A very worthy sequel

• Book: The Lollipop Shoes
• Location: Paris
• Author: Joanne Harris

Review Author: Anne Cater

Sometimes when you read the sequel of a book that you have really enjoyed you close the book when you’ve finished feeling quite sad because it just didnt live up to the expectation – with Lollipop Shoes I closed the book very sad as I just didnt want it to end. I wasnt disappointed in the least and in fact, I think I enjoyed it more than Chocolat.

Joanne Harris re-acquaints the reader with Vianne, Anouke and Roux – all well-loved characters. Brand new and major characters are Rosette – Vianne’s second daughter and Zozie, the mysterious lady who appears to be a guardian angel to the little family.
Vianne, Anouke and Zozie take turns to tell the story, and as each tell the same story, each one gives their own different view.

The story is full of mystery and magic, interwoven with the story of Vianne and her family’s struggle to make a living from their chocolate shop, Vianne’s relationship with new man Thierry and old beau Roux. Running alongside the main story are the individual stories of the shop’s customers – including the slightly aloof Madame, the local cafe owner and a street-painter, amongst others.

The story turns quite dark and atmospheric towards the end whilst still seeming realistic, and I certainly couldnt turn the pages fast enough to find out the ending.

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