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Summary: Entertaining "war" between the pious and the indulgent
Review: The villagers of Lansquenet, France relish juicy gossip and the newcomer provides them an easy source of all sorts of titillating rumors. Unmarried Vianne Rochet accompanied by her daughter move to the village and open up a chocolate shop directly across from the church. Her marital status and the indulgent goods found in her shop anger Father Reynaud. He believes that the devil's worker has moved into their fair town, especially when the residents embattle with their Lenten vows. When Vianne announces a chocolate festival on Easter Sunday, Father Reynaud decides to abort her plan and hopefully drive the sinner away from his flock. However, the priest did not reckon with the gift she gives her customers with every box of candy they purchase. Using her ability to perceive each person's biggest discontent, Vianne grants them simple cures that work. More and more the townsfolk rebel from their strict Puritan lifestyle to join Vianne's gregarious and happy lifestyle. CHOCOLAT is a beautiful St. Valentine's Day novel that will leave readers feeling the magic of Vianne. The story line is amusing, entertaining, but contains a serious under tone. Vianne and Father Reynaud are intriguing characters as their personal war divides the town. At times the tale seems contrived to insure the plot never slips from its simplistic good verse evil premise. Nonetheless, Joanne Harris scribes a delightful debut novel. Harriet Klausner
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Summary: Sugared Magic Realism
Review: In this lusciously mystical novel, Vianne Rocher and her young daughter Anouk arrive in a small French village on Mardi Gras. Vianne, the daughter of a gypsy and a wanderer herself, sets up her chocolate shop during the most austere of Christian seasons, Lent, thus infuriating the local priest who knows his parishioners will struggle with their Lenten vows. Vianne turns out to be a not-so-ordinary shopkeeper, and Reynaud the priest is not the holy man he pretends. As Vianne befriends the down-trodden, including a band of gypsies, her force in the village becomes as powerful as Reynaud feared. With its tantalizing descriptions, this book will have readers dreaming of the finest chocolates and confections. The language can be at times self-conscious and overblown, but the overall effect is mesmerizing, thanks to Harris's visual style and attention to detail. The biggest flaw of this otherwise skilled first novel is the unsatisfying ending and the one-dimensional way Vianne connects emotionally with the gypsies. These forced elements can be forgiven, however, given the moving lyricism of the rest. CHOCOLAT is a beautiful but flawed work that offers much more than the average novel. If you haven't already read this and are a fan of magic realism, you should pick it up. You won't be disappointed.
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Summary: Beware the ending....
Review: Chocolat is a great book, not too long and not too short. It has a catchy style of writing, almost confusing at times, but that's what I liked about it. It clearly contrasts between the old-fashioned way of life of the town Vianne sets up her shop in and the modern world around them. It's almost a shock to find out that there are televisions and radios around! For those who liked the movie, this book will not disappoint, though there are a few minor differences, and the ending is completely different.
Speaking of the ending...the ending stinks!!! Like chocolate itself, the story is delicious... until the end, which leaves you unsatisfied and wondering why there isn't more. You grow very close to Vianne during the story, and it's a shock when she doesn't get the romantic happily ever after ending heroines usually get. I believe that a book is only as good as its ending and because I get too involved with fictional characters I like sappy endings. If you're looking for a romance, don't get this book.
Anyway, the writing is great; witty, full of wisdom, and somewhat melodramatic. Vianne moans throughout the whole story about how scared she is to lose her daughter and is always describing how she smells. I would love to get more of Harris' books soon, mainly because I love her style. Highly recommended!
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Summary: Chocolat Review
Review: I thought the book Chocolat was great and I enjoyed reading it. It was definitely a change of pace from all other books I have read in school which made it that much more enjoyable. I think that it was a good decision for Joanne Harris to have the book set up in journal entries by both Vianne and Reynaud because it allowed us to see both of their points of view instead of only one perspective throughout the entire novel.
I thought the details in the book were amazing especially about the chocolates because most of the time I could almost taste the chocolates in my mouth as I was reading it.
Vianne Rocher was a very admirable character in this novel. She demonstrated the strengths of a woman and the courage to stand up against a society for your beliefs. She remained strong even when she became pregnant and when Roux left her for Josephine. I think that she was portrayed very well in the novel.
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Summary: Chocolat!
Review: Chocolat by Joanne Harris was an exceptionally well written novel and now one of my favorites. I particularly enjoyed the journal format of the book between the two protagonists, Vianna and Reynaud. The book has a fairytale like sensation centered around the magical touch of Vianne. Her mystique of people's sense and chocolate is mesmerizing. The contrasts of masculine and femininie support the novel well, as well as the struggle between Vianne and the church. The ending caught me by surprise and it sure is the unexpected. Chocolat is a heart warming and enjoyable story. The only downfall: the intense chocolate cravings the whole time you read!
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Summary: One of my favorites!
Review: I must admit I saw the movie before I read the book, but liked the book much more. Joanne Harris knew the romance between Vianne and Roux (respectively played by Juliette Binoche and Johnie Depp in the movie) was not an important factor in this story, only Hollywood's little addy, and undoubtedly the reason for people saying the movie was better.
Harris writes in an entrancing manor which is not only evocative in her descriptions of Vianne's Aztec chocolate recipes, but it leaves an impression of the exotic, appealing, and surreal nature of Vianne Rocher's character. Vianne is the epitome of a wanderer with her little daughter Anouk, but in their wanderings they come across many people who's lives they touch. The persuit of belonging is a predominant theme as well as not being afraid to be different and possess some mystery (it's so much more interesting).
Description of chocolate has never been so vividly mouth-watering as in this book, and with its promotion of indulgence, makes one want to savor its taste long afterwords. No wonder even the priest is forced to live a little (what harm is there in that?)
The witchlike characteristics of Vianne and Anouk (as well as Armande Voizin) not only appall the enemy villagers who rebel against her Paganistic rituals, it makes the reader incredibly curious for more hints of supersticion, fortune-telling, or mind-reading eminent in Vianne. The north-wind's blowing, and allusions to the "black man" also add to this enchanting tale of two wanderers who defy the black man in hopes to find somewhere they can settle in.
A must-read, especially while on vacation, and be sure to bring chocolates with you!!
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Summary: excellent book , okay movie
Review: This was an enchanting tale of a mother daughter duo that was able to come into a quaint French town and transform many of the village people. This story was enticing because it showed realistic community struggles during the Lenten season which affected all the people. The details of each bonbon created are irresistable and you must have a supply of chocolate at hand while reading. Harris did a wonderful job with the portrayal of Vianne, a mother who was able to help all who came to her shop, not just to buy chocolates. This novel is all inclusive from stories of the river gypsies and the Catholic Church to the problems with sin and temptation. Chocolat is an easy read yet there are a number of characters that are well developed and have major parts throughout the entire novel. I would recommend the movie but not until you have read the book. However, there are many differences and the movie portrays the main characters in a different light.
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