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The narrative takes a walk in time with Wes Marino, age seventy, at Manhassett Beach, New Jersey, as he returns to his childhood home for a day-long visit after almost fifty years. Although this is a literal walk through the town, it is also a walk of remembrance as Wes reflects on the years gone by through his childhood, his teens in the town, and his ongoing adult years from college to marriage to the birth of his two children, the death of his first wife, his marriage to his second wife, and his recent retirement.
But more specifically, this is a story about the protagonist's childhood friendships: with Dean, who was paralyzed at age six while racing a friend; with Frez, his female friend and first Black friend; and with Greg, his friend in Catholic school. Along with the memories of these friends, he reminisces about others, and actually runs into some old acquaintances, while also seeing old haunts and new places. The narrative reveals what takes place in Wes' soul as he goes about this day-long trek and the decisions he and his wife make at the end of this path.
Artfully written, this is an exquisite book of soul-searching and reminiscing through the permutations of life, love, grief, joy, and relationships. It is a poetic reflection on one man's life, written with openness and honesty. It doesn't focus much on his family but on his relationships with others. It is a work less on dialogue than on reflections. Mauro's book is well-written, easily understood, and relatable, especially for those who have gone through a plethora of life journeys. Overall, this is a deep dive into the nuances of feelings in daily life.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review