Author : Joanne Harris
Publication (First Edition) : February 1, 1999
Publisher (First Edition) : Viking Adult
This Edition’s Publication Date : November 7, 2000
Publisher : Penguin
ISBN-10: 014100018X
ISBN-13: 978-0141000183
No. of pages : 320
The Story :
The story begins when Vianne Rocher and her daughter Anouk arrives in the tiny village of Lansquenet. She sets up a chocolate shop, a seeming godsend to the sleepy town where nothing ever really happens. But, for its chaplain, Pere Reynaud, the shop with its delectable florentines, chocolate brazils, and pralines present an outright threat to his parish’s status quo— a community lifestyle of strict piety, conformity and self-denial. It doesn’t help that its shop owner is a largely irreligious, attractive, inordinately charming woman with an uncanny ability to guess one’s favorite chocolate confection. Is she a witch? No one knows, and Vianne isn’t even sure herself; but, her delightful, mouth-watering creations seem to weave their magic in the hearts of the villagers.
To Pere Reynaud, however, her chocolates present an evil indulgence that threaten to crack his rigid inculcation of spartan pleasures in the name of the suffering Christ. So the straw that breaks the camel’s back is Vianne’s planned chocolate Easter festival at the end of the Lenten Season which goads Reynaud to vow for her permanent removal from Lansquenet.
The Review :
This charming story is a sweet, amusing jibe on how excessive devoutness beyond common sense can carry religion to the realm of the ridiculous. Joanne Harris pokes at skewed morality with an engaging hand… and a delectable one at that. So a caveat: the mention of chocolate in all its luscious forms and the entrancing descriptions of chocolate-making arouse cravings; in this case, it would be good sense to have a box of these delicious devils by your side before settling down with this rather pleasing, light-hearted book.
Along with the well crafted plot, Harris spins incredibly palpable characters to love in her rich yet simple prose.
On the Side :
The cinematic version of Chocolat had been shown in 2001 with Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp leading a great cast. Although it deviates quite a stretch from the novel, the movie captures the feel of the original material pretty well. Still it is an inferior substitute. The story is better told in Harris’ hand.
In A Nutshell :
A delectable book with luscious pages of magic realism, Chocolat is as irresistible as that one little bit of truffle. Besides, as this book obviously points out— what is life without chocolate?
My Mark : Outstanding! — A lovely keeper
June 10, 2010 at 3:30 pm
Hi Jo! There’s a sequel to this book, entitled The Lollipop Shoes (alternate title The Girl with no Shadow). I read it last year: http://sumthinblue.com/foodie-fiction/
June 10, 2010 at 4:11 pm
Just read your post and left my two cents.
I didn’t know Chocolat had a sequel. Thanks for letting me know. Gotta have this.
June 11, 2010 at 5:53 am
This is one of the few book-to-movie adaptations I can get behind. I loved both the original and the adaptation, and I thought the changes to the latter were all very sensible.
I’ve been meaning to read the sequel. I should see if I can get it from the library.
June 12, 2010 at 1:41 pm
I agree. Although there were changes to the movie, these modifications didn’t detract much from the book. I enjoyed the movie as well but then you don’t the lovely way the story is told in the book.
June 13, 2010 at 2:18 pm
I liked this book (and I have the sequel waiting for me to read). Have you read any other novels by Harris? I think Five Quarters of Orange is my favorite.
June 14, 2010 at 1:41 pm
Oh this is my first time to read a book by Joanne Harris. The Lollipop Shoes is in my wishlist and since you recommend Five Quarters of Orange, that will go in as well. I just like the way she writes.
Btw, thanks for dropping by.
June 15, 2010 at 7:03 am
Hello, Jo! I haven’t read a Joanne Harris novel yet. But if this book is half as good as the movie, then I’ll give it a try! I just wouldn’t get a copy with the movie poster on the cover. Hehehe.
June 15, 2010 at 2:24 pm
With Depp there, I did! Hee, hee!
Btw, good to hear from you, Peter. Been visiting your blog for new posts but I see you’re busy or taking a sabbatical. But I’m guilty as well. These past 2 months hasn’t left me much time for reading, much less blogging.
October 2, 2010 at 6:27 pm
I love the movie. I’ve been meaning to read the book for some time.
October 8, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Oh please do! You’ll get more out of the book.