Moments of Grace and Beauty: Forty Stories of Kindness, Courage, and Generosity in a Troubled World

by Roland Merullo

Every day around the globe there are billions of acts of kindness, courage, generosity, and grace, but we rarely get to hear much about them. It’s easier to write about the evil in the world than about the good. Writers who focus on violence, greed, ugliness, and hypocrisy can appear more sophisticated, more intelligent, more mature, more aware of the world's true nature. Roland Merullo recognizes these challenges to humankind as clearly as anyone, but he also believes they get more than their share of coverage, and that cargo of bad news can act as an oppressive weight on the mind. At the start of a recent gray, cold, New England winter, Merullo decided to make a list of some of the remarkable acts he has witnessed, and the generous, kind, and brave people he has had the good fortune to know. Moments of Grace and Forty Stories of Kindness, Courage, and Generosity in a Troubled World is intended to serve as a counterweight to the abundance of trouble in the news, and is offered as evidence of the good will still present on earth.

Genres: Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

Published May 12, 2019

About the author

ROLAND MERULLO is an awarding-winning author of 24 books including 17 works of fiction: Breakfast with Buddha, a nominee for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, now in its 20th 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, Revere Beach Elegy winner of the Massachusetts Book Award for nonfiction, and Once Night Falls, selected as a "First Read" by Amazon Editors.

A former writer in residence at North Shore Community College and Miami Dade Colleges, and professor of Creative Writing at Bennington, Amherst and Lesley Colleges, Merullo has been a guest speaker at many literary events and venues and a faculty member at MFA programs and several writers’ conferences. His essays have appeared in numerous publications including the New York Times, Outside Magazine, Yankee Magazine, Newsweek, the Boston Globe, the Philadelphia Inquirer, Boston Magazine, Reader's Digest, Good Housekeeping, and the Chronicle of Higher Education. Merullo's books have been translated into Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, German, Chinese, Turkish, Bulgarian, Croatian, Slovenian, and Czech.

Reviews

[Liz Carleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roland wrote 40 short stories about good people doing good things for others. In a time when you don't hear a lot about good people, this was a great reminder to me.

[Dixie Keyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merullo brings the same mellow and pensive writing style we love from his novels to this anthology of true life stories. Each one allows us to peek into Merullo's life, from his past travels and friends, to his current family events and loved ones. He recalls people and moments that drew forward beauty in his life. If read chronologically, you feel like you're riding in a car alongside the author hearing stories. Yet, you could also open up to any of the 40 stories and be encouraged and uplifted.

[MICHAEL A. SMITH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moments of Grace and Beauty came along when needed

Mr. Merullo's book was one I'd had on hand for some time. I picked it up hoping hoping to be uplifted after two weeks of turmoil following the murder of George Floyd. It did not disappoint. I was reminded that there is so much good in this world. I know, all too well, after almost 30 years in law enforcement how much evil exists in this world . I also know how much evil is visited upon our black citizens, often for no reason. Thank you, Roland Merullo

[Mary Lou LoVecchio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyday kindness

This collection of the author’s experiences of simple everyday gestures of love and kindness is a wonderful reminder of what is really important. Our world today is filled with anger, egotism and cruelty, to mention only a few things which assault us daily.
Merullo’s collection of kindnesses is medicine for the soul.
Mary Lou LoVecchio

[Tresa Casaletto · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet collection of stories and reflections that remind us to see the best in people.