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Book Review of Chocolat

Chocolat
Chocolat
Author: Joanne Harris
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Romance
Book Type: Paperback
reviewed on + 337 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1


Hmmm. I had this book in my "TBR" pile when I read mention in a Christian publication using this book (or the movie) as an example of media making the religious look stupid or evil or otherwise unappealing while glorifying those who ridiculed Christians. Now I felt too guilt to read it! But no book can stay at my house too very long, so I gave it a shot.

Well, certainly the criticism was truthful, in that the village priest is the "man in black" of the piece and the heroine was raised a witch. I hope this does not show a permanent bias on Harris' part, and that other works will balance this out. But I did enjoy the piece. I loved the mother and daughter, and found the descriptions of the chocolates seductive indeed (as I believe another reviewer noted). The sympathetic characters were all the underclass or the downtrodden and, while Harris made them non-Christian in most instances, it is unfortunate to note that many Christians could learn lessons in how to treat others in the actions of our chocolatier.