Chocolat, by Joanne Harris is an intriguing novel about a delightful and slightly magical person that changes the lives of many people.
This compelling novel is told through the eyes of two characters in a diary-like style. The first point of view is Vienna Rocher's, a single mother who has moved into a small religious town with her daughter, Anouk. In the town she opens a chocolate shop across the street from a church at the beginning of Lent. Vianne is a wonderfully constructed and complete, complex woman. She provides the backbone for the tensions of sustaining dichotomies, forces of complimentary but contrary attributes which provide the balance necessary for their holders. Yin and Yang at its basic best. Harris does magic like this for a number of counterparts every bit as magically as Vianne's hands upon chocolate in her chocolaterie.
The other point of view is from Pere Reynaud, the priest of the town. He sees Vienna as a pagan who has come to the area to corrupt his community with the sinful temptation of her chocolate shop. He staunchly promotes the status quo to Vianne's newcomer with an open mind and differing ways.
Throughout this book Reynaud battles with his insecure faith and temptations, while Vienna fights with her past, for her friends, and for her new business.
Even though this book is from the eyes of only two characters, you learn about the lives of everyone who lives in the town; their secrets, conflicts, and personalities.
There are numerous other balances but the two most striking are those between mothers and children and those between an individual's past and his or her present. In addition to this balancing, the secondary characters are quite enjoyable - I particularly like octogenarian Armande - as are the themes of friendship, what exactly constitutes sanity, and the mortality of us each.
This compelling novel is told through the eyes of two characters in a diary-like style. The first point of view is Vienna Rocher's, a single mother who has moved into a small religious town with her daughter, Anouk. In the town she opens a chocolate shop across the street from a church at the beginning of Lent. Vianne is a wonderfully constructed and complete, complex woman. She provides the backbone for the tensions of sustaining dichotomies, forces of complimentary but contrary attributes which provide the balance necessary for their holders. Yin and Yang at its basic best. Harris does magic like this for a number of counterparts every bit as magically as Vianne's hands upon chocolate in her chocolaterie.
The other point of view is from Pere Reynaud, the priest of the town. He sees Vienna as a pagan who has come to the area to corrupt his community with the sinful temptation of her chocolate shop. He staunchly promotes the status quo to Vianne's newcomer with an open mind and differing ways.
Throughout this book Reynaud battles with his insecure faith and temptations, while Vienna fights with her past, for her friends, and for her new business.
Even though this book is from the eyes of only two characters, you learn about the lives of everyone who lives in the town; their secrets, conflicts, and personalities.
There are numerous other balances but the two most striking are those between mothers and children and those between an individual's past and his or her present. In addition to this balancing, the secondary characters are quite enjoyable - I particularly like octogenarian Armande - as are the themes of friendship, what exactly constitutes sanity, and the mortality of us each.
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