It's possible this is the most delectable book I've read... at least in a long, long time. "We came on the wind of the carnival..." It might be the best first line of any novel (prompting many a reading of first paragraphs to many an eager listener), followed by a story that unfolds like swirling chocolate fondant cooling and expanding and being shaped and reshaped into a delicious truffle treat that lingers in the mouth, the mind, and the heart. Vianne and Anouk come to life as wild magical creatures, full of the joy of every moment, crafting a world around them of vivid colors and tastes, flaunting their differences in the name of freedom, and weaving a spell around the small, quiet town of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes. Of course every good story has conflict, and this one comes in spades, the fear and the dark disapproval of the priest and the closed-minded locals who resist change. The shifting winds that blow trouble and discontent, and that bring complications, both of pleasure and of pain. The lives that are impacted and altered by more than just the freely flowing chocolate, but by the awakening of the senses, moving them to challenge traditions and stand up for themselves and make their voices heard.

Vianne's magic of choice is handmade chocolate, seeing into the hearts of each person via their taste buds to glean their favorites, and slowly opening the door for them to find the true magic in their own lives. Her nemesis is the local cure, Francis Reynaud, and his resistance to Vianne's influenece only covers his own secrets and longings and fears for so long. Is it the religion that is wrong or is it something more? The exclusiveness? The lack of acceptance? In their own way, Vianne and Anouk revel in their spirituality and are  truer to the essence of the spirit than the doctrines and dogmas and restrictive rergimes of the church. Naturally that doesn't sit well, and with such dissent (i.e. free thinking, the evil influence of women in red dresses and river-dwelling gypsies with their communal meals and improvised music), the church can only feel its stranglehold slipping...

For all its drama, Chocolat maintains a sense of delirious wonder, innocence even, with words that melt and roll around the mouth in flavorful waves of lovely language. It's entirely devourable, and begs for indulgence. Indulgence, and chocolate, and magical totem bunnies, and mendiants, and candied oranges, and sugar mouses, and cafe au chocolat, and silky red underthings, and sheer joy of life. Try it, taste it!