But be prepared that it is very different from the film. Very touching, very sweet and very worth your time.

If it were not for the few mentions of satellite dishes and cars, this book could have easily taken place two hundred years ago in a small Paris town. The backbone and detail of this story is wonderful.

Vianne has been running all her life. It was how she was brought up and how she’s been bringing up her daughter. She has a secret desire to stop running and settle down in one place. She has a passion for cooking and specifically chocolate making, so it seems only fitting that she setup a chocolate shop. Many of the local townspeople and especially the local priest find this to be an act of defiance as the shop opens as Lent begins.

Through much of the book Vianne struggles with her own demons. Memories left by her mother still haunt her. It doesn’t help matters that the priest despises her.

The story started out strong, but lost something along the way. The most climactic moments of the book happen halfway through and then the story just fizzles out, tying up loose ends. I was very unhappy with the ending, although all-in-all, it was a good book.