Family Ties and Traumas
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There is a structure to this novel which is reminiscent of that of "Chocolat", so you know how it will end: with a firm romantic uncertainty. That's part of the Harris charm.
The convolutions of the plot are also part of what attracts, as they were in her three previous novels.
Mado is a great heroine: independent, artistic and thoughtful. She is the sort of person the reader can identify with in a wish-fulfillment way.
The road to love is not smooth, and Flynn's possible parentage doesn't help, but he's a cool, uncommitted enigma who you wouldn't mind being tucked up with now and again.
Joanne Harris evokes a feeling of Frenchness which seems authentic to those with a nodding acquaintance with the people. She is one of the best creators of atmosphere in modern novels. They conjure an intimate, fresh and individual setting for each story; the reader is drawn into a feeling of familiarity with the main characters and places.
"Coastliners" tastes of the brine and wind of a Breton island. You can feel the insularity and are drawn into the geography of Le Devin.
Certain characteristics are reminiscent of village life in rural England which aids understanding of the way of life of the people and their attitudes.
A captivating story. Familial ties and treachery, a great setting and characters - Joanne Harris at her best.
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Deja vu; deja vu; deja vu
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Starting to read this (thankfully library copy) book reminded me why I had stopped reading Joanne Harris.
Chocolat was a magical and enjoyable read, but i did begin to get that 'we have been here before' sense creeping up on me with both 'Five Quarters' and 'Blackberry Wine' Though 'Coastliners' doesn't follow the same food route, there is something very repetitious about Harris' writing - the 'outsider', the tight, often prejudiced community etc etc.
Some writers can repeat their same basic story but their depth of writing uncovers new truths, some writers (for example the wonderful Rose Tremaine) are endlessly original in every book - Harris is neither of these, and does her own same old same old - as several reviewers noted, the word 'formulaic' springs to mind. I abandoned Coastliners within about 50 pages and it is back on the library shelf
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Reliable as ever...
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You can't really go wrong with Joanne Harris. This is another page-turning, totally engaging tale with plenty of plot twists. Formulaic it may be, but her formula certainly seems to work. I much prefered this to Chocolat, but it's not as good as the black-hearted, sitting-up-till-4am read that is Five Quarters of the Orange.
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so sweet, so enchanted
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Whenever I read a Joanna Harris thing, its the same... small villages, modern times and the necessity to change, strangers and people who come back and change something...I liked all books of her, but I love Coastliners. Everyone who knows a small village, struggling to keep their youth, their way of living and the connection with nature, history and religion that has been a foundation of the village life for so long, will know what Joanna Harris is writing about. Everyone who loves such a small village will love this book, and others will, too. You will feel the island, feel secluded, safe and at the same time, desperate and afraid, when you read this book.
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Fab
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I really enjoyed this. It's a little slow in places, but the wonderful descriptive narrative keeps you going and you become so involved in the characters, you cannot put it down by about half way. This isn't Joanna Harris' best novel (Chocolat!) but still very enjoyable. Think somewhere in between Jane Austen and modern chick-lit.
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