Chocolate - Hardcover

Harris, Joanne

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0670881791 ISBN 13: 9780670881796

Publisher: Viking, 1999

Synopsis

Barcelona. 22 cm. 440 p. Encuadernación en tapa dura de editorial con sobrecubierta ilustrada. Harris, Joanne 1964-. Traducción de Roser Berdagué. Traducción de: Chocolat .. Este libro es de segunda mano y tiene o puede tener marcas y señales de su anterior propietario. ISBN: 842267789X

About this title

Product Description:

A timeless novel of the small French village of Lansquenet's awakening to joy and sensuality tells the story of how bewitching newcomer Vianne Rocher and her chocolate shop arrive and begin to play havoc with everyone's Lenten vows. A first novel. 22,000 first printing.

Review:

I hear our M'sieur le Curé already has it in for you ... Does he know you're a witch?

Lansquenet-sous-Tannes--"a blip on the fast road between Toulouse and Bourdeaux"--and new home to Vianne Rocher, her six-year-old daughter Anouk, and Anouk's "imaginary" rabbit, Pantoufle. They arrive "on the wind of the carnival", and, a couple of days later, Vianne opens a luxuriant chocolate shop. "La Céleste Praline" bubbles over with the most tempting of confections, topped with an irresistible selection of rich, smooth chocolate drinks. It's Lent, the shop is opposite the church (which Vianne and Anouk don't attend) it's open on Sundays and Francis Reynaud, the austere parish priest with the "measuring, feline look" is not exactly happy.

As one by one the villagers sidle into the shop to sample Vianne's concoctions, we learn of their characters and secrets, their loves and desires, their troubles and hopes. Sad, polite Guillame and his dying dog. Shoplifting, beaten Joséphine Muscat. And Armande Voizin, still vigorous and perceptive in her 80s, who can see Pantoufle, and recognises Vianne for who she really is.

But Reynaud has his power base. And when Vianne advertises a Grand Festival of Chocolate to start on Easter Sunday, it's all-out war. War between church and chocolate.

Read clearly and precisely by Samantha Bond--whose voice is almost choclatey enough for Vianne--and Gareth Armstrong -- who sounds marginally too rich for Reynaud--this is an elegant adaptation of an utterly delicious novel, the denouement of which brings a new, literal meaning to the phrase "a sticky end", and which proves, indisputably, that soft centres are best. --Lisa Gee

About this edition

• Publisher: Viking
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0670881791
• ISBN 13: 9780670881796
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 304