Reviews
An amazing story of self-discovery and struggle. Dr. Dell'Olio leads his readers through the heart and mind of his characters as they struggle with love, loneliness, and faith. He captures the depth of struggles of identity and fidelity. Beautifully written. Highly recommended!
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The author conveys convincingly the struggles of a man coming to grips with his true identity and the complications that result from his relationships with those who choose to live behind a mask, unable to live honestly with themselves and the world. His personal awakening creates conflict as he challenges the dogma of the church he has devoted his life’s work to.
Emotion floods every page. The characters are dramatic and the narrative flows. Easy and enjoyable reading.
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Mario Dell'Olio's Body & Soul offers a window into the excruciating internal and external struggles of two individuals who are on the quest of self-discovery.
Do I, don't I? Should I, shouldn't I?
These are the questions haunting Luca & Brad, the stories main characters. Do they come to terms with what society dictates? Or do they pave their own path?
The vulnerability displayed in the characters by Mario is relatable to some degree for any reader, of any orientation.
Dell'Olio has a descriptive and engaging writing style that takes the reader on a vivid journey through a very real and controversial subject.
If you're interested in reading an unorthodox Romance, this book is for you!
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This book is told in alternating years from Luca's college relationship with Brad to the current day as Luca lives as a priest. Themes of intimacy and the dynamics of relationships permeate throughout, but the strongest and most poignant theme is that of self-discovery. People continue to grow and evolve even in middle age, and this story illustrates the messiness and complexity that comes with figuring out one's self.
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This book really resonated with me. It reminded me of my childhood and the important role the Catholic Church played in it. The main character, Luca, struggles with his sexuality and the commitment he’s made to the church. I found myself thinking how great it would have been to have a priest like Luca in my hometown parish. This book is appropriate for readers of all ages, particularly young adults.
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The journey that gay men take in a world that, even today, doesn't fully accept them, is a journey only he can choose to make. Accept and resign yourself to living a certain way, or take charge and make the situation work for you. (I know that's a simplistic statement but the essence of my thought is there.)
Body and Soul follows such a journey of two men, though undoubtedly- more from Luca's perspective than from Brad's. Though it is not told in a 'dark, depressing manner', it is the sad tale of closeted men trying to inch their way out of the dark (on their own) while hiding the passion of their lives in secrecy.
It's hard to review this as merely fiction, because whether or not this story is based on actual events; this scenario has been lived by many throughout time. The battle of BODY vs. SOUL, or better yet- Body, Mind and Soul is timeless.
Religion has both saved and destroyed many men. Readers can either choose to be judgemental of the characters' choices or try to understand their efforts to reconcile things, that by their very nature, are at odds with one another. (Body and Soul.)
It is with all this in mind that author Mario Dell'Olio tells this story. He does so, carefully relying on the feelings and experiences of his characters, in a moving account of their journey to navigate a challenging and difficult road.
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A beautifully written story about young love and love reignited. Luca at 18 years old and Bishop De Santo at 55, both in search of intimacy. It is an incredibly honest look at faith and sexuality. Partially written as a memoir, the main character, Luca, struggles with sexual identity during the 1980s. His first foray into a romantic relations ship is fraught with all of the highs and lows of first love. What makes it more complex is the need to lead a double life in a time when gay relationships were even more difficult. Secrecy, prejudice, and fear conspire to weigh down his first experience of love. His very identity is in conflict with his deep Catholic faith and desire to become a priest. The honest struggle with the Church is beautifully told and sensitively exposed. His struggle with faith and sexuality is still relatable in the present day.
The character development is the strongest aspect of this book. One is drawn into each emotion and feels every struggle and fear. One can easily relate to the uncertainty of self-discovery and self-doubt. In many ways, this is a historical perspective of gay life during the 80s. The picture it paints is an accurate portrayal of the political and social attitudes of society and church towards the LGBTQ community. It also describes the effects those attitudes had on the coming out process. It sensitively shows the interal struggle of one needing to find love while wanting acceptance from the world around them.
The character of the bishop in the present-day is accurately portrayed as well. With all the controversy within the Catholic church and hypocrisy regarding gay priests, abuse, and hierarchical cover-ups, the bishop's struggle with his own demons is strikingly real. One would have to have blinders on, or be incredibly naive to think that leaders such as bishops and cardinals are beyond such human temptations regarding their own sexuality. The author humanizes Bishop De Santo and draws the reader into his internal conflict with faith, vocation, and sexuality. Basic human needs arise within the character and compete for attention as the Bishop confronts his own frailty.
Another unique aspect of this novel is the POV. Switching from the 1980s and present-day, the POV changes as well. I found the first-person perspective of the young Luca to be refreshingly intimate. It felt as if he were telling his own story to me. It reminded me of the ego-centric phase of adolescence when the whole world seems to revolve around our own needs and concerns. There is an intimacy the is communicated in his first-person POV. In contrast, the stories of the older characters of present-day are told in narrative third-person POV. I liked the change in voice.
Dell'Olio is an adept writer. His prose is clear and descriptive. I am often disappointed by grammatical errors and poor syntax, but not here. His style flows easily and leads the reader to love his characters and their internal struggles. Dell'Olio helps the reader understand the ubiquitous nature of human frailty through his clear writing. To some, this topic may be controversial, but it is very real. The author is sensitive to the unique experience of coming out and struggling with sexual identity while being respectful of the church and those with a deep faith. He strikes this balance with adroitly.
I was impressed with Dr. Dell'Olio's breadth of knowledge with regard to psychology and the Catholic church. It is said that authors should write what they know, given his education and background, he has certainly done that. I found myself learning more about the Catholic church than I ever learned from the nuns in elementary school.
I applaud the author for Body and Soul and I look forward to more from him. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys character development and stories of interpersonal relationships. It is a wonderful work of fiction.