This is the by far the best collection of short stories I've ever read. Who knew that the author of "Chocolat" could write such memorable and darkly haunting stories? She describes short stories to be something that "can startle, ignite, illuminate. It is often troubling, often frightening or subversive. It provokes questions, whereas most novels tend to try to answer them." Her collection of 22 stories includes: Faith and Hope Go Shopping >> Two elderly women living in a retirement home dream of escaping. Everything was predictable to a fault and they are told that they are just things that are considered to be "unsuitable" for them. They escaped-- in search of a copy of Lolita and a pair of Jimmy Choos. "I wanted, just once to step out into the glossy, gleeful pages of my magazines. To taste the recipes; see the films; read the books. To me the shoes represented all that: their cheery, brazen redness; their frankly impossible heels. Shoes made for anything -- lolling, lounging, priowling, strutting, flying -- anything but walking." The Ugly Stepsister >> Casts one of Cinderella's stepsisters in a sympathetic light; little could we have imagined what this poor woman has had to endure. Apparently it's even more devastating at Christmas time when she appears in plays and is hissed, booed, and "spat at by shrieking, sticky children with ice cream all over their faces." She's had quite enough of that, to say nothing of having to put up with Her Smugness (a.k.a. Cinderella who always wore designer rags). The storry also brings an equally notorious and misunderstood fairy tale character into the picture to steal her heart. Gastronimicon >> A tale about a young wife who discovers that the recipes in her mother-in-law's treasured (if musty) passed-on-for-generations cookbook often have unintended consequences. Fule's Gold >> A story of a grammar professor who finally becomes inspired enough to publish his own story--by stealing a work done by one of his very own students. Class of '81 >> What happens when the magic runs out for the students of an academy for wizards & witches? Have a reunion in a couple of years, of course! Fantasy fans will certainly like the twist on this one. Hello, Goodbye >> When Angela K., the 29-year-old society columnist of "Hello, Goodbye" mag covers a celebrity funeral, she comes to understand the bizarre attraction of death and the twisted emotions that often accompany it. But in the overly shallow world that we all live it, it actually makes sense that it's a matter of time before this happens. Free Spirit >> Anybody's guess is as good as mine as to what the concept of "free spirit" is referring to. Auto-da-fe >> Story of road rage on an utterly personal level. I'd hate to be on the same road with somebody like this, that's for sure. The Spectator >> It's the age of keeping children safe from everything and anything; of dictating their every move in an effort to control all facets of life. "Surely there can be no harm in that? I mean--don't we all enjoy watching children at play?" Al and Christine's World of Leather >> A love story contained within the ruins of a rapidly deteriorating one. Unforgettable. Last Train to Dogtown >> What would happen if an author ended up in a room with his characters from manuscripts long left unfinished? "We're the characters in the stories you didn't finish, the minor players, the cameo roles, the people you write out, or lost interest in, or gave up on or forgot." The G-SUS Gene >> A scathing science fiction yarn about free will and religion. A Place in the Sun >> The desperate lengths one is completely willing to go through to penetrate the all-exclusive Platinum Sands beach, from which everyone but the "infinitely sexy, ultimately desirable" is barred. After all, this is the one place where prospective bathers are vetted according to age and looks. The last two lines of the story gave me such a jolt that I find myself shaking my head over it all. Tea with the Birds >> A loner receives an amazing gift, one with the potential to keep on giving, from the enigmatic Mr. Tamaoki. Breakfast at Tesco's >> A tale in the tradition of "Breakfast at Tiffany's" -- of things that are done routinely to stave off the machinations & disappointments of life to that of dealing with change -- no matter how it presents itself. "So, how do I look?" Come in, Mr. Lowry, Your Number's Up! >> A man who's existential purpose includes quite a fascination with numbers wins the lottery. He spends his money recklessly only to discover that the ominous thing he truly wants he cannot buy. Surprisingly entertaining since I don't even like numbers myself. Waiting for Gandalf >> The plight of a monster who lures victims by setting up elaborate role-playing games: "because sometimes, reality just doesn't satisfy." Any Girl Can Be a CandyKiss Girl! >> The lengths of what fashion will do to objectify women: "she represents everything that is loathsome about today's youth: the loss of innocence, the lost of beauty, and most of all, the moss of dignity." I couldn't agree more. The Little Mermaid >> The characters are more than bizarre, but it's easy to be sympathetic to some. Fish >> A honeymoon from hell for the bride; the awakening to one's birthplace, culture and traditions for the groom. If I were the bride, I wouldn't mind honeymooning in Naples... Never Give a Sucker... >> Stems from the impression that vampire literature's elitist thereby the need to explore the life of an everyday vampire. Realistically though, I don't think a lot of people would've wanted to become vamps themselves were it not for the dark romanticism that infuses it. Eau de Toilette >> We all used to think that the days of gowns & attending balls by the members of the aristocratic class seemed so elegant & romantic--like nothing could possibly go wrong. Apparently we weren't being realistic enough for our own beliefs. Book Details: Title Jigs & ReelsAuthor Joanne HarrisReviewed By Purplycookie
Com a notícia de que vai ser editado em Portugal o mais recente livro de Joanne Harris, "O Aroma das Especiarias", fiquei com vontade de ler qualquer coisa dela, enquanto espero pelo meu exemplar. Tinha há algum tempo este "Danças&Contradanças" na prateleira que, por ser um livro de contos, não estava no topo da lista de leituras.Confesso que, se não conhecesse a escritora de muitos outros livros, não sei se teria ficado muito impressionada com ela, intrigada sim, só não sei se suficientemente intrigada para pegar noutro livro dela. Embora ultimamente tenha lido alguns livros de contos que me têm feito mudar de opinião acerca do género, este de Joanne Harris fez-me lembrar porque é que não é o meu género favorito: as histórias são demasiado curtas para que se consigam desenvolver as personagens e criar empatias e, as personagens de Joanne Harris precisam de espaço para serem quem são. Com os contos isso não acontece. O que também precisa de espaço são as histórias e as múltiplas peças do puzzle que a escritora tão bem sabe montar de forma a encaixarem na perfeição.Definitivamente, o conto é bem o género onde a autora consiga revelar o melhor de si. É muito mais eficaz no romance. :)No entanto, o livro não deixa de ter muitos dos elementos que marcam a escrita de Joanne Harris, o fantástico, personagens com personalidades distorcidas, a presença da comida e dos cheiros, elementos quase omnipresentes em todas as obras da autora. É Joanne Harris, mas não é o melhor dela!.Recomendo por ser escrito por quem é e porque é um livro pequeno que pode muito bem ser um bom livro para descontrair de leituras mais complexas.Boas leituras!Nota: A pontuação é ingrata quando avaliamos escritores de que gostamos muito, no entanto o livro deve ser avaliado por si só, não pela obra do escritor. Custou-me muito dar-lhe apenas 2 estrelinhas... Se fosse possível seria 2,5 e não apenas 2. :)
What do You think about Jigs & Reels: Stories (2006)?
i like Harris, but this collection of short stories seemed particularly forced. She writes about food and families and secrets best, and she should've stuck to that. Instead, half these stories read like freshman-year sci-fi, and the other half are the same story! She has two almost identical stories about "Scary possible futures!" where children too young to be doing or thinking something are doing or thinking that thing...for instance, her take on the fashion industry, where the designer is designing provocative clothing for infants, which is in the same vein as the story where the narrator talking about beauty and dieting and starving herself is only 11 or so. These stories are fine, but not what I was hoping.
—Kira
I've heard the name Joanne Harris about 6 years ago for the first time, when I saw the film "Chocolate" and found out that it was based on a book. But due to the young age and other interests in the literature then, I ignored reading it. Even somehow forgot to think about it. But good people gave me an advice to read "Chocolate" and I did it. And last week in search of something light and unobtrusive for a cozy winter reading, I came across a set of short stories by Joanne Harris "Jigs and reels". I was too curious to take a closer look on the writer, and decision was made. At first it was very strange, but after a few dozen pages I could not figure out how I used to live without this book before. Incredibly sad, but at the same time very light and touching stories. Each of them makes you wonder. Each of them is hiding a frightening reality, bordering on something magical and fabulous. These stories, small in volume, quick and easy to read. Many stories are so commonplace and yet incredibly interesting woven into the really attractive ones. Before I was not particularly a great fan of short stories but now I'm quite sorry about this fact.I recommend this book to all the kind hearts who even seeing all the imperfections of our world, remembering all the troubles of our life, still continue to believe in miracles!
—Vika Ivanova
Увидев на книжной выставке новую книгу Джоанн Харрис "Чай с птицами", я даже не стала заглядывать внутрь и читать аннотацию - сразу схватила, купила и, довольная, пошла дальше :)Оказалось, что это - наконец-таки изданный на русском языке сборник ее рассказов, вышедший в 2004 году под названием "Jigs and Reels". Тем лучше! Я уже признавалась в своей любви к малой форме, но не лень сделать это еще раз - я очень люблю рассказы, и мне было приятно прочитать предисловие к сборнику, в котором писательница признается в такой же глубокой любви к ним.Честно говоря, читать я начинала со смешанным чувством - немного зная ее стиль и любимые темы, я боялась, что мне будет слишком "сладко" (в плохом смысле этого слова), а посему не понравится. Первый рассказ, Вера и надежда идут по магазинам, меня почти убедил в том, что мои предчувствия оправданны. Я принялась за второй - и всё, как рукой сняло! Чуть иронии, чуть постмодернизма, чуть мистики, чуть магии, чуть кулинарии, чуть писательской темы, чуть человечности и эмоций + хороший язык (за что спасибо переводчице) = идеальный коктейль для сборника рассказов, какими я их люблю. И по большей части все рассказы очень разные, что не может не радовать. Тут есть постмодернистские фантазии на тему всем известных сказок (Сестра - каково это - быть Злой сестрой Золушки?) и фильмов (Завтрак у "Теско" полон аллюзиями на книгу Капоте и фильм по ней), кулинарные изыски с примесью магии - куда без них? - (Гастрономикон, Рыба), ироничные и грустные фантазии на темы жизни общества и того, к чему приведут происходящие сейчас в обществе процессы (Привет, пока!, Наблюдатель, Фактор И-СУС, Место под солнцем, Сексипупсик), "писательские" рассказы (Мираж, Последний поезд в Догтаун) и многое-многое другое.Мне очень понравился этот сборник, в целом он оставляет после себя прекраснейшее впечатление! Его хочется, как сокровище, носить за собой повсюду, и перечитывать, перечитывать...
—Jenny Sparrow
