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Has anyone read holy fools yet?

>>By ginasays (Saturday, 14 Feb 2004 02:11)

I thoroughly enjoyed Holy Fools. It is very well written and the characters are fascinating. In some ways, it reminds me of Toni Morrison's books, but not so difficult. I have also become aware recently of a thread that ties this book to Sue Monk's The Secret Life of Bees and to Carol Goodman's the Seduction of Water.....Stella Maris. Do read it.

>>By readingrita (Friday, 2 Apr 2004 01:23)

While I found all of her books very enjoyable and readable, my favourite has to be Blackberry Wine. Jay's relationship with Jackapple Joe was touching and the episodic form of the novel with flashbacks inter-twined with his present day life highlighted the nostalgic feel to the novel. The lush and vivid descriptions of the surrounding agriculture Jay clearly misses on Pog Hill, are harshly contrasted to the unrelentless difficulty of his older self with Kerry, his job as a tutor, and his mind block. I find his lack of creativity symbolic of how we should retrace our routes in order to revitalise the spark which brought us success in the first place. His abrupt departure to the French countryside wrought significant and humorous results.

The underlying narration of the Wine Bottles along with the culmination of the last bottle being opened in unison with the end of the story was humorous and clever, and brought the novel into a full circle with a clever twist of fate.

I strongly recommend Seamus Heaney's "Death of a Naturalist" as the poetic language in his work complements the effortless range of style Harris uses in her entertaining descriptions of scent, wine and plants.

>>By mathu (Wednesday, 1 Sep 2004 00:29)

I haven't read any Joanne Harris exept Coastliners and i Thought that It could have been better explained and detailed.But hearing all the comments on holy fools I deafinetly gonna read that.

>>By butters (Monday, 6 Sep 2004 20:58)

I've read Chocolat and Five Quarters of the orange and I prefered this last one, because it had a much better plot. I would like to read all her other novels but I'm afraid the books will be very similar, for she seems to use the same formula: someone who is new in town, food involved... Are all the other novels like these two I have read?

>>By moonflower (Friday, 18 Mar 2005 13:58)

I have recently read 'The Lollipop Shoes', it was every bit as divine as 'Chocolat'. I look forward to reading the rest of her books.

>>By Johblogs (Tuesday, 18 Sep 2007 13:06)

True about themes, but that need not matter I think, as she writes so entertainingly and I don't believe it descends to the formulaic.
I liked Sleep, Pale Sister, tho it is not like any of the others - which however I also liked. But I think I must be the only person who didn't appreciate the talking bottles in
Blackberry Wine, finding it over-whimsical and a bit silly .

Despite her great style, she does, don't you think, labour points a bit? I mean, how many instances of awfulness did there have to be in the convent in Holy Fools.......

Has anyone else noticed how there is always someone with red hair featured ? What do you think might be the significance , if any

>>By BarbaraH (Wednesday, 21 Nov 2007 02:38)

Try reading Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris if you want a good read as well as various twists and turns. I adored five quarters of the orange and am about to read Chocolat
I wish I could write like this woman

>>By estefania (Saturday, 12 Jul 2008 11:06)

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