Chocolat

This book is a beautiful tale that demonstrates the ugliness of first impressions when it comes to viewing others. When Vivienne is looked down upon by the local mayor for being a single mother and nomadic traveler, he is making assumptions based on his own narrow-minded authority. 

I love how, despite his attempts to harm her financially, she continues to show how being an individual who is true to oneself means more than trying to fit the mold of what someone else might think you should be. 

This story is truly mesmerizing with its quirky and quite sensuous tale.

I am entranced by the colors, the tastes, the scents, and the whimsy that lures me into the plot with its wonderful descriptions.

This novel is a celebration of the senses, and while of a more serious nature, it’s full of pleasure, love, and feel-good sparks.

I love stories about women who stand up for themselves against manipulative authoritarians, especially women who can do so with a sense of humor. Add to that, a bit of magic, and you’ve got me hooked. Chocolat does both in such a satisfying way that it has become one of my all-time favorite reads.

Chocolat by Joanne Harris is a novel about the awakening of sensuality in a small French Catholic village in France, where change is largely unwelcome and conservative religious views govern behavior. Enter a stranger, a woman who indulges in witchery and bonbons, who opens a chocolate shop, and in so doing goes up against the local priest and alters the fabric of their society. The sumptuous descriptions of chocolate will turn just about anyone into a chocoholic. Chocolat has themes of religion, superstition, prejudice, and finding carnal enjoyment all blended into what so many readers consider a confection of a… show more.

This was actually the book that inspired me to become a writer and was the springboard for me writing my own book. Having only seen the movie (which I greatly enjoyed), I didn't know what to expect when I picked up the book nearly a decade ago, but I instantly fell in love with it. At the time, it was like nothing I had ever read. I absolutely adored the quirky and welcoming world that Joanne Harris created, the hints of forbidden magic, and especially the sweetness she sprinkles throughout. I ended up reading everything Joanne Harris ever wrote… show more.

This is an enchanting novel about transformation, generosity, small acts of kindness, the complexities of human nature – and chocolate. What I think I love most about this book are the food-related perceptions of the protagonist, Vianne, a new arrival in a small French town. She learns about the people there by observing their relationship with food. Who keeps treats to themselves? Who shares them readily? How can food give us hints about the essence of someone’s soul? She describes one character as the kind of man who breaks a biscuit in two so he can keep the other half… show more.

Chocolat is fabulous on several levels – set in a French village, chocolate of every description and flavour and it’s an awakening of the senses. The new chocolatier that sets up in the village upsets the straight-laced villagers with her tempting treats and understanding of each of their needs. It’s not long before they all ‘let go’ and allow their passions to come forth.