Peaches for Father Francis (Chocolat, #3)

Jun 13, 2012 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-are, blog-reviews, provided-by-publisher

When Peaches for Monsieur le Curé landed on my doorstep for review I wasn't particularly enthusiastic. I remembered seeing the movie Chocolat quite some years ago (purely because Johnny Depp starred) and not being overly impressed, however with a few pages of this novel I was hooked and hated having to put it down, even briefly.
Peaches for Monsieur le Curé is the third book in the Chocolat series, following on from Chocolat and The Girl with No Shadow. Vianne, Roux, Anouk and Rosette are living...more When Peaches for Monsieur le Curé landed on my doorstep for review I wasn't particularly enthusiastic. I remembered seeing the movie Chocolat quite some years ago (purely because Johnny Depp starred) and not being overly impressed, however with a few pages of this novel I was hooked and hated having to put it down, even briefly.
Peaches for Monsieur le Curé is the third book in the Chocolat series, following on from Chocolat and The Girl with No Shadow. Vianne, Roux, Anouk and Rosette are living in Paris when a letter arrives from Luc Clairmont within which is a letter from Armande, despite her death more than 8 years before. In it, Armande pleads for Vianne to return to Lansquenet with the conviction that that the townspeople need her once again. With some trepidation, Vianne and her daughters do as Armande asks, only to discover a village divided and her old rival, Monsieur Reynaud le Curé in trouble. The wind is restless as are the people and this time, Vianne's magic may not be enough to unite the people of Lansquenet.

Joanne Harris conjures the town of Lansquenet and its people so wonderfully, I was immediately entranced by the novel. I enjoyed being introduced to the author's versions of the characters, admiring Vianne's spirit and desire to create peace between the French and growing community of les Maghrébins (Muslims) who have established themselves at the fringes of the town. I even came to like Monsieur le Curé, despite his stiff necked ways.
Peaches for Monsieur le Curé sensitively explores themes such as religious difference, tolerance, change and the meaning of home. The 'war' between the (Catholic)French and Muslims is portrayed without disrespecting either religion, as Vianne tries to determine what is at the heart of the conflict.
For Vianne the changes in Lansquent are disorientating at first, not only the development of Les Marauds, but also the changes in the people she once knew so well, like Josephine and Reynaud. Vianne's experiences in Lansquanet forces her to consider if in always seeking change, Vianne has simply been running away.
It is food in general, rather than Vianne's chocolates, that unites the people of this story, from the peaches growing in the garden of Armande's house where Vianne and her daughters are living, to the feasts served at sundown in Les Marauds. Harris's descriptions of the food, the sight, smell and taste is wonderfully evocative.

I was surprised at the rather fundamental differences between Harris characters and those in the movie of Chocolat, for example Reynaud is the town mayor in the movie, but a priest in the book. Co-incidentally, Chocolat was shown on television the night after I finished Peaches for Monsieur le Cure so I watched and was disappointed with the lack of whimsy and nuance in the film (though, Johnny Depp *sigh*).

Peaches for Monsieur le Curé (titled Peaches for Father Frances in the US) is a delicious read. I adored the subtle touch of magical realism, the lyricism of the writing, the fascinating characters and engrossing story and plan to read the first two books as soon as I can. Charming, delightful, magical, Peaches for Monsieur le Curé is a wonderful read.

NB: Australian Release Date June 1st (Random House Australia) (less)

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Sep 04, 2012 *MystGrrl* rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: tales-of-fiction, tales-of-magic, tales-of-romance, tales-of-sorrow

"It came on the wind of Ramadan..."

And with those few words I am once again immersed in the aromas and surrounded by the characters that made me fall in love with Joanne's creative storytelling.

Vianne Rocher and her two daughters are drawn back to Lansquenet at the behest of a letter from a much loved yet dearly departed friend from the past. Once she arrives Vianne realises the quaint little town she left behind 8 years ago has changed but not in the way she had hoped...

Things are not as they s...more

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Jun 09, 2012 Chris rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: lit-english, lit-french, netgalley, favorites, magic-realism, jharris

Disclaimer: I received an ARC via Netgalley. Receiving said ARC made me squeal in glee. Whatever power at Penguin books said let her have it, I love you.

There is something about the Joanne Harris and her books that are set in France. Every time you read one of them, you want to eat. It’s not that want a new, rich piece of decadent cake feeling. It’s a sit in the garden, open a bottle of wine, and have a nice dinner with family and friends type of feeling. The type of situation where the talk is...more

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Nov 26, 2012 Steven Langdon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: super

Joanne Harris has become one of my favourite authors, with her admirable ability to create unique and memorable characters, and her capacity for unexpected plotting -- sometimes in the context of Britain, more often amid the flavours and foibles of France. Especially endearing amongst her characters has been Vianne Rocher, the central figure in "Chocolat," in the subsequent follow-up novel in Paris, and now in this new book that returns Vianne to the small village of Lansquenet in a textured soc...more Joanne Harris has become one of my favourite authors, with her admirable ability to create unique and memorable characters, and her capacity for unexpected plotting -- sometimes in the context of Britain, more often amid the flavours and foibles of France. Especially endearing amongst her characters has been Vianne Rocher, the central figure in "Chocolat," in the subsequent follow-up novel in Paris, and now in this new book that returns Vianne to the small village of Lansquenet in a textured social commentary that treats both the cycles of life and the tensions of Muslim-villager interaction.

Father Francis was Vianne's nemesis in "Chocolat," the rigid priest who refused to accept her open lifestyle and occult influences; he became, in turn, one of those she eventually influenced in the leavening she brought to Lansquenet. Now he is caught up in conflict within his church and growing tensions with a new settlement of Muslim immigrants -- and seems about to be rejected and exiled. Leaving her companion Roux in Paris, Vianne and her children are brought back to the village by a letter from a dead friend -- and again she is challenged to weave magic that can diffuse the conflicts and misunderstandings that have grown. The future of Father Francis (and his village) may depend on her.

This time, though, it is not so easy. She draws on her chocolate-making skills to help -- and on fresh peaches growing in the garden she finds. But she finds the battle lines are fiercer than in the past, and she is no longer the footloose woman she was.

This novel, too, has a darker tone than those that Harris has written before. The social commentary is harsher, the implications more profound, the consequences -- for Father Francis, for her own children -- more potentially grim. The outcome of the book is less easy to predict. In the end, the result is an even more interesting novel than "Chocolat."

Where Vianne Rocher will go next is not resolved here. I hope for another future book that carries further the cycles of Vianne's life.(less)

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Jun 16, 2012 Heidi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012, kindle, fav-drama, favourites-2012

Joanne Harris’ latest novel is the third installment in the “Chocolat” series, and like the first two books, it does not disappoint. Like Vianne Rocher, I was looking forward to coming back to Lansquenet, which had become very real to me after reading Chocolat several times (I never tire of it). Re-visiting its people was like meeting old friends, and the changes Vianne found in the village realistically reflected the experience of someone returning back to a place of the past and finding that n...more Joanne Harris’ latest novel is the third installment in the “Chocolat” series, and like the first two books, it does not disappoint. Like Vianne Rocher, I was looking forward to coming back to Lansquenet, which had become very real to me after reading Chocolat several times (I never tire of it). Re-visiting its people was like meeting old friends, and the changes Vianne found in the village realistically reflected the experience of someone returning back to a place of the past and finding that nothing has remained quite the same.

Harris has a wonderfully insightful way of describing her characters and what makes them tick. Weaving her magic, this tale of a clash of cultures comes alive in the many colours Vianne sees in people – there never is a black-and-white. The complexities of human nature explored in this novel open the reader’s eyes and mind to the human element in every conflict and remind us that nothing is ever as it seems – and that we need to stay open-minded and accepting of people’s differences. Harris does so without ever sounding preaching or lecturing – which makes it such a lovely read. With her magical ways and her food (oh, how I would love to be able to taste the feasts cooked up in this novel!), Vianne soon overcomes the obstacles of narrow minded thinking and bridges the gaps between the two very different cultures living in the village. I love Vianne’s spirit and her ability to remain non-judgmental, even in the face of such adversity. And yet she, too, always stays human, with all her many flaws, which makes her likeable and lets the reader relate to her. By giving Reynaud (Monsieur le Curé) a voice again, Harris lets us see his human side and how he, too, has grown as a human being. Because this Reynaud is very different from his younger version in Chocolat – and I found myself liking him.

All in all, Harris’ latest novel is a wonderful, pleasurable read, with a rich cast that will tug on your heartstrings and make you feel as if you are there amongst them. I was sad to turn the last page – I could have stayed in Lansquenet a little longer yet.
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Mar 30, 2013 Kathleen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Peaches - just saying the word should evoke a myriad of images and memories for any reader. Luscious tasting, sweet smelling, associated with perfect weather, so satisfying to hold in your hand...In this book, too, peaches are just part of the sensory experience of Joanne Harris' writing. The distinct smells of cinnamon or dank river water, the crackle of leaves underfoot, the sight of swirling fabric, a rich sensory experience on every page drawing me in to a layered story, filled with people I...more

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May 26, 2013 Timscope rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"I dont remember quite what I said, but I talked about community, and what it really means to belong; and of the kindness of strangers, and of being in the darkness, watching the light from the windows of other people's homes; and of being inside the whale, and of being a stranger in a foreign land..."(Father Reynaud, p450).

Peaches for Monsieur le Cure is an engaging, well crafted and deceptively easy read. It is a book that explores both contemporary and universal themes with charm, humour, com...more "I dont remember quite what I said, but I talked about community, and what it really means to belong; and of the kindness of strangers, and of being in the darkness, watching the light from the windows of other people's homes; and of being inside the whale, and of being a stranger in a foreign land..."(Father Reynaud, p450).

Peaches for Monsieur le Cure is an engaging, well crafted and deceptively easy read. It is a book that explores both contemporary and universal themes with charm, humour, compassion and a twinkle in the eye, never getting too dark and sombre, whilst still confronting dark and flawed elements of humanity.

In the third of the Chocolat series, the village of Lansquenet becomes, in part, the microcosm of the struggle of contemporary French society (and of many societies) to deal with differences - of ethnicity, culture, gender, faith and spirituality, lifestyle, to name a few.

It explores the complexities of these differences through characters who are confronted by circumstances that evoke their fears and prejudices in a town divided into mainly Muslim and Christian sectors. It educates the reader about these differences in a non-didactic way, and of course we have the opportunity to examine our own prejudices through our response to the characters circumstances, dilemmas and reactions.

Overall, I think the book advocates tolerance and understanding and how easy it is to misjudge and stereotype people. I was left with a feeling of warmth for most of the characters and a strong reminder of our need to belong whilst having our uniqueness validated and respected. The book also suggests that people are capable of change despite their prejudices and fears.

The use of a dual narrator made it a more interesting read. The plot provides plenty of intrigue, surprises and a mild level of suspense. At times the plot was a bit predictable and convenient in resolving tensions or exploring issues, but this is a minor flaw. The chapters are short and divided in a way that makes it easy to dip in and out of if you have a busy schedule. It is a novel that can be read at many levels making it suitable for a wide variety of readers

Despite its dark side, Peaches is essentially a feel good novel infused with ample amounts of the sensual and pagan so characteristic of Vianne Rocher and Roux. .In the end I shared Vianne Rocher's dilemma of whether to stay or leave Lansquenet, having become so attached to the characters since Chocolat. (less)

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Sep 21, 2012 Bree T rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, cultural, whimsical-magical

It has been eight year since Vianne left Lansquenet. For the last four years she has been living on a houseboat in Paris with Roux, father of her daughter Rosette and her other daughter Anouk. Then she receives a letter from an old friend, a letter from the grave. The letter asks of her to return to Lansquenet and help someone who is in desperate need of it, for the letter writer knows that they themselves will not be able to lower their pride and ask.

And so Vianne finds herself travelling back...more It has been eight year since Vianne left Lansquenet. For the last four years she has been living on a houseboat in Paris with Roux, father of her daughter Rosette and her other daughter Anouk. Then she receives a letter from an old friend, a letter from the grave. The letter asks of her to return to Lansquenet and help someone who is in desperate need of it, for the letter writer knows that they themselves will not be able to lower their pride and ask.

And so Vianne finds herself travelling back to Lansquenet with her two daughters, Roux opting to stay behind on the boat and not accompany them. Vianne is not prepared for what she finds when she arrives – firstly she finds herself standing next to the man who once would’ve stopped at nothing to oust her from the town, Monsieur le Curé himself, Father Reynaud. He is not giving Mass at the Church, instead there is a new priest. Vianne wants to know why but it is a long story and first she needs somewhere to stay, the empty house of her old friend Armande the obvious choice.

Once settled, Vianne begins to get to the bottom of what has been happening – the Muslim community and the small local Lansquenet community once co-existed peaceably and amicably with respect for each other’s religions and cultures. There was friendship, a blending of the cultures but now there is alienation and suspicion and a lot of it centres around the arrival of a mysterious woman, clad head to toe in black. She seems to have inspired a competition of purity in the other Muslim women and they all dress to hide themselves now and that combined with the arson of Vianne’s old chocolaterie, now a school run by the woman in black, has led the town almost to a revolt. And number one suspect for the arson? Father Reynaud.

Vianne and Father Reynaud may not have been friends before but he is a different man and Vianne knows that he didn’t set the building on fire and try to burn it to the ground with the woman and black and her young daughter inside. Could it be that Vianne has journeyed all the way back to this town in order to save the one person who only wanted to drive her from it?

Hot on the heels of finishing Chocolat, I dived into this, the third book, Peaches For Monsieur le Curé. I did skip the second book but I figured because I’d read Chocolat, I knew all the players and I think that it’s quite fine not to have read the second one, which takes place elsewhere. However I was very glad I had chosen to read Chocolat before this one because all of these Lansquenet characters have backstories and connections and previous relationships with Vianne so it was nice to have that prior knowledge.

I was very interested to see how Harris would play out this one given Reynaud is such an unsympathetic character in Chocolat. When Vianne returns to Lansquenet at the bequest of a dear old friend long departed, she can see immediately that the Father is quite a changed man. Whereas before he seemed to watch over the village with a all-seeing and knowing eye, she finds him almost on the outside of it, not involved in the religious celebrations taking place and nor is he getting ready to give the Mass. It seems that Father Reynaud has been relieved of his duties for the moment and it all centres around a growing discord between the Catholic church and the local Muslim community, made up mostly of families from North Africa.

Once again religion is quite a heavy theme in this book but this one seems to be more about promoting religious tolerance. Father Reynaud doesn’t begrudge the Muslims their mosque, only the spire they have built to amplify the call to prayer, which although passes regulations, also sort of mocks them. He and the leader of the Muslim community managed along together quite well until the arrival of the woman in black and things began to change. When the building was firebombed, fingers were pointed firmly at the Father and the Muslim community retreated within itself – it became a war.

I really enjoyed this book – it’s a real page turner, such a fleshing out of story and then a gentle tension builder until by the end I was literally bursting for something in particular to happen! Vianne really is a most interesting character, such a hard person to get a feel on sometimes, but so generous and interested in other people, even those who haven’t exactly been pleasant to her in the past. There’s enough whimsical magic in this story to make it a bit special but without alienating the skeptics and the evolution of Father Reynaud is skilfully done.

Food is a huge part of this novel too and the descriptions were utterly divine, both what Vianne was making and also the creations of the Muslim community. They were fasting for Ramadan throughout the book so all day was spent preparing for the meal to break their fast after sundown. Vianne visits a household quite often and they usually offer her something and once again, I wanted to try it all. It’s rich with imagery and beautiful description and to be quite honest I could quite easily see myself living in that little village! I think that Peaches For Monsieur le Curé is a stronger book with a stronger story. It’s a longer story but it’s definitely got more complexity to it and for me, that just meant more to enjoy.(less)

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Aug 27, 2012 Rachael McDiarmid rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Oh I do love Joanne Harris. Actually more to the point I love Vianne Rocher. How can this book not be a resounding success? When it starts with "someone once told me that, in France alone, a quarter of a million letters are delivered every year to the dead. What she didn't tell me is that sometimes the dead write back." now if that doesn't grab you, there's something wrong with you!

Things have changed in Lansquenet. It's been eight years since Vianne opened her chocolate shop. At the urging of a...more

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May 30, 2013 Big Book Little Book rated it 4 of 5 stars

Helen for www.bigbooklittlebook.com
Copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

I have enjoyed quite a few of Joanne Harris’ books and jumped at the chance of getting my hands on this. I love revisiting old characters and finding out where their various journeys are taking them and this novel is perfect for that. I enjoyed Chocolate very much and Vianne’s next story The Lollipop Shoes. This story continues on Vianne’s tale for years later when she is drawn back to Lansquenet by a l...more Helen for www.bigbooklittlebook.com
Copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

I have enjoyed quite a few of Joanne Harris’ books and jumped at the chance of getting my hands on this. I love revisiting old characters and finding out where their various journeys are taking them and this novel is perfect for that. I enjoyed Chocolate very much and Vianne’s next story The Lollipop Shoes. This story continues on Vianne’s tale for years later when she is drawn back to Lansquenet by a letter from her old friend Armande. Armande has died and her grandson passes the letter on. Vianne is a little shaken by this blast from the past, particularly as it encourages her to return to Lansquenet and follow the wind again. But Vianne never likes to revisit the places she lived in and Lansquenet holds more than memories for her as it was the nearest place she ever had to a home. Armande calls on her to return as she realises trouble is coming to Lansquenet and evidently feels that Vianne is the one to sort it out. Vianne is not nearly so sure but can’t refuse her old friend so she, Anouk and Rosette travel back to face both the uncertainties of the past and the future in the village they last saw eight years ago.

Lansquenet, as you would expect, is both changed and the same. This is one of the things Vianne fears as she returns, the changes from her memories. The village and its population have moved on. Time has caused the young to grow up and the adults to develop and yet in far more ways they are still the same people. The village still has friendly faces and gossips, pointing fingers and suspicion alongside unchanged traditions. However there is a new Arab community at Les Marauds, complete with mosque and calls to prayer, ladies in niqabs and strict rules. But there is unrest within this new community which has grown to become separate from its Catholic, white neighbours. This time it is not Vianne who is the outsider in the village.

In Lansquenet Monsieur Francis Reynard has been ousted from his church by suspicion that he has been trying to harm the Muslim community and by a new, up and coming priest who brings a guitar and power point to the church. Vianne’s arrival shakes Monsieur Reynard and yet this time he feels maybe she is the one to help him.

I was drawn in by this revisiting of characters and the way that they have developed. They are still true the original and returning to the setting of Chocolat is exciting. The issues it raises for Vianne are easy to identify with, even though she has led such a different kind of life than most of us will never have. Vianne continues to be wise, using her special brand of magic and mystery to help and understand others. She treads fine lines, befriending some in the new community as well as catching up with old friends. There are demons of her own for Vianne to face, but I am not going to put in a spoiler here!

Written from the perspective of both Vianne and Francis we get to see the world from to totally different points of few that serves to keep us, the reader, at the heart of the story. Always knowing what both parties are thinking is fascinating. From Francis thoughts we see his good intentions and motivations, and through Vianne we see why his efforts produce so little fruit! The development of the relationship between Vianne and Francis was particularly well written, after all the water under the bridge between them, neither of them could have found this easy.

The novel explores many contemporary issues, racism, prejudice, intolerance and religious misunderstandings. Yet at its heart it is about people trying to get by in this world with their insecurities, differences and similarities. As always Joanne writes beautifully with descriptive prose that makes you not just merely imagine it but see, smell and taste it all as well. Her evocative style sweeps you in, the subject matter provokes thought and the characters jump off the page.

Verdict: If you haven’t tried Joanne Harris before you really should begin.
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May 09, 2013 Amanda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Peaches for Monsieur Le Curé is a brave, intelligent book which isn’t afraid to explore contemporary beliefs and prejudices from a variety of angles, often a subject reserved for very ‘literary fiction’. Joanne Harris has successfully combined her evocative and sensual writing style display in Chocolat, with an engaging mystery, as in Gentlemen & Players.
The story is told from the point of view of Vianne Rocher, who makes a return visit to the village of Lansquenet, and the priest. A minor...more

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Apr 17, 2013 MN rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It's been a long since I last read anything by Joanne Harris. I enjoyed *Chocolat very much and was, I found, slightly disappointed by her other novels, even *Coastliners, which I consider 'the best of the rest' - the rest of those I've read, that is (of course). Recently, however, when I was in need of light and frothy reading matter, I decided I'd give Harris another go.

Like *Chocolat, *Peaches for Monsieur le Cure is set in Lansquenet and many of the characters from the earlier book reappear...more

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Apr 15, 2013 Kim rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: religion, religious-mysticism, france, food, forgiveness, joanne-harris

Peaches for Monsieur le Cure, by Joanne Harris, (or Peaches for Father Francis in the USA) is the third book in the Chocolat series following the life of Vianne Rocher. In this book we find Vianne being called back to the village and the people of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes. In the intervening eight years since her first adventure there in Chocolat, she has lived in Paris with her partner, Roux and two daughters, Anouk and Rosette. A mysterious letter from Armande Voisin arrives unexpectedly beckoni...more Peaches for Monsieur le Cure, by Joanne Harris, (or Peaches for Father Francis in the USA) is the third book in the Chocolat series following the life of Vianne Rocher. In this book we find Vianne being called back to the village and the people of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes. In the intervening eight years since her first adventure there in Chocolat, she has lived in Paris with her partner, Roux and two daughters, Anouk and Rosette. A mysterious letter from Armande Voisin arrives unexpectedly beckoning Vianne back to the place where she once set up a Chocolatiere and created the first Easter chocolate festival in what had once been a traditionally quiet, religious and conservative French village.

Vianne is haunted by the letter as her friend, Armande, has been dead for eight years and is now calling her from beyond the grave with a message of foreboding about the people and the village she was once so fond of. Filled with curiosity and dread, Vianne decides to take a trip back to Lansquenet to see for herself what has been happening and perhaps to uncover the meaning behind Armande’s words. Roux does not want to go with her and find things changed, yet again, so she sets off with Anouk and Rosette for the reunion she has put off for all these years.

Vianne’s reason for leaving Lansquenet in the first place was because of the conflict she encountered with the strictly catholic attitudes of some of the villagers and in particular, her nemesis, Father Raynard who inferred she was a witch and accused her of evil doings. Upon her return, she finds that Father Reynard has become slightly more liberal in his attitudes, not least of all because there is now a large Islamic community living in the neighbourhood.

Whilst relations between the Father Reynard and the leaders of the Muslim community, the Said family, have now deteriorated to the extreme, they were not always so fraught. When the immigrants from Morocco first arrived at Lansquenet a few years ago they were less traditional, but, recently things have changed. Now they have become very strict in their teachings and practices and insist the women adhere to wearing traditional dress. They have built a Mosque and call the men to prayer throughout the night and day. There is conflict between the old Catholic and the new Muslim communities and Father Francis has been accused of an arson attack on the Muslim school. It is left to Vianne to unravel what lies behind the tensions and who set fire to the school which had once been her Chocolatiere.

I loved reading the first book in this series, Chocolat. I was disappointed with the film which, whilst fairly entertaining, did not come close to showing us the magical undertones of the story and the intolerance which lies behind people’s beliefs and assumptions. The core essence of the story is of conflict and injustice and what love can do to break through those binds.

Joanne Harris goes back to the theme she was following in Chocolat but now adds in more things for us to assume and misjudge. She is masterful at building tension and intrigue in this story and on every page there is a question. Questions of faith; conflict; religious intolerance; the past; good; evil; tradition; conservativeness; liberalness; injustice; revenge; truth and lies abound. Behind a charming title lurks dark secrets and raging conflict. Assumptions and stereotypes are everywhere and as a result people’s lives have been and will be destroyed.

Peaches for Monsieur le Cure, is one of the best books I have read this year. I know I will read it again and again. If you want to snuggle up with a great book containing controversial topics viewed from many perspectives and catch up with some old friends at the same time, then this is the book for you. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
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Apr 08, 2013 Joyce rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, literary, women

I love Joanne Harris's books--I've read them all. Having said that, I'm not certain one can pick up this third featuring her Chocolat characters--Vianne Rochet, Anouk, Rosette, and lover Roux, as well as the denizens of the French village including Father Francis and Josephine--without having read the other two. But this is a book for any reader who appreciates polished prose, lovely lush descriptions, and an issue-filled but character driven story line. There's food, of course, and although the...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Agatha rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was okay. I thought it seemed at times like the author was trying too hard to be descriptive with all the food. Sometimes it bugs me when books tend to “fetish-ize” food or the food preparation process. For example, at one place of rising action within the story, the main character says something like, “So, we went back home and I made some luscious hot chocolate.” Umm, really? That’s not what I would have done if time was of the essence. Get out there and solve the mystery, and forget...more

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Mar 22, 2013 Sherron Watson rated it 3 of 5 stars

I love Joanne Harris and the characters that she has created in Vianne Rocher and her daughter. I still favor the first book because it had the mysticism of the chocolate and "this is your favorite", the wind and the characters were easy to relate to. The second book was okay and the same with the third, it was just okay for me. I found myself wanting the end to happen sooner than later.

With that said, Joanne had some wonderful words of wisdom and real pearls for quotes throughout the book. I...more

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Feb 09, 2013 LindyLouMac rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was thrilled when I found ' Peaches for Monsieur le Cure' sitting on the bookshelf at the local library in the town where I am based at present. 'Chocolat' is an all time favourite novel of mine and although I was not writing reviews when I read that you will find one for the second book in the series. 'The Lollipop Shoes' which carried on perfectly from where Joanne Harris left us in 'Chocolat'. The characters had become familiar during the reading of the two novels leaving me feeling rather...more I was thrilled when I found ' Peaches for Monsieur le Cure' sitting on the bookshelf at the local library in the town where I am based at present. 'Chocolat' is an all time favourite novel of mine and although I was not writing reviews when I read that you will find one for the second book in the series. 'The Lollipop Shoes' which carried on perfectly from where Joanne Harris left us in 'Chocolat'. The characters had become familiar during the reading of the two novels leaving me feeling rather attached to them and longing for a sequel. This much anticipated sequel has not disappointed it has been a pure delight to read, Joanne Harris's writing is as evocative as always with that hint of magic.

It is four years since the 'The Lollipop Shoes' ended with Vianne and Roux living on a houseboat in Paris. Vianne's daughter Anouk is fifteen and almost a young woman whilst Rosette is eight, a mysterious little girl. They seem settled and happy then on a changing summer wind, a letter arrives from a dead friend calling them back to the village of Lansquenet, where eight years previously she had opened her chocolaterie. They return there and find in many ways it is unchanged, the church, the cobbled streets and the old tanneries along the river are all just the same, but there have also been changes! On the far side of the river Tannes there is a minaret, the perfume of spices, mint tea and incense hangs in the air and veiled women in black walk the streets of the Les Marauds district. A rural French village that has not changed for over fifty years has suddenly found itself in turmoil as two very different cultures try to live together in disharmony. The story takes place during August the time of Ramadan in the Islamic faith. Vianne is surprised to find that her old adversary Father Reynaud is in disgrace, despite having appeared to have mellowed a little over the years he still has very strong beliefs which he stubbornly adheres to. Vianne and Francis Reynaud discover that they are not so different after all, as we had maybe thought in 'Chocolat'. Vianne now being a happier woman seems ready and able on meeting him again to work with him to discover just what is at the heart of the problems in Lansquenet.
Could it be that Vianne is the only one who can save him? Well I do not believe in spoilers so to find out you will have to read the book. However the ending still leaves me wanting more so I do hope Joanne Harris will return to these wonderful characters that she has created again one day.
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Jan 14, 2013 Nancy McKibben rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Harris fans, francophiles, lovers of sensuous prose and well-drawn characters

Shelves: favorites, reviewed

Peaches for Father Francis
By Joanne Harris

Who didn’t love the movie Chocolat, so French and atmospheric and whimsical, and just a little dark around its edges? Then what a treat to discover that the movie was true to the book it was based on, except that the book was even better. And then a few years later, to find a sequel, just by accident, on a browsing expedition to the library, The Girl with No Shadow (or The Lollipop Shoes, it’s been published under both titles), also wonderful, although d...more

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Jan 13, 2013 Mary Refalo rated it 3 of 5 stars

Perhaps I am not the best or most enthusiastic reviewer of Peaches For Monsieur le Curé - my response is not as enamoured as some other reviews posted on this site.

When I began reading this novel I did not realise that it was the third in the Chocolat series. My perspective into Peaches For Monsieur le Curé came only from having seen Chocolat, the film and this made me a little unprepared for my reading of this novel.

Peaches For Monsieur le Curé is a nice story. Joanne Harris tells an interestin...more

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Dec 30, 2012 James Souttar rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am fascinated by the character of Vianne Rocher, not least because I live with her real counterpart! And rarely, at least in my experience, has an author created a character who so evidently has a life of her own. But, if Vianne seems to have 'channelled' her way into Joanne Harris' writing, she has also brought it to greater and greater heights. Peaches for Monsieur le Curé is the third book in the Chocolat series, yet without a doubt the most exquisite. The first few pages are sheer poetry,...more I am fascinated by the character of Vianne Rocher, not least because I live with her real counterpart! And rarely, at least in my experience, has an author created a character who so evidently has a life of her own. But, if Vianne seems to have 'channelled' her way into Joanne Harris' writing, she has also brought it to greater and greater heights. Peaches for Monsieur le Curé is the third book in the Chocolat series, yet without a doubt the most exquisite. The first few pages are sheer poetry, transporting the reader in a magical way, with just enough literary artifice and a happy absence of literary pretension (comparable, I would suggest, to the opening of Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's). This, without a doubt, is the kind of writing I would like to be able to do if I were a novelist (but, since I'm not, it simply has me on my knees).

The plot is ingeniously crafted. I tend to become impatient with novels that introduce extraneous plotlines that lead nowhere, or that end in an underwhelming manner (it seems a poor return for the effort of reading). However, in this respect, Peaches for Monsieur le Curé is as tight as a good thriller; it pays to attend to the small details. In addition Joanne Harris shows considerable psychological insight in the details from which she constructs her characters. They are beautifully observed and mirror interesting aspects of ourselves.

Chocolat took place during the fast of Lent, and explored the theme of sensuality versus abstinence. For Vianne's return to Lansquenet-sous-Tannes Harris chose to set the story during Ramadan, wittily echoing the first book while simultaneously exploring some of the big differences between Catholic and Muslim sensibilities (and in her sensuous descriptions of food, Moroccan and French, Harris will have your mouth watering!). Once again Vianne and Pere Reynaud are the principal protagonists. But this time Monsieur le Curé, despite his ongoing struggle with acceptance and tolerance, is not the villain: he is, instead, the rather misunderstood victim (and Vianne his initially unwitting helper). It is a clever plot twist. And one that allows Harris to play with our sensibilities, catching us off balance as she shows how - in forming quick judgments of him - we are actually not all that different from him.

This is a book from a writer who is at the top of her game, and I heartily recommend it.(less)

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Dec 09, 2012 Karen morsecode added it · review of another edition

I am no longer the Vianne Rocher who blew into town eight years ago. [...] I am in charge of my destiny. I call the wind. It answers to me.(23)

While I've read quite a bit of Harris' oeuvre, I've never gotten around to her most famous novel, Chocolat.2Peaches for Father Francis is the third book to feature characters from Chocolat. I haven't read Chocolat's first sequel, The Girl with No Shadow,3 either. To my mind, Peaches for Father Francis functions perfectly well as a stand along novel, thou...more

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Dec 09, 2012 Karen morsecode added it

I am no longer the Vianne Rocher who blew into town eight years ago. [...] I am in charge of my destiny. I call the wind. It answers to me.(23)

While I've read quite a bit of Harris' oeuvre, I've never gotten around to her most famous novel, Chocolat.2Peaches for Father Francis is the third book to feature characters from Chocolat. I haven't read Chocolat's first sequel, The Girl with No Shadow,3 either. To my mind, Peaches for Father Francis functions perfectly well as a stand along novel, thou...more

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Oct 29, 2012 Kathy Davie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, homey, romance

If I could give this a "7", I would.

Third in the Chocolat series of love and tolerance. Based in a small village in France---Lansquenet-sous-Tannes to be exact.

You will know the first story about Vianne as the movie starting Juliette Binochet and Johnny Depp, Chocolat .

Warning
Just to prevent a nasty surprise, some of the Chocolat links are to a page on Amazon.com where you can rent or buy the DVD while other links are to its Goodreads page!

Pssst, be sure to sit down to read this with a loaf of g...more

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Oct 27, 2012 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Vianne returns to the site of "Chocolat." This time the village conflicts still involve religion--different approaches to Islam within the immigrant community now living along the river (segregated, on the other side of a fortified bridge).

The story has a few plot lines. The uptight local priest is falsely accused of arson. Vianne's old friend Josephine has secrets that may involve Vianne's boyfriend, Roux. A teenage girl takes refuge with Vianne from some sort of abuse by religious conservativ...more

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Sep 05, 2012 Stephanie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mainstream

3.5 stars

This review originally appeared at www.readinasinglesitting.com.

“Someone once told me, that in France alone, a quarter of a million letters are delivered every year to the dead. What she didn’t tell me is that sometimes the dead write back.”

So begins Peaches for Monsieur le Cure, the third in Joanne Harris’s Chocolat series.

It has been eight years since Vianne Rocher left the tiny, conservative village of Lansquenet, and though she has convinced herself that she is happy with her presen...more

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Jun 27, 2012 S. J. Bolton rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

“I see more, and in his wake, the air was a shimmy of rainbows.”

Vianne Rocher (Chocolat and The Lollipop Shoes) is living in Paris with her man, Roux, and her two daughters, when she receives a letter from beyond the grave. The note, from an old, dead friend, asks her to go back to the village she left behind years ago.

Lansquenet has changed. An immigrant community of Moroccan Muslims is colonizing the riverside (where one the river-rats moored their boats) and tensions are rife. The home of a...more

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Jun 22, 2012 Ian Kirkpatrick rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The popular wisdom is that it’s often a mistake to revisit earlier successes. Try telling that to Joanne Harris.

Just once in a while you read a book that is so good, so well-written that you can’t leave it behind, and you find that long after closing the final pages the characters are still intruding on your life, slipping into your thoughts throughout the working day. Many of Harris’s novels seem to have that effect on me, but possibly none more so than this one.

This is an absolute gem of a bo...more

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Jun 22, 2012 Charles rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Copied from variousaltitudes.wordpress.com

It isn't often you receive a letter from the dead.

When Vianne Rocher receives a letter from beyond the grave, she has no choice but to follow the wind that blows her back to Lansquenet, the village in south-west France where, eight years ago, she opened up a chocolate shop.

But Vianne is completely unprepared for what she finds there. Women veiled in black, the scent of spices and peppermint tea, and there, on the bank of the river Tannes, facing the squ...more

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Jun 22, 2012 Jacqie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Maybe I wasn't in the mood for it. I did not read "Girl with no Shadow" and thus am not caught up on what's going on in the lives of the characters from "Chocolat". Vianne has a new daughter with an imaginary friend. She is called back to the little village from "Chocolat" when she receives a letter from one of her old friends from there who has just passed away.
Father Francis is still repressed, disapproving, and he is in trouble. There is now a Muslim community in the village, and there is fri...more

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Jun 21, 2012 Lara rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

For me, the problem with that book is similar to one with Blueeyedboy: there is not enough of the story. Actually, I think that in BEB there was no story to speak of, only inventions for the sake of them, and here there could well have been, should the narration be more straightforward and not so struggling for being “intriguing”, even if that means improbable character or plot development. As to the protagonist, I’d rather had someone new – with all my love for Vianne, her story was fully exhau...more

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Peaches for Father Francis (Chocolat #3)

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