The Book of Saints

On my recent trip to Italy I decided to bring one reading book...I chose Book of Saints. Relaxing on a hot afternoon in my parents'hometown in southern Italy with Book of Saints in my lap, the story simply came to life; the small town, the people, the traditions, the gossip. It's the story of a woman who's husband left for Canada to seek employment. Left at home with their son and her father, she tries to stay happy. But certain situations put her in a bad light and soon the townspeople begin to avoid her and gossip about her. Subborn and proud, she refuses to make amends with the townspeople, which only serves to isolate her even more. Her choices affect her father and son as they too suffer the wrath of the townspeople. The choices that she will finally make will surprise you. Let's just say that she's a very strong and independent woman. I'm looking forward to the rest of Ricci's trilogy.

The story is poetically written. It is an immigrant literature piece, outlining the realities of moving from your home country to the unknown. It does end abruptly, and is not a "fluffy" story. However, Ricci does reveal the truths of his own life in the novel, serious and sad. Not for the faint of heart, but very well done.

I really enjoyed reading this book and finished it in a matter of days. A wonderful look at an Italian village, its people, their superstitions, alliances and lifestyles. It was particularly interesting for the way it was told, through the eyes of a young, naive boy. Looking forward to new titles from this author.

I could not put this book down! It was a real page turner! I think it precieved the small-town mentality very well, and did a wonderful job at showing how when there is a problem with one person in the family, it is the entire family that suffers. I would reccomend this book to everyone!