The name of the book stuck to my mind since the year when I had seen this movie being nominated for the Oscars in The Best Foreign Picture category....and mind you , that was a long time ago.
Suddenly, one day while browsing through a book store, I came across the book. Needless to say, all the dormant curiousity was aroused. So, without much deliberation, I bought the bok.
It was one of the most prudent decisions of my life.
UNlike most other novels and long stories, this book has no tedious beginning...right from the page 1 you get hooked to the book for its vibrant yet subtle style. The protagonist of the story is Vianne Rocher who comes riding the carnival wind. She comes with her daughter little Anouk and Anouk’s imaginary friend-the rabbit Pantoufle.. In no time, you get absorbed in the book as the soul of the citizens of Lansquennet-de-Tanns is laid bare layer by layer like an onion being peeled deliberately so that the core comes out-white and unscathed. The people of the village-the most amusing and interesting being Armande Voizin- a fiercely independent lady who despises the church, and more particularly the pere of the church---described by Rocher as ’’the Black Man’’.....
Slowly, armed with her scribing skills ( Vianne scribed with chocolate ) and an army of various delicious confectionery to melt anyones heart, and her peculiar insight into the likes and dislikes of the people, her shop La Celeste’Praline ( Divine Praline-praline being a confectionery made out of chocolate) becomes a sort of rebellion against the stern authority of the church, to the utter annoyance of the pere, more so as it was situated right across the road.
The actual fun starts when Rou arrives with his troupe of gypsies and even though the Father preaches otherwise, Armande gives them a place to harbour their boats..
The best thing about the book is that Harris has accomplished the rare feat of not portraying anyone as completely evil or good-she portrays every body in the same light....the people of the village as suppressed souls and Vianne as a free spirit, a gypsy. The pere is only a suppressed soul who refuses change even though the path that Vianne follows is more fulfilling...
Read the book, if you have ever felt emotionally strangulated, it is assured that you will definitely identify yourself with one of the characters in the book. All in all. its a sweet book with lots of references to chocolate--so a statutory warning- do sit with a handful of chocolate, otherwise your stomach will gurgle like hell. And if you are weight conscious, there is high probability that there will be a terrible craving for chocolate..
Do read the book, it opens a new vista of dreams and possibilities......