Definitely brings back memories of when Vianne arrived in town during Lent 20 years ago with her daughter Anouk. There are a lot of similarities with Chocolat – the story is set during Lent and focuses on the arrival of an “outsider” who sets up shop in the town under the wary and watchful eyes of the locals (including Vianne who was initially shunned by the villagers). The arrival of Narcisse’s relatives, the departure of an old friend and the opening of a mysterious new shop in the place of the florist’s across the square – one that mirrors the chocolaterie, and has a strange appeal of its own – all seem to herald some kind of change: a confrontation, a turbulence – even, perhaps, a murder… Even Reynaud, the priest, has become a friend.īut when old Narcisse, the florist, dies, leaving a parcel of land to Rosette and a written confession to Reynaud, the life of the sleepy village is once more thrown into disarray. With Rosette, her ‘special’ child, she runs her chocolate shop in the square, talks to her friends on the river, is part of the community. Lansquenet-sous-Tannes, the place that once rejected her, has finally become her home. This is part of my Summer Reads series where I’ll be reviewing a series of “not just cookbooks”.įrom Joanne Harris, the author of the bestselling Chocolat (the chocolate shop that inspired the book/film is located in Nérac!), comes The Strawberry Thief, the fourth novel to feature Vianne Rocher.
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