Books

Book 301: Chocolat (Chocolat #1) – Joanne Harris

Harris, Joanne - ChocolatThis book has been on my to-be-read shelf for so long it took quite a while to trace where and when I bought it! I apparently picked it up way back in October 2012 when I helped out at the Somerville Public Library book sale! I’m glad I grabbed a copy. I own a copy of the film, but for some reason I never realized they adapted it from a novel!

Add in that when random.org selected it as my next book and I prepared to read it I found out it was a trilogy, my mind was BLOWN! I was a little grumpy at first, because I had a plan worked out to read more of my to-be-read shelf and was trying really hard not to add more in between the books, but I do love a good trilogy! I plan to read two and three, The Girl With No Shadow and Peaches for Father Francis, in the next few weeks and am VERY excited about them!

I love how quick this novel moves. It takes place over such a short time, roughly six weeks from Shrove Tuesday to Easter Sunday, and so much happens in the little French village of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes that the reader can’t help but get caught up in the story. Two things immediately struck me about the novel as I read it: 1) it’s told from TWO perspectives unlike the film and 2) the film took out/glossed over the magic of the book.

This is from a vague recollection of the film, but from what I remember the main emphasis was on Vianne’s story, but Vianne and Father Francis alternate narration of the novel! It caught me off guard at first, because the only denotation between the two is a font change at the chapter title (which were sort of diary entries), but ultimately this worked really well and provided a fantastic juxtaposition of views throughout the story. One of the main things I noted is how even after Father Francis’ came around (apparently), his language was so haughty and talked down about his parishioners,

“I feel a sudden burst of love for them today, for my flock, my people. I want to feel their hands in mine, to touch their warm, stupid flesh, to revel in their awe and their trust.” (254)

But, he ultimately got his just comeuppance and provided an excellent ending for the film and this chapter of the novel!

As for the magic, the film did a disservice to the novel in leaving it out. In the novel magic was a primary source of friction/division between Vianne and Father Francis, even though Father Francis wasn’t completely aware it existed. It also served as a driving force in Vianne’s history and back story that is only hinted at in the novel. Unless I’m completely wrong in my memory, they don’t really explain why Vianne is so good at chocolate and how it stems from her mother’s own powers,

“This is an art I can enjoy. There is a kind of sorcery in all cooking: in the choosing of ingredients, the process of mixing, grating, melting, infusing, and flavoring, the recipes taken from ancient books, the traditional utensils—the pestle and mortar with which my mother made her incense turned to a more homely purpose, her spices and aromatics giving up their subtleties to a baser, more sensual magic. And it is partly the transience of it that delights me; so much loving preparation, so much art and experience, put into a pleasure that can last only a moment, and which only a few will ever fully appreciate.” (51)

Aside from these two things, Harris most impressed me with her writing about and dealing with death, from Vianne’s mother and Armande to Guillaume’s dog Charly. Harris wrote beautifully about death and even though it is a major “foe” in the novel she never wrote about it in a bad way, more of a next great adventure!

Recommendation: A definite read! As much as I love the film, the book brought so much more to life and had such vivid descriptions, detail sand scenes. I can’t wait to see if she carries this through the next few chapters of Vianne’s story in books two and three.

Opening Line: “We came on the wind of the carnival.”

Closing Line: “That this time—please, just this once—it will leave without us.” (Whited out.)

Additional Quotes from Chocolat
“The people of Lansquenet have learned the art of observation without eye contact. I feel their gaze like a breath on the nape of my neck, strangely without hostility but cold nevertheless. We are a curiosity to them, a part of the carnival, a whiff of the outlands.” (3)

“Divination is a means of telling ourselves what we already know. What we fear. There are no demons, but a collection of archetypes every civilization has in common. The fear of loss—Death. The fear of displacement—the Tower. The fear of transience—the Chariot.” (76)

“It is like one of my dreams. I roll in chocolates. I imagine myself in a field of chocolates, on a beach of chocolates, basking-rooting-gorging. I have no time to read the labels; I cram chocolates into my mouth at random. The pig loses his cleverness in the face of so much delight, becomes a pig again, and though something at the top of my mind screams at me to stop, I cannot help myself. Once begun, it cannot end.” (299)

22 thoughts on “Book 301: Chocolat (Chocolat #1) – Joanne Harris”

  1. It’s a trilogy?? I knew there was a sequel but not a third.

    I have to re-read this book then. I can’t say that I’m otherwise interested in Harris’ books although I have a couple of others. But I enjoyed the book Chocolat at the time (years and years ago).

    The first time I read it was on the back of my massive Johnny Depp crush so I guess in a way I was disappointed that it wasn’t similar to the film in that respect. Now, I think I will enjoy the book more.

    However, got to get hold of the first book again. And bake myself a massive chocolate chilli cake.

    Whenever Vianne (lovely name) serves that cake up to Judi Dench’s character I start to drool and lick the screen. And that lovely fresh hot chocolate…

    1. I was honestly SHOCKED to find out it was a trilogy; I thought it was a stand alone. It could also be more, they don’t really refer to it as a trilogy, and the publisher called the third one in 2012 a new chapter in Vianne’s life!

      I’m with you on the cake and hot chocolate. The way she describes them in the book are just as tantalizing!

  2. This has been on my to-read pile for a long time too. I remember being surprised there wasn’t magic in the movie after reading the description, so I’m excited to hear there is some in the book. I love magical realism and I’m sure it would make this story even more wonderful. I had no idea this was a trilogy either!

    1. It’s sooo good! I was pleasantly surprised the magic took center stage (I guess). I’ll probably rewatch the movie in the next few weeks to refresh my memory 🙂

  3. I’ve been meaning to read this for a long time, too, like so many other books on my list. Sigh.

    1. If you want a quick read that ultimately makes you smile and feel good then just grab this one! I know you’ve got so many books to read, I do too!

  4. I hesitated to read the book because I enjoyed the film so much but i was afraid the. Over wouldn’t turn out to be that good. Seems I was completely wrong….

  5. Ahh! You’ve inspired me–I must bump this up on my TBR! It’s been on my list forever and I love the movie! I also didn’t realize it was part of a trilogy!!! Isn’t there some kind of hint of magic in the movie? The definitely do not define it at all, but I remember feeling like there had to be more to things like the chocolate making than they were showing. Honestly, it’s been a long, long time since I’ve seen the movie so I could just be remembering wrong. LOL.

  6. I keep meaning to read this one and I wonder why the movie left out the magic. Seems odd since you think it’s one of the best parts.

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