Reviews
"A gripping story of overcoming terrible odds. A FINALIST and highly recommended." The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
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I chose Coming About: Life in the Balance because it is a memoir and as an author of a recently published memoir, I wanted to read another author's work in the same genre for comparison. I loved this book! I was captivated from the very beginning and found the book hard to put down! It was so easy to imagine Mario and his partner as dear friends and don't we all secretly wish to retire to a Caribbean island? Dell'Olio writes well and his words and text paint vivid imagery for the reader. The scenes at sea are so descriptive that I almost felt seasick just reading his words. Throughout the book, I admired the resiliency of these courageous and adventurous men during some challenging and difficult times! In the end, their love and strong partnership triumphed over all the heartbreak.
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“I was delighted, heartbroken and dumbstruck over the contents of these pages! I was thrilled with Mr. Dell'Olio when he made the leap to leave the comfort of San Francisco, then terrified for him as he was trapped in that first horrible storm. I was crestfallen at what appeared to be the loss of his dream, then elated at the start of the rescue attempt of the Sogno. I felt I was on that rocking boat with him as his partner wiped the blood from his eyes in the dinghy, in mortal fear he’d not be able to secure the engine or get Mario on board. Most importantly, I was inspired by this tale of overcoming overwhelming odds and triumphing in the face of adversity. Coming About: Life in the Balance is written in the tradition of Jon Krakauer's books Into the Wild or Into Thin Air, and if you like those or Adrift by Steven Callahan, you'll love this book. Buy two because you're going to want to give the other copy to that friend with a boat!!”
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“Coming Around is a very personal story, told by a master storyteller. The narrator, faced with a desire for more from his life, exchanged the world he knew in San Francisco for the archetypal great adventure in the Caribbean. Dell'Olio paints his journey in gripping detail--the devastating storms at sea, life-threatening encounters with the destructive powers of nature, and the wisdom gained from it all. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down--a marvelous tale, well told.”
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“I picked up this book after reading another review, and planned to read it over vacation. While waiting for a friend to arrive I began the first chapter. Three hours later, I had tears in my eyes as I read the last page, wishing for just one more piece of the author's life puzzle. Every chapter brought back memories of my own life's journey, it's ups and downs and twists and dives, and then would hit that emotional, sensitive part of my being that very few authors can touch. Bravo to Mario Dell'olio, please bring us on more of your life's adventures!”
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“Like many who have read Mario's incredible book, I couldn't put it down. I was so enthralled by his descriptions of sailing to St. Thomas, the difficulties of living in this new place, and the longing for the community that was left behind in San Francisco. It was remarkable reading about the peaks and the valleys of this journey and feeling like I could see, hear, and smell everything that Mario described. Coming About is a tremendous story of human strength and fortitude, and I cannot recommend it enough.”
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“Riveting read. I couldn't put it down once I started it and was so captivated by this true story. At its core, it is about the relationship between Mario and Jim and their journey reveals many truths about relationships, making this story relatable to one's own life. Highly recommend.”
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“Well-written, exciting with tons of pace. Although it might put you off buying a boat.”
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‘It sounds like such a fun adventure. Sailing off into the sunset. But for these two forty year olds, the dream is a bit of a nightmare. This is a superbly written story of battling tough odds on the open sea.’
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“It is such a great survival story woven with a love story around. I hardly find time to read books but when I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down and I was curious what was going to happen next as I turned pages. Mario's articulation and the way he expresses himself are very captivating. From time to time, I laughed and from time to time I got a chill or tearful emotions carried me away. It is a must-read.”
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“Dr. Dell'Olio's novel, Coming About: Life In the Balance, is a powerful story about a difficult situation that is ultimately used to find deeper meaning and purpose in life. The novel explores life's triumphs and tribulations and offers unique perspective on how to respond to these situations. I found myself deeply inspired and compelled to reflect on my life in new ways upon reading the novel. I truly loved this book and would highly recommend it!”