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By Joanne Harris
First published in Great Britain in 2012
by Doubleday a division of Transworld Publishers
Vianne Rocher returns to Lansquenet after receiving a letter from her old friend, Armande. Her old DEAD friend, Armande. Armande believes Vianne should return to Lansquenet as the people there need her. As the wind blows, Vianne returns.
Upon her return, Vianne discovers Lansquenet is not as she had left it. Gone are the days of the river gypsies and Vianne's chocolate shop. There is friction between the Catholics and Muslims; a church bell competing with a call to prayer. Vianne, always the peacemaker, tries to bring the community together with her magical chocolate and her good common sense.
Harris explores the very contemporary topic of different religions trying to co-exist with respect and intelligence. More difficult topics are handled sensitively; the situations never getting to the point where the reader can't take any more. Quite possibly, Harris has many readers questioning their own beliefs or, at the very least, wondering why they can't be more open-minded towards others.
A wonderful book for those who have loved Chocolat and The Lollipop Shoes. An introduction to Harris' brilliance for those picking up one of her novels for the first time.
By Joanne Harris
Published by Black Swan
First published in 2007 by Doubleday
The Lollipop Shoes is a sequel to Chocolat, one of Joanne Harris' yummiest books. Generally, I find sequels to be a huge disappointment. For the most part, I think sequels are written only as a way for the author to make a few more dollars off a wildly popular book and they can never measure up to the original. I was pretty sure Harris would only write a sequel because of her love for her characters and I think I was right. Past characters were instantly brought back to life and I felt as though I had finished reading Chocolat only yesterday, which is pretty good seeing as I read it back in 2002.
The story resumes in Montmartre, where Vianne Rocher and her family are now living above - where else? - a chocolaterie. Vianne has changed since we last met. In an effort to be ordinary, she has given up her cantrips and potions and convinces herself and Anouk that portions of their past lives didn't occur and that there is no such thing as magic.
Zozie de l'Alba is introduced on page one of this novel and by page two we know she is bad news. Zozie's life intersects with Vianne's in a page-turner filled with witchcraft, suspense, heartbreak and, of course, chocolate. The ending, as usual, turns on the changing wind.
Another exceptional book from Joanne Harris.
