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Chocolat

Chocolat

List Price: $12.95
Your Price: $9.71
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
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

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: chocolat review
Review: Chocolat by Joanne Harris can be depicted as an inspirational novel. Vianne Rocher, the main character, is a unique woman who will not conform to the ways of society. This is an amazing story that relates to happiness, sorrow and romance. Harris reflects Vianne as a woman worthy of praise. Vianne easily disregards the opinions of society. She is deeply rooted in her own morals and beliefs. The author captures the spirit of the characters as well as fulfilling the beauty and magic of the town. She also provides vivid descriptions and images of the townspeople and their reactions to Vianne and her daughter Anouk. However nothing compares to the images the author provides when Vianne is brewing up her famous chocolate recipes. My favorite scene was the arrival Roux. I knew something special was going to happen between him and Vianne. Joanne Harris is more than capable of grabbing the reader's attention, in fact she is able to leave their emotions rising and falling with every turn of the page.

Rating: 5 stars
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!

Rating: 3 stars
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!


Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Rich, smooth read
Review: I didn't even know this author existed until I happened to see my favorite word on a bookshelf. I could not resist (I never even try when it comes to chocolate), so I bought the book, and for once I was glad to let my sweet tooth do my thinking. The story begins when a gentle, easygoing wanderer, Vianne, settles in a small French village and opens a chocolate boutique, drawing the attention of everyone, specially of a straitlaced, self-righteous priest named Reynaud (one word of advice to staunch Catholics: pick something else). Tension mounts on each side, or more like, in Reynaud's side, since Vianne pretty much ignores him. I love the underlying idea in the story that chocolate is connected with temptation, sin, and all bad things worth doing. And the ending was so good, I just laughed my heart out. The only thing I couldn't quite accept is the depiction of the villagers; the story would have been more believable if it had been located in a small New England town; the Puritanism of some of the characters just doesn't coincide with my idea of French thinking, but since I haven't lived in France I can't say more on the subject. Heavy readers, look for something else; this is light reading, only perfect for someone looking forward to have a good time and not to analyze.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Sweet Treat
Review: I don't think it would be possible to speak about this luscious morsel of a book without breaking into confectionary prose. I found the dual narrative of the agitated and judgmental Reynaud and the tranquil and accepting Vianne both effective and delicious and the author's ability to evoke the smells and textures of the chocolate shop mouthwatering. Despite its fairy tale quality, Chocolat is very much grounded with themes -- confronting personal demons, living in an unaccepting society, the consequences of unpopular choices -- that affect us all. I'm pleased that Ms. Harris's next novel is to include the same supporting cast of villagers. While many are peripheral to the main plot, the author has developed their characters so well that I'm glad I'll have the chance to learn more about them --and satisfy my senses at the same time!

Rating: 4 stars
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!!

Rating: 3 stars
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.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Fantastic!!!
Review: I watched the movie "Chocolat" a year or so ago and found myself amazed at the sensuality of this little story. So I decided to read the book although I felt I knew the story.

Joanne Harris is a brilliant story teller with such admiration for the senses that she pulls her readers into a land of sensory overload where you want to reside forever. The book is different than the movie (isn't this always the case?) but just as entertaining. The delicate prose and romantic verse keep you interested until the very end and then for days and days afterwards. I dare you to read this tale and not find yourself sipping wine and cocoa while being tempted by all the chocolate. France will be calling your name!

Rating: 4 stars
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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