Otto and Rinpochet hit the road again in Roland Merullo's third novel featuring a 52-year-old New York editor and his Buddhist brother-in-law, spiritual leader to millions.
In 2008's Breakfast with Buddha, Otto Ringling humored his free-spirited, tarot-reading sister and drove her friend the monk across the country. In spite of his cynicism, Otto was charmed, even accepting spiritual lessons from his maroon-robed companion. In Lunch with Buddha, Otto's beloved wife dies, and as Dinner with Buddha opens, it's three years later, and Otto has also lost his job. Now married, Volya Rinpochet and Cecelia Ringling run a renowned retreat center on the former Ringling family farm in North Dakota. Otto visits for a restful vacation, but Cecelia has plans: she's had a dream directing her to send Otto and Rinpochet to the mountains to find a person who will change the world.
With little preamble, Otto and the jolly monk climb into the SUV and head west. Otto, skeptical of the quest itself, embraces the experience and the chance to introduce the Russian-Tibetan Rinpochet to more Americana. The monk, serenely confident their goal will reveal itself in time, savors the trip and slips in "wessons" to advance Otto's enlightenment. Diners, truck stops, Indian reservations, national landmarks, Las Vegas--all lead the duo down the road to both prayerful seeking and hilarious adventure. Otto's first-person narration lends a memoir-like tone, and references to current events (Pope Francis, the 2016 election, fracking) offer a sense of immediacy. Likable Otto and wise Rinpochet lead readers on a thoughtful and memorable journey. --Cheryl Krocker McKeon, manager, Book Passage, San Francisco