From Afar by Frank Scozzari

Morgan Stanfield journeys from Santa Barbara, California to Saint Petersburg, Russia in search of a soul mate in Frank Scozzari’s novel From Afar. Is love from a distance the solution for a man who isn’t very lucky in love? The thought of a man looking for love on a Russian bride website can be laughed at by readers. “With so many women here, why travel all the way to Russia? “, question critics.

Undoubtedly, Morgan Stanfield’s buddies ask him that question. Does he choose an image from a website and know that attraction will be present on his end before taking that initial step, or does he tell the buddy seeking to set him up with her sister that he is not attracted to the sister? The outcome of a failed romance, Morgan enters the project with a bit of a wounded heart and a desire to trust that doesn’t always work in his favour. Morgan certainly knows what he prefers. Morgan belongs to a generation whose views of Russia and its people were shaped by the Cold War.

From Afar, narrated in Morgan’s voice, is a fascinating work because, despite the difficulties his protagonist faces, he always exhibits an optimistic outlook and an openness that will appeal to readers who want to find the bright side of life. Although Morgan is not a fool, he enters the situation expecting to have to adjust and uncertain of where the road would go. But he stays with it the entire time, wherever it goes.

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Although I considered the character to be a little shallow and overly preoccupied with the flawless eyes and lovely physique his mate should possess, his capacity to recover and continue on his journey without suspending disbelief is commendable. In the first chapter of the book, Morgan tells us the “Ivan story,” in which someone tried to take advantage of him, but Morgan learned from it and bravely set out to meet the woman of his dreams. As we frequently find ourselves inside Morgan’s thoughts throughout the book, he makes insights that occasionally make us laugh out loud and draw us further into this flawed but likeable human’s life.

The writing of Scozzari is informal and fluid. Even though it was a quick read, I read From Afar as if it were a one-man show, so learning that the author is also a screenwriter did not come as much of a shock. I can see someone like Steve Carrell speaking to a crowd about his experiences playing Morgan, though I’m sure Morgan would think Ryan Gosling or another young hunk would be a better fit. A strong emphasis is placed on the character and his growth such that Morgan might experience anything and still have the reader’s crucial interest in any scenario.

From Afar is a search for what he believes his future might hold that is at times humorous, at times sad, and always hopeful. It is the kind of article I haven’t seen before with a previously unheard attitude. I don’t want the reader to get the feeling that the scene isn’t vividly described or that Morgan’s fellow characters aren’t fully realised. Morgan meets a man on a plane early in the book who may have easily been a caricature. He advises his less experienced travelling partner on how to get sex once they get in Russia.

While portraying the man as a chauvinist to the hilt, Scozzari gives the character humanity by enabling him to experience his own brand of love when he finds the lady he wants to share his life—if not his bed—with. What could have easily been a one-dimensional plot device rounded out the character and made me, the reader, want the couple well despite the high likelihood that they would be miserable together?

Pick up a copy of From Afar right away if you want a fantastic character study with a surprising ending. It’s a light book for the beach that will transport the reader to strange and unexpected locations.

About The Book

For centuries, poets have argued that unrequited love is love in its strongest form. From Afar is a timeless tale of Morgan Stanfield’s search for love in the far northern city of Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Leaving the warm climate of Santa Barbara, he embarks on a four-day odyssey where he encounters a Russian beauty, a prostitute, a wise old babushka, an American chauvinist, intellectuals, the Russian mafia, and the ‘face’ of love, and comes to know how love from a distance can be more captivating than love close on hand.