A tragedy involving a ship wrecked at sea. On that boat, which left Libya, the dreams and hopes of a group of migrants who saw Europe as their last lifeline were shattered. Thus begins “Western Sunsets” (Graus Edizioni), the novel by Giuseppe Tecce which will be presented in the IoCiSto bookshop in Vomero on Wednesday 26 June 2024 at 6pm.
The author will dialogue with Emanuela Liaci, offering the public the opportunity to delve deeper into the themes present in the book such as human sacrifice, immigration and the desire for fatherhood. The readings will be entrusted to Peppe Nardelliwhose voice will bring to life the most significant passages of Western sunsets. To make the meeting even more special, there will then be a musical interlude curated by Tommaso Tuccillo.
The book
Western sunsetspublished by Graus Edizioni for the Gli Specchi di Narciso series, was inspired by a story by the director and writer Maurizio Del Greco, with contributions from MEP Pietro Bartolo in the Preface and from lawyer Hilarry Sedu in the Afterword.
Only one survivor remains from the shipwreck: a little girl, Fatima, who found herself losing her dearest loved ones within a few minutes. However, her destiny has some surprises in store for her and her meeting with lieutenant Peppe Moccia, a point of reference for the Lampedusa community, will change the course of their lives.
The discovery of Fatima and the spontaneous call of “dad” will trigger sensations and feelings in Peppe that will lead him to make the decision to adopt the little girl. The presence of little Fatima will bring joy and love to Peppe’s family, emotions that have been foreign to their home for a long time, but the newfound serenity will be called into question again when a communication arrives that will upset the new balance. At the same time, this painful event will allow Peppe’s marriage to clarify some aspects and strengthen the union and understanding that had been disappearing between the two spouses in recent times.
Western sunsets leaves the reader to reflect on the nature of human relationships and to question ourselves on a very delicate current issue which is that of immigration.
The contrast between hope and resignation accompanies the reader for the entire duration of the novel. On the one hand, the desire to have a child is clearly represented and at the same time the suffering that it inevitably entails when it is not possible to realize this desire. On the other hand, the figure of Fatima and her family history trigger multiple emotions that first move us, but also reflect on everything faced by those who flee from their homeland to seek a better future elsewhere.
