Praise
Praise for Rich Marcello's Work
Cenotaphs is a beautiful, timely, powerful novel. I read it slowly, savoring each scene. Its elegance, intelligence, poignancy, and humanity remind me of Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See.––Mark Spencer, author of An Untimely Frost
Cenotaphs is a masterful, moving meditation on loss and moving forward, and on the possibility of transcendence. But it’s the characters and their voices that will keep haunting me, so much so that I know readers will return to them time and again, as if they’re long lost members of a family.—Rebecca Givens Rolland, author of On the Refusal to Speak
Cenotaphs is an achingly poignant tale of love and loss, and for its protagonist Ben, how the two are intimately intertwined. In the course of this short novel, classic betrayal and unfathomable loss birth the most unexpected platonic love, and in doing so, show us the power of forgiveness. Marcello’s writing is elegant and lyrical and through a complex web of extremes, Cenotaphs cleverly reminds us that nothing is meant to last forever.––Mark E Sorenson, author of A Restaurant in Jaffa
Cenotaphs unfolds organically, the reader hit by each wave of character revelation until submerged in their trauma. It’s a powerful monument to forgiveness and the struggle to accept one’s self. Each character is well-drawn, and it’s a testament to Marcello’s skill that he can voice feelings which, for lesser authors, might emerge as trite sentimentality. Ben and Samantha feel fully realized, their psychic wounds profoundly awful, devastatingly immediate, and heartbreakingly believable. A profound treatise on healing, presented through unforgettable characters. ––blueink review
Cenotaphs by Rich Marcello is a gripping piece of fiction you won’t be able to put down. A treasured gem that you will want to read time and time again. Intelligent, poignant and thought-provoking, and a definite five stars! This isn’t just a story for ‘story’s sake.’ Besides being a fascinating story about two hurting people coming together in a loving way, this is a tale about life. More importantly it’s about choices and connections. It is very philosophical, delving deep into human responses and why we function the way we do. It’s a stirring and contemplative read, a book that makes you think. This is a novel I am sure people will read several times over their lifetime, and upon each read will take away something new. ––Artisan Book Reviews
One of the finest aspects of this novel is how it tackles the relationships between Ben and his old friend Marianne, and then his new friend Sam. Both of these relationships are fascinating follows, teetering between the lines of all possible relationships you can have with another person, so it’s hard to describe exactly where they both fall. There are sometimes physical attractions, sometimes not. Both bonds seem stronger than the one he created with his wife of two or three decades, built on trust, honesty, and friendship. Marcello kindly asks the reader to put aside their preconceived ideas of what a relationship can be, and to accept things as they are in this story. It’s a type of control I’m happy to give up during the reading of Cenotaphs. ––Independent Book Review
A compelling novel that perfectly captures the unscripted events and coincidences of real life, where you can do your utmost best, and the unimaginable still happens. A novel in which we quickly come to grips with who the characters are and what their lives are like with Marcello writing with such directness and a fine ear for everyday dialogue that his characters seem real and plausible in just a few brief words. Cenotaphs proves a superb release for Marcello and a must-read for discerning readers of top-notch literary fiction. It is recommended without reservation. ––Bookviral Reviews
Overall, the novel (Cenotaphs) focuses on the theme of finding and accepting love, specifically platonic love, after extreme misfortunes and loss. I personally enjoyed the many deep interludes about love that were spread throughout these pages. For example, Ben stated, “My greatest learning is this – love people exactly as they are, flaws and all, for as long as they grace your life. We don’t get do-overs, do we?”. I appreciated the profoundness of this statement as well as the many that followed. They are both contemplative and engaging, drawing readers to reflect on their lives and how they can love those around them better. ––The San Francisco Book Review
Cenotaphs is a thoughtful, if diffuse, examination of platonic love; the ways we close ourselves off in order to avoid pain and what happens when we open ourselves up again. Imbued with emotion, empathy, acceptance, and an essential understanding of the complicated bond of love between two adults, this deeply intimate, emotionally charged tale is a winner. Lovers of literary fiction won’t want to miss this one.––The Prairies Book Review
Rich Marcello’s writing is necessary. During the times of uncertainty, we faced over the two years the global pandemic lasted, many tumbled down the rabbit hole head first and stuck firm with their “truths” while others sank into a state of deep contemplation about any and everything. Rich Marcello falls into the latter group. Each chapter is rich with the understanding of the human condition extending beyond the personal. The questions posed are relatable; many of us sat in the spaces we were confined to and ruminated on the exact same things. Politics, philosophy, love. Rich Marcello taps into the intricacies of human nature without becoming overly contrived. He reigns in his story several lengths before it falls into the pitfall of losing its meaning, losing its potency. This book is exactly as long as it needs to be. Reading it feels like checking in on one’s own humanity. It is chicken soup for the soul. ––Booknerdiction Must Read
I found Rich Marcello’s absolutely outstanding new novel, The Latecomers, gripping, original, thought-provoking, and very clever. I cared deeply about the main characters, and the book kept me guessing, kept me reading compulsively to find out what happened to them. ––Sophie Powell, author of The Mushroom Man
“Rich Marcello’s The Beauty of the Fall takes the reader on two intriguing journeys: the exciting coffee-fueled rise of a high-tech start-up and the emotional near-collapse of the man behind the revolutionary company, his personal journey through grief and healing.”––Jessamyn Hope, author of “Safekeeping”
The prose is as mesmerizing to read as the story is deep and heart-touching. The plot of the book (The Latecomers), however, is something very unique. While the first half deals with relationships, friendship and what it means to enter the old age with your partner, the final half deals with a mystical ancient book. Maggie and Charlie, both of them are such memorable characters due to the fact that they have been written finely. But more interesting was the mystical touch to it which kept the book engaging. Its uniqueness is in the emotions that it portrays. The book is very human and reads like a life experience more than a narration. Yet, at no point was my desire for fiction ignored. ––Pallavi Sareen, Alex The Shadow Girls Blog
Rich Marcello writes with the grace of a poet. The narrative is filled with vitality and is steeped in elegance. Reality crosses over seamlessly into mythology and mysticism. Imagine a tea that does more than just appeal to the senses. The unearthing of a life-changing cure suited to all mankind gives readers hope, even as adversity strikes the characters. Close relationships in a variety of forms are core to the story. The Latecomers is life affirming and beautiful. Marcello writes a story that is truly unique in a world where corporations can buy loyalty and there seems to be little grace in aging. 5 Stars. Indies Today Recommended.––Jordan Ehman, Indies Today
An impressively crafted and inherently riveting novel by an author with a very special knack for effective and entertaining narrative driven storytelling. There is much to recommend in this unusual, outstanding read. From its exploration of too-familiar challenges in the lives of aging Americans to its unexpected injection of moral and ethical questions and the process of going after the biggest question of all (life’s purpose), literary readers who enjoy strong contemporary stories of transformation have much to relish in The Latecomers. Its incorporation of mystical and philosophical elements places it a step above the anticipated story of an aging couple’s conundrums and changes. ––The Midwest Review of Books
I have never wanted to sit down and take as much in from a book as I have with The Latecomers! I took it slow and enjoyed one chapter at a time, letting each one settle in my mind before starting the next. This book gave me hours of joy and filled me with emotion effortlessly, and it has quickly become one of my all time favourites. I’ve never read such artistic, colourful and gentle words in a book before. Reading the opening was quite a surreal experience, and I don’t really know how else I can describe it! This book felt like a breath of fresh air from the first line I read, the words flowing perfectly from sentence to sentence. This book had an incredible impact on me. Each sentence was delicately crafted to fit into the bigger picture, each page left me longing for more. The story filled me with pretty much every emotion, and I really have to applaud the author for doing everything right. A huge congratulations to Rich Marcello on creating such a masterpiece of a book! ––A Quintillion Words Blog
The Latecomers is beautifully written, the narrative is poetry as prose, as the words caress the reader in this journey of life and love, aging and generativity, joy and loss, and with a spirituality that exudes from the very first page. With Marcello’s lyrical writing of an exceptional story, this book is sure to be on the reader’s top list of books for the year. ––Recommended by US Review of Books
The Latecomers is a stunning achievement. Getting to know Maggie is like meeting the Queen and realizing she’d be fun to grab a coffee with—and that the guy she hangs out with might be charming and attractive, but she’s the one who needs to be in charge. The writing is beautiful, the flawed characters are three-dimensionally human, the plot both surprising and inevitable. ––Rosies Book Review Team
The Latecomers by Rich Marcello is a very profound, enriching and meaningful read. It shows us, beautifully and quite truthfully, how life goes on beyond one’s retirement and how we are destined to fulfill our purpose in life irrespective of our age. It is a beautifully written book, with lyrical prose and with utmost sensitivity on a topic which many people avoid to even acknowledge. This book makes you think hard about your life, and one’s purpose. It has a beautiful message wrapped in complex layers of philosophy made entertaining with a sprinkle of magical mystery. I highly recommend this book to everyone who likes to read on subjects related to philosophy and life’s purpose. Also, people in their middle-ages and above are sure to relate to this book on a much deeper level. ––The Reading Bud
When you hear the word surrender, you might think of loss, of giving up, of accepting defeat. But what if you surrender to what will come? What if you surrender to inevitable change? Rich Marcello’s The Latecomers is a satisfying exploration of spirituality and love through care, mystery, and magic realism. The spirituality and interspersed mysticism add a uniqueness to the novel. Add in an almost-dystopic conversation about addictive drugs that are good for you and a worthwhile antagonist in a money-hungry medical corporation, and we’ve got ourselves a pretty fascinating novel.––Independent Book Review
Marcello delivers memorable characters in Maggie and Charlie. The Latecomers is a rousing emotional adventure story that should appeal to readers of literary novels with big ideas.––BlueInk Review
In The Latecomers, readers ride the waves of the characters’ emotional journey to self-healing and self-discovery. This deep, thought-provoking novel navigates the complexities of all aspects of life––though our bodies grow older, our spirit lives on, and this novel explores the road to acceptance of that fact. Marcello has created an ethereal work of magical realism that will inspire readers with clarity, wonder, and inspiration. ––The Book Review Directory
Marcello’s prose is masterful, The Latecomers’ narrative smooth, and the hefty dose of science-fiction mixed with magical realism adds to the intrigue of the story. The book is as much about “the very nature of the age-old relationship and its intricacies” as it is about the questions of aging, wisdom, and the fabric of the modern society. This absorbing story of relationship intricacies will appeal equally to lovers of magical realism and literary fiction.––The Prairies Book Review
Rich Marcello’s highly original novel The Latecomers blends humor, suspense, and poetic prose while tackling big issues like graceful aging, chosen families, corporate ethics, personal fulfillment, and the unending quest for self-discovery, and brims with philosophical depth about the world and life’s possibilities. – Indie Reader Approved––IndieReader
This deep, thought-provoking novel, The Latecomers, navigates the complexities of all aspects of life––though our bodies grow older, our spirit lives on, and this novel explores the road to acceptance of that fact. Marcello has created an ethereal work of magical realism that will inspire readers with clarity, wonder, and inspiration.––The Book Review Directory
Philosophical, and deftly written, The Latecomers by Rich Marcello offers a sincerely unique novel about connectedness and age. Poetic writing, with an intriguing plot and thought provoking story, The Latecomers is a book that shines light on the taboo subject of aging, and what love and sex means after sixty.––Reedsy.com
WINNER: BEST CONTEMPORARY NOVEL 2017. Spectacular writing, interspersed with actual poetry, business vignettes drawn from life, and development of a deeply flawed, complex, and charismatic main character made this one of the best books I’ve read this year. For anyone with a technology background, The Beauty of the Fall is a must read. For everyone else, it’s a present right now, even as fall’s beauty heads to ––Barb Taub for Rosie’s Book Review Team
A deftly crafted novel by a master of the storytelling arts, The Beauty of the Fall is a consistently compelling read from cover to cover and very highly recommended for community library General Fiction collections. ––The Midwest Review of Books Fiction Shelf
INDIEREADER RATING: 4 OUT OF 4. The Beauty of the Fall is well-named–it is almost a poem in prose about the ability of the human spirit to find beauty, new hope, and new purpose even through loss, grief and despair. The Beauty of the Fall is a poetic book, which shows us the internal world of a driven, devoted, thoughtful and very human protagonist through grief and triumph, love and heartbreak. Hope shines through this book even at its darkest moments, and it offers a quiet guide on achieving true happiness and peace in a world that sometimes seems to reward all the wrong things. The author’s writing style is thoughtful, almost lyrical, giving the book’s events an emotional rhythm and deepening their meaning. ––IndieReader
The Beauty of the Fall has a great deal to recommend it to readers of literary fiction: the excitement of a business venture, the poignancy of a primal loss and a host of unusual characters. Marcello doesn’t pull his punches when describing Dan’s self-destructive behavior (born of his grief and helplessness), nor does he force a happy ending. ––blueink Review
There is a certain haunting lyricism to this remarkable book about a father coming to grips with the death of his only son – a death he feels he caused. Its rich depth, satisfying substance, and willingness to examine key social issues such as global warming and battered women, force the reader to confront the truly inconvenient truths all around us while remaining invested in the story’s key players. This is a rare read, and one to be savored, especially now, when seeking respite from the current worries of an uncertain national – and international – future. It’s good tonic for the soul; a restorative tale of perseverance against all odds. Five-plus stars to The Beauty of the Fall. From start to finish, it never disappoints.––Publishers Daily Reviews
Grab some tissues for this one. Today I’m reviewing The Beauty of the Fall by Rich Marcello. Spiritual, inspirational, and modern, I haven’t been so emotionally affected by a book since Flowers for Algernon. In fact, Marcello’s book has affected me more, making me sad and hating certain people but also inspiring me and making me hopeful for the future. I highly recommend Rich Marcello’s The Beauty of the Fall. I have a lot to think about, both personal and big-picture. Writers, artists, engineers, creative people of all disciplines will appreciate Dan’s vision and those looking for spiritual relief will find a release in following his struggles.––The Writer’s Scrapbin
Every once in a while, we get to read books that change how we see life. Rich Marcello brought such change in his literary novel, The Beauty of the Fall. This is for readers who love an intellectual read with profound life lessons and a host of inspiring characters.––The Online Book Club
While The Big Wide Calm can rightly be called a coming-of-age story, it is also very much a tale of a young woman who discovers how to truly love. Marcello’s novel has a lot going for it. Well-written, thought-provoking, and filled with flawed characters, it meets all the basic requirements for best-of-show in the literary fiction category. ––The US Review of Books
The Big Wide Calm is a character driven, contemporary fiction novel that explores music, art, ambition, fame and deep philosophical themes. The sophomore work by New England author Rich Marcello draws you in right from the cover, the intriguing title, and the first few pages. Marcello has done a remarkable job of breathing life into the well-written lead character, Paige Plant. She is interesting, confident, strong, full of tenacity and spunk. She is definitely an individual who marches to the beats of her own drum. She even switches the gender role and objectifies men by calling them the first letter of their name! The novel encompasses interwoven philosophical elements throughout the story that go even deeper than the plot line causing the reader to pause and think. It’s a distinct coming of age story that is smart, well-written, and unique among other works of literary fiction. As a music love this book was a real treat for me, and it will be for you, too! It is a must read.––Breakaway Daily Magazine
Fathers and sons have always shared a powerful and sometimes difficult bond. When to speak, when to hold still, when to love, when to let go. Rich Marcello, in a marvelous new collection of extraordinary verse, drinks deeply from this well as he channels the thoughts and feelings of every father for his son. This lyrical collection transcends description, doing what all good poetry does, shining a soft light on often-unexpressed feelings. Marcello’s superb writing flows effortlessly. Five-plus stars doesn’t seem like enough for this glimpse into a good man’s soul. But it’s all we have to bestow on The Long Body That Connects Us All. You’ll want to read and re-read it again and again.––Publishers Daily Reviews
The Long Body that Connects Us All is a powerful collection of poetry. If you want to think and feel about your life and future, read this book alongside a box of tissues. In sharing his poetry, which reads like a memoir, Marcello has really written on elements of the human condition that do connect us all. Rating: 5 out of 5 .––The Book Review Directory
Review of The Long Body That Connects Us All. Rich Marcello, a poet extraordinaire, has taken his life experiences and put them into lyrical words from every walk of life. His words tell us how to be a good father, a good man, and a good human. In the humdrum of life, where the pace is fast, emotions are low, Rich’s words act as a mirror, to reflect back, to think, to analyze what is important, to enrich our core and go back to the roots. Rich’s poems emote the pathway of life, some lonely, some together, but all have a goodness in them. He has spun pure gold with his thoughts to words, a complete work, where each poem reflects the pathway of life each of us is on. Whatever be the strife of life, his poems have a spiritual quality in making us think and bringing us back to humanity, kindness, and love. Five out of five stars.––Shalini’s Books and Reviews
