The Prodigal’s Brother by Paul Castellani (Donwood Books)
Delmar author Castellani has recently published his fourth book of fiction, and like the other three, this book will take you on an exciting ride from the first page to the last. The story is set in the mid-2000s during the housing boom, and it centers on the Morella family and their construction company. Life is good for the family and their work but along comes 2008 and suddenly there is a financial crisis that is especially difficult for companies like theirs. Like Castellani’s other books, readers will enjoy the local settings, and the way he brings alive his characters and allows readers to care about them. He has a true gift for writing powerful dialogue.
Jack Rightmyer Albany Times-Union December, 19, 2021
“Marching On,” by Paul Castellani
Castellani has a gift for writing moving dialogue that keeps the story chugging along at a fast pace. He also captures perfectly the time and place–reading this book is like taking a time capsule back to the Capital Region 70 years ago. This book also hits on the then-national paranoia of the time with McCarthyism, but most importantly Castellani creates characters you care about.
Jack Rightmyer, Albany Times-Union, November 8, 2020
“Natalie’s War” by Paul Castellani (Donwood Books)
This book, set during the war years of the 1940s, was a real pleasure to read. Featuring local settings, including Watervliet, Cohoes and the Tomhannock Reservoir, it revolves around a very likable protagonist named Natalie Pisano who hastily marries Bill Costello just before he ships out to war in Europe. The book spends much of the time on Natalie back home working at the Watervliet Arsenal and struggling with a potential affair with one of her supervisors and Bill, who is in combat in Belgium. Castellani, who lives in Delmar, knows how to keep this story moving, and he has a real gift for writing strong dialogue. I especially enjoyed how he was able to bring to life this time period. It had a real feel of what life was like in the 1940s, and it also showed how so many veterans struggled with PTSD upon their return. I didn’t want the book to end.
Jack Rightmyer, Albany Times-Union, January 30, 2020
Paul Castellani “Advice to Fledgling Authors” by Doug Toscano. Glens Falls Poststar. November 8, 2015
Book Review of SPUTNIK SUMMER by Nicky Gorny, Syracuse.com (Post-Standard) July 19, 2015
“Tourist townie tension boils over in the Adirondacks.”
Book Review of SPUTNIK SUMMER by Betsy Kepes, North Country Public Radio, July 30, 2014
“Castellani paints a detailed portrait of life in the Adirondacks in the late 50’s…”
“It’s a book that moves along quickly…”
“Sputnik Summer is an entertaining beach read…”
Albany Times-Union. June 1, 2014. “Local Reads,” by Elizabeth Floyd Mair
“Sputnik is Adirondack Story,” by Doug Gruse. Glens Falls Post-Star, May 30, 2014
“An Adirondack Summer Turns Tragic for Teenager,” review by John Rowen in The Sunday Gazette (Schenectady), April 27, 2014.
“…mysteries that keep readers turning to the end of “Sputnik Summer.”
“Castellani is a strong writer and captures the feel of the Adirondacks in the summer.”
“Good tale of hot summer in Cold War,” review by Jerry McGovern in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, April 23, 2014
“Sex, violence and anti-communist hysteria in a 1958 Adirondack town makes for a good novel.”
“Castellani has crafted a very fine coming-of-age novel. The conflicts are believable, the characters realistic.” … “His story is a good memory for older readers and a good window into the past for younger ones. It’s a good read for everyone.”
“Five Questions for Paul Castellani,” The Troy Record. April 23, 2014
SPUTNIK SUMMER was featured in The Watertown Daily Times Books of Local Interest. March 23, 2014.
SPUTNIK SUMMER was featured in the Newsmakers column of the Adirondack Express, February 27, 2014 http://www.adirondackexpress.com/Columns/02252014_newsmakers
“New book centers on fictional town between Inlet, Old Forge.” Review by Gina Greco. The Weekly Adirondack, February 20, 2014. http://www.weeklyadk.com/archives/13251
Adirondack Center for Writing announces publication of member Paul Castellani’s new novel, SPUTNIK SUMMER. http://www.adirondackcenterforwriting.org/news-events/member-news
PaulCastellani.com 