|
Rating:  -
You will love this book! You will not be able to put it down. You will be wondering what will happen to everyone till the end! Best book I have ever read! Makes the movie seem so short compaired to the book!
WARNING: Be sure to load up on the chocolate before you read! Trust me, you will crave!
Rating: -
I am looking at a Penquin Books edition which has a different cover than the one illustrated (and more connected to the story). Having visited the French Village of Lansquenet in the author's later novel, "Blackberry Wine," I decided to step back in time to her first novel, also set in Lansquenet. The novel covers a relatively short time period, from Shrove Tuesday to Easter. A stranger has arrived in town while a local parade is in progress on this last day before Lent (OK, so the heathens in the US call it Fat Tuesday). She gives her name as Vianne Rocher and is accompanied by her daughter, Anouk, and her daughter's invisible rabbit Pantoufle, who some people can sometimes see. Vianne decides to stay, at least for a while, and turns an abandoned bakery into a chocolat shop, La Celeste Praline. She opens during lent, tempting people with gourmet selections, and has an unusual knack for knowing what individuals like as their favorites. She also has some other special magic.
Vianne immediately finds herself in contention with Francis Reynaud, cure of the parish. They both have secrets in their pasts that they keep hidden. She views Reynaud as the Black Man, and he views her as an evil influence on the village. An assortment of local characters are introduced. Some become allies of Vianne, and some align themselves with Reynaud. And there are the "gypsies," people who live on houseboats on the river and move about from town to town.
Vianne has the ability to win over people's minds with chocolat, but there are evil influences at work. The white hats win in the end, and the village is left a somewhat different place. Vianne, who grew up with her mother as a wanderer from town to town and country to country, considers moving on to another town.
This is a well written novel, alternating chapters between Vianne and the curate Reynaud. The chocolat can, perhaps, be viewed as white magic opposing the dark side represented by Reynaud.
Rating:  -
Irresistible, sweet and magical! Loved this book and loved the movie! Wish they did not change so much in the movie but it was still great.
Rating:  -
I found Chocolat on the whole unimpressive.
However there are some portions which are quite charming - the magic which is woven in small ceremonies,the warmth of the mother daughter relationship and ofcourse the delightful character of Armande with her endless joie de vivre and her red silk slips.
The best portion of the book are the last two chapters - in one Reynaud, the village priest finally gives in to his wild supressed temptation for choclate, the description is very good. The last chapter is the essence of the book,what goes on in Vianne's heart,mind and soul and what she finally decides - to stay or to move on with the winds as usual, quite beautifully written.
Rating: -
Chocolat, by Joanne Harris is an intriguing novel about a delightful and slightly magical person that changes the lives of many people.
This compelling novel is told through the eyes of two characters in a diary-like style. The first point of view is Vienna Rocher's, a single mother who has moved into a small religious town with her daughter, Anouk. In the town she opens a chocolate shop across the street from a church at the beginning of Lent.
The other point of view is from Pere Reynaud, the priest of the town. He sees Vienna as a pagan who has come to the area to corrupt his community with the sinful temptation of her chocolate shop.
Throughout this book Reynaud battles with his insecure faith and temptations, while Vienna fights with her past, for her friends, and for her new business.
Even though this book is from the eyes of only two characters, you learn about the lives of everyone who lives in the town; their secrets, conflicts, and personalities.
I loved the way Joanne Harris used very descriptive writing.
"The windows are open, and the through-draft would be cold if it were not for the heat of the stoves, the copper pans, the rising vapor from the melting couverture. The mingled scents of chocolate, vanilla, heated copper, and cinnamon are intoxicating."
I enjoyed reading this book; I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read a fun and humorous book that is still very deep.
Television Show
Collectibles
Movie Searches
|
|
|
Search for posters,
art prints, photos, collectables, merchandise, toys, t-shirts
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Join the Nielsen//NetRatings Research Panel and you could win a new car, a dream vacation, a dream home makeover or $50,000 Cash!
TV Guide
Program listings, celebrity profiles, industry
gossip, movie reviews, puzzle.
More
Entertainment
& TV Magazines
This site is
Hosted
by Bluehost
Read
my Bluehost Review
Original Superhero & other designs for t-shirts, bumper
stickers, prints, mugs, and other cool merchandise. |
|
