... wonderful ... here is a voice worth listening to — an erudite writer with an exuberant style telling us a story of a Sicilian family over the last 150 years that will expand your vision, amuse you, instruct you about all sorts of things you never dreamed would interest you but do, and, perhaps most important, make you remember your own childhood and the people you love even more vividly than you do ... Renato takes us into a world that is as magical as it is convincing ... What a pleasure it is to revel in this work, which expresses enduring values in such an original way.
A philosopher at heart, Renato expounds on everything, especially love ... Mirabelli is a skillful storyteller, deftly weaving all these stories into a rich, colorful tapestry of love, loss, and art. Rivaling grand opera for passion and plot, Renato! is sure to delight readers who appreciate captivating storytelling.
... a blazing magnum opus ... This dreamy narrative is a love letter to the people and customs of Sicily ... The author swings back and forth through time and memories, and entertains fantasy and philosophy with captivating if occasionally long-winded results. Mirabelli’s impassioned cycle succeeds at capturing an artist’s longing to be remembered.
