The Miracles of Santo Fico: A Novel [Paperback]

Dennis L. Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2004

A magical story of love...and miracles After twenty years, Leo Pizzola has come back to the Tuscan village of Santo Fico, still single and still looking for a way to get rich. The town is as poor as it was when Leo left, yet some things have changed. Of Leo's childhood companions, only little Guido, whom everyone calls "Topo," embraces him. His best friend is long dead. The woman he once adored refuses to talk to him. And, worst of all, the kindly old town priest seems to have lost his faith. Perhaps what Santo Fico needs is a miracle-even if Leo and Topo have to manufacture one themselves. Now, as one botched scheme after another unravels, something completely unexpected happens, and wonders indeed begin to transform this Italian town, including the greatest miracle of all... Published around the world, this debut novel sparkles with the Italian spirit and emotions that will dance off the page and into your heart.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

If you savored Joanne Harris's Chocolat or Frances Mayes's Under the Tuscan Sun, if you dream of honeymooning in San Gimignano or you've ever stood in a specialty foods store sighing over imported olive oil, you will fall hard for The Miracles of Santo Fico. By turns sentimental, romantic, and mischievous, D.L. Smith's debut novel is set in a small Italian hill town, like hundreds of others, that has been in decline for 60 years. Remote and dusty, with a dry fountain in its modest piazza, Santo Fico only attracts tourists when local boys change the road signs. But there is one hidden treasure in the grubby old church--a perfectly preserved fresco of St. Francis that looks strangely, miraculously like the work of Giotto--and when a black sheep named Leo Pizzolo tempts God by trying to profit from it, he must come up with a few miracles of his own to save the town. Expect picturesque charm, old wrongs made right, and a happy ending for all. --Regina Marler --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Smith chronicles a series of romantic and religious shenanigans in his debut novel, a pleasant but meandering affair set in the tiny Italian village of Santo Fico, where residents capitalize on the local tourist trade by diverting buses to a religious fresco depicting the miracles of St. Thomas. On the temporal plane, the novel revolves around the adventures of middle-aged Leo Pizzola, who returns to Santo Fico from Chicago. He tries to rekindle his unrequited romance with Marta Fortino, the town beauty, who makes her living by cooking for the incoming tourists. He also renews his friendship with several old comrades, but his troubled relationship with the local priest, Father Elio, surfaces when Leo steals a piece of the St. Thomas fresco during an earthquake that nearly destroys the work of art. To help Elio get over his subsequent crisis of faith (and to win Marta's heart), he tries to make his own miracle by repairing an old fountain in the middle of town. Smith's writing is long on Old World charm and the details of village life early on, but the dearth of a strong central plot undercuts the strong beginning. He has a nice feel for his Italian setting and an obvious love for his quirky characters, but the combination of nuance and atmosphere isn't enough to carry an entire novel.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 358 pages
• Publisher: Warner Books (January 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446690368
• ISBN-13: 978-0446690362
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 1 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #589,039 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A sweet, lovely, warm hearted feel good novel-I loved it., March 9, 2004

By 

David J. Gannon (San Antonio, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Miracles of Santo Fico: A Novel (Paperback)

The Miracles of Santo Fico is the sort of book you need to keep arund handy for those times when you are felling totally disaffected, alienated, disjointed--whatever--and in need of a humanity fix.

The story of the residents of an isolated, long forgotten Tuscan village, this book revolves around the return to the village of a native son, Leo Pizzolo, who departed years earlier under urgent, mysterious circumstances. As Leo begins to reintegrate himself into the local scene his return sparks a lot of unsettled introspection on the part of many Santo Fico residents relating to the history of the town and the circumstances of Leo's departure.

This is a sweet, gentle, warm stroll through the peaks and valleys of local village life and the bonds and relationships it fosters-and destroys.

Filled with lovingly drawn, genuinely interesting characters, redolent of the ambiance of the Tuscan countryside, infused with a sense of warmth and love of mankind, this is a book that will bring tears to your eyes and fill you with a sense of peace.

There aren't many books like this out there any more-relish this one.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I admit it, I cried., January 8, 2003

By 

DreidelDan (Merion, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Miracles of Santo Fico (Hardcover)

Once this book gets going it's impossible to put it down. Great characters and entertaining story that sweeps to a surprising and touching finish. Very visual - it was as if I was watching a movie of this small Italian town with its quirky inhabitants.
Action, romance, suspense, humor, picturesque setting - it had it all. Best quick read in a while. I loved it and didn't want it to end.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charming, touching, moving, amusing, July 28, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Miracles of Santo Fico (Hardcover)

What a wonderful book! My father told me I had to read it when I was visiting. He said I would find it moving and charming, and I did. It keeps you concerned (you like the characters and wish them well) and entertained (the author has a love of human nature and a deft turn of phrase) and, at the very end, may well make you cry. But they are joyous tears. I can't give this book a high enough rating. You will love it.