The Harvesters

I knew that I wanted to read The Harvesters when I saw that the author was from Croatia as were the characters in this story. I whizzed through this book which follows Mira, a divorcee who comes to Paris with her nephew Bernard for a short trip. Paris with its beauty and charm is juxtaposed by the people who live beyond its beautiful façade- the immigrants, the lost, and the broken. It is this contrast which sparks memories for both Mira and Bernard of their pasts, forcing them to acknowledge their pain, guilt, and loss that they see mirrored around them in the curious and complicated people of Paris. It seems that everyone comes to Paris to start over and to let the parts of themselves that they cannot change and would like to forget, die and fall away from them. Mira and Bernard both try to release their pasts, failures, and memories amidst the magical grandeur of the city of light.

This book reminds me of a French Nouvelle Vague film, with its existential themes, off beat humour, and ordinary people doing ordinary things.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wouldn't recommend this title to people who dislike character-driven stories. But I greatly enjoyed it. Odor's illustration of Paris - its beauty and its underbelly - was stunning, and I felt so deeply for her rich characters. Philosophical, elegiac and wise - this book is a treasure.

The Harvesters by Jasmina Odor is a beautifully written novel that asks the reader to slow down and examine the power of memory and the desire to harness the future. Odor creates a character study dealing with immigration, what it means to belong, and the role we play in our lives.

Mira and her grown nephew, Bernard, are taking a short trip to Paris on their way to Croatia to visit their mother/grandmother after her ministroke. Their pasts threaten to derail the trip as each wrestles with the role they played in the disappointments of their own lives. Mira is divorced and untethered. Is she looking for an old flame, seeking something new, or nothing at all? Does she belong with her mother in Croatia, the country she left behind during the Yugoslav Wars? Bernard struggles to understand his role in losing his first love. Can these characters break through their pasts to see each other now? To see themselves as they really are?

The true delight of this novel lies in the author’s writing style. Crafted in a captivating blend of stream-of-consciousness and dual POV, the narrative draws the reader into an intimate connection with one character at a time. The following quote serves as an example of Jasmina Odor’s keen writing prowess:

“She backs up and dismounts too and leans over to look. One of the pigeon’s wings hangs funny, like a part has come loose. What small parts do pigeons have under their feathers?
Bones, of course, get a grip.”

The author not only has a way with words, but a powerful ability of storytelling by absence. There is as much reading to be done in the white spaces as in the words on the page. Mira and Bernard are unable to communicate successfully, each aggravating the other without any real understanding of what they did wrong. It is the reader’s privilege to filter through these miscommunications and dive into the hurts that each character carries.
The novel isn't plot-driven, so is unlikely to appeal to readers looking for "a lot to happen." The focus is on character and memory. The Harvesters is for readers willing to engage with the writing and who enjoy diving into the characters' inner lives while wandering around the less glamorous parts of Paris.

Thank you to Freehand Books and NetGalley for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. The Harvesters by Jasmina Odor comes out on May 1st!