, we learn that we all return home.
This is an amazing book. The author’s writing takes the reader back in time, and the descriptions are so vivid and perfect that I could feel like I was living everything right next to the Moresco family. Each character, especially Maria-Luisa and Chiara, has a strong and clear personality, and it is easy to see how World War I and World War II influenced each of them. Reading about Chiara (Clara) was heartbreaking and emotional, and it felt like reading about a family member. Her life and Maria-Luisa’s were not so different, and like them, many women suffer from abuse and violence even today.
Something I loved about the ending is that, with historical fiction, books usually end with the character’s death, but The Road to Moresco gives it a personal and profound ending, allowing Chiara to, in my opinion, find peace and return home. I loved that the author included a picture of Chiara and a family tree, but I wished he had taken the time to add other family members to the tree, not only those we met through the pages of the book.
There is nothing negative I can say about the book. Because of this, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. The book has been professionally edited, but I did find some minor mistakes—nothing that takes away from the reading experience. The book is short, and I wish I could have read more about the Moresco family. Still, I appreciated the author’s effort to honor their memories, creating a perfect balance between fiction and reality.
I recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction books, especially those set between World War I and World War II and the consequences they had globally. The book goes as far as the COVID-19 pandemic, but most events occur during those times. As a warning, there is mention of abuse, so readers who are sensitive to those topics should avoid it.
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The Road to Moresco
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Road to Moresco by Mark Jamilkowski is a historical fiction book that follows the life of the Moresco family from the very beginning of the family to the present day. The story begins in 1910, in Italy, and travels in time to Florida in 2020, but the real focus of the story falls on Maria-Luisa Moresco and her daughter, Chiara. As Maria-Luisa’s life is influenced by war and loss, she becomes an absent mother to her daughter, who, in return, wishes to be the center of attention for those she loves. After World War II, Chiara meets Robert Glennon, and soon they relocate to America, leaving the rest of her family behind in Germany. But life in America might not be as perfect as Chiara (now Clara) expected, especially after some events take her farther away from Maria-Luisa. What happened between Maria-Luisa and Chiara? Will they see each other again? At the end of life, we learn that we all return home.
This is an amazing book. The author’s writing takes the reader back in time, and the descriptions are so vivid and perfect that I could feel like I was living everything right next to the Moresco family. Each character, especially Maria-Luisa and Chiara, has a strong and clear personality, and it is easy to see how World War I and World War II influenced each of them. Reading about Chiara (Clara) was heartbreaking and emotional, and it felt like reading about a family member. Her life and Maria-Luisa’s were not so different, and like them, many women suffer from abuse and violence even today.
Something I loved about the ending is that, with historical fiction, books usually end with the character’s death, but The Road to Moresco gives it a personal and profound ending, allowing Chiara to, in my opinion, find peace and return home. I loved that the author included a picture of Chiara and a family tree, but I wished he had taken the time to add other family members to the tree, not only those we met through the pages of the book.
There is nothing negative I can say about the book. Because of this, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. The book has been professionally edited, but I did find some minor mistakes—nothing that takes away from the reading experience. The book is short, and I wish I could have read more about the Moresco family. Still, I appreciated the author’s effort to honor their memories, creating a perfect balance between fiction and reality.
I recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction books, especially those set between World War I and World War II and the consequences they had globally. The book goes as far as the COVID-19 pandemic, but most events occur during those times. As a warning, there is mention of abuse, so readers who are sensitive to those topics should avoid it.
******
The Road to Moresco
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon