15 years ago
Sun Jun 14 2009, 08:39am
Let's get the discussion happening! :) Remember you can defninitely keep talking about the book even after the month it was chosen for, so if you haven't read it yet (like me!) you've still got time :)
I've never done anything bookclub related before, in any sense so I don't know where to begin, but let's see..
I have to say firstly, I really enjoyed Chocolat and I've been looking at the follow-up The Lollipop Shoes everytime I enter a bookstore...I think it's only a matter of time before it comes home with me.
Oh! And more importantly, I already love chocolate, but this book made me pine after chocolate increasingly (which I hope it did for everyone else)... puddings, biscuits, leftover easter eggs. MUFFINS! Oh my, the muffins! Many muffins were had. Double-chocolate chip muffins, heated in the microwave so the melted chocolate chip experience could be felt over and over even after the initial oven-treatment. Oh my, chocolate chips. Oh. I think I need a moment. *exits in search of a muffin*
There's no specific format to these discussions :) It's just the same as all the other threads on books (and movies and TV shows) except hopefully you'll have more people to discuss with because everyone'll read the book at the same time.
Things you liked or didn't like are sometimes a good place to start a discussion if you're stuck ;)
Wanderer Ward
15 years ago
Wanderer Ward
Rebel
Its been a few years since I read Chocolat but I remember at the time thinking it was the first time I preferred a film to a book. That sense of disatisfaction came from the contrast in the endings. Then last year I got the Lollipop Shoes. Happiness returned and I fell in love with the two books as a set. The overall ending left me more satisfied that I thought possible. So now I regard the film and pair of books as two separate entities that have some similarities and I love both equally.
Interesting fact I heard in a radio interview with her - Joanne Harris stated in an interview when the film was cast that she didn't think Johnny Depp was right for Roux as she didn't think he was as gorgeous as people said. Then at the preview she met him and he commented to her that he didn't think he was that gorgeous either. XP
haha - that just made me love Johnny Depp even more! That's classic! :D
Wanderer Ward
15 years ago
Wanderer Ward
Dreamscape Artist
[act]uses a cattle prod to wake up the thread[/act] |:| Heh heh heh...
Well! I finished Chocolat today! Don't worry, I haven't been reading it since May. I just took the holiday opportunity to read some of the Bookclub books, and this was one of them.
Chocolat is definately not the kind of book that I would normally read. I have to admit that I stick almost exclusively to fantasy. Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. It seems to me that there was a lot of thought and love put into the creation of all the characters, and that definately comes out when you read it.
I thought it was clever that in all the chapters from the perspective of Reynaud (or whatever his name was), he wasn't actually addressing God, as I originally thought. Even after I realised he was talking to his actual father, I soon forgot and assumed it was God again. I know I shouldn't be so shallow-minded, but I was shocked (that word is a little too strong for what I felt, but I'm too tired to look for a synonym) at his thoughts, how he viewed the world. Especially his relationship with Paul-Marie Muscat. I can't believe he knew about Muscat abusing his wife, yet did nothing about it. Is that some law of the confessional? If something like that was brought to the attention of a priest today, would they be obliged to tell the authorities, especially if they knew the confessors identity? I think they should.
I was disappointed by the ending, not because it was a badly written ending or anything, but because Vianne was left unhappy. She'd had such a positive influence on so many people of the village, yet wasn't able to be peaceful within herself, despite beating her demon, the Black Man.
I had no idea that there was a sequel to this novel, but I'm definately going to find it and read it. I hope it ends happily for Vianne next time.
I'd just like to say that throughout the novel, I had no chocolate cravings at all! I'm pretty sure that's not normal...
I only just watched the movie Chocolat I did not realise it was based on a book.
Wanderer Ward
15 years ago
Wanderer Ward
Dreamscape Artist
I bought The Lollypop Shoes from Borders today and I can't wait to start reading it! I was a bit confused when I read the blurb because of the different names, and after I had already bought it I was worrying that it was the wrong book! Silly me! :P
