AJAR Contemporaries a division of PFP Publications announces the reissue of Roland Merullo’s memoir/travelogue The Italian Summer: Golf, Food, and Family at Lake Como.

First published in 2009, The Italian Summer has been called “a colorful, affectionate tour of Italian landscape and food” by Kirkus Magazine and “simply a wonderful read” byBookReporter, it is a charming narrative of a glorious summer of golfing, eating, and learning how to slow down and enjoy life.

The best-selling author of Breakfast with Buddha, Golfing with God, Revere Beach Boulevard and others, combines two of his greatest passions – travel and golf – in this humorous and poignant look at Mediterranean life. Feeling a little burnt out by the frantic pace of life in the United States, Merullo decided to rent an Italian villa near the shore of Lake Como in a small town called Mezzegra. He arrived in Italy with his wife and two young daughters determined to relax, slow down, and enjoy life in the manner of their Italian hosts.

He also resolved to play a little golf and frequented the many gorgeous golf courses that populate the countryside. With his customary wit, he shares the entertaining account of his trip through Italy in the wonderful The Italian Summer.

USA Today wrote:

His entertaining travelogue bounces from golf to food to learning how to slow down. Merullo, a “type-A personality who plays golf too fast and eats too fast” calls it a “happy book.” It is, especially for a writer whose idea of work involves putting and discovering great unpretentious restaurants and colorful characters along the way.

Composed of tales from some of Italy’s finest golf courses, descriptions of the meals Merullo and his family enjoyed, and portraits of the various eccentrics they met along the way, The Italian Summer brings to life the myriad joys of Italian life in a way that all lovers of food, wine, and the proverbial “good walk spoiled” will savor. The perfect gift for golf enthusiasts and armchair travelers, The Italian Summer pays homage to a slower, richer way of life-one filled with good food, pleasant company, and beautiful surroundings.

“His account of those idyllic weeks recalls Calvin Trillin in its casual tone, good humor, affable interactions with family, and Everyman’s love of regional food and wine,” said Booklist.

“To be honest, I guess The Italian Summer is somewhat of a niche title — with its focus on golf, Italy and food — so it can be difficult to categorize,” said PFP owner Peter Sarno. “But, I also hope and think this book might appeal to those of us who’ve attempted to slow down their pace of life and tried to focus on our children and family members — for even the briefest of moments – before time marches on too quickly and then other commitments, other obstacles get in the way of those goals. I’m very happy to have had the opportunity to get it back into print.”

Roland Merullo is an award-winning author of 20 books including 14 works of fiction: Breakfast with Buddha, a nominee for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, now in its 19th printing; The Talk-Funny Girl, a 2012 ALEX Award Winner and named a “Must Read” by the Massachusetts Library Association and the Massachusetts Center for the Book; Vatican Waltz named one of the Best Books of 2013 by Publishers Weekly; Lunch with Buddha selected as one of the Best Books of 2013 by Kirkus Reviews; Revere Beach Boulevard named one of the “Top 100 Essential Books of New England” by the Boston Globe; A Little Love Story chosen as one of “Ten Wonderful Romance Novels” by Good Housekeeping and Revere Beach Elegy winner of the Massachusetts Book Award for nonfiction.

Merullo’s books have been translated into German, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean and Croatian. He has been a frequent contributor of commentary for National Public Radio affiliates.

For additional information, please visit www.rolandmerullo.com.

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