Miss Garnet's Angel Paperback – January 1, 2001

(3.5 stars) Miss Garnet, a recently retired English school teacher does one of the more impulsive things in her life by renting a flat in Venice after the unexpected death of her flat-mate, Harriet. She surprises herself by making friends and becoming intrigued by not only the architecture, but the churches, despite her long time involvement with communism. Her new companions include an American couple, her land lady and boy related to her, and two young people who are restoring a chapel near her apartment. Miss Garnet is entranced by the story told in a series of panels that relate to the biblical story of Tobit, which is interwoven into the chapters of her story. She is surprised to find a connection with the angel Gabriel and even finds the spark of romance. Things change for her when she realizes that her romance is not what it seems and that the young woman restorer is troubled. Miss Garnet begins to realize how much Venice means to her and must decide what to do at this crossroad in her life. This is a quiet novel with some bittersweet realizations for a woman who is just beginning to blossom in her twilight years.

This is not a fast paced read, but a gentle story about an older "straight laced" woman who has never married. After her good friend and living companion dies, she decides to live in Venice for 6 months. This experience shows her a side of life that she never thought possibly and, through it, evolves into a very different person. Read Tobit from the Apocrypha as a companion piece to further gain insight into the story.

A very unusual book full of surprises and with a double story. Though the link between the 2 separated by 1000s of years is not obvious. I preferred the Venice based story which is full of odd encounters, wonderful exploration of the city and some of its marvels and mostly the travel of self discovery and of life by Mrs Garnett. Enchanting...

This s story was chosen by our bookclub and I found it to be okay but not really my cup of tea. I did like it more however after our book club discussion.

I got this book used for a book club review and found it stimulating and compelling. There were two stories simultaneously written, which turned some club readers off, but I felt it added depth to the story. Much of the story was based on real places in Venice, along with an apocrypha biblical story, which ran parallel with the main theme. I understand Salley Vickers has written her story for a movie version. I am looking forward to it's eventual release.

What a joy to read this lovely book shortly after returning from a trip to Venice. Steeped in the art and history of Venice and in an obscure story from the Apocrypha, the novel is multitextural, haunting, and ethereal just like the serpentine streets of that most Serene of Cities. The subject matter sounds weighty but it is never dull. Elements of a mystery are part of this story of the spinster English school teacher Miss Jula Garnet who is changed forever by her stay in Venice and the people she meets there.I kept turning pages to find out what would happen next. Just a wonderfully literate,and thoughtful book. It will stay in your memory.

When my wife and I were planning a trip to Italy a few years ago, we had included Venice as a destination. I talked to our librarian about a book which would introduce us to Venice and she suggested this....and boy, was she right. It provided the feel of Venice and while it did include information of various must see sites, the best thing was we arrived in Venice with a understanding of what it was like to live there briefly. Although a fictional account, it covered the heart as well as the view.

This was a fascinating novel, with fairly contemporary action interspersed with a retelling to the story in the Book of Tobit. The central character, Miss Garnet, is a retired British spinster who shows great personal and spiritual growth with the help of those she encounters in Venice. The author created a lively and beautiful view of life in Venice and some very colorful characters.

4 stars for this richly-textured, debut novel.Following the death of her companion, Miss Julia Garnet rents an apartment in the heart of Venice. Touched by the beauty of the city and its art, Miss Garnet gains the confidence to explore but not everything is what it seems…There are lots of reasons I enjoyed this book:Place – The descriptions of Venice are wonderful, and full of detail that allow you to immerse yourself in a sense of place.Voice - I found this reads in way that is almost timeless. In many ways, the writing style reminded me of a book written in a much earlier period. Descriptions are sensual, characters charismatic, and the pace genteel.Affecting – The main character, Julia Garnet, sets out with a staid, somewhat reticent persona, but as the novel progresses she is deeply affected by her experiences. As a reader, we are invited to understand that change through her eyes.Depth – This is a book that can be enjoyed on many levels. What on the surface is a simple tale, opens-up to explore concepts of love, loyalty, risk and faith.Ending - I prefer to write spoiler-free reviews, so won't give details, but this novel does end beautifully. Very moving.This was a very enjoyable read and one I’d recommend, but for me, some of the characters lacked a little edginess. For that reason, I’ve given Miss Garnets Angel a 4-star rating.

Set in Venice, this is the story of a retired schoolteacher, a spinster and a virgin as well as an atheist and communist who takes herself off to Venice for six months where she becomes enthralled and intrigued by the story of San Raffaele (the archangel Raphael). Her time in Venice and the people she meets slowly change her perceptions and beliefs. Alongside her story runs the story of Tobias (from the book of the Apocrypha Tobit) who also has an experience with Raphael. I did find this rather irritating and the book jumps from one story to the other but of course there are parallels between the lives of the two protagonists. It's a very well researched and erudite book and was Salley Vickers' first novel. I must say, though, that I have enjoyed her later books more.

This book is a rare delight. The central character is an everywoman of a certain age - hardly usual heroine material - and such an honest and self-examining character that she generates empathy and sympathy for her situation from the start. The twin threads of the story, from the modern to the ancient, are seamlessly woven together with the myth of Tobias and the Angel bestriding the ages in a completely feasible way. Venice being the setting is the icing on the cake with echoes of 'Death in Venice' in some scenes sitting well with this reader, evoking this magical place in winter especially. I would thoroughly recommend this book and look forward to reading more from Salley Vickers now that I have 'discovered' her.

I loved this book, possibly because Venice is one of my favourite places. Liked the way the two stories run together and are interwoven. The book is well written, descriptive but this does not detract from the tale. The characters are believable and each has a bit of an “edge” that you want to know more about.I enjoyed the way the author developed Julia’s character, she became more and more likeable. I found this a really easy book to read, and I was keen to pick it up.

Fabulous advert for Venetian Tourist Board but I didn’t take to the characters including the inference that Miss Garnett was a rather doddery old woman. Works out she’s about 60 which is definitely not exactly ancient these days! The twins weren’t very likeable and story although it got off to a good start in fabulous setting, became rather contrived. Meh.