Vianne by Joanne Harris

Joanne Harris has returned to the character Vianne who made her story Chocolat such a well-loved tale and inspired a movie. In this beautiful story we are drawn into the world of Vianne before she creates her own chocolaterie. With the overlay of the mystical and Vianne’s wandering soul, she investigates what her life must be like without her mother. Who is she and where should she make her home? And is ‘home’ even a possibility for someone who has never been allowed to settle? Vianne though uses all her gentleness and her magic to heal everyone around her, and she finds a place to be and a reason to stay in the local bistro where she explores recipes and meaning from the pages of a dead woman’s records. Then she moves into the beginning of her journey in chocolate as an assistant in a new chocolate-making venture.  As she discovers the delight of cooking and exploring flavours, her life begins to explore ways to restore and refresh those around her, but will it come at a cost to her freedom? 

This is a beautiful story imbued with the redolent scent of chocolate, herbs and French cuisine and the mystery and intrigue of magical intuition. With tarot cards to read futures and people, ethereal appearances of a woman of wisdom and Vianne’s own power to read and influence people, there is a magical quality to this story. But the writing itself has that beautiful grace and mystique of a fragrant scent wafting in the breeze. Even if you know Chocolat you will be delighted to move back in time to enter the history and motivations of Vianne. This book will delight those who love to know characters inside and out, and will see the collection of the sad, grieving and desolate characters as rich expressions of humanity. This is one of the delights of the story, because the plot is slow moving and reflective, and although it takes place over a period of less than six months, it will seem to be much longer.

I loved the story and will now want to revisit Chocolat too.

Themes: Family, Chocolate, Identity, Mystical fantasy/magical realism, Grief and loss.

Carolyn Hull