Angel Angel
{{short description|1995 novel by April Stevens}}
{{about|the book|the fictional character of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel|Angel (Angel){{!}}Angel (Angel)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{infobox book |
| name = Angel Angel
| title_orig =
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| image = Angelangelbook.jpg
| caption =
| author = April Stevens
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| country = United States
| language = English
| series =
| genre = Novel
| publisher = Viking Press
| release_date = 1995
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| media_type = Print (hard & paperback)
| pages = 669
| isbn = 0-14-024213-9
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Angel Angel is the 1995 debut novel by American writer April Stevens. The story, set in Connecticut, centers upon a dysfunctional suburban family whose malaise is challenged by the introduction of the older son's live-in girlfriend. The novel, published by Viking Press, was well received.
Plot summary
The Irises, a typical suburban family in Connecticut, are thrown into disarray upon the discovery of the patriarch's extra-marital affair. With his absence in the marital home, his wife, Augusta, struggles to understand or come to terms with the betrayal and takes to her bed for weeks. Her two sons, Matthew and Henry, face their own demons and are little help to their mother. However the introduction of Henry's sassy live-in girlfriend forces the family out of their emotional downward spiral.
Reception
Gary Krist, writing in The New York Times, noted that Stevens "is a wonderfully fluent storyteller with a shrewd eye for the offbeat".[https://www.nytimes.com/1996/02/18/books/new-notewortht.html?pagewanted=2 "New & Noteworthy"]. The New York Times. February 18, 1996. Time described the book as "intelligent and moving", continuing that Stevens conveys the protagonist's "knowing honesty reminiscent of Edna O'Brien".{{cite book|year=2000|first=Linda |last=Parent Lesher|title=The Best Novels of the Nineties|url=https://archive.org/details/bestnovelsofnine00lind|url-access=registration|publisher=McFarland}} Publishers Weekly described it as an "auspicious debut", continuing that Stevens' "touch is assured (and) her ear for vernacular dialogue marvelously sharp". The writer Stewart O'Nan also cited Angel Angel in a list of his favorite "overlooked" books.[https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/16/nyregion/breezy-reading-with-a-local-twist.html?pagewanted=2 "Breezy Reading, With a Local Twist"]. The New York Times. May 16, 2004.
Film adaptation
In May 2011, Variety reported that the novel would be adapted into the film Long Time Gone, with Precious producer Sarah Siegel-Magness making her directorial debut and Meg Ryan attached to star as Augusta,[https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118037604?refCatId=13 "Meg Ryan circles 'Long Time Gone'"]. Variety. May 25, 2011.[https://web.archive.org/web/20121014175621/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/movies/news/article_1641746.php/Meg-Ryan-knows-what-a-Long-Time-Gone-is "Meg Ryan knows what a 'Long Time Gone' is"]. Monsters and Critics. May 26 2011. Retrieved July 2, 2011. Archived from [http://www.monstersandcritics.com/movies/news/article_1641746.php/Meg-Ryan-knows-what-a-Long-Time-Gone-is the original] on October 14, 2012. however she was later replaced by Virginia Madsen.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1946310/ "Long Time Gone (2012)"]. IMDb. March 18, 2012. Production was slated to begin in the fall of 2012 in Los Angeles.[http://www.inquisitr.com/110178/meg-ryan-to-star-in-precious-producers-directorial-debut-long-time-gone/ "Meg Ryan To Star In 'Precious' Producers Directorial Debut 'Long Time Gone'"]. Inquisitr. May 30, 2011. Retrieved July 2, 2011.