Garnette's review
Chocolat
by Joanne Harris
I liked everything about the book better except the ending. The one in the book made it seem as if she hadn't learned anything from her experience.
Garnette's review
Chocolat by Joanne Harris
Garnette's review
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When I saw the movie I was enchanted but now that I've read the book, I feel sad about the movie's shallowness. The book is rich and deep, like Valrhona 85% cacao from Trader Joe's. It's another mother-daughter book, about intuitions, guilt, love between generations, building an intentional family if not a blood line one. In this book the French church is the antagonist, with a bow to Joan of Arc, not the aristo. The characters are not the same, Johnny Depp not there, Roux has a different, more damaged past. The movie was milk chocolate, the book is that Extra Amer without being noir or bitter. I wonder if the success of the movie satisfied the author? Her book is excellent, alive with color, flowers, imagery, aromas, bravery, compassion, understanding at last. I spent the day in France, when it was snowing in Woodstock's mountains. Read it if you can without having a cup of hot chocolat.
I liked everything about the book better except the ending. The one in the book made it seem as if she hadn't learned anything from her experience.
