Product Description

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 eclair? 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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6719 in Books
• Published on: 2000-03-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 336 pages

Amazon.co.uk 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

Observer
‘A celebration of pleasure, of love, of tolerance.'

Customer Reviews

A delicious, indulgent read
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.

A book about chocolate, religion and belonging.
When Vianne arrives in Lansquenet with her young daughter and opens a chocolate boutique opposite the church, Father Reynard immediately identifies her as a threat to him and his flock and to the traditions, religion and way of life that he holds so dear.

Vianne's shop cum café is a provocative distraction to the town folk and one which Father Reynard sees as seducing his god fearing congregation. After all, how can the church compete with such mouth-watering chocolate delights as are described here and how can it turn a blind eye to their calling when they are right outside his front door?

Chocolate is Vianne's life, - it is what she knows, she is good at it, it is her livelihood. She sees it as nothing but harmless fun, a treat for her customers if they are feeling low but for Father Reynard, he sees it as the start of the destruction of his own way of life. Now there is a place for people to meet, to talk and to whisper secrets. What will they need his church for now they have this?

So, what did I like about the book. I liked the description of small town France and the characterisation. Immediately I felt a kinship with the characters, like I was part of their community - I cared about what happened to them.

The book is cleverly written in that chapters are alternately narrated by Vianne - the temptress, the devil incarnate maybe and Father Reynard, gods messenger. For every event that occurs the other opinion is then offered up for the reader to examine. Consequently, the reader is allowed to form their own opinion, rather than being spoon fed a conclusion that the author wants you to reach and the author never falls into the trap of telling you who she wants you to sympathise with.

When the film version of this book was released earlier this year I was quietly outraged that the character of Father Reynard had been substituted for a town mayor. For me, the crux of this book centres on the relationship between Vianne and the priest. If one of these characters is good, then surely the other must be bad but which is which? Life comes in shades of grey and this is probably never so well expressed as here. There are two sides to every story.

I have not seen the film (although I would like to watch it one day) but I fail to see how a town mayor can have the same hold and the same emotional impact over people as that of a priest. Is religion really so controversial that Hollywood had to make such a major change?

The reviews that appear in my copy of the book, mainly concentrate on the beautiful descriptions of chocolate but for me, even though I am a self confessed chocoholic, the book was much more than that. It's about how we react to change, how we react to our beliefs being challenged and its about belonging. Throw in a dash of magic and a suspicion of witchcraft - the good kind, there is nothing to be afraid of here and you are in for a treat.

Chocolat is a lovely read without being syrupy or sweet but what I liked best was that it is thought provoking and challenges the readers perception of right and wrong.

This is definitely one of my favourite books of the year and of all time.

Fanbloodytastic
I totally loved this book. Being a complete chocaholic it really appealed ot me and I can say I wasn't the slightest bit dissapointing. I love the way there are so many different characters in the book, each very individual and Joanne Harris writes the story really well. I also fell in love with the simplicity and provincialism of the small town. It's a really beautifully written book and I'd reccomend it to others.