Чудесата на Санто Фико

by D.L. Smith, Денис Смит

"Чудесата на Санто Фико" е брилянтно написана и изключително привлекателна история, богата на човешка мъдрост и топлота, изпълнена с пъстроцветието на тосканския край, отразяваща жизнеутвърждаващия италиански дух."
Буклист

Четирима тийнейджъри, неразделни приятели, кроят планове как да съживят своето потънало в провинциална дрямка градче. Но както често се случва, когато любовта и приятелството се смесят, между четиримата пламва вражда и Санто Фико отново потъва в неизвестност. Двайсет години по-късно Лео Пизола се завръща в Санто Фико, за да открие селището още по-западнало. Дълго пазените тайни се разкриват, загадките се разрешават и всепобеждаващата красота на живота възтържествува, когато чудото наистина започва да се случва в затънтеното италианско градче, кацнало на скалистия морски бряг.

Genres: Fiction, Book Club, Italy, Contemporary, Modern, Adult Fiction, Italian Literature

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Jess The Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is set in the fictional Tuscan village of Santo Fico. This village is in the middle of nowhere, built up by accident. When tourists get lost and end up in the town on their way to somewhere else, the town's people get so excited, and some try to capitalise on the story the 'Miracle and the Mystery' of Santo Fico.

The novel follows the lives of the people living in the village: those that are comfortable to live there forever, those that can't wait to get out and see the world, those with regrets, those with secrets and guilty consciences.

The descriptions in this book were lovely, and I really felt as though I was part of the town. It was such an easy to read book, which is perfect for me at the moment. It also had a scene that literally had me giggling to myself like a crazy person, and any book that can do that is worth reading and recommending to others, in my opinion.

[Sandy T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took this book with me when I left for the weekend, hearing it was a lighthearted quick read, and I wasn't disappointed!
I was first going to just give this 4 stars because I felt like it took awhile to set the story up... but then I thought that if a book could make me laugh out loud the way this did in a few places, it deserved 5 stars!
This is a heartwarming story set in a little mountain town in Italy. The author paints the Tuscan area and its people so vividly, you really can feel the story unfold just like an old Sophia Loren movie!
...just a lovely little story--so enjoyable!

[MaryKay · Rating 3 out of 5]

The characters in this book have faults. Their lives are not what they would have planned or chosen. But repentance and forgiveness happen. In chapter 16, I liked where it said, "He was pruning the olive trees in the wrong season. His watering was washing away too much topsoil around the vines. But he didn't care. He would do better tomorrow." Some days we aren't able to do things perfectly, but we do the best we can.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, that all books could be this good. I do think you need to be 30 and over to truly enjoy the book. Meaning, you have to have lived life long enough to get the pain and anguish of regret and disappointment and the joy of forgiveness to appreciate the characters. Otherwise, this book would just come across as a fun, delightful read.

[Ренета Кирова · Rating 5 out of 5]

Тази книга от дълго време престояваше в библиотеката ми, докато не дойде подходящия момент за нея. Нямах очаквания, нито представа за сюжета.
Действието се развива може би някъде около 70-те години на 20 век в малкото и неизвестно селище Санто Фико в Тоскана. Не можах да намеря информация дали наистина съществува такова селце, но природата и местността бяха подробно описани.
В началото ми тръгна трудно. Запознаваме се постепенно с героите и с историята на създаването на селището, идването на св. Франциск по тези места, Мистерията, която се пази в местната църква и чудото на изсъхналото смокиново дърво. Местните жители са колоритни и в началото не успях да харесам никой от тях.
Историята се върти около връщането на Лео Пизоли, Марта, която отглежда сама двете си дъщери и селския свещеник отец Елио, от които тръгва завръзката на сюжета. Тайни, мистерии, скършени съдби и множество чудеса постепенно ще се случат в това забутано място. Всичко ще си дойде на мястото, ще се изясни целия пъзел от тайни и загадки, героите ще постигнат своя перфектен край и чудесата ще облагородят и възвисят не само хората, но и ще донесат надежда в Санто Фико.
Както трудно ми вървеше книгата, изведнъж не можех да я оставя. Съпреживях страданията на героите и техните тайни. Чудесата, които се случиха, бяха задвижени от желанието на самите хора за промяна, израстване и прошка. Трогателен завършек на историята с емоционален край. След прочита ми остана едно приятно и запомнящо се чувство на задоволство и покой.

[Ape · Rating 2 out of 5]

2007 bookcrossing journal:

Hey - I finally finished this book last night =) Strange considering it is light, easy reading (the kind of thing that would be good for a holiday) but I did find it really hard to get into. The second half definately picks up the pace when the miracles finally come into the story, and I did grow to like the characters, in particular I thought the whole storyline with Father Elio was good. I like to read books set in countries such as Spain, Italy and Greece, if only for the sunshine feeling =)

I've got to admit that I wasn't overly impressed with his writing style (getting down to purely technical things). I think in some ways I was expecting too much of this book because it had been highly reccomended to me, so perhaps I couldn't have been anything but disappointed. I also felt that his characters did tend towards the unoriginal stereotypes - particularly national stereotypes which does make it a little shallow. And please try to think of another adjective to describe British people other than 'horsey'!!! As if we are all upper class country gents!

People who know me, know that I can be a bit cynical, so this is never going to be my favourite book. There were a few far-too-cheesey moments for in the book - particularly the very last miracle (I won't say what it is incase anyone reading this hasn't read the book!). I was actually a bit shocked by the stunt Leo pulled to teach Carmen to be a good girl - that was actually a really horrible thing to do to her, it could have so easily gone wrong. And then her knight arriving on the back of a rearing horse in a thunderstorm (did he just steal that straight out of a cheap romance or has he not heard of cliches???)

Rant rant rant. He he.

It's a light easy read, and I have set up a little bookring as I am very curious to hear what other people think about this book. As I've already mentioned, this was recommended to me. The woman who told me about it had also said that she thought the book is THAT good that she is telling ALL her friends and family that they have to read it.

[Alyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a gem! This was a fun book that had me laughing out loud (blotched angel miracle). I enjoyed the setting of a run down, unknown, little Italian town. The characters were well developed and unique. You could easily fall in love with everyone in the town. I enjoyed the mysteries surrounding the town and thought everything came together beautifully. I can’t say I loved any one character more, they were all charming.

I am not big on suspense. I just don’t enjoy it. I’m sure no other person who has EVER read this book would call it suspenseful but it was for me. I was very restless one day while reading it. I couldn't settle down and accomplish anything in my house so I decided to read so that I was at least accomplishing something. Perhaps I should have just sat in a chair and done nothing. As I read I kept getting anxious every time Leo did something that seemed to be breaking the rules. I had to take little breaks, read ahead, call Mara (who chose it for book club) and read reviews just reassure myself that it would all work out in the end. I guess I should never read a book when I am restless!

Every other book we read for book club during the year is at a disadvantage. No other book has the privilege of being highlighted at a dinner in its honor. We enjoyed delicious Italian food, amazing decorations, a handout and our regular great conversations about the book. What a night! I didn’t even mind a rainstorm for the second year in a row.

[Candice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for our book group, and we all enjoyed it. It was a light story with interesting, memorable and likeable characters. The author has a great sense of humor and he knows when to use it.

What do you think a miracle is? Is it some big, earth-shattering event? Or is it something personal that maybe only a few people know about. This made me think more about what a miracle really is. I think it's something as personal as reuniting with a lost love or finding a better relationship between a mother and a daughter. Nothing earth-shattering there, unless you're one of the lovers, or the mother or the daughter. So I'm going to continue to look for small miracles in my life - like the sweet older woman who called the library yesterday and then said, "Thank you for being so nice to me this morning." Those few words gave me a good start to the day - my small miracle.

[Karen Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must say this is one of my top 10 books and one I buy often to give away as gifts. You will laugh, cry and feel warm and fuzzy all over at times. Is it action-packed? No, but it's a beautiful and witty story about a middle-aged man who returns home to his small, charming, but falling apart, village. The characters are very interesting and quirky and you find yourself caught up in their day-to-day lives, secrets are revealed, with romance and faith renewed and redemption found. In fact, I was enjoying it so thoroughly that I found myself wishing it could go on for just a bit more. Even my friends' husbands enjoyed reading this book!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once in a while, I just want a good story; nothing shocking, nothing shmaltzy, nothing overly suspenseful...just a good story, with interesting characters, a solid plot and a little subtle humor. This little book provided that!

[Carol Horner leclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once in a Blue Moon one reads a magical book.
This is that book. I loved the characters and parts of the book had me laughing so hard that I nearly collapsed. I don't usually read books twice but I've read this one three times. I wish Mr Smith would write another book...soon.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story of love, loss, greed, grief, longing, and yes, miracles; with an ending that is not a spoonful of saccharine, but instead, a clever and perfectly woven masterpiece.

This book is visually enticing, so much so that I found myself wanting to pack a bag and go spend a lazy summer in a Tuscan hill town (maybe somewhere in Umbria).

If you're looking for an easy, uplifting read, one that will make you both sad an happy at the end, and one who's characters will stay with you for a while, I whole heartedly recommend The Miracles of Santo Fico!

Question: It looks like there was a film made of this book as my Goodreads Friend Carla suggested, (BTW Carla thanks for the recommendation) but I can't seem to find it. If there is anyone out there that knows of it please let me know.

[Anne Trine · Rating 3 out of 5]

En sommerlesning som hadde vært perfekt til en ferie i en liten, italiensk landsby (av åpenbare grunner), men som ble lest med klassisk, trøndersk rufsevær i bakgrunnen. Mye ved denne boka var irriterende, som beskrivelsene av nesten alle de kvinnelige karakterene som eksepsjonelt vakre. Men den hadde også mange morsomme øyeblikk, og en fin historie i bunn. Den får 3 stjerner, men det blir mer som et terningkast 3!

[Tricia LaRochelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Miracle of Santo Fico is an intriguing tale about a small town in picturesque Italy that hosts a whole cast of unique and often quirky characters. At the center of the story is the town of Santo Fico itself, with its stifling heat and gentle ocean breezes that seem to breathe life into some while suffocating the hopes and dreams of others. Each member of the town grapples with their own past, riddled with struggle and uncertainty, yet as the story moves forward, those same individuals are challenged by life and each other to face their demons.

The patriarch of the town, Father Elio, is the glue that strains to hold this small but vibrant village together, even though he also carries a dark secret that burdens his soul every minute of every day.
This is a story of the human condition and what one must do to overcome the bad decisions of the past and move forward. It’s a story about how each and every one of us can hurt the very people we cherish the most. The author’s use of analogies and symbolism is spot-on and meaningful.

D. L. Smith is an exquisite writer, one of the best, and this story captured my heart. I was sad to see it end.

[Lesley Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely delightful! Likeable characters, fresh & humorous. Plot very nicely paced, and the miracles - ah, say no more! Real Italy!

[Sara Isabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the first books I ever picked up. My mom brought it down from the atic. I didn't know that my first propper book would be one of my most loved

[Alexander Rolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main character is such a shyster that it's a little hard to root for him at times, but the writing is charming and the denouement is very happy and satisfying.

[Jill Manske · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Miracles of Santo Fico is a combination fairy tale and fable that takes place in a small village in Tuscany. D.L. Smith weaves a story of miracles, both false and real, in this very poor, isolated village. It seems as if every character has a deep, dark secret that takes enormous energy to conceal, often leading to bitterness and barely suppressed rage. The people of Santo Fico go about their lives, while the secrets and mysteries are buried and never discussed. I don't think I've ever read a book where the characters interact with one another in such superficial ways, never really saying much or expressing feelings and what's in their hearts and minds. Nevertheless, it was an intriguing book. I admit the book is very slow to get started - like an engine on a cold morning. But once it gets rolling, the story unfolds and readers are hooked. I enjoyed reading about this Tuscan village and the miracles. As with any good fable, there are lessons to be learned here, some more subtle than others.

[Margaret Capozzolo · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a smile-producing read! Even with all their foibles and ticks, the people of Santo Fico were a joy to get to know. It was such a pleasant interlude to turn to a little novel in which the characters were intrinsically good (or if not good, dead), and the reader could enjoy every turn and twist of the plot knowing full well that all would end well. While the story was light-hearted, the language was well chosen and precise. Describing the gathered crowd in the church in one of the last scenes, the author tell us: "For those in the cathedral that night, it was like being one word in a great poem that had no end or a single note of music in an extraordinary chorale that rolled on forever." If you decide to read this book, I recommend that you save it for your next bout of the blues. Its charm is guaranteed to change your outlook.

[Nicole C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this in the car on my way to and from work for the past few weeks. I think that made it a little harder to get into the story, but it was the same for some of my book club members who read the print version. William Hope is a good narrator, though.

Once the miracles start happening, it becomes more engaging. In sum, the atmosphere and descriptions, though a bit long-winded at times, are worth it. It's a sweet story towards the end, nothing really DEEP despite the title and description. If you're looking for something a little lighter but no less entertaining, pick this one up.

[Kw · Rating 5 out of 5]

It isn't often that I find a book that just captivates me, start to finish as this one did. I love the way it is written, the characters, the plot (s), the old Italian town, the humor, - just everything about it.
And I was impressed by it's wholesomeness and the absence of those words that slap you in the face and insult God. Five stars may be a bit of a stretch, but four seemed too few. I hope Mr. Smith has written more books and that I can find them!

[Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my new favorite book. This is a delightful and charming story of forgiveness and redemption set in an isolated village on the Tuscan Coast. I laughed out loud in parts and cried at others-( a rare response to a book. This story has a slow start, but keep going. It gets really good.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, delightful read.

[Carla Foy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story. Could see it as a movie.

[Terilee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't usually add anything about the books I read, apart from giving the amount of stars I feel inclined to give them, but this book was so uplifting I just have so say something extra. It is beautiful. It is wonderful. It is so uplifting and impossible to put down. I haven't felt so good about a book since "The Help", and this one is almost better, but in its own way. My good friend gave it to me to read and it is one I am actually going to have to purchase to have in my own library, because I know that someday I am going to want to read it again and feel this wonderful joy that I feel in my heart right now. This book was romantic, but realistic, full of sadness, but happiness as well - it just encompassed everything in life so beautifully. D. L. Smith has created a miracle of his own with this beautiful book. I thank him from the bottom of my heart for crafting such a wonderful story to send out into this troubled world - and our troubled souls. I recommend it to one and all. You may not feel as I do and you "may say I'm a dreamer", but I bet I'm not the only one. Blessings again to the author and to The Author for this literary gem.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plenty of other reviewers explain this book well -- light summer read (and perfect to read while visiting Italy, which I did), flawed characters, funny mishaps and miscues, love, magic and all sorts of mysteries, both human and divine.

I, too, found it started a little slow, while the author establishes the characters' personalities and flaws. And I found some of the descriptions to be stereotypical of what Americans think of Italians, especially those from the countryside. Does the priest really need to go on a hunger strike so that we can learn how important food is to the local culture? Does Leo really need to hear the lecture from the priest about butterflies and chrysalises to understand that a character transformation is about to take place?

This straightforwardness is ideal for those days when you want a book where you do not have to flip back and forth to figure out who said what or when. Those days when a metaphor leading to an awakening doesn't seem like Plot Point #12 but reads like an a-ha! moment. Under these circumstances, you can rely on the basic structures of a novel or a basic cultural understanding. And sometimes, that is enough.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes this book seemed a bit slow and I got a little impatient with the characters, especially the main character Leo Pizzola, who has returned home to the small village of Santo Fico after running away years before to Chicago in the U.S. Marta and Topo were Leo's best friends during their childhood; Leo's old best friend Franco, who married Marta, is now dead. Leo is always up to some scheme, some miracle, to entice people to visit their small out-of-the-way town, or to make money so he can escape again. Topo is his accomplice in all these schemes. Marta is furious when Leo returns to their quiet town, and we don't discover why until late in the book. Marta has two daughters, Nina and Carmen, one of whom causes her much grief. The town's priest, Father Elio Caproni, Marta's uncle, also has his own secrets and struggles.

Despite my impatience with these characters, I'm glad I stuck with the story, because I got more enamored of them the more I got to know them. The story was quite humorous throughout. I ended up really enjoying it. :-)

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a cute easy read. It was kind of long, but it went by pretty quickly. This book was a solid piece of fiction. It had a little bit of everything. It had some mystery, humor, romance, geography, history, religion, it was a good mix. I only give it four out of five stars because it is not the best book I’ve ever read, although there is certainly nothing wrong with it. It was also cheesy at some parts. You could predict where the plot was going to go sometimes, but it had a nice happy ending. I would not re-read this book, but I am happy that I did read it.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Please forgive my rating of this book, Mom. It’s more of a 3.5!

Here are the two five star elements of this book:

1. The botched miracles were SO FUNNY. I got a good chuckle out of those

2. The second to last page where the priest recognizes the miracles in his life was so beautiful.

But… and I’m sorry again, Mom... I found these characters so annoying and the stunt Leo pulled on Carmen at the end was ATROCIOUS.

I found it engaging enough to warrant the 3 star rating but I can go no higher.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was slow to warm up to this book because I did not like any of the characters. Not one seemed admirable. But I found I did want to know what happened next and in the end I was laughing out loud at the miracles. I guess the characters grew on me as their stories were fleshed out. Any book that can give you a good chuckle is worth a read. Cute, lightweight, and in the end charming. Recommended.