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A review by caomhin
Petrocelli by John Rachel
4.0
This is a tricky book to describe. The fundamental plot of the story is Lenny Petrocelli's involvement with the activities around organised crime, specifically a prostitution ring, but on many levels that's more a background item in what is a very good work of observation on society. The fact it works makes this book quite a find, but it also left me with a niggling doubt that both aspects on their own would've been even more impressive.
Starting with the sociological study that this book presents John Rachel delivers some incredible writing. The depth of empathy shown by the author allows each character to hold views that are so believable it's easy to think the author is projecting his own views to try - until you get to the next section and another character presents polar opposite views with just as much conviction and plausibility. It took me a while to shake the feeling that this was a book with a personal agenda, and to stop trying to work out what that might be. It's actually a very accepting and forgiving work in that regard. Given it deals with some very challenging topics it is happy to show that the world is rarely binary simplicity. The characters have a humanity and realism to them that shows a deep insight into people.
Unfortunately that realism and fairness blunts the narrative of the main storyline a little. It could've grown into a full blown thriller. More exaggerated characters would've ramped up the tension and suspense. By handling these issues with sensitivity we get a lot of backstory, history, and facts - which no doubt make the sociological work above, but they do anchor the action in a reality that is a little more subdued than typical.
Overall it works quite well. Much as I came away thinking both aspects of the book had the potential to be more there are merits in the approach taken. By combining these works you end up with something more unique, something that actually is probably greater than the individual parts in an odd way. This offers a far broader appeal for example, with the narrative helping to soften the tone of the topic and the topic offering a clever background for the plot. This would be a very easy book to get very wrong, but John Rachel has delivered something of note - he displays impressive skills as both a writer and a social commentator. With Petrocelli he's opened up a very tricky subject and he can hold his head high. Books like this can put subjects on the agenda, they can be catalysts for more.
I received a copy of this book for review from the author.
Starting with the sociological study that this book presents John Rachel delivers some incredible writing. The depth of empathy shown by the author allows each character to hold views that are so believable it's easy to think the author is projecting his own views to try - until you get to the next section and another character presents polar opposite views with just as much conviction and plausibility. It took me a while to shake the feeling that this was a book with a personal agenda, and to stop trying to work out what that might be. It's actually a very accepting and forgiving work in that regard. Given it deals with some very challenging topics it is happy to show that the world is rarely binary simplicity. The characters have a humanity and realism to them that shows a deep insight into people.
Unfortunately that realism and fairness blunts the narrative of the main storyline a little. It could've grown into a full blown thriller. More exaggerated characters would've ramped up the tension and suspense. By handling these issues with sensitivity we get a lot of backstory, history, and facts - which no doubt make the sociological work above, but they do anchor the action in a reality that is a little more subdued than typical.
Overall it works quite well. Much as I came away thinking both aspects of the book had the potential to be more there are merits in the approach taken. By combining these works you end up with something more unique, something that actually is probably greater than the individual parts in an odd way. This offers a far broader appeal for example, with the narrative helping to soften the tone of the topic and the topic offering a clever background for the plot. This would be a very easy book to get very wrong, but John Rachel has delivered something of note - he displays impressive skills as both a writer and a social commentator. With Petrocelli he's opened up a very tricky subject and he can hold his head high. Books like this can put subjects on the agenda, they can be catalysts for more.
I received a copy of this book for review from the author.