Title: Chocoat (Food Trilogy #1; Chocolat Trilogy #1)

Author: Joanne Harris

Publisher: Doubleday1999

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 321

Rating:  5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; Book to Movie; Popsugar - Europe

In tiny Lansquenet, where nothing much has changed in a hundred years, beautiful newcomer Vianne Rocher and her exquisite chocolate shop arrive and instantly begin to play havoc with Lenten vows. Each box of luscious bonbons comes with a free gift: Vianne's uncanny perception of its buyer's private discontents and a clever, caring cure for them. Is she a witch? Soon the parish no longer cares, as it abandons itself to temptation, happiness, and a dramatic face-off between Easter solemnity and the pagan gaiety of a chocolate festival.

I loved this book. Between the descriptions of the chocolate making and the great characters, I couldn't put it down. I loved the switch off between Vianne and Reynaurd's narration. The two perspectives was a nice literary device to help the reader dive into the characters. Armande is hands-down the best character, but I also enjoyed Luc and Guillaume and Josephine. I'm intrigued by sequels that I never knew about. Hopefully I can get to those this year.

Movie:

The movie retains the concept of the plot, but so many changes. I really enjoyed the movie, but so many changes!  Judi Dench is a treat as Armande and I really liked Alfred Molina as the antagonist. I love how the chocolate is so central to the movie. It was a nice focus that didn't always come through in the book. The scenery is also very lovely. And there's Johnny Depp, back when he wasn't so crazy and definitely gorgeous. I like his Roux more than the Roux from the books. Crazy talk, but it's the truth. A great movie. I'm glad I finally got around to reading the book to compare.

Food Trilogy:

• #1 Chocolat
• #2 Blackberry Wine
• #3 Five Quarters of the Orange

Chocolat Trilogy:

• #1 Chocolat
• #2 The Girl with No Shadow
• #3 Peaches for Father Francis