A New Review of Loving Joe Gallucci by Author Sheila Deeth

Here’s a new review of Loving Joe Gallucci from Sheila Deeth, author of Flower Child, Refracted, Black Widow, and Inspired-by-Faith-and-Science books. Thanks Sheila!

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Loving Joe Gallucci, by Kate Genovese

Kate Genovese’s novel Loving Joe Gallucci is a non-fiction account of life and love in America from 1970 to 2001. Meg Flaherty, daughter of an eminent Massachusetts senator, falls in love with third-generation Italian-American Jimmy Romano—a love that crosses boundaries of class and culture. Each of them wounded by events in their past, the two young people turn to drugs and alcohol for comfort and try to deny the attraction growing between them. Love’s battle is long, and life throws plenty of obstacles in its path, from addiction and rehab, to denial and self-destructive behavior, to the threat of death. But true love saves and perseveres, with the help of wise advisers, and Meg proves to be a strong, determined character from the telling of this tale.
Jimmy is wracked by guilt, unable to trust himself. Meg is torn by betrayal, unable to trust anyone else. The broken sides of their characters come together and part, building relationship, marriage and family, then threatening to lose it all. Each step of the path is carefully chronicled; each friend and sibling taking their place on stage; each stranger passing through. But the consequences of self-destructive behavior can be slow to appear, and when all seems well another hammer-blow falls.
The novel splits naturally into three parts—Jimmy and Meg falling in love, the jagged path where love is redeemed from betrayal, and the cruel hurts of living with Hepatitis C. Love’s path remains rough, love’s mercy smooth—to spouse and children alike—making this a detailed tale, a vivid depiction of sickness and love, and an honest paean of genuine lives. The writing’s occasionally long-winded; the story, covering 30 years, is fairly slow; and the list of characters is as long as honesty requires. The final depiction of life with Hepatitis C is heartfelt and hard, and anyone facing such a drama could learn much from reading this book.

Reviewed by Sheila Deeth
For Poetic Monthly Magazine
Rating 4
Title: Loving Joe Gallucci
Author: Kate Genovese
Publisher AG Press LLC
ISBN 978-1-4507-1123-4
Pages: 177