Customer Reviews

In Revere, In Those Days: A Novel

5 star:		(19)
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"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!

Though I don't particularly love the two professional reviews listed here, I like the phrase "omniscient rememberance" that's used in one of them. That's part of the beauty of this novel: in addition to finely-drawn characters and places, and a lovely cadence to the sentences on the page, the author beautifully presents both the text and the subtext of the story at once, so that you are caught up in the richness of the lives that are presented within.

I loved this book for its nostalgia, for its acute observances of the life around the main character, Anthony, for the questions it brought up around my own family, and for the skilled technique in the writing itself.

A wonderful, wonderful work.

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 :)

I'm sixty years old. I was brought up in Revere, (Beachmont) I had tears in my eyes all though the book. How are you to read in that condition? Good book, damm great book. I loved it.

Sincerely
David Zaslow
Vista, Clifornia

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, or just yourself. This book is a classic -- one of the ten best books you will EVER read!

Merullo captured my hometown perfectly. I was moved by the portrait of the Italian working class in Revere Mass. He tells the story of the American experience and dream. I was truly moved. I highly recommend.

This really is a wonderful book. The question is, what makes it so wonderful, and such a pleasure to read? First, I think it is the sensibility of the author, which is at once wise and so lively as to seem like life on steroids. Also, I think that it comes from experience that is perfectly perceived, and the experience here is so essentially American. The characters are alive and touching, and there were times, in reading this book, when I found myself overwhelmed by the hard, real, recognizable humanity that Merullo has portrayed. This, surely, is the true test of any book. This novel reafirms my belief in American fiction.

Never pay attention to the dust jacket, but on the back of the book, Anita Shreve says "I was moved to tears," and she probably wasn't lying. When Peter takes Anthony to Exeter, when Lydia says goodbye, when Peter sings, it is hard to stop the tears from welling. Although the book is Anthony's coming of age story, it is mostly a portrait of Peter Benedetto, Anthony's tough, ex-boxer uncle. We see him in such intricate detail, from his fractured family life, to his not-quite-successful boxing career, to his life on the fringe, to his own sense of failure even though it is hard to imagine anyone more beloved by his family and community, that it is easy to forget that the story is Anthony's. Watching Anthony grow up in the background, the reader is right to focus on Uncle Peter. Merullo has written a wonderful book.

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.

"In Revere, In Those Days" is the best novel I have read in years...sensitive, dreamy, with all the love and rough edges of growing up, and all the hopes and sorrows of adulthood. Merullo just draws you in to the Benedetto family and Revere. The story is told through Anthony's eyes and the family emerges and developes as Anthony matures and understands his clan with more clarity. Despite the troubles that surround his Uncle Peter and his cousin Rosalie the love and care that root the Benedettos are evident. It's a tale of another time, another place, that any baby-boomer will recognize.