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"OH BROTHER"
Chapter 1 of Paul Ciccone’s book is entitled “Believe It or Not,” which were my words exactly as I began reading his book for this review. I could NOT believe the tight cogent prose this author has penned! Believe it or not, I almost felt a bit under educated to even be reading this. Ciccone’s writing reads like a fine college thesis, but he has the aptitude to write theory or psychology textbooks, even speeches, for a living if he wanted to.
Chapter 1 alone almost made me feel like I was reading a textbook, but possibly a requirement for one of those surprising electives that you expect to just stumble through but find yourself being turned on to a whole new... More > subject matter instead. I couldn’t put it down! Here are some of the words I wrote down in the margins as I continuously underlined quote after quote…essay, journalist, man, existence, sociology, psychology, theory… Sounds boring to you perhaps? Not quite. Ciccone is a genius writer and my sideline thoughts on his stories have barely touched the surface.

One of my few qualms with Ciccone’s writing (and there were very few) would be his thesis-like introductions to some of the fictional components. For instance, the first paragraph of a great piece called “Neither Here nor There” is the author explaining to the reader that they are about to read a fictional story “from the archive of my minds memory and not endorsed through imagination.” When reading this I was quickly reminded of Floyd M. Orr’s “Nonfiction in a fictional style” mode of writing. The author goes on to tell a beautiful and poetic story about the last moments of a baby in the womb before literally being thrust into the world. His introduction steals from the real theme of the story and makes it read more like a dissertation.
Looking back at my copy now, I found myself underlining or circling a quote on almost every page.

The author spends much of the beginning of the book giving you lots of complex opinions on a variety of subjects to think about, but he truly starts to reveal himself in a piece called “A Glimpse Back.” Here he recalls a list of memories of people and places that left a distinct impression on his life…a trip to the beach, a fourth birthday. By the time I reached this particular chapter, I had already put the book down twice just to give myself a small break from the overwhelmingly intense, but inspirational, words of this author. So, in reading this part, it was very nice to discover who this writer really is as he reveals some of his private thoughts.

Upon completing this read, I emailed Mr. Ciccone to ask a few questions. To date, I have not yet received his reply, but would still be interested in hearing his responses. I asked what he did for a living, as this man certainly has a talent for creating some wonderful prose. I also asked what inspired him to write this book. Perhaps, he will enlighten us here by replying to the review.

OH Brother is, once again, another POD book that certainly disproves the bad opinions some may have on the self-publishing world. Paul Ciccone, in my mind, is a brilliant writer that I hope many will look into after reading this. If you enjoy a good debate on the essence and quality of life, or just need some pick-me-up motivational words from someone who isn’t trying to sell you them in an infomercial, or maybe you enjoy hearing someone else’s outlook on this great big complex world, then buy this book.

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"Oh Brother. Review"
Ciccone is an authentic New England voice, and he’s current and critical. In chapters like “Nature’s Way” he queries our common future and shared responsibilities. His writing intermixes poetry, philosophy, the honoring of nature, and spiritual intelligence. He does not limit the work in term of genre—for here is memoir, poetry, essays, and a coming of age story; there are stories within stories, framed through the lens of one man’s reflection on his life so far.
As you might savor the lines of Frost or Thoreau, you can return to “Oh Brother” and find something valuable. I gain something each time I pick it up, be it a nugget of wisdom or some... More > wit and charm to bring a smile to my face.
“Oh Brother” can be appreciated by anyone who has a deep respect for the past. This is at once a reflective and nostalgic work with a heartfelt concern for future generations. Fundamentally moving is Ciccone’s emphasis on “inner voice.” For this book is a humble and multifaceted tribute to his own life and to those of his loved ones, as well as a reminder of everyone’s ability to find their own “inner voice.” The book demonstrates his epigraph “words are mirrors to our thoughts” and illuminates Oliver Wendell Holmes’s claim: "What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us."

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"Re: Oh Brother. Review" Thank you so much for taking the time to review OH Brother. Your remarks are flattering as well as encouraging and I do so appreciate your post.
Sincerely, Paul

"OH Brother" OH Brother: is without doubt thought provoking as well as inspirational. A unique piece of prose, that to say the least, teases the readers' attention.
I found myself personally relating my own experiences to many of the subjects discussed (how true it is "words do mirror" our thoughts).