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A Time of Angels
Primo Verona is born with a gift of clairvoyance so strong that he is able to predict his own mother's death while still in her womb. Brought up on a rich diet of astronomy, philosophy, and storytelling, Primo accurately reads the futures of the local community who pay him in honey cake, tiramisu, and other delicacies. Pasquale Benvenuto is the owner of a beloved wine bar and delicatessen whose culinary reputation rests on recipes for the fruited breads and salamis his father taught him to make. Together Primo and Pasquale form an easy friendship triangle with the beautiful Beatrice, Primo's wife and Pasquale's former girlfriend. But when Beatrice leaves her husband for her old love, Primo is devastated. He casts spells to spoil Pasquale's creations and to win back Beatrice -- but inadvertently conjures up an unexpected visitor.
- GenresFiction
240 pages, Paperback
First published November 23, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
December 1, 2014
A Time of Angels is one for the dreamers, the ones with an exquisite palate, who feel the taste of their food before touching it. It's for the ones who know magic happens, that pain exists but love wins. And it's for the ones who know that love might come in disguise, a shadow of the self wearing intricately stitched finery.
Patricia Schonstein's lavish little volume insisted that I continue to read until it was nothing more than a clock ticking the years gently and inexorably by. The characters are beautifully drawn and of such intense colour that you simply have to follow them. This is a story of love becoming pain and transmuting through the generations to become love again. Set in Cape Town it joyfully follows the lives of a baker and delicatessen owner, his best friend the psychic and their beautiful woman friend. Through them we are tossed into the very fabric of creation to jostle with ideas significant enough to challenge the majority.
This book is a lovely work, well-paced, interesting, and downright beautiful. Highly recommended.
Patricia Schonstein's lavish little volume insisted that I continue to read until it was nothing more than a clock ticking the years gently and inexorably by. The characters are beautifully drawn and of such intense colour that you simply have to follow them. This is a story of love becoming pain and transmuting through the generations to become love again. Set in Cape Town it joyfully follows the lives of a baker and delicatessen owner, his best friend the psychic and their beautiful woman friend. Through them we are tossed into the very fabric of creation to jostle with ideas significant enough to challenge the majority.
This book is a lovely work, well-paced, interesting, and downright beautiful. Highly recommended.
April 19, 2020
I didn't start to find this book interesting until I was about half way through it. Then it picked up and I started to enjoy it the end which left me thinking WTF. I thought it was all going to come together at the end, but it didn't or maybe I just didnt get it.
August 20, 2013
A Time of Angels isn't really about angels at all. There is one actual angel who makes an appearance, and perhaps the title is meant to refer to our main characters, but they are far from angelic. The core of the book is the love triangle between Primo (a psychic), Pasquale (a chef) and the lovely Beatrice, the woman loved by both.
Some time long before the book begins, Pasquale and Beatrice were lovers, but Pasquale was a well known womanizer, and Primo loved her true. He proposed, they wed and lived happily enough. The three of them maintained a strong friendship until one day when Primo was away on a trip, Pasquale invited Beatrice over and she chose to stay with him.
Primo responses like any sane man would - by casting spells on Pasquale and summoning Lucifer. Ok, the last part was by accident, but that's really the best part of the book. The main characters and the side ones are all obsessive in their own ways except perhaps Beatrice. She's probably the weakest character and doesn't do a lot more than switch lovers. She's not entirely unlikeable, but the other characters are far more interesting. They include Paschale's sister who runs a brothel and another woman who specializes in bondage.
But you want to know about Lucifer, right? And all the evil he wreaks upon the town?
Actually, he isn't evil. The real gift of the book is perhaps one of the most interesting interpretations of hell, heaven, and Lucifer's role in the universe. He is not evil, nor a torturer, but a gatekeeper. In the afterlife, humans are either sent up to heaven, or if they are "bad" or "evil", they are quarantined. Those who are bad exist in a pre-hell of sorts that they can earn their way out of if they choose, while the truly evil are locked away for eternity in a mysterious Tartarus.
The drawback of the tale is the ending. A mark of a good story is one that ends leaving you satisfied and yet still wanting more. Well this one achieves the latter, but not the former. The book stops rather abruptly and I actually flipped around the end seeing if perhaps I had missed a short chapter or few pages or something.
Overall, it's a nice easy thought provoking read worth checking out.
Some time long before the book begins, Pasquale and Beatrice were lovers, but Pasquale was a well known womanizer, and Primo loved her true. He proposed, they wed and lived happily enough. The three of them maintained a strong friendship until one day when Primo was away on a trip, Pasquale invited Beatrice over and she chose to stay with him.
Primo responses like any sane man would - by casting spells on Pasquale and summoning Lucifer. Ok, the last part was by accident, but that's really the best part of the book. The main characters and the side ones are all obsessive in their own ways except perhaps Beatrice. She's probably the weakest character and doesn't do a lot more than switch lovers. She's not entirely unlikeable, but the other characters are far more interesting. They include Paschale's sister who runs a brothel and another woman who specializes in bondage.
But you want to know about Lucifer, right? And all the evil he wreaks upon the town?
Actually, he isn't evil. The real gift of the book is perhaps one of the most interesting interpretations of hell, heaven, and Lucifer's role in the universe. He is not evil, nor a torturer, but a gatekeeper. In the afterlife, humans are either sent up to heaven, or if they are "bad" or "evil", they are quarantined. Those who are bad exist in a pre-hell of sorts that they can earn their way out of if they choose, while the truly evil are locked away for eternity in a mysterious Tartarus.
The drawback of the tale is the ending. A mark of a good story is one that ends leaving you satisfied and yet still wanting more. Well this one achieves the latter, but not the former. The book stops rather abruptly and I actually flipped around the end seeing if perhaps I had missed a short chapter or few pages or something.
Overall, it's a nice easy thought provoking read worth checking out.
April 25, 2011
This is not a new release, it's from 2005. I got it from my library's ebook section so I could try out my new nook in a hurry. The nook was awesome, the book, however, was not.
A Time of Angels starts out in post-World War II, about a group of friends and family, Italian Jews whose parents had migrated to South Africa. Ms. Schonstein starts describing the characters and all the little details of their lives. For my taste, she went into way too much detail, spending pages and pages about the Italian food one of her main characters, Pasquale prepares in his restaurant/deli.
The book is very disconnected. She jumped from character to character, back and forth in time until I was thoroughly confused as to who she was talking about and where they fit into the story. Part of the problem is there wasn't much of a story at all. A man loses his wife to his best friend while he is away on business, so he holes up alone in his house. Then the Devil comes to live with him.
Ms. Schonstein had some interesting ideas with the different vignettes she wrote about and how all the characters coincidentally entertwined in each other's lives throughout the years. That was really the only thing I enjoyed about the book. Maybe it was just too deep for such a shallow mind as mine!
A Time of Angels starts out in post-World War II, about a group of friends and family, Italian Jews whose parents had migrated to South Africa. Ms. Schonstein starts describing the characters and all the little details of their lives. For my taste, she went into way too much detail, spending pages and pages about the Italian food one of her main characters, Pasquale prepares in his restaurant/deli.
The book is very disconnected. She jumped from character to character, back and forth in time until I was thoroughly confused as to who she was talking about and where they fit into the story. Part of the problem is there wasn't much of a story at all. A man loses his wife to his best friend while he is away on business, so he holes up alone in his house. Then the Devil comes to live with him.
Ms. Schonstein had some interesting ideas with the different vignettes she wrote about and how all the characters coincidentally entertwined in each other's lives throughout the years. That was really the only thing I enjoyed about the book. Maybe it was just too deep for such a shallow mind as mine!
May 6, 2012
An amazing book, easily one that I enjoy rereading for the fun of it. I suppose it might not be to everyone's taste, depending on how conservatively Christian they are, but for anyone who can keep up with the little plots that delve into remarkable depths for such a short novel it is well worth picking up.
Like a few others have mentioned, it doesn't really have a denouement or resolution as such, but I suppose Hollywood and pop psychology have conditioned us to look for that happy ending or closure that some people seem to crave. Life never really stops, and it's more a snapshot into a very important period of the characters' lives. Quite a few of Pedro Almodovar's films don't have this neat little ending either, but it doesn't make them any less moving.
Like a few others have mentioned, it doesn't really have a denouement or resolution as such, but I suppose Hollywood and pop psychology have conditioned us to look for that happy ending or closure that some people seem to crave. Life never really stops, and it's more a snapshot into a very important period of the characters' lives. Quite a few of Pedro Almodovar's films don't have this neat little ending either, but it doesn't make them any less moving.
December 26, 2007
The description of the Devil alone is worth reading the book....not to mention the recipe forpolenta alla Madiba. Entertaining and profound....I'll be reading her others.
July 29, 2008
Fiction: Italians in Capetown have a love triangle, the devil comes to visit
May 11, 2019
Flowery language, but the overall plot was somewhat lacking. I was bored with the minute details of food and objects. Pretty words mean nothing if they go nowhere.
September 20, 2019
Il tempo degli angeli è un libro piuttosto strano. Non saprei come identificarlo: è narrativa sicuramente, c'è una storia d'amore, c'è un tradimento, c'è la vita quotidiana, ma c'è anche l'elemento fantastico.
Non c'è moltissima azione, è un libro relativamente tranquillo: questa coppia di marito e moglie che poi scoppia, l'amicizia che si interrompe, lui sconsolato si isola da tutto e tutti, e poi trova l'amicizia più assurda che si possa trovare. Il Diavolo diventa suo amico e passa del tempo con lui, forse per aiutarlo a riprendersi la sua vita. Sicuramente lo tira fuori dalla sua solitudine, gli risolleva il morale.
Una componente che mi è piaciuta è sicuramente la cucina: la fa da padrone in questo volumetto, ci sono descrizioni di piatti, colori e profumi. Ai personaggi piace cucinare e mangiare, fantastico!
Lo stile dell'autrice mi è piaciuto molto, nonostante sia appunto un romanzo lento e tranquillo non mi sono annoiata, ma devo ammettere che non ho capito a fondo il finale, e non l'ho apprezzato molto, altrimenti si sarebbe meritato sicuramente 5 stelle.
Non c'è moltissima azione, è un libro relativamente tranquillo: questa coppia di marito e moglie che poi scoppia, l'amicizia che si interrompe, lui sconsolato si isola da tutto e tutti, e poi trova l'amicizia più assurda che si possa trovare. Il Diavolo diventa suo amico e passa del tempo con lui, forse per aiutarlo a riprendersi la sua vita. Sicuramente lo tira fuori dalla sua solitudine, gli risolleva il morale.
Una componente che mi è piaciuta è sicuramente la cucina: la fa da padrone in questo volumetto, ci sono descrizioni di piatti, colori e profumi. Ai personaggi piace cucinare e mangiare, fantastico!
Lo stile dell'autrice mi è piaciuto molto, nonostante sia appunto un romanzo lento e tranquillo non mi sono annoiata, ma devo ammettere che non ho capito a fondo il finale, e non l'ho apprezzato molto, altrimenti si sarebbe meritato sicuramente 5 stelle.
July 3, 2021
I tried. The premise sounded so interesting and some of the reviews were so positive, I was really looking forward to enjoying this book. Having lived in South Africa and been to Cape Town, I could visualize some of the places also. I couldn't get very far though, and I just never found myself wanting to pick it up again though I kept staring at it.
Like many, I found it talking about the love triangle or two best friends and a woman, where tiny details about every little thing was given. Much of it I found not very useful to the story, and like some I also found that there didn't seem to be much of a story at all. I don't like leaving books unfinished, and I see someone said it got better after half way... I may try to keep going, but it's just not a book for me.
Like many, I found it talking about the love triangle or two best friends and a woman, where tiny details about every little thing was given. Much of it I found not very useful to the story, and like some I also found that there didn't seem to be much of a story at all. I don't like leaving books unfinished, and I see someone said it got better after half way... I may try to keep going, but it's just not a book for me.
April 1, 2019
The beginning of this book spends an extraordinary amount of time describing furniture and I was prepared to not like the rest of it. The writing was luscious and dreamy (and pedantically accurate?) but I ultimately wasn't crazy about this one.
April 26, 2020
I was challenged to think with this book. I enjoyed all the intertwining of characters. End rather abrupt
May 25, 2014
I fished this book out of my boyfriend's give-away pile. It had been sitting on the shelf that used to sit by his bed for a long time before it was summarily dismissed. I was routing around in the pile not because I needed more books--my tiny room is wall to wall with them, my own and ones he's given me--but because I'd seen my mom at Easter and taken her a few books which she'd nearly torn through. When I saw this one, it had my mother written all over it. It had so many things that fascinate her--angels, the Holocaust, Africa. It was perfect, and since it was the most perfect of the six or seven books I rescued, I figured I'd read it and leave her my notes and underlinings, which she enjoys.
I am glad I read it, though I hardly loved this book as much as my mom is going to. I've seen some reviews that complain about the fantastical plot, the ways the lives of the characters are woven together in ways they don't know and never will. Some have also complained about the sumptuous prose, finding it overly so. None of that bothered me. In fact, I rather enjoyed it, but still, this is a book I won't feel at all bad for letting go of. Like my past few reads, this failed to be more than a very nice diversion for a few hours, and as with my past few reads, it's hard for me to say why.
I guess this is a sign that I just need to get on with my more serious summer reading, Middlemarch and The Book of Disquiet. Oh well.
I am glad I read it, though I hardly loved this book as much as my mom is going to. I've seen some reviews that complain about the fantastical plot, the ways the lives of the characters are woven together in ways they don't know and never will. Some have also complained about the sumptuous prose, finding it overly so. None of that bothered me. In fact, I rather enjoyed it, but still, this is a book I won't feel at all bad for letting go of. Like my past few reads, this failed to be more than a very nice diversion for a few hours, and as with my past few reads, it's hard for me to say why.
I guess this is a sign that I just need to get on with my more serious summer reading, Middlemarch and The Book of Disquiet. Oh well.
October 9, 2009
Story Progression/Development: 4
Characterization: 5
Conflict: 4
Conclusion: 4
Additional Thoughts:
While this story feels like it should have been either AU or set back maybe 100 years ago when magic might have been more feasible. Also, there were some moments where they mentioned objects that were modern and stood out in the story (i.e. Red Bull).
In other words, I loved the role the Devil played in this story. Schonstein has a wonderful way of humanizing ethereal beings. Her story was engaging and refreshing.
Quotes:
1. These are among the true men, the golden men,' his father told him. 'These are the ones whose example we must follow in this transitory life. No tthe warmongers, not the mad men who rule the world, but these, the philosophers, the astronomers, the poets, the artists, the explorers--those who hold life in awe, who question, who postulate.'
2. 'My father was obsessed with time. He believed that this bracket of time which we are conscious is but a single threat of true time. He imagined that true time has innumerable dimensions; that there are ribbons of time running concurrently, like the warp and weft of cloth.'
3. 'We have each a task,' said the Devil. 'This is mine. Thus my name is Lucifer, Light Bearer. Light in its pure form, as you know, is fire.'
Characterization: 5
Conflict: 4
Conclusion: 4
Additional Thoughts:
While this story feels like it should have been either AU or set back maybe 100 years ago when magic might have been more feasible. Also, there were some moments where they mentioned objects that were modern and stood out in the story (i.e. Red Bull).
In other words, I loved the role the Devil played in this story. Schonstein has a wonderful way of humanizing ethereal beings. Her story was engaging and refreshing.
Quotes:
1. These are among the true men, the golden men,' his father told him. 'These are the ones whose example we must follow in this transitory life. No tthe warmongers, not the mad men who rule the world, but these, the philosophers, the astronomers, the poets, the artists, the explorers--those who hold life in awe, who question, who postulate.'
2. 'My father was obsessed with time. He believed that this bracket of time which we are conscious is but a single threat of true time. He imagined that true time has innumerable dimensions; that there are ribbons of time running concurrently, like the warp and weft of cloth.'
3. 'We have each a task,' said the Devil. 'This is mine. Thus my name is Lucifer, Light Bearer. Light in its pure form, as you know, is fire.'
February 9, 2013
The tale is set is South Africa and is about a group of Jewish- Italians who has set up home there some after their release from Auschwitz and those who hid during the Holocaust. Primo is a magician who falls in love with Beatrice and marries her. Pasquale is a cook and has always loved Beatrice, he tempts her back from Primo. Primo has never used his magic to cast spells on people but devastated at the loss of his wife he does just that making Pasquale's food go off. He also by mistake manifests the Devil to his side.
A tale of good and evil, love and loss, friendships and the horrors of the Holocaust. Plenty of descriptions about food and a little bit of magic makes this a story worth reading. I did find it difficult to keep up at times as the tale goes back and forward in history and found it took me a few days to read such a short book.It didn't grab me the way other books of a similar genre did but I am glad I read it none the less.
A tale of good and evil, love and loss, friendships and the horrors of the Holocaust. Plenty of descriptions about food and a little bit of magic makes this a story worth reading. I did find it difficult to keep up at times as the tale goes back and forward in history and found it took me a few days to read such a short book.It didn't grab me the way other books of a similar genre did but I am glad I read it none the less.
January 11, 2014
Finished this one last night, and have to say, after initially being a little dubious due to other comments I saw about it, I actually ended up very much enjoying it! The story is slightly unsatisfactory, in that it never really has a conclusion, and to be honest, not an awful lot actually "happens", but thankfully, it's just not that kind of book, it's much more about the characters, and the journey they each take.
I really liked all the characters, their voices were so distinct, and especially Lucifer, to who we're given an entirely different view to how he is normally portrayed! I also loved the beautiful writing style, it was almost lyrical and flowed so well, it was almost like reading poetry.
This book definitely surprised me, and gives true meaning to not judging a book by it's cover, as even going by the blurb, if it hadn't been loaned to me, and I felt I should at least give it a bash, I'd never have even picked it up!
I really liked all the characters, their voices were so distinct, and especially Lucifer, to who we're given an entirely different view to how he is normally portrayed! I also loved the beautiful writing style, it was almost lyrical and flowed so well, it was almost like reading poetry.
This book definitely surprised me, and gives true meaning to not judging a book by it's cover, as even going by the blurb, if it hadn't been loaned to me, and I felt I should at least give it a bash, I'd never have even picked it up!
May 11, 2011
Pasquale, Primo, and Beatrice grew up as childhood friends in Cape Town, Africa. When Primo marries Beatrice, who was Pasquale's girlfriend at the time, a love triangle is formed. Twenty-some years later, Beatrice leaves Primo to return to Pasquale, devastating Primo and destroying the friendships. Primo is a soothsayer and clairvoyant, and for the first time, he is moved to cast spells against Pasquale. However, due to his inexperience, his ultimate intent to have Beatrice come back to him ends in an unexpected way. The book is an interesting look at a myriad of issues from death, love, and the Afterlife to the Holocaust and war.
February 6, 2009
Fans of Joanne Harris' Chocolat and Anthony Capella's The Food of Love will enjoy this excellent story. Set in South Africa, but centred around a Jewish-Italian community of expats - it is full of mouthwatering foodie delights. The neighbourhood and the characters are so colourful and brilliantly drawn.
The drama is enhanced by the themes of food and magic - even the devil arrives as an angel.
A classic good versus evil tale and also a really witty read that deals with love and magical realism in a tragic, but beautiful way.
The drama is enhanced by the themes of food and magic - even the devil arrives as an angel.
A classic good versus evil tale and also a really witty read that deals with love and magical realism in a tragic, but beautiful way.
June 7, 2014
I just finished reading this book, and what a disapointment it was! This story was supposed to be based around two characters:
Primo, a soothsayer and magician raised on a rich diet of astronomy, philosophy and storytelling.
Pasquale, an exquisite Italian chef, making fruited breads and salamis. He owns a bar and delicatessen.
Both characters are Italian, but moved to Capetown, South Africa, after the Holocaust. Disjointed chapters, and far too many 'main' characters thoroughly spoiled what could have been a nice little novel.
Not recommended.
Primo, a soothsayer and magician raised on a rich diet of astronomy, philosophy and storytelling.
Pasquale, an exquisite Italian chef, making fruited breads and salamis. He owns a bar and delicatessen.
Both characters are Italian, but moved to Capetown, South Africa, after the Holocaust. Disjointed chapters, and far too many 'main' characters thoroughly spoiled what could have been a nice little novel.
Not recommended.
April 5, 2014
So this is most definitely on my top 10 list of bizarre, unexplainable, how-did-you-get-paid-to-publish-this list of books. Seriously. I totally did not get this plot, although it's fairly nicely written but there's plenty of additional detail that just makes zero sense (not least of all the "unexpected visitor", the angel Lucifer). Oh, and the gift of clairvoyance barely rears it's head thruout the story either. Hello? So yeah, I really can't say (even after reading this) what on earth it was actually about. If you've read it and you have a clue, then please, please let me know!
March 10, 2016
This book is full of beautiful descriptions along with engaging stories that span generations and countries. I enjoyed learning about Italian immigrants in South Africa and specifically Cape Town. The magical, spiritual, and philisophical aspects were interesting. However, I did not really connect with any of the characters (at least not the human ones). I think this is partly due to the fact that there are so many characters that you never really get to know any of them. But there was also a feeling of remoteness in the narration and that is the reason for the 3-star rating.
August 22, 2012
I definitely enjoyed the friendship triangle between Primo, Pasquale, and Beatrice. I love the development of the characters and the interesting tidbits about their lives that I learned along the way. I was a bit confused at times of when the story was taking place (time period). But I appreciate the inner struggle for understanding evil vs. good. It was entertaining, but not my personal favorite.
June 11, 2010
Very different book and much out of my realm of what I normally read. However, interesting to see the devil in human form coming to stay with someone and here "Lucifer's" perspective of what hell is really is and why and how he got there. Also about who goes there and what they do. Just a neat and different read.
March 26, 2011
At first I thought this was just a charming little romance exploiting the current vogue for Italian cuisine, but I was wrong. It is selling it short to call it 'tender, witty, engaging' as Coetzee does on the blurb. There's much more to it than that.
A remarkably good book.
A remarkably good book.
September 3, 2016
I was disapointed with this book, the back made it sound so interesting but I really felt let down. It is very similar style to Joanne Harris but no way as good. I couldn't take to the characters and thought it was lacking something.
July 13, 2009
Crisp language, sumptuous attention to detail, whimsical storytelling, and characters full of heart make this tale of magic realism one I look forward to rereading.
September 29, 2010
Can't remember, but sounds compelling enough to give another read sometime.
July 1, 2012
strange story with even stranger ending
July 6, 2016
Made me think differently about everything. Particularly about the devil, love, and just life. Highly recommend.
June 30, 2015
This book was bizarre. I was very unsatisfied with the ending. I felt that the story didn't go anywhere. I wouldn't recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews