The Big Wide Calm Book Review

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First Impressions

The Big Wide Calm first reads like a ‘rags to riches’ story when the reclusive rich multimillionaire John decides to help the talented starving artiste Paige Plant with an arrangement that would see him helping her to record her first album. With this deal, finally Paige would be able to write and create a multigenerational album that will help carve her place in stardom. It seemed overnight Paige would achieve her dream of being famous and rich. The deal John offers Paige almost seems too good to be true and the reader is left wondering when the other shoe might fall.

Peeling Back the Layers

The book progresses and the layers start to peel away. It becomes clear that the story isn't just about a girl (Paige Plant) wanting to become a rich or famous star or a man (John) whose past decisions had made him into a broken shell. In truth, the story is about unconditional love. No, The Big Wide Calm is not your typical love story that you see in a cheap copy of Mills & Boons. It is much deeper than that. It explores love that blooms after pain, rejection and brokenness.  The Big Wide Calm offers no clichés just raw human experiences in the stark reality of the need for human connection.

Writer’s Craft

I admire the writing style of the author Rich Marcello. He craftily creates a world in the novel which is surreal yet believable. This technique is also seen in the presentation of John. John is quite unlike any other character I have met before. He is childlike and complicated at the same time. The character of John leaves you wondering what events in his life might be real or is every event craftily created by his delightfully demented mind. Marcello’s development of John’s character leaves you wondering if a number of events in the novel are carefully orchestrated by John to test Paige.

 I am normally able to size up the flow of a plot within the first four chapters. This was not the case with this novel. In short, Marcello leaves you guessing with each page. In The Big Wide Calm each page, each chapter is an adventure. The novel will leave you wanting more. This is definitely a good buy. You won’t regret your purchase.