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Summary: review of joanne harris' chocolat
Review: joanne harris is a well knowen and widely respected author. she made her name through books such as Sleep, Pale Sister and more recently Five Quarter Oranges. a strong willed woman invades the rural French town of Lansquenet, around the time 1920. she open a chocolat store, at the begining of Lent, and make new friends.. sparks of envy, hate and anger fly between her and Father Reyuad. a chocolat vs. church war starts. its amazing how a sinle person is able to change a community in such a short time. the invaders touch is as bitter-sweet as the chocolat she sells. both sides of the battle are told. harris provokes your thoughts, and strings you along nice and slow, speeding up as you get closer to the end. alliances are made, lives changed and tension arises. the story line maynot sound so mouth watering, but the darkness of the book comes from our wants, needs, dreams, beliefs and the pleasures we indulge in. the high sales, the movie and the great publicity drove me to buy the book. harris' fairy-story and bewitching skills drove me to read the book 3 times in 2 days.
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Summary: Chocobook or Chocomovie?
Review: I loved the movie "Chocolat" so much that I saw it twice in the theater and just had to buy the book. I found the book less enjoyable than the movie, I believe it was because I knew everything that was going to happen and nothing seemed to be new. I'm telling you - if you have not seen the *movie* yet, save it for after the book! That way the book is very enjoyable! *S*
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Summary: You can smell the chocolate...
Review: An old-style tale in a modern setting (if you put two facts together, you can date it as set in 1995) Chocolat is a likeable tale of the arrival of an outsider in a small French village, and the changes her presence brings about. I found that best thing about the story was the description of the chocolates themselves - i once worked in a chocolate shop, and could understand the magic effect chocolates and sweets can have! One reviewer asked 'Is this the best book every written?' and i have to say no. But it is a worthwhile, if a bit 'girlie', story that is best enjoyed with a glass of hot chocolate close to hand
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Summary: The book surpasses the film
Review: You'd have to be living the life of a high altitude hermit to avoid the hype that surrounded the film, but I can promise you the book is much better. I read the book first and, frankly, the film was a big disappointment.Joanne Harris tells a moving tale of Vianne Rocher and her daughter Anouk. Vianne sets up a chocolate shop in a small village in France. Unfortunately, the parish priest sees her enterprise as a threat to his conventional control over the simple village folk. But Vianne finds an unlikely ally in Armande, an old lady who shook off the reins of the church many years earlier. The conflict between shop owner and priest grows when gypsies arrive in town. The priest is against them: Vianne is not. And it seems that the priest is hiding an awful secret. Chocolat is wonderfully written - a real 'feelgood' book. Joanne Harris reveals some extraordinary insights, fresh with gentle humour. Even if you've seen the film, I recommend you read the book.
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Summary: Well-written but too many questions...
Review: I at first loved this book. The characterizations were wonderful, the descriptions rich and vivid, and the writing clear and entertaining. But I found that there was so much alluded to that was not explored in enough detail, and things happened for which there was not enough explanation. When the book ended, I found it to be a big letdown. It has a lot of merit because of the strength of the writing and the story line, but it could have used a few extra chapters to fully flesh out some of the items that were alluded to.
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Summary: Very Enjoyable
Review: Chocolat is a fairytale of a story about whether it is better to follow tradition or to pursue happiness. Vianne and her six year old daughter move to small French town and set up a chocolate shop. Since it is the beginning of lent, the townspeople are divided in their reactions towards the shop. The inhabitants are a little cartoonish. There is an independant old woman with a gossipy daughter, a gruff but nice farmer and so on. However this does not make them any less interesting to read about. The story is told from two viewpoints-Vianne's and the local priest's. Since the priest belives in abstinence and self-denial he ends up in becoming Vianne's 'enemy'. As well as information about what these two people see and hear, we are also told how thay feel about what is happening. My favourite parts of the book were those that detailed Vianne's relationship whith her mother who died seven years ago, and how their previous lifestyle colours her life. Vianne has an irrational fear that Anouk will be taken from her, which mirrors a similar fear that her mother once had. Vianne also longs to settle in a place for a while, but feels unable to do so. The book details how she faces up to her fears and helps some townspeople to solve their problems too. I was disappointed in the stereotyping of the priest, who comes across as being intolerant and nasty. I also didn't like the ending-Since Vianne's and the priest's are the only viewpoints shown, I expected a sort of reconciliation between the two. However all said, I enjoyed the book very much, and read it in record time. I don't usually like books written in this particular style. It's a good book to bring on holidays-neither trashy or complicated. The descriptions of the chocolates and chocolate making are scrumptious!
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Summary: Just Desserts (sorry)
Review: Chocolat is a modern fairy tale in which an unmarried chocolate maker and her daughter run afoul the local parish priest when they move into a small French town to set up shop. While the tale is not a highly original one, Joanne Harris excels at creating an atmosphere of mystery and magic and peoples her novel with characters the reader can readily identify with. Her descriptions of this small town and its many denizens make for a delightful read. The conventional plot is told in an unconventional manner, with just enough twists and turns to keep anyone occupied and entertained.
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Summary: A Lovely Novel
Review: Joanne Harris' Chocolat is a pleasant, enjoyable read, perfect for sitting outside on a sunny day. The story is not too taxing and the reading is easy. Vianne Rocher and her young daughter move into a small provincial French town and open a chocolate shop during Lent. The village priest takes great offense at that and tries in his own way to shut her down. Vianne befriends the various misfits from town, enriching their lives through her friendship and her chocolate. The novel is too light to be taken as deep symbolism, but rather is a fairy tale/morality play in which traditional roles are switched. The Catholic Church, instead of providing salvation, is all emptiness, while the chocolatier asks people to reexamine their lives and in some instances, saves them. If you tend to get offended by writers poking a little fun at the Catholic Church, this novel will probably offend you. But if you are looking for a light, enjoyable well-written read which turns expectations upside down, try a little Chocolat. You won't be disappointed.
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Summary: Sweet Dreams
Review: Chocolat was delicious! Light fare but good story. Great summer reading. The chocolate descriptions made my mouth water. Liked it a lot.
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Summary: Subtance in Chocolat
Review: Chocolat by Joanne Harris was our most recent book club selection. We discussed it last night over wine and, what else? - chocolates -- lots and lots of chocolates. Our club found Chocolat to be layered with rich life lessons, the primary of which were don't be afraid to live life to the fullest, deprivation be damned for death is ever present, and above all else stay open to the magic. Sweet friends, freedom, the golden rule, and inspired food are the ingredients to Harris's recipe for life. She would have been pleased with our book club meeting and how we would have loved to have her join us. We got it right last night. We talked, laughed, indulged, and enjoyed. Chocolat is a delicious read that melts in your mouth and engages your senses and imagination from start to finish.
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