at the small Abbey of Sainte Marie-de-la-mer on the island of Noirs Moustiers off the Brittany coast. After the birth of her daughter, she takes up the veil, and a new name, Soeur Auguste. But the peace she has found in remote isolation is shattered five years later by the events that follow the death of her kind benefactress, the Reverend Mother.When a new abbess -- the daughter of a corrupt noble family elevated by the murder of King Henri IV -- arrives at Sainte Marie-de-la-mer, she does not arrive alone. With her is her personal confessor and spiritual guide, Père Colombin. A man Soeur Auguste, with secrets of her own, knows all too well and the one man she fears more than any other."
A gorgeous, compelling story set in mediaeval France, Holy Fools has all the ingredients I love in Joanne Harris’s books. There’s a strong, complex heroine with pagan inclinations, a flamboyant villains, a gothic setting, a rich luscious atmosphere and a lot of less than comfortable reflections on the human condition. Harris has a very warts and all approach to portraying people. She doesn’t tend to do clear lines between the wholly good and the wholly bad, and I love this about her work.
First thing first, I adored the overall feel of this books. It's sets, atmosphere, themes and general aesthetic was wonderful. It truly felt unique and rich, something that could easily be translated into a beautiful movie.
One of the themes running through this novel is that way in which people are often complicit in their own oppression. In trying to please the oppressor, and trying to avoid punishment, we give other names to the witch hunter. We accuse someone else to take attention from ourselves. So often what is called for in oppressive scenarios is a banding together to fight off the tyrant. If there’s one tyrant and many people being mistreated, weight of numbers should fix it, but often it doesn’t. Instead, in trying to protect ourselves, we uphold evil systems and support those who abuse us. It was also a fabulously interesting exploration of the fusion of religious mania, trauma, female repression, redirected sexual need and guilt complexes.
One of the themes running through this novel is that way in which people are often complicit in their own oppression. In trying to please the oppressor, and trying to avoid punishment, we give other names to the witch hunter. We accuse someone else to take attention from ourselves. So often what is called for in oppressive scenarios is a banding together to fight off the tyrant. If there’s one tyrant and many people being mistreated, weight of numbers should fix it, but often it doesn’t. Instead, in trying to protect ourselves, we uphold evil systems and support those who abuse us. It was also a fabulously interesting exploration of the fusion of religious mania, trauma, female repression, redirected sexual need and guilt complexes.
However, I did have a few problems with this book. First of all was a relationship between Juliette (Soeur Auguste) and her daughter fell flat. The daughter is less an actual person then a plot device, which, unfortunately, completely emotionally undercuts the weight of the story. I also found the relationship between Juliette and Le Merle deeply frustrating. (SPOILERS) For a book supposedly so strongly about female empowerment, strength and sisterhood I found the ending thematically confusing. Le Merle has out right emotionally and physically abused Juliette, once even pimping her out without her consent leading to her being raped. I understand having a dark emotional connection, a sort of deep understanding of each other's darkness, and I truly love these relationships being explored. But I don't think it was in character for Juliette to consent to be with Le Merle, nor should she. While she might have had a special bond with him, this doesn't mean that it would be healthy for them to be anywhere near to each other.
Age Rating 15+. Some sexual elements but only alluded to really. Small acts of violence. Death, suicide, religious mania and forced exorcism.
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