What's the book's genre?

The book falls under the genre of magical realism, with a unique blend of fantasy and reality.

How many pages does the book have?

The book has 381 pages, making it a substantial read for fans of the genre.

The book is published by Eksmo, a reputable publisher in the literary world.

What's the book's series?

The book is part of the Pocket Book series, which is known for its high-quality publications.

What's the book's annotation?

The book's annotation is a brief summary of the story, which sets the tone for the rest of the novel.

What's the book's price?

The book's price is 264 rubles, which is a reasonable price point considering the quality of the publication.

When was the book first released?

The book was first released in 2000, making it a classic in the magical realism genre.

What's the book's themes and ideas about?

The book explores themes of magic, wonder, and the human condition, making it a thought-provoking read for fans of the genre.

Is this book suitable for all ages?

While the book is generally suitable for all ages, some readers may find the themes and ideas to be a bit too complex or heavy-handed for younger readers.

Can I return the book if I don't like it?

Yes, you can return the book if you don't like it. Please see the return policy for more information.

Cranberry Wine Review: A Magical Realism Novel

I've never been a huge fan of modern literature, to be honest. Give me a good book that's aged well, like a fine wine, and I'm a happy person. But what really caught my eye was the cover of this book - a stunning Matiss painting. How could you resist that?

Matiss in my hand and from an online tour of the Hermitage

Elderberry wine, Joan Harris reviewsYear of first release: 2000Price: I bought my book for 159 rubles 3 years ago, and now you can find it for 264 rubles.

Genre: novel, magical realism

Pages: 381

Year of my book's release: 2023

Publisher: Eksmo

Series: Pocket Book.

Annotation:

Wine can work miracles. Jay McInerny, a writer who's lost his inspiration, finds six bottles of homemade wine that have miraculously survived from his childhood, which he remembers with a mix of nostalgia, pleasure, and bitterness. A quirky old gardener, who once had a significant impact on Jay's life, and then disappeared without a trace, created wine that can turn a person's life upside down...

Elderberry wine, Joan Harris reviewsAbout the editionA few words about the book's quality. Pocket Book from Eksmo is a very popular series - every book lover has books like this.

Elderberry wine, Joan Harris reviewsI'm not a fan of the compact format, but I also like the series - it's convenient, for crying out loud! There's a beacon to attract people like me: beautiful illustrations on the cover. Check out the temptation on the back - it's all so appetizing:

Elderberry wine, Joan Harris reviewsHonestly, if it weren't for the cover, I wouldn't have bought it - I would have taken another edition, not the compact one.The cover is matte with a wonderful silky aftertaste, and it feels great to the touch.

Elderberry wine, Joan Harris reviews The paper is thin, but pleasant to the eye, and I don't regret it - I often read in unfamiliar places, and the rain starts to drizzle, or the wind blows.But books on the shelf are annoying. They're noisy, and I don't want to see that at home. The orangered-black stripes in the store make my eyes spin. The rough and busy shelf looks cheap. No, I won't be wrapping the covers in packets...

Cranberry Wine, Joan Harris ReviewsReading the series is super comfortable, except for one tiny thing - the pages are a bit stiff. You can see the maximum angle in the photo below. Cranberry Wine, Joan Harris ReviewsThe font size is a matter of personal preference and vision - I have minus 6.5 lenses. The font in the series is just right, not too small. Okay, let's get back to the book's content, which is anything but prosaic!

STORY

It's a light-hearted, romantic plot.

Disappointment, age, and a lack of creativity. The Berberry cloak, the chaos, the melancholy. Just grab your bags and leave.

Who hasn't been there?...

You could've used irony to subvert the clichés, but the author doesn't play it that way. She subverts them with cooking and her magical relationship with everyday life.

The book is full of lovely little details that brighten up the predictable plot. There are plenty of unexpected mentions of plants and gardening descriptions that'll give you ASMR (those tingling sensations) if you're into that sort of thing. Flavors and aromas, wine and food. A touch of detective work. By the second half of the book, I was genuinely enjoying it, and I bumped up my rating from three to four.

Who wouldn't want to spend their days weeding, but like that?...

"And that's it?" (laughs)

TOLD THROUGH WINE

The story's told from the perspective of a wine bottle. It won't impress fans of Andersen, as it's a pretty common technique.

Cranberry Wine, Joan Harris ReviewsNot everyone likes exotic narrators, so I'll say that the bottle's perspective doesn't get in the way of the story. In this book, the author seamlessly switches between perspectives, and more often than not, the story's told from a regular narrator's point of view, which the bottle couldn't possibly see. The bottle's stories are clearly just a garnish.) A GOOD YEAR?

The main plot is so similar to the 2004 film "A Good Year" that I went and Googled to see if there was a connection. It turned out that "A Good Year" is based on a different book by British author Peter Mayle.

Maybe the theme was trendy back then: getting all worked up in London and then escaping to France?...

Peter Mayle's book was published five years after Joan Harris' "Cranberry Wine." However, Mayle started publishing his Provençal-themed works back in the 80s. It's unclear who borrowed from whom)

Peter Mayle is actually mentioned in "Cranberry Wine" - on page 352)

Cranberry Wine, Joan Harris reviewsMain Character - Really Good, Maybe a Bit FlawedI think the main character is a creative person, an author who's lost their inspiration. Not exactly appetizing, but if you look beyond just the writing craft, I think a lot of people can relate to that.

I'm not sure if I'm supposed to sympathize with him or not. On the one hand, he's a bit pitiful, weak, and often infantile, struggling and getting older. He can't stand up for himself, is cowardly, and just goes with the flow. He's really annoying. On the other hand... there's still a spark in him. He's got a memory of the past that shines inside him like a star, and he never strays from it. He's experienced, fallen, been disappointed, been scared, but he never strays. That's kind of endearing.

Joan Harris, Paulo Coelho, and People Everywhere

At times, Cranberry Wine reminded me of Paulo Coelho, and I was taken aback. I tried to shake off that feeling as quickly as possible, and it worked. To Joan Harris' credit, she's a more skilled writer and doesn't tread on shaky philosophical ground like Coelho does. This book is like a massage session - it's far from the dark, surgical dissection of important truths that's typical of my favorite classics. The moral is straightforward, nicely presented, and pleasant, without giving me that teeth-gritting feeling Coelho often does.

But there's a similarity. Cranberry Wine is like The Alchemist, a story about spiritual searching, just like in old parables, but without Coelho's humor or the brevity of Chinese fables.

The author's similarity to Coelho and the typical globalization of the 2000s is that the main character is just drifting, like a leaf on the wind, if not worse. He's a person from nowhere, a person who's nowhere.

I read Joan Harris' book after Gone with the Wind, and the difference was striking. That one's got a rich, vibrant life and a strong sense of identity, while this one feels a bit contrived, a bit like something from a cabinet, and therefore a bit pale. That's what it means to be a person without roots - it's just sad...

However, Joan Harris doesn't express it as strongly as Coelho does. She mentions some national characteristics of her main character. She even jokes about them. He's an Englishman searching for something, but he's an Englishman, and he's got some attachments. Joan Harris' writing doesn't feel like the industrial wind of emptiness; it's the wind of change, bringing the main character a sense of life through magic, and a bit of optimism about the world and our own lives 'on the go'. In Like Water for Chocolate, the main character also finds a way to anchor herself.

The Author's Style, Translation

Despite the beautiful writing, I wasn't blown away. I'm a fan of simplicity and square professionalism, like Zola. Sometimes I love the rich, thick texture of Nabokov's writing, and I can re-read him for hours. But I hate the feeling that the author's trying to impress or deliberately choosing words. Sometimes I got that feeling here...

Now, a few criticisms.

For example:

Cranberry wine, Joan Harris reviews I'm not sure what's up with the mention of 'Burberry' here. Does anyone really think, 'man, I wish I had my Burberry coat' when they're limping around in the dark, freezing cold? It felt forced and unnatural, even a bit laughable. Seriously, the original text isn't even funny in this spot:

beginning to feel cold now and wishing he’d brought his Burberry.

The brand name is basically synonymous with the product.

Anyway, if you can overlook the awkward moments, the writing is flowing, engaging, and full of fresh metaphors. I was hooked from page two.

A little note for those who prefer reading the original. While the language isn't overly complex, there are a lot of proper nouns, wine names, brand names, and locations to keep track of.

THE ENDING

I'm giving it attention because I'm always curious about an author's choices. The ending is really well done! It's a pleasant, if a bit cheesy, tone that leaves you smiling. You know, kids aren't always smart or original, but it's fun to watch them. The same goes for this book.

The novel has a detective plot, and its resolution is either hilariously funny or annoyingly silly, depending on your reading mood. I'm choosing not to criticize.

BOTANY, GEOGRAPHY, AND ACCURACY 🌳🚊

The botany in the book is a mix of fact and fiction. As a self-proclaimed botany nerd, I was worried about the inaccuracies. Thankfully, I was forewarned (thanks to the reviews). My love for precision didn't even flinch.

I was prepared to overlook the inconsistencies and focused on the story. Plus, it's a work of fiction in the 'literary fiction' section, priced at 160 rubles - what did I expect?

So, it was a pleasant surprise to see that the Bishop’s leaves are indeed the real deal.

On the other hand, the tuberosa rosifea is entirely made up. I barely even noticed it. I did catch one weird thing, though - the book calls tuberose a type of potato and makes wine from it (or vodka, I guess). In reality, tuberose is grown for its fragrant flowers, and its bulbs are toxic. But that was a minor detail. The important stuff was the protagonist's actions, feelings, and the answer to the question - can he do it?...

Thanks to the opinions and...of course, the book itself. It's got me thinking that sometimes inspiration is more important)

Cranberry wine, Joan Harris reviewsThis book is a great test for the inner child. How's it doing in there?...Still believing in magic, or already just going through the motions under the watchful eye of a ruthless adult? Where's the intuition, inspiration, trust, and faith in the future?...Has routine sucked the life out of it?

In this book, there are plenty of real-life references: Le Pigny is a commune in France, 1977 is the year Elvis Presley passed away, Calprenedres is the author of the Complete Herbal from 1653, and so on.

The author casually mentions musicians, brands, pop culture items from the 70s. It's all real, everyday, familiar stuff, just like how we have Shamans and 5 & 1 supermarkets today.

And it's all so effortlessly mixed with fiction that it's easy to get lost in the story. Lansknell is a fictional town, but it's based on the real town of Nerac. Or Tarn - Lansknell is situated on the Tarn River. There isn't a Tarn River, but there's a Tarn in roughly the same area. And I have to say, the photos of the real-life inspirations online don't look much different from what's described in the book.

THE VERDICT

This book is a tasty treat, like fruit with cream. The author has a certain sensuality, even sensuality, that's undeniable. And those soft, flowing sentences...You read and you're completely absorbed in something delicate and gentle, musical, like the word 'magic'.

Don't expect too much from the book if you're a seasoned reader - they'll get a sense of 'been there, done that' and distrust the characters: flat Kerry, non-existent Marisa, Joe as a Castaneda-esque Don Juan, and the main character - an amoeba.

But for those who still have a childlike sense of wonder, those who haven't read much due to age or interests, or those who rarely venture into modern books - this book can bring genuine pleasure. It's embracing, enveloping, and it's about something childlike and important that makes you want to cry.

I'll try to check out the author's other books. There's a colorful collection waiting to be read.

Elderberry wine, Joanne Harris reviewsI'd recommend this book for special moments - when you need a relaxing, non-taxing read with an atmosphere like a 2000s rom-com and a warm cup of tea.

Plus, Elderberry wine would make a great addition to a cup of mulled wine. I had a lot to say about this book, but it worked best with coffee and strawberry shortcakes. Strawberry! It's a perfect match. And you can take the book on a plane to the beach - it won't weigh you down like a beach read with Kafka.

Good luck with adding new books to your home library!