Joanne Harris
Chocolat (1999)
Author: Joanne Harris
Genre: Literary Fiction
Plot Summary:
Vianne Rocher and her six-year-old daughter, Anouk, arrive in Lansquenet-sous-Tannes on the day of the carnival and decided to stay a little while. Lansquenet is a small, provincial French town that is unofficially ruled by the Catholic priest, Curé Francis Reynaud, who sets the moral tone and air of piety. Reynaud immediately disapproves of Vianne – she wears bright clothing, makes no secret that she is unmarried and decides to open a decadent chocolate shop across the square from the church. She slowly wins over the townspeople, which only fans the flames of Reynaud’s anger. Josephine Muscat is a battered wife who seeks shelter with Vianne. Armande Voizin is the crotchety, diabetic old woman who knows Reynaud’s secrets and refuses to bow to his will or that of her brainwashed daughter Caro. Roux is the angry young drifter whose houseboat was torched by Josephine’s husband at the direction of Reynaud. Vianne plans a Chocolate Festival on Easter Sunday, and Reynaud disapproves. Spoilers: Armande stops taking her insulin and allows her diabetes to kill her after her eightieth birthday party. Roux and Vianne console each other with a night of passion. Reynaud sneaks into Vianne’s shop, intent on destroying her inventory, but ends up eating a great deal of it and passing out in the middle of the shop, in full view of the parishioners on their way to church on Easter Sunday. He leaves town in disgrace. Roux and Josephine end up as a couple, but Vianne is pregnant with Roux’s child. The story ends ambiguously with Vianne trying to decide whether to stay or go.
Chocolat, the movie: The film version of Chocolat is lighter, more humorous, more magical and more romantic in tone. The comic figure of the young priest, Pere Henri was added, and the antagonist, Francois Reynaud was changed from being a priest to a Comté and the mayor of the town. Perhaps this was done to avoid the tired stereotype of a Pharisee priest – one who pretends holiness but is really evil. While the book is clearly set in the mid 1990s, the film has a timeless, fairy-tale quality to it. Additionally, while the Vianne of the book dabbles in tarot cards and scrying, her chocolates do not possess the magical powers attributed to them in the film. There film also adds a long-term romance between Vianne and Roux.
Geographical Setting: Lansquenet-sous-Tannes
Time Period: 1990s
Appeal elements:
The pacing is slow and told in the first person, switching between Vianne’s and Reynaud’s point of view. While it has its lighter moments, the tone is reflective, with focus on Vianne’s relationship with her late mother and how it affects her outlook and relationship with her own daughter, which would appeal to people who like mother-daughter stories. This book is very character driven, and would appeal to people who like the viewpoint of the outsider. Francophiles will be enchanted by the description of the town and its citizens. While there are no recipes, the descriptions of food and chocolate are very integral to the story.
Red Flags: Some references to mysticism and the occult. Devout Catholics are portrayed very badly. Some sex, but not graphic. Occasional cursing.
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