Frank the Barber

“I just like a good story. And as far as storytellers go, you’re up there with the best of them.” Those words, spoken by the titular character of Dave Dellecese’s novel “Frank the Barber” could very well describe the book itself and its target audience. Set in Utica, New York on Christmas Eve 1943, Dellecese paints a picture of life in a middle-sized American town during the third year of World War II. In some sense this is a collection of short stories with the town’s barber Frank as the one common element tying them all together. Through a series of different neighborhood member’s perspectives, we get to see a view of the war, Christmas, dreams, and family.You can tell that Dellecese did his research to get the details correct in setting his fictional accounts in the “very real world of Utica” as he puts it in a brief epilogue. He obviously sought out slice-of-life particulars to include in the storylines and they go a long way toward painting a picture of mid 1940’s life on the home front. The inclusion of contemporaneous newspaper blurbs and promotional posters at the end of the book is a nice added touch which also contributes to the sense of authenticity of this historical fiction. It was interesting to see topics still relevant in our own day – racism, poverty, and nationalism – addressed in that era.In reading “Frank the Barber”, I felt elements of several of my favorite Christmas movies. It is set in the time period (roughly) of both “A Christmas Story” and “It’s a Wonderful Life”. Moreover, it has the same short story vignette feel of “A Christmas Story” and “Love Actually”. One tip for readers looking to avoid spoilers – do not read the table of contents or the chapter titles! I felt like what could have been a surprise ending in the final chapter was tipped off by that chapter’s title.For a short Christmas visit to Utica New York and the middle of the last century, pick up Dave Dellecese’s “Frank the Barber”. Like Frank said “as far as storytellers go, you’re up there with the best of them.”

Regardless of whether you are looking for a "local interest" book about the city of Utica, NY, you will find something to love in this interconnected collection of short stories that all take place on Christmas Eve, 1943. Reminiscent of the writings of Jean Shepherd (A Christmas Story), and with cultural echoes of Frank Capra's classic film It's A Wonderful Life, this book keeps kindled the embers of hope in dark times, just as needed today in 2020 as it was in 1943 when WWII was still far from over. By adding historical context at the end of the book and by referencing a wonderful playlist of vintage songs, Dellecese makes it so you can immerse yourself in the world of 1943. Thoughtfully researched and written, this charming book will warm your heart during cold days, now and in the future.