Maybe it is because I am from Revere, maybe it is because I am an Italian American, maybe it is because I am a sensitive woman, surely it is because Roland Merullo is an exceptional writer!

I felt like I was reading my history, and the history of my family as I was reading this story. The characters are all people I grew up with, the same insecurities, the same hopes and dreams, the same tragedies, and Mr. Merullo captured the heart and soul of life in a small town in America perfectly!

I absolutely love this story, these characters and I am so Proud that I am a Revere person.

I beg you to read this story and not laugh out loud and cry with your soul!

I don't know how to thank Mr. Merullo enough for his insight, his humor; his soul must know my soul and I am forever in his debt.

Enjoy,
Debbi :)

"Revere Beach, In Those Days" is the beautiful story of young Anthony Benedetto's spiritual journey that confirms his love for his Italian-American family even as he must cut many ties with the place and people of his childhood. It is the kind of rare book that made me want to reread it immediately. It would be a great choice for a book club; there are so many levels to it to be discussed, pondered. Anthony's unforgettable Grandfather has an idea for his grandson that helps him find his way in life. Merullo's idea for America is to rediscover the spiritual realm and to temper its hunger for the material one. How appropriate that Merullo is a Massachusetts writer. His story is told so elegantly that he makes masterful writing feel easy. One can only hope that he will write more books like this one. Encore!

This is a memorable read featuring well developed characters and a finely crafted story. Similar to Nino Ricci's trilogy, Merullo adds a dimension of warmth and humor to his story.
I was thrilled to discover this is not his first work and there are more Merullo works to be enjoyed.

This splendid little book is a double-edged Christmas gift: any intelligent golfer will love and benefit from it--and any gift-giver will appreciate having such an easy choice. "Passion for Golf" is not an instruction book, a how-to about better grips and reading greens. Instead it is a gracefully written (Merullo is a novelist) exploration of what golfers really battle on the course--not just the lies and bunkers and crosswinds but themselves and their demons: Ego, Anger, Fear, and others. Merullo writes of how to the game, and he doesn't need to draw on any Tigers or White Sharks to enlighten you. Indeed what is most appealing about this book is the he writes from the perspective of a pretty-good amateur playing a no-name course in western Massachusetts. And if you step back a bit for some perspective, you see that this is really a book about life. MBA's who have worn out their copies of "The Book of Five Rings" will find it worth their while, but any passionate golfer will enjoy a round in Merullo's company.

Revere Beach Boulevard is my favorite book of 1998. I think everyone can relate to one or more of the characters and some how find yourself thinking about them even after you've put the book down for the night.The book was written in first person narrative for each character. Its amazing how you begin to identify each character after only a few words .

Revere Beach Boulevard is the literary equivalent of My Big Fat Greek Wedding in that it represents everyman's home town or even his home...an excellent insight into our changing world, customs and mores. Roland Merullo captures his reader in the prologue and never loses his new fan. This book is superbly edited. Although the voice changes every page or so, the reader is ALWAYS aware of the speaker. Dialects and patterns make each speaker easily identifiable. This book is as well-written as any I've ever read--a tribute to the author and editor. Although complex and at times brutal, there is an unspoken spirituality threaded neatly throughout. Each character is easily pictured with a minimum of description, showing the suthor's talent for bringing people off the page. Each character is so real that the reader becomes immediately invested in them and turns the pages quicker than he/she wants to. Merullo's metaphors are acute without being cliches; some of his best lines are so brilliant the reader wants to linger--but is too anxious to get on with the story. Within days of completing this book, I recommended it to three book clubs and to the English Department of an excellent school.

I did not want this book to end. I was engaged with each of the characters as if they were my own family. Muerllo's descriptions of sights, sounds, and feelings allowed me to get lost in the places and with the people he was describing. I can't wait for the next two books of this Trilogy to appear. I grew up in Marblehead and Revere Beach was forbidden to us as nice WASP girls, so of course we went there whenever we could in the 50's and 60's. How wonderful to see it brought to life by one of the best craftsman I have ever read.

This book is a collection of Merullo's essays about his boyhood in his Italian-American hometown, Revere-five miles from Boston, Massachusetts. Merullo was born into a typical Italian family where fathers are the head of the entire family. He grew up in a neighborhood with lots of cousins, uncles and aunts. The value of this book is not just Merrullo's boyhood tales, most important it depicts the struggle of immigrant families in this country, trying very hard to have a better life for themselves and their children.

As a first generation Italian-American, Merullo's father worked full-time and went to law school in the evenings for several years. He failed the BAR examination eight times but eventually received his law degree at the age of 54. Unfortunately he died in his early 60s. As a second generation Italian-American, Merullo was raised with parental expectations, but made his own way. He obtained primary education at Phillips Exeter Academy and then Boston University, then the Peace Corps and finally found his niche as a writer.

I like this book because this book reminds me the year I lived in Greater Boston area.

This book is a "Must Read," one of the very best novels I have read in the last decade. Every page held phrases and paragraphs I wanted to read and re-read, so rich were the images in this coming-of-age novel. Perfect for a book club.