Customer Reviews

River Angel: A Novel

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is a novel about the various ways in which a town comes to grip with the aftermath of a tragedy, something that might have been easily prevented. The River Angel story springs out of the desire to correct what has gone wrong, to give meaning to what would otherwise have been a meaningless event. From the start, I was drawn into these people's lives, their individual stories and what they come to believe, as a result, about the angel that may or may not have appeared. If you are looking for an "angel story" you won't like this book. If you're looking for an in depth portrait of a town and its changing ideas about faith, you'll love this as much as I did. I thought the mother and daughter story was particularly effective. Also recommended: Midnight Champagne, Ansay's newest, and White Oleander by Janet Fitch.

I have read every book written by A. Manette Ansay, and while this isn't my favorite one, it is by no means a bad book - in fact, it's great! I think Ansay is one of the better writers I've had the pleasure to read, and each of her books lends a wonderful reading experience. River Angel is just one more beautiful book to add to my collection.

Set in the small town of Ambient, Wisconsin, River Angel tells the story of a community in need of miracles. There is a local legend in town about an angel who resides near the river. No one is really sure whether to believe it or not, but a little boy named Gabriel, in need of some change in his life, goes in search for the angel anyway. Gabriel, who is a loveable, sweet character, is not a favorite of many of the town's citizens. He is chubby and bothersome and easy to tease. However, Gabriel becomes the catalyst for an amazing transformation - both for him and for many of Ambient's occupants.

A. Manette Ansay writes about several of the citizens of Ambient and their troubles in their lives. I loved hearing their stories, all their dreams and disappointments. But most importantly, I loved the writing. A. Manette Ansay is a genius in my eyes. She writes poetry without being poetic. I will forever be in her debt for the joy she has brought into my reading experiences. Can't wait for the next one!

A. Manette Ansay has written another beautiful book ~~ this time about an angel that has been sighted over a river in Wisconsin. It is also a story about a small town where everyone knows one another and where everyone knows of its neighbor's struggles. The story is centered around a little boy named Gabriel. Gabriel was dumped in this town, Ambient, by his father who deserted him. Fat and unlovable, Gabriel is a devout Christian and is always found to be praying. Picked on and abused, Gabriel continues to slug along ~~ till one day, he is discovered in a neighbor's barn, dead.

The story focuses on Gabriel, his aunt who was raising him, several members of a prayer circle, and one of the daughters of the town who was part of the fateful events of the evening that Gabriel is later found dead. The stories entwined with one another in small ways ~~ it's written more like short stories combined to make one novel about a town. Ansay writes with her usual lyrical style about different lives of people and their secret joys and disappointments and how it all meshed together with the legend of the River Angel that people have taken to be their local lore.

It is a very interesting book ~~ dark and depressing in places though but beautifully written and with a grace that is evident in each of the characters written. Ansay is not an easy author to read sometimes but her stories are always compelling and brings the reader further into the book. This is an excellent read ~~ perfect for a bookclub discussion.

8-24-04

When I first started reading this novel, I found the point of view shifts to be quite annoying and jarring--they seemed to interrupt the flow of the novel. By 1/3 in, I was hooked--I wanted to know what was happening to all these characters, and how they might be connected. For such a brief novel, the characters are well-drawn and multi-dimensional. The characters come in and out of the story just as if they are friends and acquaintances, the people you run into in your own hometown. The story is wonderful and the prose beautiful.

In this masterful novel, every word is measured, each character is acutely drawn. The author captures the essence of an individual with a phrase, or a gesture. The "coda" at the end of the novel beautifully transforms this tale of residents of a small Wisconsin town into a sort of fable for all of us. Ansay is gifted at recognizing the small, simple details that vividly define the citizens of Ambient, so that the reader feels she intimately knows each one personally after only a paragraph or two. This book reads (too) quickly, but stays with the reader long after.

I am very impressed with this author. I read "Vinegar Hill" first as an Oprah pick and while it was decent, I like this book much better. I grew up in a small town and can relate to the characters. I will read more of this author.

A testament to mans desire to believe in something. River Angel is the story of how legend, belief and reality fuse in the fictional town of Ambient, Wisconsin. The circumstances surrounding the death of a child (Gabriel) lead some to believe that the childs death was accompanied by a miraculous intervention from God. The death of Gabriel provides the opportunity for the town residents to affirm or denounce their belief in prayer, miracles and the will of an all-powerful God. The novel asks the reader to consider what he/she believes in, what you know to be true. There is no right or wrong answer, but the question and the pursuit of its answer is sure to be a remarkable journey - hopefully on the wings of an angel. Ansays writing is near flawless, her use of symbolism significant but not overbearing. An excellent, quick read.

A small town; an unexplained miracle(or is it?) and tourists flocking from everywhere. This read, bequeathed by Mansay, is truly unique in it's examination of religion, belief in miracles, and profitablity from faith. After consuming this read, it is left up to the reader to draw the conclusions. This book is not preachy; quite the contrary. All the elements are presented; how you chose to connect them is up to you. Excellent style and premise. Well done as always!!

This is a strange story, believe in God, don't believe in God. I liked this book, yet I didn't. The book takes place in a small town in Wisconsin named Ambient. The story delves into the lives of several of the inhabitants of this small town. Some are bitter about their lives, others trust in God. So who is right or is there any right or wrong but just as an individual sees life as it happens.

The story begins as a ten year old boy is travelling across country with his father just before Christmas. Shawn Carpenter is a drifter, drifting through life, through relationships. Shawn tells Gabriel how he will enjoy living in small town Wisconsin though he couldn't wait to quit his home town. The two arrive at the old homestead. Confirmed bachelor brother Fred has married Bethany, a lady with two sons. Bethany takes Gabriel and Robert John to Mass. When the trio return home, Shawn has gone. He dropped his son off on relatives. These characters have enough problems without having a young boy pushed onto them.

Time passes. Gabriel's teacher, Mrs Graf, can't seem to like this boy. She can't figure out why. She felt this way about only one child before though she has taught many kids. Gabriel is a fat child always trying to get food from whoever will feed him. Bethany's son, Robert John, is always teasing and tormenting him and encourages his friends to do so also. Mrs Graf is troubled by the boy who will not fight back.

There is a Christian woman's group, the Circle of Faith, formed by a lady who lost her husband in an automobile accident. She has a teen aged daughter. Ruthie Mader started this group to ease the pain of losing her husband and to get closer to God and encourage other ladies to do so also. Ruthie is also very active in her church.

Janey meets Gabriel who is walking along. Some boys have teased and beat him up. Janey takes him to her home, fixes him a sandwich. He is too fat. Janey has problems, she is divorced, childless. Her husband divorced her because she can't have children. She has just joined the Circle of Faith is impressed with this group and feels belonging to the Circle of Faith has made her less unhappy. But Gabriel is always running off and causing problems for his aunt and grandfather.

There is big Roly Schmitt who is a good businessman, makes money happen and is crazy about his ten year old daughter, an only child, highly intelligent, a good kid, Roly's pride and joy. The parish priest, Father George, is from the east, New England, to be exact and wants to go home. He has requested many reassignments but nothing happens. He is homesick and can't get used to the midwest.

Along comes March. Teenagers have been kidnapping kids for fun then letting them go. Young Gabriel walks along the river road one evening looking for the River Angel so he can ask the angel to have his father come back. These three teenagers are pretty drunk, try to grab Gabriel. He runs off possible falls down into the river and drowns. The teenagers swear they never touched the boy, he just disappeared. Gabriel's body is found in the barn on Ruthie Mader's property. Ruthie is having money problems. The body was warm, the boy looked to be asleep. This is strange and there is no answer for this happening.

Then comes the funeral crowded with interested spectators. A shrine is placed in the barn where the body is found. Many people go to the shrine. Some people believe and feel they are helped; others feel this is all nonsense. Some swear this is all true. But there is no answer. This puts a strong effect on this small town. Roly Schmitt is trying to make this town into a larger town with many amenities no different than any other town, Ambient losing its indivituality. But some towns people are fighting this. The shrine plus the story of Gabriel makes Ambient stand out.

This is an interesting read and makes this reader think. There is no answer or is there one.

A. Manette Ansay has a distinct way of making you feel like you are right there in the middle of the storyline...that you know the chracters better than you know your own family..she address life as so many of us know,

River Angel is about a unique boy who truly believed.