I read this book way back in April and am finally getting around to reviewing it now because life has been a rollercoaster lately! And then a reading slump hit. But here I am with a review for The Beauty of the Fall by Rich Marcello.
Synopsis: Dan Underlight, a divorced, workaholic technology executive, suffers lingering grief over the death of his ten-year-old son, Zack. When Dan’s longtime friend and boss, Olivia Whitmore, fires Dan from RadioRadio, the company that he helped create, he crashes and isolates himself.
Willow, a poet and domestic violence survivor, helps Dan regain his footing. With her support, Dan ventures on a pilgrimage of sorts, visiting Fortune 500 companies to flesh out a software start-up idea. When Dan returns home with a fully formed vision, he recruits the help of three former RadioRadio colleagues and starts Conversationworks, a company he believes will be at the vanguard of social change.
Guided by Dan’s generative leadership, Conversationworks enjoys some early successes, but its existence is soon threatened on multiple fronts. Will Dan survive the ensuing corporate battles and realize the potential of his company? Or will he be defeated by his enemies and consumed by his grief?
This book was a beautiful exploration into a man’s life trying to survive in a tech dominated world while struggling with grief after losing his son. I was pretty captivated with all that he went through. The book deals with relationships (in and out of the workplace), running a company, networking, and how grief can really change a person physically and mentally.
I found the tech part interesting and enjoyed following along with the loss of a company to the creation of a new one and the bonds and trust involved in the endeavour. I work in the tech industry myself so it felt close to home and relatable for me. There were some parts that got too descriptive with all the tech stuff but that is just a minor nitpick.
I can’t imagine losing a child and for the character to endure and keep going after that is inspiring. They did find coping mechanisms that were not the best but they worked through their issues and got to a point where they could breath again and be okay…even if they needed to hit rock bottom first.
The writing style of this book felt both beautiful and personal at the same time. I would definitely read more books by them.
Book Rating: 3.5/5
You can buy this book on Amazon and Goodreads.
Disclaimer: This book was sent to me in paperback format by the author to read and give an honest review.
Have you heard of this new fantasy series? It’s called The Xanador Saga: Secrets of the Elementals! Read more to see what it is about and where to find it!
An unforeseen adventure.
A magical companion.
A rekindled rebellion.
When Garon stumbles deep into the forest, he hears a voice – one strangely familiar.
The voice guides him to the entrance of a new world – the world where he was born.
Tired of the relentless bullying at school and the strict and unfair discipline of Sir and Madame at the orphanage, he escapes to Xanador, a world where Great Beasts roam the lands, and humans are born with elemental powers. Garon sets out in search of his parents with his newfound companion, his elemental, Aqo.
However, his arrival sets in motion events that will shape the outcome of decades of conflict.
Purchase link to Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B2QKKHBX
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These are all the books that I wanted to share with you that are coming out in September and the ones I am interested in checking out. Let me know of any others that I missed in the comments below!
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