Rating: 
Summary: Pleasant but...
Review: I don't really know what to think of this book. True, it is a sensuous experience at times with its wonderful descriptions of the chocolate-making process. However, having lived in a small French village for six years now, I find the description of village life a little too twee and "touristy". A real village priest would never have the power that the one in the book has (at the start of the novel anyway). And the village itself is a little too idealised. Most of the people in my village would never be able to afford Vianne's chocolates. There again, the back-stabbing atmosphere of a small French village is spot-on. Read it but don't expect to find Lansquenet on your next trip to France.
Rating: 
Summary: Earthly Pleasures Are Divine
Review: This magical story was a pleasure to read. The storyline, characters and setting were remarkably real. Even the chocolate descriptions fairly jumped off the page onto my tongue. I was thoroughly seduced by Ms. Harris's style of writing and even committed to memory some of her delicious sentences.The heroine, Vianne, was a wonderful character, full of humanity, caring and intelligence. The other characters of this book seem real as well. The tug-of-war between good and evil, in Ms. Harris's adept hands, is fascinatingly portrayed. Anytime good human beings triumph over puritanism, I say 'Hurrah!""Chocolat" is a book that will stay on the palate of your mind for a long time.
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Summary: The Power of Chocolate
Review: Once again, chocolate weaves its magic, this time, an almost alchemical potion unleashed upon the citizens of a small viallge in France. So beautifully written -- you can almost taste it!The perfect companion piece to BITTERSWEET JOURNEY, a delightful novel for all the senses.
Rating:
Summary: A Chocolate Fairy Tale.
Review: Lovely and lyrical. If you love chocolate, you'll like CHOCOLAT. And if you like CHOCOLAT, you'll love BITTERSWEET JOURNEY.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Writing and Style!
Review: "Chocolat" captures the imagination and the writing style allows the reader to envision the wonderful chocolate treats of the chocolate shop. Ms. Harris has the ability to draw a mental picture of each of her characters in the minds of the reader. A real treat to read!
Rating: 
Summary: This is a cool book.
Review: I liked this book. It is quite intriguing. The setting is neat, the characters are interesting, and it has clever symbolism. The ending could have been stronger - hence the 4 stars instead of 5.
Rating:
Summary: More than a fairy tale
Review: The characters are real people. The plot is well thought out, and keeps you flipping the pages a lot faster than you would like to, it is a short book and is over way too fast. Leaves you wanting the story to continue. The story is more than a simple good and evil that most of the other reviewers have made it out to be. It is a story about social generalization and predijuce that few of the other readers realized. There is more to it than the simple war of choclate. It examines in detail the meaning of religion, calling, juctice, persicution, social fear, and the christian idea of the avoidance of pleasure.
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Summary: Attention, chocolate addicts!
Review: This novel is not to be missed! Everybody is a fan of France, or chocolate, or magic, or anti- clericalism--and so you've got to find this book rewarding in one way or another (if not all). It's about a witch who moves to a (very) provincial French village and starts a chocolaterie. She gets in trouble with the local priest and a lot of the establishment, but manages to change a lot in the town. (Of course we all know that chocolate has extraordinary powers). Perhaps it doesn't sound like so much in summary, but believe me this is great stuff. The Fox
Rating:
Summary: Delicious easy read but . . .
Review: The language was lovely, the descriptions of chocolate delicious, but the characters were contrived, and the plot too obviously formula. Battle of good and evil, temptation and resistance, the good wins in the end and leaves the world a better place . . . glad to have read it, but it didn't leave me wanting more.I recommend it highly for chocolate-loving people wanting a light quick read that they don't have to think much about.
Rating:
Summary: As addictive as real chocolate itself!!!!
Review: I must admit. I had a chocolate craving when I bought this, but I never thought I could be addicted to a book. I re-read this several times being drawn in by the strong characters that Joanne Harris presented. I have bought this book several times as gifts already and will continue to do so until Joanne Harris writes again! (Thanks for the title Ms. Harris...)
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