Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris is a haunting tale of memory, secrets, and betrayal set in the quiet village of Les Laveuses along the Loire River. Framboise Dartigen, a reclusive widow, runs a small crêperie using recipes inherited from her mother, a woman once despised by the villagers. But the past, like the river’s deadly undertow, refuses to stay buried.
When Framboise’s nephew, a greedy Parisian, tries to capitalize on her culinary success, old wounds resurface. Through her mother’s wartime journal, Framboise confronts long-hidden truths about her childhood, the German occupation, and the tragedy that tore her family apart.
Harris masterfully weaves past and present, revealing how secrets can fester and shape lives. Five Quarters of the Orange is a rich, atmospheric novel exploring guilt, resilience, and the bitter-sweet taste of remembrance.
