Joanne Harris

Chocolat to the earthy Blackberry Wine: A Novel, Harris never fails to perform an act of alchemy as finely woven stories emerge out of the vapors of rich foods, plush words, and appealing characters. Being a migrainuer, I empathize with the migraine-wrecked family in Five Quarters of the Orange, but the feminine mysticism of Juliette, the French actress-turned-nun makes Holy Fools : A Novel (Harris, Joanne) my favorite.
Even if you’ve seen the movie, don’t skip over the many-layered Chocolat. For a similar, if less nuanced tale, try the enjoyable Coastliners: A Novel, which blends elements of Chocolat and Holy Fools : A Novel (Harris, Joanne). Blackberry Wine: A Novel is a picturesque comforting read, while the least satisfying but still worth reading Gentlemen and Players: A Novel is a murder mystery of the most high-brow variety.

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