A soldier who has become a Buddhist and a techie who has become a people-person reunite after forty-five years for an epic road trip and life journey. Their goal is to uncover a conspiracy and save the soldier’s life. Traveling via almost every form of transportation, they are aided by a quirky crew of people met online and in life who have come to care deeply about them and who are on their own journeys. We see how this odd couple bonded with one another and became who they are. We also glimpse who they are becoming, offering heroes who blend physical prowess, intellectual ability, and spiritual depth. The Way of the Bow lets go of the ego—unifying every layer of self, spirit, bow, arrow, and target—to approach oneness.
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Way of the Bow is a spiritual and lyrical adventure story of comradeship and belief. The central characters of Bernie and Sarge make for a compelling double act that drives the storyline forward in a dynamic and provocative manner.
Prose: Fratello's text benefits from vibrant attention to detail that brings atmosphere and setting sharply into focus. In addition, the book is peppered with quotes from Sun Tzu's The Art of War, Machiavelli and Buddha, effectively enhancing its spiritual themes.
Originality: Way of the Bow is a deeply profound and affecting buddy story with excellently formed characters and a stirring plot. The contrast between the central characters gives the book an effervescent and infectious energy that is extremely enjoyable to read.
Character/Execution: An unlikely patring of Vietnam vets, Bernie and Sarge, form Way of the Bow's endearing and relatable center. Their acutely observed dialogue nicely emphasizes their unique personalities, traits and idiosyncrasies.
Blurb: An absorbing and uplifting buddy story.
Date Submitted: August 09, 2024
Spirituality surfaces throughout the book, as Sarge and Bernie meet an array of colorful characters who push them to reflect on the greater meaning of life. Quotes by Buddha, musings on the Bhagavad Gita, and Zen Buddhism are interspersed among all the action, making the high-speed, cross-country escape somewhat of a catalyst for pondering the non-attachment and rootlessness that comes with being on the road. In one particularly moving scene, as Sarge and Bernie open up to a man called The Professor, Sarge reflects that “everyone here has something that they are walking away from or maybe just left behind,” prompting readers to contemplate just what Sarge and Bernie may be running from—or towards.
Fratello leaves the minutiae of Sarge’s predicament rather hazy, allowing space for the duo—and readers—to sink into their journey as they cultivate a deep friendship and personal transformation along the way. Each chapter is punctuated with quirky characters attempting some version of that journey in their own lives, a strength of the novel that, though not as flashy as its drug cartel regimes and Russian threats, carries serious weight, making this entertaining read surprisingly discerning.
Takeaway: A lively escape turns into a reflection on life in this discerning thriller.
Comparable Titles: Ian Fleming’s Diamonds are Forever, Eric Ambler’s Epitaph for a Spy.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
