Customer Reviews

Dear Dante

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a thoroughly enjoyable story of two men, each struggling to emerge from his individual darkness. One is at home and living a reserved life. One is in the midst of a pilgrimage and open, with quite a tale to tell. A stop on the traveller's extended journey brings him to the home of his old college professor who listens to a remarkable story. This is a profound experience for both men in very different ways with each partially aware of the sometimes subtle effects on the other. They are deeply reformed by the telling and listening, and go forth to their own lives with a renewed outlook and clarity.

Maulucci's compelling writing style covers a broad range of emotions and relationships. He refines the style presented before in The Discovery of Luminous Being and in Adriana's Eyes. Characters deal with their families and associates in ways that are both realistic and fantastic. Among associations in Dear Dante is a tender description of one couple's lovemaking ritual and a later gut-wrenching scene of the same woman's reaction to learning her lover's secret. This reader's adrenaline was racing. The traveller in this book has friends, lovers, enemies, and business partners. Each relationship reveals something in his evolving view of mankind.

Maulucci makes references to classic works in addition to Dante that may lead the reader to review the stories. This reviewer enjoyed them and how the inclusions enhanced this story. The cover art of Francesca and Paolo is most fitting.

A truly enjoyable read. Hopefully Anthony Maulucci will not make readers wait too long for his next novel.

Like it's namesake, Dear Dante is a tale of transgression, redemption and realization. A professor's former student seeks him out as confessor and in the process both men learn alot about each other and even more about themselves. A gripping story with the right mix of the exotic, esoteric and sensual and thoughtful enough to make this pleasure far from guilty.

DEAR DANTE...........blows me away! It is a most incredible book...! I think it's what's known as a tour de force: rather brief as novels go, but there is so much in it. It's very simple & very complex at the same time.

Here are a few of the things that grabbed me:

The Dante/Beatrice thing: As a description it is intriguingly & beautifully executed. As a suspense device, it's very effective. As a metaphor, it's both powerful & subtle: for John's personal sexuality (although he never did anything to demonstrate this); for a major theme, for connecting David & his narrative to the John & his work & further to Dante & his works; as an opportunity to believe in things not scientifically provable..... like all good metaphors, it evokes & opens doors.... Maulucci's descriptive powers are magical! Many visions of pure visual /sensual delight. I had to reread passages over & over just for the beauty of it ........ The ability to create suspense on so many different levels--it is actually a "murder mystery" -but the personal quest for love plot, the probing of eternal questions, moral responsibility, and the spiritual journey are engrossing!