I learned a very important lesson this week - sometimes all you need is a good book. You know, the kind you can finish in the space of a few hours and will leave you feeling refreshed when you're done. Joanne Harris' Chocolat is just that kind of book. Just about 300 pages in length, it finds power in simplicity and restores your faith in human kindness.
Chocolat tells the story of Vianne Rocher, a beautiful and exotic woman who stumbles upon the stifled French town of Lansquenet in the middle of Lent. Rumors circulate that she is a witch, not only for her mysterious background but also for her knack for knowing her customers' favorite chocolate sweets. She opens her own magical chocolate shop, La Celeste Praline, shortly after her arrival, both wreaking havoc and revitalizing a town that has fallen under the heavy hand of Pere Reynaud, Lansquenet's local priest.
The tension between Vianne and the priest worsens as preparations for an elaborate Easter Sunday festival of sweets begin. Lansquenet's religious suddenly turn against Vianne at Reynaud's insistence, urging others to boycott the upcoming festival. What ensues is a battle between good and evil - without giving away the end, you probably already know what happens.
But that's okay. Chocolat isn't designed to leave you in suspense or keep you guessing about Reynaud's next move or the intentions of the band of gypsies that settles on the town's outskirts. It reads more like a fairytale with a few twists and turns that are only there to ensure that you turn the page.
You won't be able to keep yourself from turning the page - the novel is not only well-written, but tackles a variety of themes such as religion, the sins of pleasure, romance, witchcraft, and the remarkable healing power of chocolate. These very different elements are woven together seamlessly by Harris. The result is a novel that is simple without being boring. Because of this, you are able to take what you want from the book, be it the importance of religious traditions or the necessity to give in to your desires now and then, however forbidden.
There is also a wide array of characters and various storylines that keep Chocolat moving at its quick and engaging pace. Armande Voizin is one of the novel's most colorful characters, seemingly exiled to the outskirts of town where the gypsies live. A much older woman who has lived in Lansquenet for many years, she is outspoken, confrontational, and brutally honest. Guillaume is an older man, also a long-time resident of the town, who is never seen without his dog. He is mild-mannered, polite, and endearing in his love for his ailing pet. Josephine Muscat runs away from her abusive husband Paul-Marie and finds solace and safety in Vianne's chocolate shop. Roux is the dark and mysterious leader of the gypsies. With so many names and histories to keep track of, you might expect to wind up confused. However, they each have something in common that keeps you on track - Vianne Rocher and her chocolate shop.
When you finally finish Chocolat, you may find that you have a strange (or maybe not so strange) craving for chocolate, although I doubt you'll find anything as mystical as the chocolates in La Celeste Praline. This book is decadent, delicious, and undoubtedly one of the best ways to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon. Forget reality for a few hours and get lost in Lansquenet - when you find your way back to Tufts, you'll be feeling much better.
