Julian's Debut - Paperback

by Brian Alessandro (Author)

Julian Sorrento has written a New Yorker article about selflessness and altruism. In it, he portrays himself as an exploited victim of his large, dysfunctional family and a savior to the homeless youth he serves as their social worker. Following the article's publication, Julian's family comes after him with a righteous fury. They claim he has exaggerated and distorted facts, making them the villains. His agent encourages him to expand the article into a book. As Julian meets with each member of his family to hear their grievances, he also seeks-or sometimes makes up whole cloth-additional damning secrets about them to include in his memoir.

"Brian Alessandro has written a rollicking family story that follows a flawed and fascinating character through the ethical terrain of memoir writing. Funny, beautifully written and brimming with the best kind of big questions." -Lexi Freiman, author of The Book of Ayn

"An invenetive, wildly entertaining novel, which revolves around the hazards of writing a memoir about one's family. What a cast of characters Brian Alessandro has brought to life, thorugh sparkling dialogue and vivid, often comical scenes. I enjoyed Julian's Debut immensely!" -Bill Hayes, author of Insomniac City: New York, Oliver Sacks, and Me

""By turns comic, wrenching, appalling, bewildered, shrewd, never nice, and always alive, Julian's Debut is a powder keg of a book that explodes and explodes." -Paul Lisicky, author of Song So Wild and Blue: A Life with the Music of Joni Mitchell

"Brian Alessandro's Julian's Debut is a masterful exploration of wit and emotional depth-a fearless, unapologetic examination of the fine line between truth and betrayal in storytelling. With raw vulnerability and sardonic humor, Alessandro vividly captures a protagonist navigating the delicate balance of baring familial scars to the world. This novel delves into the complexities of loyalty, identity, and the resilience that defines us, all while embracing our beautiful imperfections." -Emanuel Xavier, author of Love(ly) Child