FICTION

Dinner with Buddha

by Roland Merullo
Algonquin. Jun. 2015. 320p. ISBN 9781565129283. $24.95; ebk. ISBN 9781616205164. F
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Otto Ringling has come to a crossroads. Still struggling with his wife's death and the adjustments to his life without her, Otto returns to his family home in North Dakota, which is now a spiritual retreat run by his sister, Cecelia, and her husband, a famous Buddhist leader named Volya Rinpoche. Upon arrival, he is informed by Cecelia that she has had visions that her daughter may possibly become the next Dalai Lama. The mysterious person who must help his niece is located somewhere in the mountains and thus Otto finds himself on his third road trip with his brother-in-law. Rinpoche spiritually guides Otto with lessons and meditation as they meander through America's interior from North Dakota to Nevada.
VERDICT Merullo's third visionary adventure follows the same formula as Breakfast with Buddha and Lunch with Buddha, featuring a few humorous scenes and picturesque descriptions of the various areas and inhabitants encountered as Otto learns sacred lessons. While concepts of acceptance and being nonjudgmental are spoon-fed to Otto throughout the story, Merullo is disappointingly inconsistent with the messages.
Reviewed by Joy Gunn, Paseo Verde Lib., Henderson, NV , Apr 01, 2015
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