Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
HarperCollins (2001), Edition: New Ed, 400 pages
Description
Julia Garnet is a teacher. Just retired, she is left a legacy which she uses by leaving her orderly life and going to live - in winter - in an apartment in Venice. Its beauty, its secret corners and treasures, and its people overwhelm a lifetime of reserve and caution. Above all, she's touched by the all-prevalent spirit of the Angel, Raphael. Twinned with her journey is that of Tobias. The father, growing old and blind, is determined that his son, accompanied by an appropriate companion, should recover the family debt and allow his father to die in peace. The traveller, masquerading as a merchant - by common legend - is Raphael. The two stories interweave with parents and landladies, restorers and priests, American tourists and ancient travellers abounding. The result is an enormously satisfying journey of the spirit - and Julia Garnet is a character to treasure.… (more)
Media reviews
Appearances are deceiving in Salley Vickers's new novel, which seems at first to be the simple narrative of a British schoolteacher who moves to Venice for six months after her best friend dies. But as one story unfolds into another, the novel becomes the literary equivalent of a Russian doll.
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There's always another drama lurking beneath the surface. At the start, the spinsterish Julia Garnet is so overwhelmed by the beauty of Venice that her defenses start to crack, allowing her to fall in love for the first time. She also forges deep friendships with a young Italian boy and an unusual pair of twins who are restoring the 14th-century Chapel of the Plague. Show Less
Julia Garnet, all her life a teacher, is left stranded on retirement by the sudden death of Harriet (her companion, not lover). She has the shape, the air and the biography of a Brookner heroine as she sets tentatively off to Venice to live a little. Vickers is, however, unexpectedly generous to
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Miss Garnet, allowing her to step out of her rented flat in the Campo Angelo Raphaelo to embrace Venice and friendship, and to discover the Zoroastrian underpinnings of the Apocryphal story of Tobias and Raphael. Vickers writes plainly, effectively and warmly. Her heroine is a wonderful snub to publishing's current belief that the over-35s are not worth writing for or about. Show Less
Guardian angels have attained such trendy status in American popular fiction that it's refreshing to read Vickers, a writer from across the Atlantic, whose subtle depiction of a life touched by a heavenly spirit carries not a hint of cliche. Her debut novel is an unpretentious gem of a book that
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charts the late coming-of-age of Miss Julia Garnet, a retired English school teacher who spends six months in Venice after her lifelong companion, Harriet, dies. Venice has a magical effect on reserved Julia: a dyed-in-the-wool Communist, she relaxes in her antipathy toward religion, and even begins to visit the local church. There, she becomes enamored of a series of paintings that tells the story of the Apocryphal book of Tobit, a tale that mixes elements of Judaism with the religion of Zoroaster. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member Erratic_Charmer
Purchased on a whim at Richard Booth's Bookshop in Hay-on-Wye, and very glad I did!
After the death of her friend and flatmate Harriet, Julia Garnet, a middle-aged atheist Communist virgin, decides to take an extended trip to Venice. The beauty of the city awakens long-dormant passions in Miss
The story of Miss Garnet and her friends is interspersed with, and runs rather parallel to, a narrative of the Biblical story of Tobit. The addition of the Tobit story is inspired not only by parallels with the events in Miss Garnet's narrative, but by a series of paintings in Venice's Chiesa dell'Angelo Raffaele which themselves depict the story of Tobit. The whole book is rich with description of Venice and its artistic treasures (and makes me want to drop everything and go running off to the city itself immediately!) The book of Tobit is part of the apocrypha, which (as Miss Garnet learns) comes from the Greek word meaning 'hidden,' and there's a theme of secrets revealed and a dash of esoteric lore running throughout this book - tantalising stuff.
Rather like [The Enchanted April], this is a story of a woman who travels to Italy and unexpectedly finds herself amid the history and beauty of her surroundings.
After the death of her friend and flatmate Harriet, Julia Garnet, a middle-aged atheist Communist virgin, decides to take an extended trip to Venice. The beauty of the city awakens long-dormant passions in Miss
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Garnet, both physical and spiritual: she falls in love, has her heart broken, forms friendships, and even has her vision opened to the presence of the angel Raphael. Her confidence soars to inflated heights and then is brought crashingly low by an unkind word or unexpected turn of events before she learns to handle relationships gracefully (well, sort of gracefully, at least!) Those of us who have been painfully introverted and gradually come out of our shells a bit will be able to identify.The story of Miss Garnet and her friends is interspersed with, and runs rather parallel to, a narrative of the Biblical story of Tobit. The addition of the Tobit story is inspired not only by parallels with the events in Miss Garnet's narrative, but by a series of paintings in Venice's Chiesa dell'Angelo Raffaele which themselves depict the story of Tobit. The whole book is rich with description of Venice and its artistic treasures (and makes me want to drop everything and go running off to the city itself immediately!) The book of Tobit is part of the apocrypha, which (as Miss Garnet learns) comes from the Greek word meaning 'hidden,' and there's a theme of secrets revealed and a dash of esoteric lore running throughout this book - tantalising stuff.
Rather like [The Enchanted April], this is a story of a woman who travels to Italy and unexpectedly finds herself amid the history and beauty of her surroundings.
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LibraryThing member Othemts
Two, TWO books in one! The first is a story of Miss Garnet, an aging schoolteacher and socialist who decides to live in Venice when her housemate of many years passes away. Interweaved with this is the more interesting retelling of the Book of Tobit (with special emphasis added to the role of the
"Waiting outside the chapel while the twins exchanged words Julia reflected that it was not biological bacteria you needed a cure from, it was the emotional kind: fear, humiliation, loss." p. 108
"'I am sometimes a worry to my superiors," he admitted. "But I am strict with my vows. It is the priests who speak scornfully of sex who are caught with their pants down. I love the women -- but I love Our Lady more. And because I love women I know better how to lover her. It makes sense?" - p. 173
"But wasn't it queer that you could get to know a person better when they were dead than when they were alive? Perhaps it was because the dead could not reprove you? It was fear that made one hold back from knowing people." p. 191
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dog) with the Archangel Raphael guiding young Tobit to meet his wife Sara. There are a lot of very obvious parallels between the two stories, and naturally Miss Garnet befriends a young couple Toby and Sarah who work renovating churches. Pretty much everyone in this book carries grief and trouble and in some way it is lightened through self-discovery. Vickers kind of hits you over the head with it but still manages to keep the narrative charming. Perhaps it's the characters who are rich and complex. I especially like the perverse Monsignor. That I finished this as we were landing in Venice was an added plus. "Waiting outside the chapel while the twins exchanged words Julia reflected that it was not biological bacteria you needed a cure from, it was the emotional kind: fear, humiliation, loss." p. 108
"'I am sometimes a worry to my superiors," he admitted. "But I am strict with my vows. It is the priests who speak scornfully of sex who are caught with their pants down. I love the women -- but I love Our Lady more. And because I love women I know better how to lover her. It makes sense?" - p. 173
"But wasn't it queer that you could get to know a person better when they were dead than when they were alive? Perhaps it was because the dead could not reprove you? It was fear that made one hold back from knowing people." p. 191
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LibraryThing member bookczuk
There were some moments of greatness in this book, a tale of an British history teacher who goes to Venice for six months after her long term housemate dies suddenly. That Julia is a spinster, atheist, virgin, and Communist doesn't make much of a difference as Venice seduces her. She falls in love
One thing kind of annoying about my copy of this book, which I bought at a book sale, was that a previous reader had very faintly underlined a few passages, so I'd find myself trying to figure out if I like those lines too, or if they just were a waste of my time. Luckily, we both liked the quote at the end:
Valde te rogo, ut secundum peded statuae meae catellam pingas... ut mihi contingat tuo beneficio post mortem vivere -- Petronius
(I ask that you paint a small dog at the foot of my statue...that by your kindness I may find life after death.)
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for the first time in her life (and no, it doesn't end like that, meets a pair of art restorers and a fair number of locals. But her real fascination is with the Archangel Raphael and the story of Tobias. The book floats between Julia's world and that of Tobias. I found a kind of timelessness to the "current" story, which could have been placed in the first half of the twentieth century as in today's world. Made me miss Venice.One thing kind of annoying about my copy of this book, which I bought at a book sale, was that a previous reader had very faintly underlined a few passages, so I'd find myself trying to figure out if I like those lines too, or if they just were a waste of my time. Luckily, we both liked the quote at the end:
Valde te rogo, ut secundum peded statuae meae catellam pingas... ut mihi contingat tuo beneficio post mortem vivere -- Petronius
(I ask that you paint a small dog at the foot of my statue...that by your kindness I may find life after death.)
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LibraryThing member ElaineRuss
This novel began very promisingly. It was charming and interesting and while that remains throughout the novel I found myself drifting away from it a little.
About halfway through the book, it seemed to get bogged down by the biblical elements of the story. I'm normally a fan of theological
All in all I'd say this was just interesting enough to keep me reading and not much more I'm afraid.
About halfway through the book, it seemed to get bogged down by the biblical elements of the story. I'm normally a fan of theological
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meanderings, but this just didn't work for me. All in all I'd say this was just interesting enough to keep me reading and not much more I'm afraid.
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LibraryThing member Angela.Kingston
The retired history teacher Julia is a great character, and I loved following her burgeoning love affair with Venice. Not as diverted by the parallel Tobias story, but I loved the way Vickers brings the two narratives together. Really enjoyed it.
LibraryThing member bookwitch
A beautifully crafted, quiet story with great depth. The author’s intelligence and knowledge of the variety of themes explored are evident, as well as her familiarity with the city of Venice – a character in its own right – and its treasures. It’s a delight to put yourself in her hands and
The story begins simply: Julia Garnet is a retired schoolteacher whose long-time friend and flatmate has just died, leaving her some money. Touched by something of the spirit of her friend – who was more adventurous than she is – Miss Garnet decides to take her courage in both hands and spend six months exploring Venice. From the moment she arrives the city and its people – whether tourists like herself or natives – seem intent on changing her, and I found myself fascinated by the way Miss Garnet’s inner life is warmed into perception, expression, and even passion. Although both communist and atheist, she’s drawn to a statue of the angel Raphael, and comes across his likeness throughout the city, gradually piecing together both the ancient story from the Book of Tobit and the parallel that’s being played out among her new friends.
The characters are drawn with insight and delicacy, the themes of the novel: love, death, friendship, religion, art and truth as well as what makes each of us human are woven together skilfully to create a very special book, one to add to the few that I return to read again and again.
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know that you have over 300 pages to enjoy. The story begins simply: Julia Garnet is a retired schoolteacher whose long-time friend and flatmate has just died, leaving her some money. Touched by something of the spirit of her friend – who was more adventurous than she is – Miss Garnet decides to take her courage in both hands and spend six months exploring Venice. From the moment she arrives the city and its people – whether tourists like herself or natives – seem intent on changing her, and I found myself fascinated by the way Miss Garnet’s inner life is warmed into perception, expression, and even passion. Although both communist and atheist, she’s drawn to a statue of the angel Raphael, and comes across his likeness throughout the city, gradually piecing together both the ancient story from the Book of Tobit and the parallel that’s being played out among her new friends.
The characters are drawn with insight and delicacy, the themes of the novel: love, death, friendship, religion, art and truth as well as what makes each of us human are woven together skilfully to create a very special book, one to add to the few that I return to read again and again.
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LibraryThing member achelate
A beautiful story, cleverly written.
LibraryThing member Abi78
Hmm...I think Salley Vickers and I just don't click. I find that her books always promise much and deliver nothing except a slight twinge of nausea. Sounds harsh I know but it's just my opinion.
I guess I'll give it 2 stars though. It had some good descriptions and is miles better than 'Mr.
I guess I'll give it 2 stars though. It had some good descriptions and is miles better than 'Mr.
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Golightly's Holiday'! Show Less
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
Sweet story about an older english woman finding out about living and life through Venice, some of the people living there and the book of Tobit. Nothing too deep. A great holiday book.
LibraryThing member Laurenbdavis
This is a charming debut novel set in modern day Venice, and cleverly intertwines two stories: the first is that of Miss Julia Garnet, a reserved (slightly repressed) English school teacher whose long-time friend and flat-mate has just died. She has uncharacteristically adventured to Venice both to
Salley Vickers is a Jungian therapist and her use of symbol, as well as her choice to include the angelic story of Tobias, is in clear view. Synchronicity abounds. Tobias, for example, discovers he is to marry a girl named Sara, who is possessed by demons. Miss Garnett meets a young brother and sister named Toby and Sarah, who are resorting a church, and are in possession of a painting of the angel Raphael. Hmm... I confess it felt a little heavy-handed at times, but the story was so pretty, and the details of Venice so delightful, that I chose to overlook what occasionally felt like a contrivances.
Miss Garnett's awakening to a larger, more vibrant, sensual and complex world that she has known is a pleasure to follow, and the prose has just the right tone of formality. If you told me the book had been written in the 1930s, save for some contemporary details, I wouldn't be surprised. Miss Garnett is a lovely character, as is the Monsignore, and Vickers has a deft ear for dialogue, as well as good instincts for what should be left unspoken.
I enjoyed it. I look forward to reading more of her work.
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deal with the loss and determine what she might do with her remaining years. The second story is that of Tobias, the apocryphal tale of a boy who travels with the Archangel Raphael, and a dog, to collect a family debt on behalf of his blind father. Salley Vickers is a Jungian therapist and her use of symbol, as well as her choice to include the angelic story of Tobias, is in clear view. Synchronicity abounds. Tobias, for example, discovers he is to marry a girl named Sara, who is possessed by demons. Miss Garnett meets a young brother and sister named Toby and Sarah, who are resorting a church, and are in possession of a painting of the angel Raphael. Hmm... I confess it felt a little heavy-handed at times, but the story was so pretty, and the details of Venice so delightful, that I chose to overlook what occasionally felt like a contrivances.
Miss Garnett's awakening to a larger, more vibrant, sensual and complex world that she has known is a pleasure to follow, and the prose has just the right tone of formality. If you told me the book had been written in the 1930s, save for some contemporary details, I wouldn't be surprised. Miss Garnett is a lovely character, as is the Monsignore, and Vickers has a deft ear for dialogue, as well as good instincts for what should be left unspoken.
I enjoyed it. I look forward to reading more of her work.
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LibraryThing member firebird013
Unusual, entirely original - using the churches of Venice as a wonderful backdrop to the journey into meaning by Miss Garnet. A book to treasure.
LibraryThing member susan139
Beautiful story of a older lady in Venice, after living a sheltered life being a school teacher.
LibraryThing member nocto
I wanted to like this, and did like most of it. But got bogged down in the religious story sections and then started skipping them, so I probably only read 75% of the book and no doubt missed much of the depth by doing that. I may try another book by Vickers in future - I liked parts of this well
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enough but overall it didn't work for me. Show Less
LibraryThing member lynnescholefield
One of my favourite books made all the more special by reading it in Venice. This is a lovely heart-warming and inspiring story with an ambiguous ending so one is left with possibilities open. Highly recommended
LibraryThing member JillMcCaghern
Julia Garnet is a retired teacher who decides to go to Venice for six months after the death of her long term friend. She is touched by the spirit of the angel, Raphael and the book is about may intertwining stories. Through Miss Garnet's eyes, we see a city swarming with the ghosts of history and
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enduring even in the face of its own perpetual erosion into the sea. Show Less
LibraryThing member eleanor_eader
Miss Julia Garnet, spinster and virgin, travels to Venice after the death of her friend Harriet. She discovers more than solace there, something more akin to an awakening. It’s a beautiful premise and is artfully executed, and Venice is the ideal, sumptuous setting for this intriguing mix of
If there’s a significant weakness, it’s that Vicker’s own voice sometimes fails to do justice to the truly fascinating subjects that she explores. There are a couple of chapters of Mr Golightly’s Holiday at the back of my copy and, on reading them, I am left to conclude that I started with precisely the right book of Vicker’s, and need go no further. Without the luminescence of Venice, her prose does not glow, nor really engage. Miss Garnet’s Angel was not a perfect book, but it was very readable and had a strong principle character and great setting, and enough themes and plot meanderings to continue to be worth thinking about once the reader has put it down.
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stories that Julia’s tale entwines with – my favourite character is the wise and delightful Monsignore Giuseppe, whose presence brings a kindness and affability to the story which I really loved, but while some of the characters fall flat, Julia’s relationship with Venice itself (and the angel Raphael) never does. It is a book that tries to do a lot, but that’s okay because it largely succeeds. If there’s a significant weakness, it’s that Vicker’s own voice sometimes fails to do justice to the truly fascinating subjects that she explores. There are a couple of chapters of Mr Golightly’s Holiday at the back of my copy and, on reading them, I am left to conclude that I started with precisely the right book of Vicker’s, and need go no further. Without the luminescence of Venice, her prose does not glow, nor really engage. Miss Garnet’s Angel was not a perfect book, but it was very readable and had a strong principle character and great setting, and enough themes and plot meanderings to continue to be worth thinking about once the reader has put it down.
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LibraryThing member helenathome
This is my favourite of Sally Vickers' books. Its a story of growth, change and loss set in a magnificent part of Venice. I found the characters to be likeable and believable Miss Garnet reflects on her life to date following the death of her work colleague Miss Garnet decides to approach life a
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little differently. A great read for holidays. Show Less
LibraryThing member janglen
I loved this book when I first read it several years ago, and on re-reading have found that it has lost none of its original appeal. It tells of the spiritual awakening of an elderly English woman in Venice. The story is told in tandem with the Apocryphal tale of Tobias and his journey with the
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Archangel Raphael, and it is a measure of Vicker's writing that you are entranced by both. Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Dublin Literary Award (Longlist — 2002)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2000
Physical description
400 p.; 5.08 inches
ISBN
0006514219 / 9780006514213
Similar in this library
DDC/MDS
| 823.92 |