I have read this before, but as I have its sequel, I thought I'd reread it before giving The Lollipop Shoes a go.
Vianne and her daughter, Anouk, arrive in a small French village with the wind. They rent a small shop in the centre, transforming it into a chocolaterie, an exotic, decadent choice of establishment for a conservative settlement on the eve of Lent. Their strange ways soon put the local priest's back up, as he tries to keep his parish in line. When Vianne openly befriends the river gypsies, the priest, Reynaud, declares war, forcing the village to take sides.

Vianne comes from a long line of travelling women, accompanying her mother around the world up to her death, earning their living from their “gifts”. The chocolaterie is the perfect setting for Vianne, she uses her insight to predict her customers' favourite chocolates, as well as lending an ear, and a space, for people's problems. The shop's first customers are the outsiders of the town, Josephine, a battered house-wife, and Armande, another white witch, who has fallen out with her God-fearing daughter, Caroline. The chocolaterie is a haven for those who need a place to meet, friends to talk with and also for some soul food.

This is a sumptuous book, one that captures all of the reader's senses. Harris takes the classic plot-line of good versus evil, blurring the lines, whilst also standing up for the white witch, a figure which has always been viewed as suspicious in villages. Vianne is just the woman to shake up a staid village, where people are set in their ways and old grievances are never forgotten. Fans of the film will notice quite a few differences, but I have enjoyed both the adaptation and the book, and I believe that the overall message is the same in both.

a beautiful book, story of Viane and Anouk who arrive suddenly to a small french town and open a chocolate shop. they mmake their mark on the town bringing the townsfolk back to life much to the disappointment of the Cure of the town.
Has been made into a famous film now and you can see why.

Left in the club lounge of the Holiday Inn Silom