Try me...Test me...Taste me. When an exotic stranger, Vianne Rocher, arrives in the French village of Lansquenet and opens a chocolate boutique directly opposite the church, Father Reynaud identifies her as a serious danger to his flock – especially as it is the beginning of Lent, the traditional season of self-denial. War is declared as the priest denounces the newcomer’s wares as instruments of murder. Suddenly Vianne’s shop-cum-cafe means that there is somewhere for secrets to be whispered, grievances to be aired, dreams to be tested. But Vianne’s plans for an Easter Chocolate Festival divide the whole community in a conflict that escalates into a ‘Church not Chocolate’ battle. As mouths water in anticipation, can the solemnity of the Church compare with the pagan passion of a chocolate éclair? For the first time here is a novel in which chocolate enjoys its true importance, emerging as a moral issue, as an agent of transformation – as well as a pleasure bordering on obsession. Rich, clever and mischievous, this is a triumphant read.
Chocolat
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Amazon Review
Chocolat begins with Vianne Rocher and her six-year-old daughter Anouk arriving in the small village of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes--"a blip on the fast road between Toulouse and Bordeaux"--during the carnival. Three days later, Vianne opens a luxuriant chocolate shop crammed with the most tempting of confections and offering a mouth-watering variety of hot chocolate drinks. It's Lent, the shop is opposite the church, it's open on Sundays and Francis Reynaud, the austere parish priest, is livid.
One by one the locals succumb to Vianne's concoctions. Harris weaves their secrets and troubles, their loves and desires, into this, her third novel, with the lightest touch. Sad, polite Guillame and his dying dog. Thieving, beaten-up Joséphine Muscat. Schoolchildren who declare it "hypercool" when Vianne says they can help eat the window display--a gingerbread house complete with witch. And Armande, still vigorous in her eighties, who can see Anouk's "imaginary" rabbit Pantoufle, and recognises Vianne for who she really is. However, certain villagers-- including Armande's snobby daughter and Joséphine's violent husband--side with Reynaud. So when Vianne announces a Grand Festival of Chocolate commencing Easter Sunday, it's all-out war. War between church and chocolate, between good and evil, between love and dogma.
Reminiscent of Herman Hesse's short story Augustus, Chocolat is an utterly delicious novel, coated in the gentlest of magics, which proves--indisputably and without preaching--that soft centres are best. --Lisa Gee
Review
'An addictive read haunting,obsessive, and just a little nutty, like a freshly made praline.' (Elisabeth Luard, author of Family Life )
'A celebration of pleasure, of love, of tolerance.' (Observer )
'Samantha Bond is perfectly cast as Vianne: her voice is smooth and luxurious. But Gareth Armstrong steals the show as the priest who turns increasingly to his faith and in so doing loses touch with reality.' (Observer ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
'A celebration of pleasure, of love, of tolerance.' (Observer )
'Samantha Bond is perfectly cast as Vianne: her voice is smooth and luxurious. But Gareth Armstrong steals the show as the priest who turns increasingly to his faith and in so doing loses touch with reality.' (Observer ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By J.E.T
Format:Paperback
In this novel Harris captures a certain magic that compels you to read on and discover the secrets within. Set in a small French village, Chocolat tells the tale of Vianne Rocher- a pagan, single mother who sets up a chocolate shop in a mainly god-fearing town on the eve of the Christian celebration of Lent. As the novel unfolds and the townsfolk one-by-one give in to the allure of Vianne's famous chocolates and drinks we hear their life stories and really get a clear image of their character and hidden selves. Showing the struggle between religion and ingulging your desires this is a truly captivating read.
The characters all seem to have a true-to-life element about them and are completely believable. The only dissapointing part of this book for me was the end which was a little too abrupt for my liking. It is well worth a read, but save it for when you have a large space of time free as it will completely enthrall you in all it's twists and turns.
The characters all seem to have a true-to-life element about them and are completely believable. The only dissapointing part of this book for me was the end which was a little too abrupt for my liking. It is well worth a read, but save it for when you have a large space of time free as it will completely enthrall you in all it's twists and turns.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By Fi Fi
Format:Paperback
I didn't expect much from this book, my mother told me to read it as she loved it and so i thought i would give it a go - and how glad i am that I did! This book has so much hidden depth which is not apparently obvious from the title. I have never seen paganism and catholicism brought together so cleverly. A beautiful look at how religions work and are not so different. I found the book to be very touching and insightfull. The characters are a very well thought up blend of people and portrays a good spectrum of people from most walks of life, all cleverly tied together in a small village. Harris brought everyone of them to life beautifuly and each had a different yet stricking character and they all somehow seem very familiar and I found i could relate most of them to people I have encountered. All in all this is a wonderful feel good book I would recomend it to everyone as a clever look at religion and sociology! (I will appologise hear for my spelling which im sure is atrocious)!
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By "danjenk"
Format:Paperback
I committed the ultimate sin, I saw the movie first!! I know you're probably gasping at how bad that is of me but I have to say the movie was briliant enough for me to go out and buy the book and I'm glad I did. The book has many differences to the movie and I can see where the moviemakers changed things around and why and I'm glad to say that it still works as otherwise I would never have bought the book. The book is amazing, I fell in love with the characters and even though I'd seen the movie first I was able to imagine something different to what I'd seen. The book is a rich vibrant book with a great story full of wonderful characters, buy it, read it, treasure it. I tell you that it's well worth reading it will fill you with a lot of joy and make you want to go out to France and just sit in a store just like the one in the book and drink hot chocolate.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
nice escape
I enjoyed the book, I think I was slightly hampered by having seen the movie and so someone elses character images were in my head, rather then allowing me to form my own! Read more
Published 4 days ago by Fiction Squirrel
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Indulgent Trip into French Rural Life
Chocolat is set in the small French village of Lansquenet, a place where routine and reassuring familiarity dominate daily activities. Read more
Published 5 days ago by L. Clarke
4.0 out of 5 stars
i liked verymuch
I have given this rating because it is a book that you have to read to the end I would recommend it
Published 17 days ago by angela newman
3.0 out of 5 stars
Joanne Harris
I had a job to get into the Authors way of writing at first, have since gone back to it and find that it is really an in depth view of each characters feelings. Read more
Published 20 days ago by Kenneth
5.0 out of 5 stars
chocolat
great friends told me you must read Joanne Harris I had heard of her but never read anythiing.
I can only say it is beautifully written and one could almost be in the village... Read more
I can only say it is beautifully written and one could almost be in the village... Read more
Published 1 month ago by oscar
5.0 out of 5 stars
Congrats for Julies Bookshop
As always the book arrived well in time. Everything stated was true. If I see a secondhand book I like and Julies Bookshop has it on offer, I will certainly buy it there!
Published 1 month ago by Nathalie Verstraet
5.0 out of 5 stars
don't read if on a diet!
A wonderful book which does not date and can be read over and over again.
Having initially read this many years ago I still get lost in it each time I re-read it. Read more
Having initially read this many years ago I still get lost in it each time I re-read it. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Adele204
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent read
What a great read I thoroughly enjoyed it. This book made me go out & read almost everything Joanne Harris has written.
Published 1 month ago by j nowland
5.0 out of 5 stars
Page turning story
Amazing story, couldn't put it down. Bought this because someone gave me Lollipop Shoes to read, so thought I'd start at the beginning. Read more
Published 1 month ago by SuzieO
5.0 out of 5 stars
I couldn't put it down!
Wonderful!!! better than the film.It gripped me from the start. I love the characters and the descriptions are perfect. Great.
Published 2 months ago by Mrs D Gilham
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