Roland Merullo Knihy

Prázdniny papeže s dalajlámou. Hravý, pozitivní román Rolanda Merulla předkládá bizarní situaci – dva nejsvětější muži na světě se setkají ve Vatikánu a zjistí, že by si potřebovali dopřát krátkou – neoficiální! – dovolenou. Když se jim podaří tento neotřelý nápad realizovat a ocitnou se v malebné italské krajině, znovu objevují každodenní krásy i výzvy obyčejného života. Na cestě je doprovází papežův lehce neurotický bratranec Paulo, který je zároveň osobním asistentem papeže, a jeho žena Rosa, excentrická a temperamentní podnikatelka, která všem zajistí dokonalé přestrojení. Jen díky Paulovi a Rose se oběma váženým mužům podaří z Vatikánu nepozorovaně proklouznout a několik dní v utajení putovat po italském venkově. Tato různorodá čtveřice se vydává na společnou cestu, jakousi expedici k sobě samým. A každému z nich oněch pár plných, neobvyklých, a přitom obyčejných dnů přinese mnoho nového a inspirativního. Co se stane, když se papež s dalajlámou dohodnou, že potřebují dovolenou v utajení?

Exploring personal growth, the author delves into his spiritual, intellectual, and emotional journey, reflecting on his relationship with his father and the contrasts of his working-class roots and upper-class education. He shares insights from the early years of his marriage and the profound impact of parenthood, weaving together themes of family, identity, and the transformative power of love.

Otto Ringling embarks on a transformative journey after experiencing a profound life change that challenges his previously comfortable existence. As he navigates unexpected detours and obstacles, he confronts the realities of his choices and the essence of fulfillment. This exploration delves into themes of self-discovery and resilience, illustrating how life's unpredictable nature can lead to personal growth and new perspectives.

A family's dynamics are tested as they come together to support a wayward son, while a long-buried secret resurfaces, impacting each member. Celebrated as one of the Top 100 Essential New England Books by "The Boston Globe," this novel is praised by Richard Russo for its ambition, emotional depth, and masterful storytelling. With 322 pages, it delves into themes of loyalty, family ties, and the complexities of personal histories.

The journey of two brothers-in-law, Otto and Volya Rinpoche, unfolds as they travel from Seattle to a family farm in North Dakota in a rickety pickup. This road trip serves as a transformative experience for Otto, an editor of food books, guided by the spiritual wisdom of Volya Rinpoche. Throughout their travels, they encounter various situations designed to help Otto achieve a deeper sense of peace and understanding.

From the bestselling author of From These Broken Streets comes a sweeping novel of love, resistance, and courage set against the backdrop of WWII Italy. Italy, 1943. The seeds of terror planted by Hitler have brought Allied forces to Italian soil. Young lovers separated by war--one near a Tuscan hill town, the other a soldier on the Sicilian front--will meet any challenge to reunite. Vittoria SanAntonio, the daughter of a prosperous vineyard owner, is caught in a web of family secrets. Defying her domineering father, she has fallen for humble vineyard keeper Carlo Conte. When Carlo is conscripted into Mussolini's army, it sets a fire in Vittoria, and she joins the resistance. As the Nazi war machine encroaches, Vittoria is drawn into dangers as unknowable as those faced by the man she loves. Badly wounded on the first day of the invasion, Carlo regains consciousness on a farm in Sicily. Nursed back to health by a kind family there, he embarks on an arduous journey north through his ravaged homeland. For Carlo and Vittoria, as wartime threats mount and their paths diverge, what lies ahead will test their courage as never before.

"Italy, 1943. The Nazi occupation has cemented its grip on the devastated city of Naples. Giuseppe DiPietra, a curator in the National Archives, has a subversive plan to aid the Allies. If he's discovered, forced labor or swift execution. Lucia Pastone, secretary for the Italian Fascist government, is risking her own life in secret defiance of orders. And Lucia's father, Aldo, is a black marketeer who draws Giuseppe and Lucia into the underworld--for their protection and to help plant the seeds of resistance. Their fates are soon intertwined with those of Aldo's devoted lover and a boy of the streets who'll do anything to live another day. And all of Naples is about to join forces to overcome impossible odds and repel the Nazi occupiers"--

The story follows Otto Ringling, a conventional publishing executive who seems to have it all but feels an emptiness in his life. His journey takes an unexpected turn when he finds himself traveling across Middle America with a mysterious Mongolian monk. This adventure prompts Otto to confront his life choices and explore deeper questions about fulfillment and purpose.

Set against the backdrop of a tiny Pacific atoll, the story follows Leo Markin, a Vietnam veteran struggling to reintegrate into American life after the war. Despite finding solace and love among the islanders, his return home reveals painful truths: an estranged relationship with his father, a fiancée trapped in an abusive marriage, and a sense of alienation from old friends. Ultimately, a violent incident propels Leo to choose the peaceful life of Losapas, leading him to leave his inheritance to his fiancée, urging her to escape, and return to the island he loves.