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Almost Home: The New Paltz Novel
A moral psychological exploration of the most effective ways for a young man to live his life. Also, too: action, baseball, adventure, fights, sex, and all sorts of fun craziness.
"I started reading "Almost Home" by Frank Marcopolos under the assumption that it would be a very sports-centric novel and was therefore surprised to find out that it was actually much more than this. The plot has several twists and turns and explores the overall drama of college life with particular attention being paid to the more seedy aspects.I found the book to be cleverly written, fast paced and interesting in the way it explored multiple elements of University life, from the wild parties to life in the dorms. I also appreciated how Marcopolos gives the readers a narrative that alternates between the viewpoints of both Barry and Enzo. This alternating viewpoint ensured that I could attempt to understand the way in which the characters were acting to the point that at times I couldn't actually decide if I actually liked or disliked them. There really was no good or bad guys in the story, these were meant to be characters with both negative and positive aspects which I enjoyed seeing." - Killien Reviews
"A bildungsroman, a satire, a conspiracy theory, a grotesque parody, thoroughgoingly entertaining, and a sports novel....a wonderful read." - Hopeless Books, Uninc.
"I started reading "Almost Home" by Frank Marcopolos under the assumption that it would be a very sports-centric novel and was therefore surprised to find out that it was actually much more than this. The plot has several twists and turns and explores the overall drama of college life with particular attention being paid to the more seedy aspects.I found the book to be cleverly written, fast paced and interesting in the way it explored multiple elements of University life, from the wild parties to life in the dorms. I also appreciated how Marcopolos gives the readers a narrative that alternates between the viewpoints of both Barry and Enzo. This alternating viewpoint ensured that I could attempt to understand the way in which the characters were acting to the point that at times I couldn't actually decide if I actually liked or disliked them. There really was no good or bad guys in the story, these were meant to be characters with both negative and positive aspects which I enjoyed seeing." - Killien Reviews
"A bildungsroman, a satire, a conspiracy theory, a grotesque parody, thoroughgoingly entertaining, and a sports novel....a wonderful read." - Hopeless Books, Uninc.
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First published July 16, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 15, 2013
I started reading “Almost Home” by Frank Marcopolos under the assumption that it would be a very sports centric novel and was therefore surprised to find out that it was actually much more than this. The plot has several twists and turns and explores the overall drama of college life with particular attention being paid to the more seedy aspects.
The novel follows the conflict between two protagonists, Barry Budiski and Enzo Prinziatta which occurs from the moment they meet at a Halloween Frat party. Things get worse at the part when a stripper appears to die from a drug overdose and Enzo is thrown out by a few of Barry’s fraternity brothers. Barry, who is president of the Frat house soon realises that he should try and keep his potential enemies closer and therefore joins the same baseball team as Enzo and even invites him to be a honourary fraternity brother. Before long the two of them are more or less working together but there is still a level of conflict that continues to bubble along beneath the surface, enhanced by the involvement of two women named Jenny & Shannon.
I found the book to be cleverly written, fast paced and interesting in the way it explored multiple elements of University life, from the wild parties to life in the dorms. I also appreciated how Marcopolos gives the readers a narrative that alternates between the viewpoints of both Barry and Enzo. This alternating viewpoint ensured that I could attempt to understand the way in which the characters were acting to the point that at times I couldn’t actually decide if I actually liked or disliked them. There really was no good or bad guys in the story, these were meant to be characters with both negative and positive aspects which I enjoyed seeing.
However, I did have some issues with the characters and that was in regards to their maturity. I will admit it was 10 years since I was at University myself and it was based in the UK but I don’t remember myself or my friends acting in such an immature manner. Maybe I am misremembering it as being much more highbrow that it really was or perhaps my friends and I were not the norm but either way it ensured that I struggled to really relate with the characters as much as I wanted to.
Overall, this was an interesting book and I enjoyed seeing characters in both a positive and negative light even if I did feel that they were a little bit immature for University students. Personally, I suspect this book will appeal to people in their mid-teens as that is the age group of people I think who would really relate with the characters and perhaps therefore gain more from reading it.
The novel follows the conflict between two protagonists, Barry Budiski and Enzo Prinziatta which occurs from the moment they meet at a Halloween Frat party. Things get worse at the part when a stripper appears to die from a drug overdose and Enzo is thrown out by a few of Barry’s fraternity brothers. Barry, who is president of the Frat house soon realises that he should try and keep his potential enemies closer and therefore joins the same baseball team as Enzo and even invites him to be a honourary fraternity brother. Before long the two of them are more or less working together but there is still a level of conflict that continues to bubble along beneath the surface, enhanced by the involvement of two women named Jenny & Shannon.
I found the book to be cleverly written, fast paced and interesting in the way it explored multiple elements of University life, from the wild parties to life in the dorms. I also appreciated how Marcopolos gives the readers a narrative that alternates between the viewpoints of both Barry and Enzo. This alternating viewpoint ensured that I could attempt to understand the way in which the characters were acting to the point that at times I couldn’t actually decide if I actually liked or disliked them. There really was no good or bad guys in the story, these were meant to be characters with both negative and positive aspects which I enjoyed seeing.
However, I did have some issues with the characters and that was in regards to their maturity. I will admit it was 10 years since I was at University myself and it was based in the UK but I don’t remember myself or my friends acting in such an immature manner. Maybe I am misremembering it as being much more highbrow that it really was or perhaps my friends and I were not the norm but either way it ensured that I struggled to really relate with the characters as much as I wanted to.
Overall, this was an interesting book and I enjoyed seeing characters in both a positive and negative light even if I did feel that they were a little bit immature for University students. Personally, I suspect this book will appeal to people in their mid-teens as that is the age group of people I think who would really relate with the characters and perhaps therefore gain more from reading it.
July 29, 2013
To see my full review:
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
This novel has an interesting concept centering around Enzo Prinziatta and Barry Budiski, two college students that cross paths when Enzo falls for Barry’s girlfriend at a Halloween party. Swept up in lust as he chases Jenny, Enzo stumbles upon the death of a stripper in the fraternity house, unleashing a set of events that put Enzo and Barry into close contact throughout the rest of the novel. Readers feel the tension between the two males from the very first violent outbreak, and the tension remains high throughout the novel as it unfolds, crossing back and forth between the narration of Enzo and Barry, which gives readers a direct link to each as the plot thickens. I love this narration style as it generally allows me to connect even more with the characters, however, in this instance it had the opposite effect for me. The more I learned about the inner workings of the characters’ minds, the less I liked them—though no fault of the authors. Enzo seems extremely immature, constantly drinking, fighting, and trying to score with Barry’s girlfriend, and I just wasn’t impressed or attracted to him at all. From the sounds of his character descriptions, it seems he has a rather large beer belly, as well, and since he’s the star baseball player, well, that was difficult for me to envision, and his sloppy attitude didn’t endear him to my heart any further.
Barry was exceptionally sinister, and his arrogance and flippant nature was an instant turn-off for me from the beginning, but I feel like this was more or less intended. While the pressure from Barry’s father helped shed light on his antics and lies, I never did feel sorry for him or even begin to like his character; he too seemed immature and sloppy to me, just as Enzo did, which made for a tricky read as disliking the two main characters doesn’t bode well for a novel I’m reading. However, the writing was extremely well done, and the story carried through quite nicely from start to finish. And though it’s slated as a sports novel, it’s really much more than that, with relatively little baseball, which was great for me because I really don’t care for sports all that much. Honestly, I think many readers might find the events in this novel quite comical and enjoyable should they not mind the main characters’ immaturity. I, personally, can only give it two stars, though.
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
This novel has an interesting concept centering around Enzo Prinziatta and Barry Budiski, two college students that cross paths when Enzo falls for Barry’s girlfriend at a Halloween party. Swept up in lust as he chases Jenny, Enzo stumbles upon the death of a stripper in the fraternity house, unleashing a set of events that put Enzo and Barry into close contact throughout the rest of the novel. Readers feel the tension between the two males from the very first violent outbreak, and the tension remains high throughout the novel as it unfolds, crossing back and forth between the narration of Enzo and Barry, which gives readers a direct link to each as the plot thickens. I love this narration style as it generally allows me to connect even more with the characters, however, in this instance it had the opposite effect for me. The more I learned about the inner workings of the characters’ minds, the less I liked them—though no fault of the authors. Enzo seems extremely immature, constantly drinking, fighting, and trying to score with Barry’s girlfriend, and I just wasn’t impressed or attracted to him at all. From the sounds of his character descriptions, it seems he has a rather large beer belly, as well, and since he’s the star baseball player, well, that was difficult for me to envision, and his sloppy attitude didn’t endear him to my heart any further.
Barry was exceptionally sinister, and his arrogance and flippant nature was an instant turn-off for me from the beginning, but I feel like this was more or less intended. While the pressure from Barry’s father helped shed light on his antics and lies, I never did feel sorry for him or even begin to like his character; he too seemed immature and sloppy to me, just as Enzo did, which made for a tricky read as disliking the two main characters doesn’t bode well for a novel I’m reading. However, the writing was extremely well done, and the story carried through quite nicely from start to finish. And though it’s slated as a sports novel, it’s really much more than that, with relatively little baseball, which was great for me because I really don’t care for sports all that much. Honestly, I think many readers might find the events in this novel quite comical and enjoyable should they not mind the main characters’ immaturity. I, personally, can only give it two stars, though.
October 5, 2012
"Almost Home" by Frank Marcopolos is a fun and fast-paced novel about the seedy side of student life on a college campus in upstate New York--a netherworld, like any college town, where young adults create lives for themselves, yet are too young to realize the consequences of their actions.
The story is told in alternating voices between two players on the school's baseball team: Enzo, a one-time star pitcher who has taken to drinking heavily and seems destined to become one of the sad aging locals who "could have been a contender," and Budski, a power hitter and budding gangster who runs the local bad-boy fraternity. Budski's main interest is making money, and he has all sorts of businesses on the side, most of them illegal.
The two are in conflict from page one, when Enzo stumbles upon the death of a young stripper at a party in Budski's fraternity house. Budski cleverly chooses to keep enemies his close and so makes Enzo an honorary fraternity brother. In the evil spirit, he later elects Enzo to be the the spokesman (and guinea pig) for a steroid-spiked sports drink that could make them rich.
Stirring the pot are Jenny, a wild girl, and Shannon, a more or less "good" girl who keeps Enzo (barely) on the right path.
When Enzo finally wakes up the fact that Budski is not only taking advantage of him--but could ruin his life--the conflict between them erupts.
I read "Almost Home" in one sitting. (All right, I ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner but after fixing them, I read while I ate. Usually I resist this temptation if the book's on my Kindle.)But "Almost Home" keeps you in its thrall. The language rings true--and reads seamlessly within each character's alternating chapters. The vivid atmosphere settled me in a sleepy burg where the cultural and social center was the college. The powerful and vivid atmosphere, much the same as when I was in college, although much more hypnotic and alluring, goes further. It seduces one to remain on the cusp of adulthood forever. In "Almost Home" that powerful temptation seems possible--at the price of selling one's soul.
The story is told in alternating voices between two players on the school's baseball team: Enzo, a one-time star pitcher who has taken to drinking heavily and seems destined to become one of the sad aging locals who "could have been a contender," and Budski, a power hitter and budding gangster who runs the local bad-boy fraternity. Budski's main interest is making money, and he has all sorts of businesses on the side, most of them illegal.
The two are in conflict from page one, when Enzo stumbles upon the death of a young stripper at a party in Budski's fraternity house. Budski cleverly chooses to keep enemies his close and so makes Enzo an honorary fraternity brother. In the evil spirit, he later elects Enzo to be the the spokesman (and guinea pig) for a steroid-spiked sports drink that could make them rich.
Stirring the pot are Jenny, a wild girl, and Shannon, a more or less "good" girl who keeps Enzo (barely) on the right path.
When Enzo finally wakes up the fact that Budski is not only taking advantage of him--but could ruin his life--the conflict between them erupts.
I read "Almost Home" in one sitting. (All right, I ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner but after fixing them, I read while I ate. Usually I resist this temptation if the book's on my Kindle.)But "Almost Home" keeps you in its thrall. The language rings true--and reads seamlessly within each character's alternating chapters. The vivid atmosphere settled me in a sleepy burg where the cultural and social center was the college. The powerful and vivid atmosphere, much the same as when I was in college, although much more hypnotic and alluring, goes further. It seduces one to remain on the cusp of adulthood forever. In "Almost Home" that powerful temptation seems possible--at the price of selling one's soul.
December 14, 2011
A duel point-of-view book, the chapters change between Barry Budski and Enzo Prinziatta, both of whom are college students and on the baseball team.
Two very different people with a very similar goal: To succeed.
A drunken Halloween party changes Enzo’s life when he pursues a campus beauty all the way into a fraternity house in full-party mode. This is his first encounter with Barry, the president of the fraternity and, with a recently expired stripper, things have just become complicated.
One would expect the plot to focus on this event, but instead finds the two men forming a shaky alliance after pugilistic beginnings.
If you’ve read J.D. Salinger, you’ll feel the same tone throughout this book; one of hopelessness, drudgery, and the inevitable struggle with a coming of age story. Mr. Marcopolos has taken this theme beyond the adolescent years and makes the reader come face-to-face with the beginning of adulthood; those days of feeling like you are going to get what you want by working hard and only if you’d quit making emotional choices.
Two very different viewpoints aptly represented.
Two very different people with a very similar goal: To succeed.
A drunken Halloween party changes Enzo’s life when he pursues a campus beauty all the way into a fraternity house in full-party mode. This is his first encounter with Barry, the president of the fraternity and, with a recently expired stripper, things have just become complicated.
One would expect the plot to focus on this event, but instead finds the two men forming a shaky alliance after pugilistic beginnings.
If you’ve read J.D. Salinger, you’ll feel the same tone throughout this book; one of hopelessness, drudgery, and the inevitable struggle with a coming of age story. Mr. Marcopolos has taken this theme beyond the adolescent years and makes the reader come face-to-face with the beginning of adulthood; those days of feeling like you are going to get what you want by working hard and only if you’d quit making emotional choices.
Two very different viewpoints aptly represented.
December 26, 2013
Marcopolos has crafted a very interesting story.
It deals with a man whose professional aspirations get derailed.Nothing necessarily novel about that-but that's just the beginning of this suspenseful tale.
There is the sense of belonging that many of us have a need for. So even if the clique that Enzo is drawn into is less than savory-it is still luring-at least initially.
Beyond this, there is a complicated romantic triangle, and a life of crime-that he desperately wants to escape from.
Easier said than done.
I may be wrong but I think the author uses Enzo's baseball past as a metaphor for the game of life that has no definitive time.
The book is beautifully written and I look forward to reading more from him. I've just ordered The Whirligig Issues 3-9 by him.
It deals with a man whose professional aspirations get derailed.Nothing necessarily novel about that-but that's just the beginning of this suspenseful tale.
There is the sense of belonging that many of us have a need for. So even if the clique that Enzo is drawn into is less than savory-it is still luring-at least initially.
Beyond this, there is a complicated romantic triangle, and a life of crime-that he desperately wants to escape from.
Easier said than done.
I may be wrong but I think the author uses Enzo's baseball past as a metaphor for the game of life that has no definitive time.
The book is beautifully written and I look forward to reading more from him. I've just ordered The Whirligig Issues 3-9 by him.
January 4, 2013
Although I’m not a fan of sports, this story goes so much deeper – portraying the college scene and all the attendant drama. Skillfully told from two different characters’ point of view, we follow the daily routine of two students who compete on and off the baseball field. From the frat boy pranks and immorality of the partiers and ‘jocks’ to the dedication and soul-searching of serious students/athletes, it covers both extremes and demonstrates how youth views the world.
Well written and edited, with great characterizations and dialog (colorful and authentic), Mr Marcopolos has written a gritty fast-paced story of kids approaching adulthood. Good job!
Well written and edited, with great characterizations and dialog (colorful and authentic), Mr Marcopolos has written a gritty fast-paced story of kids approaching adulthood. Good job!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews