I don't like magical realism, but a little bit of everyday magic, the kind that Joanne Harris writes, works for me. After all, wine in the bottle is alive and fermenting. Where Chocolat took off from chocolate, this one takes off from fruity wine. Both were great fun to read. ( )

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. ( )

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. ( )

Usual blend of Harris’ mystical fiction. Pleasant story, well told. ( )

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. ( )