Review of The Road to Moresco
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Review of The Road to Moresco
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Road to Moresco" by Mark Jamilkowski.]
The Road to Moresco, by Mark Jamilkowski, reads like reflective historical fiction: it encompasses one generation of Morescos into the mix of events that gave the 20th century its weight. From Giuseppe and Francesca's first flight from an earthquake and tsunami in Messina, the narrative follows through the generations to relate the struggles and triumphs that descend to characters like Marcello, Maria-Luisa, and Chiara. Love, loss, strength and redemption are at the crux of issues, making this a poignant, thought-provoking read.
The story opens with Giuseppe and Francesca lifting off the ground from the ruins of Messina after an earthquake/seaquake and tracing their descendants, the gauntlets of the 20th century. It traces the story from Sicily into Venice and across the ocean in the United States, weaving a mosaic of love, loss, survival, and redemption. Characters like Marcello, Maria Luisa, and Chiara go through the rigors of war, fascism, and personal ambitions in a story that will keep the reader deeply engaged.
Amazingly, this is an extremely vivid picture of the story, so too much imagination is not needed to be able to grasp each page. It was through the vivid descriptions of historical settings and events that Jamilkowski managed to transfer my mind into different eras as I read the story. It provided the added necessary layer of affection with which the story was told through the emotional complexity and uniqueness of characters, namely Maria-Luisa and her tussles with love and identity, among other issues. Besides, it is the ability of the author to weave the personal and the historical in such a manner that the layers of the story acquire richness, both in engagement and provocation of thought.
While much of the writing in this book is brilliant, at times one gets the feeling that this book just became a little too ambitious in terms of storytelling. It becomes very confusing with all the changing times and perspectives, which hampers the story's readability. Some characters look underdeveloped, and I certainly find those characters hardly relatable. In addition, Chiara's character is not as deeply explored in terms of her motives and inner life as some of the others, so her actions sometimes seem a little abrupt, or at least lacking in motivation. These are the issues that, if corrected or elaborated upon, would make the tale emotionally engaging and, as a result, more effective overall.
I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars because I absolutely recommend this book to readers who relish reflective, historically rich fiction and multi-generational family stories. This is a book best read with an open mind, a story that exposes the interplay between personal and historical narratives, an emotional landscape and historical backdrop that blend perfectly and seamlessly. The book was exceptionally well edited and error-free.
******
The Road to Moresco
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Road to Moresco, by Mark Jamilkowski, reads like reflective historical fiction: it encompasses one generation of Morescos into the mix of events that gave the 20th century its weight. From Giuseppe and Francesca's first flight from an earthquake and tsunami in Messina, the narrative follows through the generations to relate the struggles and triumphs that descend to characters like Marcello, Maria-Luisa, and Chiara. Love, loss, strength and redemption are at the crux of issues, making this a poignant, thought-provoking read.
The story opens with Giuseppe and Francesca lifting off the ground from the ruins of Messina after an earthquake/seaquake and tracing their descendants, the gauntlets of the 20th century. It traces the story from Sicily into Venice and across the ocean in the United States, weaving a mosaic of love, loss, survival, and redemption. Characters like Marcello, Maria Luisa, and Chiara go through the rigors of war, fascism, and personal ambitions in a story that will keep the reader deeply engaged.
Amazingly, this is an extremely vivid picture of the story, so too much imagination is not needed to be able to grasp each page. It was through the vivid descriptions of historical settings and events that Jamilkowski managed to transfer my mind into different eras as I read the story. It provided the added necessary layer of affection with which the story was told through the emotional complexity and uniqueness of characters, namely Maria-Luisa and her tussles with love and identity, among other issues. Besides, it is the ability of the author to weave the personal and the historical in such a manner that the layers of the story acquire richness, both in engagement and provocation of thought.
While much of the writing in this book is brilliant, at times one gets the feeling that this book just became a little too ambitious in terms of storytelling. It becomes very confusing with all the changing times and perspectives, which hampers the story's readability. Some characters look underdeveloped, and I certainly find those characters hardly relatable. In addition, Chiara's character is not as deeply explored in terms of her motives and inner life as some of the others, so her actions sometimes seem a little abrupt, or at least lacking in motivation. These are the issues that, if corrected or elaborated upon, would make the tale emotionally engaging and, as a result, more effective overall.
I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars because I absolutely recommend this book to readers who relish reflective, historically rich fiction and multi-generational family stories. This is a book best read with an open mind, a story that exposes the interplay between personal and historical narratives, an emotional landscape and historical backdrop that blend perfectly and seamlessly. The book was exceptionally well edited and error-free.
******
The Road to Moresco
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Rise of the Savior by Antoine Bonner
