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Blackberry Wine by Joanne Harris
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Blackberry Wine (original 2000; edition 2002)

by Joanne Harris

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
2,221487,053 (3.61)88
Jay Mackintosh is trapped by memory in the old familiar landscape of his childhood, to which he longs to return. A bottle of home-brewed wine left to him by a long-vanished friend seems to provide the key to an old mystery. As the unusual properties of the strange brew take effect, Jay escapes to a derelict farmhouse in the French village of Lansquenet. There, a ghost from the past waits to confront him, and the reclusive Marise - haunted, lovely and dangerous - hides a terrible secret behind her closed shutters. Between them, a mysterious chemistry. Or could it be magic?… (more)
Member:frenchbooks
Title:Blackberry Wine
Authors:Joanne Harris
Info:Doubleday Canada (2002), Paperback, 336 pages
Collections:Your library
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Blackberry Wine by Joanne Harris (2000)

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English (40)  Dutch (5)  Spanish (1)  French (1)  All languages (47)
Showing 1-5 of 40 (next | show all)
4.5 stars
A very atmospheric book that does its best to immerse you in its story through every sense it can.

Of the two timelines, it's the flashbacks to Pog Hill summers that engage most, effortlessly evoking nostalgia, and teaching us the importance of everyday magic. ( )
  calenmarwen | May 29, 2023 |
I fell in love with Harris's depiction of Joe and his down-to-earth whimsy. Her writing is enchanting and sucks you in, making you not want to leave the world she's creating and its characters. I loved that there were subtle glimpses into the lives of those who played a role in Chocolat, which I adored when I read it last year. Blackberry Wine is not a sequel to that book, though, but a totally separate story which just happens to take place in the same town as Chocolat. After reading this, I can almost believe there is magic in food -- and the world. ( )
  wisemetis | Jan 15, 2023 |
Usual blend of Harris’ mystical fiction. Pleasant story, well told. ( )
  PattyLee | Dec 14, 2021 |
A really warming and enjoyable light read, narrated in part, by a bottle of Fleurie, 1962. 'Wine talks. Everyone knows that.'

This is a tale of a man who finally learns to live his life. The story switches between the present (1999) and Jay’s memories of three summers spent in Kirby Monckton with his grandparents (1975 - 1977) where he meets Joe Cox, or Jackapple Joe. Joe teaches Jay about plants, herbs and the magic of nature. Despite going on to write a very successful novel based on Jackapple Joe, Jay loses faith and feels angry and abandoned by Joe. With this loss of faith comes a loss of muse and a sequel eludes him. Drinking one of Joe's Specials, he sees a brochure advertising a French chateau resembling one Joe had dreamed of owning. Impulsively Jay buys it and moves out to France, where he finally starts living his life.

Jay may not be a particularly likeable character, but old Joe is. He sounds like an absolute treasure trove for young and old, a spiritual guide for Jay, a simple and generous person.This is a book that pleasures the senses, as the writing of Joanne Harris does, you can smell and taste the wine, the food, the plants, the soil. The writing is evocative, conjuring images that are peaceful and magical. ( )
  Matacabras | Mar 14, 2021 |
What a charming fairy tale for grown-ups! It comes complete with elements of fantasies... a house in the French countryside...potions and healers with the power to transform...love everlasting even if often is not entirely convincing. There were only a couple of things that were slightly annoying but not overwhelming. The narrator was a bottle of wine...you don't have to go back and reread that...it was indeed a bottle of blackberry wine...and the end of the book is a little unbelievable. The recluse harbors a dark secret which comes out of the blue. Overall it was certainly an intriguing way to present he story. ( )
  Carol420 | Apr 14, 2020 |
Showing 1-5 of 40 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (8 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Joanne Harrisprimary authorall editionscalculated
Dyke, MildaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Hultman, JanTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Jacobi, DerekNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Löfvendahl, Annika H.Translatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Vré, Monique deTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Epigraph
Dedication
To my grandfather, Edwin Short: gardener, winemaker and poet at heart.
Mano seneliui, Edvinui Šortui: sodininkui vyndariui, sielos poetui.
First words
Wine talks. Everyone knows that. Vynas šneka, tai žino visi.
Quotations
„Jis atkimšdavo kiekvieną butelį, kiekvieną istoriją pradėdavo slapčia įsitikinęs, kad štai šis ir bus tas magiškas gurkšnis, kuris atgaivins. Tačiau kad magija veiktų, kaip ir vynas, reikia tinkamų aplinkybių.“; „Pasaulietiška alchemija, sakydavo apie tai Džou. Mažmožių pasaulio magija.“; „Šiame gėrime jauti aitrumą, tarsi dūmus ir degančią gumą, tačiau jis žadina, griebia tau už gerklės, rausiasi po atmintį, kelia ir kviečia iš ten vaizdus, kuriuos manei užmiršęs visiems laikams.“;
„ - viskas švyti bauginančiu švytėjimu, kokiu švyti nostalgija.“; „Butelyje kažkas liuoktelėjo, tarsi pasišokėjo. Rūsyje likę vynai sutarškėjo, sutartinai jam atsiliepdami. Kartais tai vyksta atsitiktinai. Išlaukus metų metus, teisingo planetų išsidėstymo, atsitiktinio susitikimo, staigaus įkvėpimo - ūmai it visiškai savaime susiklosto tinkamos aplinkybės, klastingai, be fanfarų, be įspėjimo. Džei tikėjo, kad tai lemtis. Džou vadindavo tai magija. Tačiau kartais tai tik paprasta chemija. Kažin kas ore, gal poelgis, kuris iki šiol inertiškai glūdėjo, staiga pažadina keistis.“
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Wikipedia in English (1)

Jay Mackintosh is trapped by memory in the old familiar landscape of his childhood, to which he longs to return. A bottle of home-brewed wine left to him by a long-vanished friend seems to provide the key to an old mystery. As the unusual properties of the strange brew take effect, Jay escapes to a derelict farmhouse in the French village of Lansquenet. There, a ghost from the past waits to confront him, and the reclusive Marise - haunted, lovely and dangerous - hides a terrible secret behind her closed shutters. Between them, a mysterious chemistry. Or could it be magic?

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