When Framboise Simon returns to a small village on the banks of the Loire, the locals do not recognize her as the daughter of the infamous woman they hold responsible for a tragedy during the German occupation years ago. But the past and present are inextricably entwined, particularly in a scrapbook of recipes and memories that Framboise has inherited from her mother. And soon Framboise will realize that the journal also contains the key to the tragedy that indelibly marked that summer of her ninth year. . . .

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 7 reviews)

Uncomfortably compelling

Joanne Harris has a wonderful way with words. I have enjoyed many of her other books. This story was so compelling, but it made me uncomfortable. I didn't really like any of the characters, but I got drawn into their tense, painful world, with its dry humor and vengeance.
October 09, 2008

Quirky characters, rich writing

What an excellent choice for a book club discussion! The quirky, odd, strange characters will keep you talking (or thinking) for hours. Narrator Flamboise alludes to a mystery at the very beginning of the book which is slowing revealed like a fisherman letting out his line. Masterfully, it will keep you reading to the last page. Beyond the compelling story itself, Harris' writing style is very evocative of the places she describes and her language has a beautiful literary quality without being unwieldy or pretentious. Most excellent!

July 29, 2008

A good read...

My family does a "Christmas book club" each year; "Five Quarters of the Orange" was the selection this year. The overall score was four stars -- two people loved it, two liked it, two thought it was just OK. It is a story about an adult woman, Framboise, who comes back to the French village in which she grew up. Events took place there during the German occupation during the war that have shamed her for years. The novel moves back and forth in time, showing the war-time events (when Framboise was a girl) and her life in the present. Some in our discussion thought Framboise's actions were horrible to the point that she wasn't a sympathetic narrator.

There are a few twists and turns, some interesting symbolism ("Old Mother" and all the food references), and an enigmatic ending that raised a few questions. I was one of the ones who liked the book, enough that I have bought a copy of "Gentlemen and Players" and plan to read it this year. Joanne Harris is an evocative writer worth another look.
April 21, 2008

shockingly good

I love this book. She has such a unique and lyrical manner of writing. Highly recommend it. Plus it's got a discussion section in this edition.
April 05, 2008

A Great Read

The was a fabulous novel. JoAnne Harris is such a creative author. We read this for our book club. Everyone liked it. She always has such great story lines with creative twists that keep you talking. It was a great discussion. We read Gentlemen and Players the month before (it was very very good too) and just couldnt get enough of this author. A great read. You wont be disappointed.
February 15, 2008

SIMILAR PRODUCTS

Gentlemen and Players: A Novel (P.S.)
by Joanne Harris

The Girl with No Shadow (published in the UK as The Lollipop Shoes)
by Joanne Harris

Blackberry Wine : A Novel
by Joanne Harris

Loving Frank
by Nancy Horan
by Joyce Bean

Sleep, Pale Sister (P.S.)
by Joanne Harris