Smith, D.L. The Miracles of Santo Fico. Warner, 2004. ISBN 978-0446690362 358 pp. $

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I just finished a wonderful book last night called The Miracles of Santo Fico by D.L. Smith. In the tiny Italian Village of Santo Fico, everyone knows everyone. One would think that because of this, that they would all know each other’s secrets. Not so. Father Elio has his own burning secret, as does Leo Pizzola, Nonno, Topo, Marta and others. Leo and Topo’s attempts to create miracles in the village tend to go wrong every time, but out of each attempt, other Real miracles occur.

With a last name like Smith, I doubt the author is Italian, but everything about his writing is Italian. In one of my favorite passages in the book we meet Guido (better known as “Topo”) and we can instantly feel the passion that Italian men are known for:

“Whenever Guide saw Carmen Fortino… he always found it hard to breathe for a moment. It wasn’t just because of her luxurious black hair and smooth olive skin or her dark eyes that seemed to bore through him or her red lips that never required paint. It wasn’t just because of the way her mouth always seemed about either to smile or sneer at him–he didn’t care which. It wasn’t just the haughty manner with which she carried her body or the way certain of her soft curves pushed and strained against her clothing. All of these things certainly caused his mouth to go dry and his stomach to tense, but there was also something mystic to her allure.” (pg.17-18)

Oh la la… pour the red wine! Thanks to my friend Judy for recommending this one!