Readers' Comments

Here's what people are saying about In Revere, In Those Days by Roland Merullo What did you think of the book?  Please send your comments to: mnr@mvlc.org.

In Revere, In Those Days is the story of Anthony Benedetto as an individual, but it's also a loving portrait of a city.  I think we would all agree that we know Revere much better from the vivid scene-setting and the emotional interactions among the characters.  Some of us have first-hand knowledge of the city, as I know we have some Revere people here with us.  Others of us have had the pleasure of getting to know Revere through friends or colleagues, as I have done.  For others of us, the book might be our first introduction to the city.  Whichever category each of us belongs to, I think we all agree that this novel presents a cast of characters that make an immediate impact, and a setting that inspires all of us to think more appreciatively of our own home towns, and what those towns have given us.
                                BobWard,    
                  Introducing Roland Merullo,4/26/06

This is the absolute best community read pick yet.  People spontaneously erupt in conversation about In Revere, In Those Days. They love to talk about it. It's an easy book to read and to talk about.

                                         Mark Meehl

  I grew up in an Italian-Irish section of Chelsea known as Mill Hill on Clinton Street (first street in Chelsea from Revere).  It was the same time Tonio was growing up in Revere.  I remember when the MDC skating rink opened and how excited I was that my parents allowed me to walk to the rink by myself with my friends when I was younger.  Revere Beach in those days was similar to having your own back yard pool.  A place where we could socialize with our friends at Bill Ash's or go for a ride on the Cyclone and then walk to the MDC bathhouse to take the bus home with one of our parents. I think I knew everyone of Merullo's characters!!! The book has been enjoyed by three generations of my family...Thank you Roland Merullo.  I look forward to meeting you on April 26th.
                                    Mary Prenney

Minus the seaside, reading In Revere, In Those Days took me back to my city childhood in Worcester, Massachusetts, 'Main South', specifically.  My parents and our family  along with our uncles, aunts, and cousins, all lived in a tight radius to St. Peter's Church (similar to St. Anthony's) only of an Irish heritage as that of Italian.  It was a time when city living and large families were close--a time and a generation to be appreciative of their love and support--a time now a heartfelt memory.
                                   Dave Hanlon
                            

At a recent discussion, here's what library staff had to say about In Revere, In Those Days:

I liked the local interest, the local feel... I was intrigued by Tonio's idea of a secret life; it made me think about my own life... Lydia is good for him; the way she teaches him about "not-thinking"... The vegetable gardens in the backyard are reminiscent of certain parts of my own childhood.... Tonio is someone I wanted to root for.... You get the impression Tonio is very connected to Revere.... There's a lot of sadness in the book, yet everyone finds a way to deal with it.... This novel reads like a memoir. It reminded me of Willa Cather, the voice and tone, the sense of place, the way the author looks back.... The book is about family relationships and readers can relate to the different generations, the secrets that are kept, and the need to protect and support each other.