Book Review: Chocolat by Joanne Harris

As a self-proclaimed and unashamed chocoholic, I was drawn to Chocolat by Joanne Harris for obvious reasons. I didn’t become addicted to the book, so I can’t say it necessarily lived up to its namesake, but it also didn’t disappoint. In the world of sweets, it’s a creme brulee. I appreciate its existence and love consuming it, but I’m okay with not having it everyday, and it’s charm originates mostly in the name. 

The writing style and the subtlety of the novel are its shining points. Although it’s fairly predictable, nothing is given away too soon, and nothing is over-explained. Harris is great at writing from her characters’ perspectives. She gives the reader the impression that they already know what’s happened in the character’s past and they are simply recalling it along with the characters. Revelations occur naturally through dialogue or the occasional flashback, flowing smoothly with the narrative. 

Nearly every character was complex and intriguing, including (or especially) the secondary characters. I had a particular soft spot for Armande, and Vianne’s “little stranger” of a daughter intrigued me. I also enjoyed the little hints of witchcraft (I’m using the word for the ease of vernacular; I’m not sure if Vianne would call it witchcraft) scattered through the novel. 

But the ending showdown with Pere Reynaud was a little ridiculous. I won’t give away spoilers here, but it didn’t strike me as realistic. It was incredibly disappointing, and while I like the way the novel itself ended, the main conflict’s resolution was incredibly unsatisfying. It also didn’t feel true to Reynaud’s character. At that moment, it seemed like Harris abandoned the effort of making the main villain a complex character, and succumbed to making Reynaud into an unrealistic, offensive extreme. I did occasionally feel like Harris was projecting her anti-religious convictions throughout the novel, but it was never enough to make me dislike the book. It was enough to make me dislike this conclusion of Reynaud’s character.

On a more savory note, I definitely want to visit Vianne’s chocolate shop. Every creation is made with care and Vianne minds every little detail that makes the creation delectable. 

I literally just realized while writing this that this novel has been serialized, so now I have to read the other two books immediately—before I leave the world Harris has created and enter into another one. Hopefully the climax of the sequels will be on the same level as the writing.