Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Michael has weathered many crises in his life, including growing up with an alcoholic mother, a controlling sister, and an absent father. He has been divorced by his wife, who left him for his best friend. Following his divorce he struggled with his own problems with alcohol, finally seeking help and recovery. He was highly successful in his career as an engineer, but lost the ability to trust in a relationship with another woman. His only companion was his dog Marley, who was finally killed by a sadistic motorist. At that point, Michael decided he needed time to try to find a way to cope with his losses and make changes in his life. He is intrigued by a rather strange ad that he sees in the Sunday travel section of his newspaper. The ad promises that the author of the ad, Lucia Panavita will conduct conduct a 6 week tour of southern Italy. with the help of her brother, Roberto. The ad states that the traveler will be escorted to an all-inclusive tour of many places in Puglia, Basilicata and Calabria, the 'toe' and 'boot' of southern Italy. Lucia promises that the traveler will see "a thousand things" (mille cose) on the journey. Michael calls Lucia for details regarding the trip, but finds that she has a rather strange way of relating, and has apparently been somewhere out of touch with a normal existence for the last 21 years of her life. Despite serious misgivings, there is something about her voice and mannerisms which is attractive to him. He calls several times asking questions of both Lucia and her brother, trying to decide if the tour is legitimate, or some kind of scam. Michael's sister assures Michael that it is not legitimate, and that he would be foolish to risk the $14,000 dollar cost of the trip. After many calls, and misgivings, he finally overcomes his own suspicions and his sister's warnings, and decides to risk his money and sign up for the tour. Upon arrival at the airport in Brindisi, no one is there to meet him. Michael is on the verge of panic, when Lucia arrives, breathless, explaining that they had car trouble, but that they would take a taxi to their home in Lecce if necessary. From this rather unpromising beginning, Michael gradually becomes more comfortable with the tour, but finds himself very much attracted to the rather unusual, but very beautiful and charming Lucia. The story develops around the developing relationship between Michael and Lucia while they visit the intriguing sites on the tour. Michael is puzzled by Lucia's obvious flirting behavior in light of her refusal to talk about the missing 21 years of her life. The story is about the joy and sadness forming their relationship, as the details of Lucia's past life is finally revealed.