Publication Date: October 4, 2024
“Onward” narrates the story of Jovanny, who, after experiencing a tragedy, decides to embark on a life of adventure on his sailboat. His journey takes him to different parts of the world, from Amalfi, sailing to Santorini, down the Nile, before ending up in Barcelona and beyond. Along the way, he learns valuable life lessons from each destination. The adventure takes the reader through the deserts of Algeria, the contrasting cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and a monastery in the south of France. Each destination uncovers more of what the protagonist is searching for and reveals to him, and the reader, what matters.
Filled with action and adventure, Onward: A Life on a Sailboat by Mark Tedesco is vividly written with beautiful and striking descriptions.
Jovanny, known as Gio, lives his life on the water. After a devasting tragedy hits his family, Gio leaves California as a young adult and college graduate. He makes his way first to Italy, where he makes his home base, and from there, he sails to wherever his heart takes him. He makes friends as he goes and learns many lessons along the way. He is very reflective throughout, and we get to know him.
I could feel the energy and emotions that Gio puts forth in everything he does. His friends became my friends since I felt the descriptions accurately portrayed their beliefs and dreams. The people he met, those he lets into his life, and even those who wanted to be friends but were mere passing acquaintances played significant roles.
Matteo was a good friend, his touch point for connecting with every few days or more if necessary, and Gio let Matteo know that he was safe and arrived where and when he planned. Their circle of friends seemed to get larger as he became friends with others who were his friends.
The chapter titles were a nice touch because they hinted at what would occur in the following pages. But everything wasn’t always happy in Gio’s life. There were difficulties. There were injuries. There were those who seemed to want to do him harm. Others were there to help show Gio their part of the world.
The story came to a nice conclusion, but since Gio was still so young, it would be interesting to see if he changed his life path after sailing for so many years. Would he ever settle down more on land? I was engrossed from the first page to the last and loved seeing the historical significance of the different locations and other people’s reflections on them. Several of the places I’d love to see with my own eyes.
Onward: A Life on a Sailboat transported me to different locales throughout the Mediterranean and the Middle East. I enjoyed traveling from my armchair and living in the moment.
Mark Tedesco is a writer and educator who divides his time between California and Italy. He lived in Rome for eight years and is passionate about crafting stories that connect the present with the past, exploring universal human desires reflected in relationships, events, culture, and history.
Mark has written in various genres, including travel writing, historical fiction, memoirs, self-help, and children’s fiction. Some of his notable works are “That Undeniable Longing,” “I Am John, I Am Paul,” “Lessons and Beliefs,” “The Dog on the Acropolis,” “Stories from Puglia,” and his book about Rome, “She Seduced Me: A Love Affair with Rome.” His most recent work, “Onward: A Life on a Sailboat,” features adventure stories in which the protagonist learns valuable life lessons in each locale he visits.
In addition to writing, Mark is a dedicated educator who enjoys sharing his passion for history, literature, and the unique stories of individuals with his students. Recently retired, he loves to travel, and Rome holds a special place in his heart, as he believes countless untold stories are waiting to be discovered there.
