I read this book without knowing very much about the writer. Someone mentioned it to me at a party. I found a copy and from the first sentence I was hooked. Great storytelling and imagery and I was moved to tears at least four or five times through the story. Gabriella is a gem but so is almost every single character in this book. They come to life and you just love them. There are no totally good or bad characters, just the sheer humanity of us all. Sadly ignored by the book-buying public, it may only be a matter of time before people wake up to the wonderful delights of Gabriella's Book of Fire. I will read every single thing written by this writer. Genius.

Having read the reviews preceding mine, I couldn't help but put a few words to paper (well keyboard/screen) to support the things already said.

The first book I read of Veny's was, "My Beautiful Friend", in which it had one of the loveliest quotes (the beauty of the construction of the words was remarkable) I'd come across (a quote on a tombstone, no less). The next book I read, as it then came out, was his young adult book, "The Ghost Of Deadman's Beach". Though just a short story, I found myself lost in it as though I were one of the characters living a part of his life. I read his other novels while he wrote Firehead, in fact working my way backwards.

And then he finally released, "Firehead" (or Gabriella's Book Of Fire as you know it) and I found myself reading pages without even realising I was following a storyline as I was lost in my admiration of the exquisite construction of every sentence. He's inherently gifted at writing in an immensely descriptive manner (that is never convoluted) that can carry you away into the story if you let it. Ideal for those readers who see a movie in their mind as they read, for you're inevitably going to live it in your senses as well.

Unlike his other novels, to which I had more difficulty relating to at the time, I found myself re-reading sentences or paragraphs of this one, as though I were reminiscing my own life. The descriptions were so encompassing that I felt like I was reading a journal of my life some 40 years later, with a somewhat faded memory. Everything felt familiar, yet unknown at the same time.

He writes straight from the soul and what he feels and you can tell that there's no effort toward or consideration of what the public may or may not want to read; he envisions a story and writes what is true to his style and remains true to it the whole book through. For this reason alone I know a number of times I was shocked by what I read, which only furthered the feeling as though you knew this character (nothing fake, but not blunt as such either; simply very candid). If you don't like his style, so be it ' but if you do, he will not disappoint you.

From his first published book of short stories (Jumping At The Moon; equally candid) through to this most recent novel; he's writing has extended its boundaries so much and he has really let himself go with this one, and I can't even imagine how much further he will be able to go, for his work is brilliant now.

Through all of this he manages to bring into view the realities of life that are so prevalent, yet so often not spoken of openly. Of intense love at a young age, or the notion through the decades of that continued love still burning despite what by then would be a considerable age gap. A love so intense that it remained strong as she grew with him inside of him in every aspect of his life, despite the reality that his memories were not of an 'adult' love (as they say), but rather those of a young heart first feeling a complexity of emotions that were never given the time to be understood. And so a lifetime is spent, not obsessing, but trying to follow those emotions to a natural end, without reciprocation. And on no matter what level, you can relate in some way to the struggles that Salvatore endures inside his heart for all those years. And the undying and unescapable need to just ' 'know'. To close his open and broken heart; but not before he is sure that he can't first complete a love that started, but never ended ' and never continued. That lingered inside, hanging on by hope and despair and loneliness and fear and anger and so much more.

And add to that, the events outside the fictitious story line are as close to the facts as you can get (the places mentioned are all real, the street names all real and for someone who lives/d in Brisbane it's historically informative actually). The novel is extremely well researched and thus why it feels almost like it could be true, were it not for the centre of the storyline. Venero's parents come from Sicily and he has lived and known that culture to have that real feeling to write with. He's also lived and known Brisbane (his hometown) as the son of Sicilian parents, growing up in the years he portrays in his book in the same city living the same sort of life. It's so close to real, it's difficult to discern when he's speaking directly of his own past, or when he's writing a story.

Also, to the 'reader from Australia' reviewer, yes there was speak of the book being made into a movie, and though I shan't say anymore of what I'd heard; let's just hope that it's one day released. I can't imagine it ever comparing to the language of his books though. And as someone who has known Veny personally, and during the time he wrote this novel and when it was first launched; I must say that if you can see as much into it as there is to see, you can truly get a sense of who Veny is as a person and how he grew during the time he wrote the novel (more so than with any of his other novels). He really opened himself up and it's remarkable the result that was produced. He's a beautiful person, a beautiful writer and I hope his work gets the respect it deserves and he continues to write to the pleasure of readers like all of you.

What a fantastic writer. This was my first reading of Mr. Armanno's works, and the sensory images he creates are unbelievabley magical. The subject matter is deep and riveting, but the scenes he writes about transport you to the time and place. He creates pictures in your mind. You really feel and smell and see what is on the pages.

For anyone who enjoys getting "into" the writers world, and having their senses awaken, this is the book for you.

We feel the sun, we see the colors of the trees, every item, no matter how insignificant is brought out in vivid detail and imagery. Colors burst behind your pupils, in your brain and keep you alive and wanting more.

Even to the end and the last scenes of the book, you are still there with the characters, feeling, seeing, enjoying. Not all authors have the ability to stay the length of the book. Many only create small pockets of images and then fade, Mr. Armanno keeps you with him and keeps you enjoying and experiencing all through the book.

I became hooked on Armanno's writing with the incredibly sensual novel, Gabriella's Book of Fire. I have since undertaken to read all his work. Though his books are hard to acquire in this country, any motivated reader will find the effort more than rewarding. My Beautiful Friend is a gothic ghost story set by the banks of Lake Geneva in a cold, cold winter. There is a dead man around and he is working his way into the hearts of two estranged lovers, Rebecca and Aaron. During the course of this descent into a cold and lonely darkness we are slowly drawn into a world of broken dreams, ghostly visitations, and weird stories of the dead. Vladimir Nabokov even makes a (sort of) appearance, as does the artist and architect Gaudi. Barcelona provides a wonderful setting for a brilliant flashback: this novella within the novel called "The Story of the Dead Man" is one of the most brilliantly sustained pieces of creepy writing that I have ever read - and I have read and loved hundreds of the "classics". Armanno's world is a chilling yet strangely beautiful one. He writes like a poet - with the sensitivity to understand what dreams inspire us and what nightmares terrify us. And these aren't the nightmares of ghoulies or monsters - only the ghoulies and monsters of our own needs and desires. The dead writer, Marcelo Mansini, will stay with you and perhaps haunt you. If he doesn't, then Armanno's writing style certainly will. One day he will be discovered by a wide readership. My Beautiful Friend is a modern classic.

Armanno creates an atmosphere in this novel which feels somewhere between H.P.Lovecraft and Ernest Hemingway. There is an eeriness surrounding the scenes, all of which are set in Montreux, Switzerland. I couldn't wait to turn the page to see what would happen next and seldom before has a novel involved me enough to want to visit the place where the story is set. A story of love gone sour and the intrigue of a lust that can never be, My Beautiful Friend is one of the best books I have read for a very long time.

Armanno has utilised his exceptional talent in bringing this short book to life. I found his ability to write like it was happening to him exceptional. At times, his tale was predictable but the attention to the detail in language and thoughts of the characters was better then almost every other book I have read.

This is an easy read, particularly if you have an interest in Australian authors, or the portrayal of the multi-cultural Australian people.