Chocolat: (Chocolat 1) (Vianne Rocher Novel)

by Joanne Harris

'A feel-good book of the first order. One to curl up with... Read it' OBSERVER

In the small French village of Lansquenet, nothing much has changed in a hundred years. Then an exotic stranger, Vianne Rocher, blows in on the changing wind with her small daughter, and opens a chocolate boutique directly opposite the church. Soon the villagers cannot keep away, for Vianne can divine their most hidden desires.

But it's the beginning of Lent, the season of abstinence, and Father Reynaud denounces her as a serious moral danger to his flock. Perhaps even a witch...

'Sensuous and thought-provoking... subtle and brilliant' DAILY TELEGRAPH

'Is this the best book ever written? Truly excellent' LITERARY REVIEW

'Moody and atmospheric... a richly textured tale' INDEPENDENT

• ISBN10: 0552998486
• ISBN13: 9780552998482
• Publish Date: 2 March 2000 (first published 16 February 1999)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Transworld Publishers Ltd
• Imprint: Black Swan
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 368
• Language: English

Reviews

[Angie]

I probably liked Chocolat more than I would have otherwise, since I watched the movie first, and that lent some familiarity. The two are quite different, mostly in their tone and some of themes presented. Vianne and her daughter Anouk have just arrived in the small village of Lansquenet, where Vianne decides to open up her chocolate shop. They're not exactly welcome to the area, since there's a small, tight-knit population under the thumb of the local priest. However, with patience and a bit of magic, Vianne gets to know her neighbors and improve their lives, while also finally making a home for her and her daughter.

One of my favorite things about Chocolat was that it was told in alternating POV. One of which, of course, was Vianne, and the second was the priest, but told in letters to some unknown recipient (at least in the beginning it's unknown). I just really love letter, diary, and other types of epistolary narratives. However, this format also made the religious themes quite obvious and I usually don't have a problem with them, but it was a bit overbearing. Vianne does not attend church nor believe in God, and Pere Reynaud is completely convinced that she's there to tempt everyone and lead them into sin with her chocolates. It's too much of a stretch, since she's nothing but polite in the beginning, and he's nothing but rude. He's also the ultimate hypocrite, saying he can't get involved in ruining her, and yet he uses other people to do his dirty work.

I really don't have much I want to say about Chocolat. I enjoyed it, but mostly because I liked seeing familiar scenes from the movie, rather than enjoying the book itself. It was a nice, relaxing read and I liked most of the characters (Armande being my favorite). I'm also just a fan of small towns being shaken up by eccentric new comers, and the subtle magic definitely added a little something extra. But, overall, it just wasn't my thing. I much prefer the film adaptation.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[Eve1972]

Great Read