Vianne by Joanne Harris

                                                         

Hardback:  416 pages

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, France,

Publisher: Orion 2025

Source: Tywyn Public Library

First Sentences: 22 July 1993, I scattered my mother's ashes in New York on the night of 4 July.

Review Quote:  'A symphony of tastes and smells so glorious you almost find yourself drooling' THE INDEPENDENT

My Opinion:

Vianne is the prequel to 'Chocolat' and other books in the series.  Her many fans including myself have long been hoping for this story.

As a young pregnant woman, whose mother has recently died, Vianne finds herself in Marseille, France. It's while living here that she discovers her love of cooking and the magic of chocolate.

What a wonderful story. A joy to learn more about Vianne who first appeared over twenty five years ago in the novel 'Chocolat' which is now a modern day classic. 

Highly recommended as once again Joanne Harris will stimulate your senses with her descriptive writing.

Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:

Vianne is the long-awaited story of Vianne Rocher and begins six years before she opens her scandalous chocolaterie in the small French village of Lansquenet.

Just twenty-one years old, Sylviane arrives in Marseille to start a new life, and charms her way into a job as a waitress in a run-down bistrot. Here, under the guidance of eccentric Guy Lacarrière she discovers the joy of cooking, a secret love affair and, for the very first time, the true magic of chocolate.

Yet as she starts to dream of making a future for herself in the town, she finds herself at the centre of a growing conspiracy that will threaten everything she's fought so hard for...

 

My Review of  Chocolat

Author Profile:

Goodreads  Author photo.

About Joanne Harris (courtesy of her official website)

Joanne Harris (OBE, FRSL) was born in Barnsley in 1964, of a French mother and an English father. She studied Modern and Mediaeval Languages at Cambridge and was a teacher for fifteen years, during which time she published three novels, including Chocolat (1999), which was made into an Oscar-nominated film starring Juliette Binoche .

Since then, she has written 19 more novels, plus novellas, short stories, game scripts, the libretti for two short operas, several screenplays, a stage musical (with Howard Goodall) and three cookbooks. Her books are now published in over 50 countries and have won a number of British and international awards. She is an honorary Fellow of St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, has honorary doctorates in literature from the universities of Sheffield and Huddersfield, and has been a judge for the Whitbread Prize, the Orange Prize, the Desmond Elliott Prize, the Betty Trask Award, the Prima Donna Prize  and the Royal Society Winton Prize for Science, as well as for the Fragrance Foundation awards for perfume and perfume journalism (for which she also received an award in 2017). She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2022.

She is a passionate advocate for authors’ rights, and was the Chair of the Society of Authors (SOA) for four years. She is currently a member of the Board of the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS).

Her hobbies are listed in Who’s Who as: “mooching, lounging, strutting, strumming, priest-baiting and quiet subversion of the system”, although she also enjoys obfuscation, sleaze, rebellion, witchcraft, armed robbery, tea and biscuits. She is not above bribery and would not necessarily refuse an offer involving perfume, diamonds,  foreign travel or pink champagne. She works from a shed in her garden, plays in the band she first joined when she was 16, and lives with her husband in a little wood in Yorkshire.

The biographical information and photo used in this post are with thanks to the following websites, where you can also find more information about the author and her writing. 

Amazon Author Profile - Joanne Harris    Official Website - Joanne Harris  

 Goodreads Author Profile

Broken Light by Joanne Harris

 

                                              

Hardback:  420 pages

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Publisher: Orion 2023

Source: Tywyn Public Library

First Sentences: The first seven years of my life are a blank. I don't remember a thing before that. Most children remember something of their early years, but not me.

Review Quote:   'Blazes with anger and sorrow' MARIAN KEYES

My Opinion: Having been a fan of this author for many years I was looking forward to reading ‘Broken Light’. Joanna has I think a very individual style of writing that in my opinion doesn’t compare to anyone else, that I have read anyway.

‘Broken Light’ is a cruel story about the invisibility of middle aged women. The menopausal protagonist has paranormal tendencies which makes for an intriguing and at times terrifying read.

Strong and emotionally driven characters built around some important current issues in modern society discern this recommended read. A great choice for some lively Book Club discussion.

Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:

Bernie Moon is feeling invisible. She's given her life to other people - her husband, her son, her mother, her friends (not that she has any of them left). At 16, she was full of promise and power. Now, facing 50, she's a fading light.

But when a young woman is killed in her local area, it sparks childhood memories of a talent she used to have, one long since hidden.

She said she'd never use it again.

She knows it could destroy not only her, but everyone around her.

Bernie Moon is no longer invisible, but is everyone else ready for what she's about to become?

 

Author Profile:

Goodreads  Author photo.

About Joanne Harris (courtesy of her official website)

Joanne Harris (OBE, FRSL) was born in Barnsley in 1964, of a French mother and an English father. She studied Modern and Mediaeval Languages at Cambridge and was a teacher for fifteen years, during which time she published three novels, including Chocolat (1999), which was made into an Oscar-nominated film starring Juliette Binoche .

Since then, she has written 19 more novels, plus novellas, short stories, game scripts, the libretti for two short operas, several screenplays, a stage musical (with Howard Goodall) and three cookbooks. Her books are now published in over 50 countries and have won a number of British and international awards. She is an honorary Fellow of St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, has honorary doctorates in literature from the universities of Sheffield and Huddersfield, and has been a judge for the Whitbread Prize, the Orange Prize, the Desmond Elliott Prize, the Betty Trask Award, the Prima Donna Prize  and the Royal Society Winton Prize for Science, as well as for the Fragrance Foundation awards for perfume and perfume journalism (for which she also received an award in 2017). She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2022.

She is a passionate advocate for authors’ rights, and was the Chair of the Society of Authors (SOA) for four years. She is currently a member of the Board of the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS).

Her hobbies are listed in Who’s Who as: “mooching, lounging, strutting, strumming, priest-baiting and quiet subversion of the system”, although she also enjoys obfuscation, sleaze, rebellion, witchcraft, armed robbery, tea and biscuits. She is not above bribery and would not necessarily refuse an offer involving perfume, diamonds,  foreign travel or pink champagne. She works from a shed in her garden, plays in the band she first joined when she was 16, and lives with her husband in a little wood in Yorkshire.

The biographical information and photo used in this post are with thanks to the following websites, where you can also find more information about the author and her writing. 

Amazon Author Profile - Joanne Harris    Official Website - Joanne Harris  

 Goodreads Author Profile

A Narrow Door by Joanne Harris

 

The third novel in the Malbry trilogy, A Narrow Door is a sequel to Gentleman and Players (2005) and Different Class (2016). This entire series has been an enthralling read, as Joanne Harris writes haunting psychological thrillers.

It was great to catch up once again with a character I felt I knew, Roy Straitley, his boys, colleagues and St Oswald’s School. Times have moved on at St Oswald’s and the traditional narrow door has opened a smidgeon and admitted not only a female head of school but also girls as pupils.

The head teacher and female protagonist Rebecca Buckfast, nee Price is the future of the school and Roy Straitley who has been a main male character in all three books, is the traditional past. Both Roy and Rebecca have dark memories buried in their pasts that torture them. The story unfolds as they reveal their stories to each other and the reader is drawn deep into the complex events of the past.

Written by an author who is skilful at keeping us guessing right up to the very last page, I recommend highly to her many fans and those that enjoy psychological thrillers.

Peaches For Monsieur le Cure by Joanne Harris

Hardback: 458 pages
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publisher: Doubleday 2012   
Source: Tywyn Library, Wales.
First Sentences: Someone once told me that, in France alone, a quarter of a million letters are delivered every year to the dead. What she didn't tell me is that sometimes the dead write back.
Review Quote:   Her characteristic love affair with texture - scents, smells and sounds - immerses the reader in a bath of seductive imagery in a brave and grippingly confected story (The Sunday Times )
Favourite Quote:“Some people spend the whole of their lives sitting waiting for one train, only to find that they never even made it to the station.” 
My Opinion: A pure delight to read.

I was thrilled when I found ' Peaches for Monsieur le Cure' sitting on the bookshelf at the local library in the town where I am based at present. 'Chocolat' is an all time favourite novel of mine and although I was not writing reviews when I read that you will find one for the second book in the series. 'The Lollipop Shoes' which carried on perfectly from where Joanne Harris left us in 'Chocolat'.  The characters had become familiar during the reading of the two novels leaving me feeling rather attached to them and longing for a sequel.  This much anticipated sequel has not disappointed it has been a pure delight to read, Joanne Harris's writing is as evocative as always with that hint of magic.

It is four years since the 'The Lollipop Shoes' ended with Vianne and Roux living on a houseboat in Paris. Vianne's daughter Anouk is fifteen and almost a young woman whilst Rosette is eight, a mysterious little girl. They seem settled and happy then on a changing summer wind, a letter arrives from a dead friend calling them back to the village of Lansquenet, where eight years previously she had opened her chocolaterie. They return there and find in many ways it is unchanged, the church, the cobbled streets and the old tanneries along the river are all just the same, but there have also been changes! On the far side of the river Tannes there is a minaret, the perfume of spices, mint tea and incense hangs in the air and veiled women in black walk the streets of the Les Marauds district.  A rural French village that has not changed for over fifty years has suddenly found itself in turmoil as two very different cultures try to live together in disharmony.  The story takes place during August the time of Ramadan in the Islamic faith. Vianne is surprised to find that her old adversary Father Reynaud is in disgrace, despite having appeared to have mellowed a little over the years he still has very strong beliefs which he stubbornly adheres to. Vianne and Francis Reynaud discover that they are not so different after all, as we had maybe thought in 'Chocolat'.  Vianne now being a happier woman seems ready and able on meeting him again to work with him to discover just what is at the heart of the problems in Lansquenet.
Could it be that Vianne is the only one who can save him? Well I do not believe in spoilers so to find out you will have to read the book.  However the ending still leaves me wanting more so I do hope Joanne Harris will return to these wonderful characters that she has created again one day.

I have been a fan of Joanne Harris for many years and there are two previous reviews of her novels on this blog, for those of you that may be interested. 

The Lollipop Shoes    Blueeyedboy  

Author Profile

Amazon author photo.

About Joanne Harris (courtesy of her official website)

Joanne Harris was born in Barnsley in 1964, of a French mother and an English father. She studied Modern and Mediaeval Languages at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge and was a teacher for fifteen years, during which time she published three novels; The Evil Seed(1989), Sleep, Pale Sister (1993) and Chocolat (1999), which was made into an Oscar-nominated film starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp.

Since then, she has written eight more novels; Blackberry Wine, Five Quarters of the Orange, Coastliners, Holy Fools, Gentlemen and Players, The Lollipop Shoes and Runemarks, and  blueeyedboy, plus; Jigs & Reels, a collection of short stories and, with cookery writer Fran Warde, two cookbooks;The French Kitchen and The French Market. most recently published are Runelight and  A Cat, A Hat and A Piece of String, a new collection of short stories. Her books are now published in over 40 countries and have won a number of British and international awards. In 2004, Joanne was one of the judges of the Whitbread prize (categories; first novel and overall winner); and in 2005 she was a judge of the Orange prize.

Her hobbies are listed in Who’s Who as: “mooching, lounging, strutting, strumming, priest-baiting and quiet subversion of the system”, although she also enjoys obfuscation, sleaze, rebellion, witchcraft, armed robbery, tea and biscuits. She is not above bribery and would not necessarily refuse an offer involving exotic travel, champagne or yellow diamonds from Graff. She plays bass guitar in a band first formed when she was 16, is currently studying Old Norse and lives with her husband Kevin and her daughter Anouchka, about 15 miles from the place she was born.

For more fascinating facts visit 101 Facts About Joanne Harris.

The biographical information and photo used in this post are with thanks to the following websites, where you can also find more information about the author and her writing. 

Amazon Author Profile - Joanne Harris    Official Website - Joanne Harris   Goodreads Author Profile