Saraceno

by: Djelloul Marbrook

Published by: Open Book Press

Reviewed by: Julie Failla Earhar

Last night I picked up Djelloul Marbrook's first novel, Saraceno, and read the first 30 of the 111 page novella along with the author's version of the origins of the story--and then I skimmed the rest.

I'm not a prude, but I found the cover unsettling: an erotic photo of a topless (albeit good-looking) man surrounded by leaves. That didn't strike me as an appropriate cover for a Mafia story, but I like to think I'm opened-minded. (Remember, I reviewed Brokeback Mountain). In Chapter 1, the word "shit" was used seven times in six pages. I found no need for it. I can only guess the author was going for shock value.

According to the author's notes, the story is based on his real-life events. However, he leaves out key details that readers need in order to understand the protagonist (Billy,),the reader is only allowed to see Billy through ill-fitting and strange analogies that don't make sense...at least too me. Marbrook must be using some kind of allegories or metaphors that I do not understand

Especially troublesome, I found, was the vague, hardly discernible plot line and the use of multiple dialects (New York, Russian, Italian, and some Irish) which are confusing and don't work. While reportedly written as a different kind of Mafia story, but the story consists of only scenes of vulgarity and violence that take place over a 15-year period

I can't recommend Saraceno.

Armchair Interviews says: We suggest readers take a sneak peek on Amazon.com before deciding whether or not to purchase this book.