Chocolat

by Joanne Harris


Let me say right up front that Chocolat, the movie, is one of my favorites. When I am in the mood for a good movie all by myself, Chocolat is my go-to movie. It sort of surprised me when I saw this book on the shelf at my library and realized that I've never read the book. Of course, I brought it home with me and immediately began digesting.


Let me also say, that just as many book/movie combinations, the book and the movie are two very different stories. But both are entirely enjoyable. This book made me smile from beginning to end. There is a bit of mysticism and magic involved, as well as a bit of religion and humor. It's a fantastic story about indulgence. The real point of this story is that life is too short to not do what you want to do. Whether that be to eat a chocolate or escape a bad marriage. It's about recognizing what your deepest desires are, and following through. This was an expertly woven tale about the conflict between two people. We have the chocolate shop owner, Vianne, who moves into a new town under serious suspicion. Up to this point, the Father of St. Jerome runs the town. He knows everyone, and what goes on. Other than a few stragglers, they are all under his control. Not so with Vianne.


I loved how we would get a chapter from the point of view of Vianne, and then a chapter by Pere Reynaud. Vianne was struggling with her past and with memories of her mother throughout, and oddly enough, so was Reynaud- although in a different manner. And of course, by the end of the book, most conflicts have been resolved, and we are left hoping for a wonderful future for this village. Most especially though, we are left with a serious craving for some chocolate. The food descriptions in this book are just heavenly. You can almost taste the apricots as they are being described, and of course, the hot chocolate which is mentioned over and over, you just wish you knew the secret for making the ultimate cup of hot chocolate.


This book is worth it for the chocolate alone. And if you can immerse yourself in a not-quite- 100% believable fantasy, this is the book for you. It was delightful, and now I must make a date with my DVD player to give the movie a viewing as well.