Book Review of Marvin Piersoll by Bernard Mendillo

Synopsis:

MARVIN PIERSOLL is a comic, episodic novel about a man who realizes he has nothing to lose when his second wife leaves him for another man. He sets out on a journey of discovery--ostensibly to learn how to sail--driving from New York City to Wellfleet on Cape Cod. All along the way, Marvin meets all manner of people and learns what's over the horizon.

Review:


Marvin Piersoll by Bernard Mendillo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

I was offered this book to read, but at first I was in two minds about accepting it, as I don't normally read this type of genre. However, I decided to give it a try and I am so glad that I did, because I LOVED it!

Marvin Piersoll is a character that I really liked. Marvin is a teacher of physics at Brown University. He is a normal man, living a normal life, but after his second wife leaves him, he sort of has a midlife crisis and sets off on a journey to learn how to sail, but ends up on an adventure that changes him profoundly.

I started reading this book and found myself totally engrossed from the first page. This is a warm and humourous tale that not only had me laughing at some of Marvin's antics, but also shaking my head over the choices he made. His journey from New York to Wellfleet is peppered with some unusual characters; from an ex-nun to a young teenage girl struggling to get out from under her family's thieving ways. I loved the way the author made these and other characters come alive. The descriptions of the locations were also well described and I felt like I was travelling, and experiencing, the journey with Marvin. I was extremely touched by his generosity towards strangers, and would definitely like to meet him one day. Marvin has a gentle soul that has taken a beating, but also has the strength of will to keep going, no matter what. I loved being part of his journey. The end of the story was a little bittersweet on my behalf; I was happy that he reached his journey's end, but sad that the book had ended.

Barnard Mendillo has written a touching story that had me riding a roller coaster of emotion. I love his writing style, which was fast paced enough to keep me turning the pages, and the flow of the story was wonderful from beginning to end. I do have one tiny complaint; the book cover does not do justice to the story. If I was to see this in a book store, I would probably overlook it. I know one shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, but this little gem needs one that reflects something about the story which will, in turn, catch a reader's eye. This story needs to be read!

I highly recommend this book if you love heartwarming fiction full of humour and odd characters. - Lynn Worton

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