Darkness Falls

John Del Vecchio is best known for his Vietnam novels, written from his own experience in that war. This book, too, draws from his personal history, this time as an Italian-American, growing up in a large family in Connecticut. And like his other novels (13th Valley; For All Things Living; Carry Me Home), his characters, plot and writing is so good, you'll keep reading even if your vision of the world is quite different from the author's (note that this reviewer is a bleeding heart liberal pacifist WASP -- Del Vecchio is not)! This story covers so much that an attempt to explain it in detail may make it sound too complicated. The writing is so good, it isn't too complicated, but it isn't a quick read. Del Vecchio writes primarily from the view of Johnny Panuzio, a middle-aged husband and father in the process of being downsized from his job as an advertising executive. He struggles with a gambling addiction while functioning as best friend to Mitch (a black coworker), a good husband to Julia (fresh back in the workplace as an executive in a publishing company), a dedicated father to a college-aged son, and a son and daughter in high school, a patient son to Rocco, who lives with the family and is slowly losing his memories. Add a mysterious death, a love story, corporate game-playing, and some local politics, all touched by a rich Italian-American heritage, and you have a book you won't want to put down. In addition to Johnny Panuzio's viewpoint, Del Vecchio also offers the reader a view from the murdered high school student (through publications of letters the young man had written), as well as from the views of his teen-aged son and his aging father. There are flashbacks from Johnny's childhood, as well as a running series of his own "final thoughts".A good, thick read that will make you think long after you've put it back on the shelf.

Much like Mr. Del Vecchio's other book, the 13th Valley, I really enjoyed Darkness Falls. The book forces you to put yourself in Johnny's life and forces you to feel his pain, a pain that is so relavant to today. At the conclusion I found myself studying my foundation's in life and where they are going to take me. If you enjoy characters and a deep meaningful story pick up Darkness Falls.

As a parent of high school age kids, I could relate closely to the adolescent and school issues this book examines. In fact, it deals with such a broad selection of family and personal issues, there's something here that will touch almost everyone. I felt that parts of the story were written about me and I believe that most readers will experience this same feeling. The events are very troubling and this book puts you on the spot, to deal with them and where we're going as a society. Meals served up by Del Vecchio (I think this is his 4th book) are not fast food. But, when you get up from the table, you feel full, satisfied and as if you've just experienced a new cuisine. Sticking with the metaphor, the story repeats on you. The issues and choices will continue to haunt you for a long time.

As a parent of high school age kids, I could relate closely to the adolescent and school issues this book examines. In fact, it deals with such a broad selection of family and personal issues, there's something here that will touch almost everyone. I felt that parts of the story were written about me and I believe that most readers will experience this same feeling. The events are very troubling and this book puts you on the spot, requiring you to deal with them and where we're going as a society. Meals served up by Del Vecchio (I think this is his 4th book) are not fast food. But, when you get up from the table, you feel full, satisfied and as if you've just experienced a new cuisine. Sticking with the metaphor, the story repeats on you. The issues and choices will continue to haunt you for a long time.

I don't know how to say it any better than I did above. If you treasure reading--if you treasure literature--you will grab this book up!