i really hope this works...
I just finished rereading "The Little World of Don Camillo" today. it is by giovanni guareschi and is very hard to find. i finally found it in english (although french is better, somehow, but i guess the best would be the original italian - unfortunately i don't speak or read italien, but i digress). it is the first book in a series of about a dozen. it is a collection of short stories about an italien parish priest and the communist mayor of his town. christ on the cross in the church actually speaks to Don Camillo. it is funny and touching. i thought maybe i wouldn't enjoy as much this time around (i first read it when i was about 14 or 15 i guess) but i was wrong. i rate this book : CHARMING.