The Lollipop Shoes (original 2008; edition 2008)

The Lollipop Shoes is Joanne Harris' sequel to Chocolat. I don't remember why I read Chocolat in the first place -- I think we might have studied a snippet of it, or the film script: something like that. I remember assuming it wouldn't be my thing and then getting caught up in it, finding that it 'tasted' good. Not that that's surprising, considering that the two books centre around chocolate and there's so much description of taste and food, but that doesn't always mean a book will taste nice. Both of the books have some bright images that genuinely do seem to leap off the page and become pictures in your mind -- like Zozie's shoes in the window, filled with chocolates. With both books, I had to wonder if Joanne had a little of Vianne's magic herself, tempting you into the book, knowing your favourites...

On the whole, I think I prefer Chocolat. It seemed fine on its own, and the relationship between Roux and Vianne reminds me of some lines from one of my favourite songs, Gypsy, by Suzanne Vega. We'll blow away forever soon and go on to different lands, and please do not ever look for me, but with me you will stay, and you will hear yourself in song, blowing by one day...

But it's good to see Vianne again, and good to see Roux, and good to see what became of the baby she was going to have. There are things I didn't like about the book -- the way Vianne gave up her magic, content to live a normal life, for her children, and the way Anouk was so easily led astray... but it does make sense, for the characters and because of the other things going on.

One thing I definitely didn't like, stylistically, was the switching point of view. Sometimes I had to actually go back and check which little sign was on the chapter, to see who it was supposed to be. It does give us an immediate and intrinsic view on each of the three characters, but it felt clumsy, and the voices weren't quite distinct enough.

The plot revolves around the use of magic, which Zozie embraces and Vianne has locked away. I liked this, the magic in Chocolat is intriguing, tempting, and I wanted to know more about it. I thought the names of the spells and so on were a little over-dramatic -- but then, that's like Zozie herself, isn't it? It seemed a little too easy, at the end, for Vianne to unravel everything. And of course, there's the picture-perfect happy ending, the one we always hoped for.

I liked it quite a lot, but not quite as much as Chocolat. I felt like Chocolat was good on its own, tantalising, a little mysterious. There's something addictive about Joanne Harris' writing, though, something that makes me wonder if maybe I should look for some more of her books. ( )

I love Chocolat, and I could never get bored of it, I don't think. But I didn't get on so well with The Lollipop Shoes the first time I read it, and this time even less so. Vianne without her magic, without her spark -- for most of the book anyway -- is a lot more boring, and I hated the tangles of plot Zozie festooned around the place. It was hard to care about Thierry and the part of the plot that involved him, and Roux didn't come in soon enough.

The ending is too little, too late -- and I'd rather the domestic magic of Chocolat than the showdown between witch and witch.

I'm hoping that the third book of this trilogy will be more like Chocolat, but I'm not going to read it until I'm sure I'm in the mood for it... ( )

Well that's confusing. In the US, this book is called The Girl with No Shadow. Apparently they don't have it listed as such on Goodreads!

I liked this book, I did. I thought it tied in well to Harris' recent young adult novel, Runemarks. Much of the same magic is used in No Shadow.

At times I get a little tired of the narrator coyly addressing the reader, you know what that's like, right? You feel like the narrator thinks she can read your mind? I know you do.

Luckily, she only does this with one character, and it suits the character.

So. It's a sequel to Chocolat, and what's quite jarring is that I was never sure when the first book was supposed to take place. Since I've watched the film several times (mainly to see Johnny Depp say, "I'll come over later and take that squeak out of your door.") I've imagined the 1950's as the setting. No Shadow quite obviously takes place in the present, cell phones and all.
( )

This book was ok, not as briliant as Chocolat, but enjoyable nonetheless. I felt the middle dragged terribly and I nearly gave up on it, but for the fact I wanted to discover Zozie's true story.

Vianne Rocher is a pale shadow of herself, something which is relevant to the plot and her daughters Anouk and Rosette shine more brightly. I liked reading the tale from the three points of view: Vianne, Zozie and Anouk - though some chapters it took me a little while to realise who was speaking until I worked out the symbols at the start of each chapter!

If you read Chocolat, you will like this book but it is not the same story. ( )

Hmm, I'm still debating about giving this book 4 or 5 stars. I loved The lollipop shoes. It continues the story of Vianne Rocher and her children from Chocolat. The atmosphere is great. Again, there is a chocolate shop in France, this time in Paris. Vianne, unfortunately, has lost herself, but her daughters Anouk and Rosette are delightful, and so is Zozie in the beginning. Zozie brings all the charm and magic that Vianne did in Chocolat. However, it becomes more and more clear as the book progresses that Zozie is not particularly scrupulous. And in order for Vianne to hold out against her, she needs to find herself again...
Even though it becomes clear after a while that Zozie is not a good Samaritan, she is still intriguing to read about. I liked reading her bits as much as I did Vianne's and Anouk's. When Zozie's intentions come out in the open, the book even becomes exciting. The only reason I'm debating about the stars is that I put it away halfway through the book and didn't start it up again until I had a long train journey ahead of me. I think this was more my mood than it was the book, though... ( )

Very confusing and not engaging. Stopped after Page 60

The follow up to the utterly fabulous `Chocolat' catches up with Vianne Rocher and her daughters Anouk and Rosette, who are now living in Montmartre, Paris under new identities and still trying to run from those `ill winds' that Vianne feels are determined to ruin everything for them. One day a complete stranger, Zozie, blows into their lives. Seemingly Vianne's new fairy godmother, is Zozie really everything she seems?

This, like Chocolat, is a magical, intriguing story of family, mother-daughter relationships, romance and of course, chocolate! Set four years after the prequel, it is told in 3 first person narratives and is wonderfully written with a touch of the occult about it- it is definitely much darker than Chocolat is in that respect, though I found that fascinating to read about, personally. There is also the introduction of a few new characters- locals who really add a great splash of colour to the story, as well as the return of a couple of old favourites of mine.

At first I did think that having three narrators to this tale might be a bit problematic, but it wasn't at all and added a new depth to the story- which chapter is told by whom is identified by the little characters at the top of each chapter, so it is made obvious who is talking. I particularly liked understanding events from Anouk's point of view too- being on the cusp of your teenage years is hard enough without having to contend with the fact that you have magical powers! The way that Anouk was given her own voice here really worked.

I have to say that I didn't like Zozie at all, but her manipulation made for interesting reading and she was certainly a memorable protagonist. I suppose I was most disappointed with Vianne (Yanne) who seems to have changed so much since Chocolat that it was like reading about a different person- I know this is the point of course and she is now trying to make a concerted effort to fit in and fade into her surroundings, but it felt a bit like losing an old friend at times as she is so different here. Sad I know!

Like I've said, this was a really lovely book (I don't think I have ever read a Harris novel that has disappointed me yet, actually), but personally I would recommend reading Chocolat first just so you get to know the characters and their lives up to this point. This can be read as a standalone, obviously, but it seems a shame not to read about Vianne and Anouk's lives before they came to Paris. Those who have already read Chocolat will not be disappointed with this offering - it is a really well written tale and will still have you craving some of the delectable sugary delights that Joanne Harris describes, so make sure you have some good quality chocolate to hand whilst you are reading this!

*This review also appears on Amazon.co.uk* ( )

Journal taken from my bc shelf dated Jan 10th 2008: This was dark by comparison to the first book, but I enjoyed it! I kept reading it ... as I needed to get to the end. I found the 3 different points of view quite effective. I hated Zozie and it pained me to read her part of the tale. I am so glad that the author decided to bring the main characters back to life again as I never did like the way "Chocolat" had ended. ( )

The wind blows a new Chameleon Witch into the life of Vianne Rocher thus, the sequel to Chocolat does not disappoint. The characters are all fully developed enticing you to stay up all night savoring this story! ( )

This is the sequel to the best-selling Chocolat, continuing the story of Vianne, and her daughter, Anouk, now known as Yanne and Annie, living in Montmatre with new addition, Rosette.

Vianne has gone underground, keeping her gifts on the quiet, just as her daughter is discovering her own powers as puberty kicks in. Anouk is a modern girl, with teenage problems. Their life is turned upside down by Zozie, who is very much like the Vianne of Chocolat, but with a much darker agenda. Zozie steps into Vianne's shoes, just as her daughter is looking out for a role-model.

While there was no time period given in the first book (unlike in the film), it did feel like it was set in yesteryear, The Lollipop Shoes takes place in the present day. This did jar at first, but actually makes the second book work. The sequel is darker than the first book, something which is actually backed up by the clearly modern setting, Zozie is a modern witch, and one that uses the contemporary world to her advantage.

The book has three narrators (Vianne, Anouk and Zozie), which helped keep up the tension in the book. I missed Vianne, Yanne is a shadow of her former self, leaving Zozie to command even more attention in the book. I did like the move to the dark side that is in the book, and I look forward to reading further books about Vianne and her daughters. ( )

A tale for adults who still believe in magic and who remember the book or movie "Chocolat". ( )

I'm never sure if it's really okay to like Joanne Harris, or if she's a bit naff. Let's go out on a limb and say yes, she probably is, but I find her quite readable anyway. This is a follow-up to 'Chocolat', with Vianne cowed and almost unrecognisable after her daughter's supernatural talents lead to tragedy, and easy prey for a travelling con artist (and worse). Rather unfortunately, the villain's the most colourful element in the book, but the rest of it jogs along fairly comfortably. As ever, Montmartre is romanticised out of all recognition, but that seems to be its main purpose in life these days. ( )

This is a fabulous book, but it's not until the end, that you realise just how good it is. 4.5 stars, but since it stalls a bit in the middle, I can't quite give 5 stars.
Much more magic and much darker than Chocolat, but excellent. ( )

This is the follow on from Chocolat and set 4 years later. When reading C, I hadnt realised how modern the setting was - it was only in this book and the talk of Euros, that I realised it was an early 21st century story, rather than set mid 20th.

Lots more magic in this book, both of European and South American. It is the story (in part) of Vianne and Zozie, and what Vianne is prepared to lose in order to gain what she believes is a normal life for her and her two daughters. Zozie starts taking over Vianne's life, building up the chocolate shop just as Vianne had done in Chocolate, and winning over Vianne's older daughter. Finally Vianne has to decide on what she wants in this world

Agree that it's perhaps a little long, and the main disadvantage when reading Harris' books - I have a near overriding urge to Bake! (I've even hunted out the cookery book and may inflict the results on people!). ( )

Another complex web of chocolate, French magical realism, inane chatter about imaginary animals, and the return of Roux, as played by Johnny Depp in the film version of Chocolat. What’s not to love? My only real criticism is that it feels a bit like Joanne Harris has changed the cover of her mega-mammoth-massive bestseller, added a couple more chapters, replaced every instance of the word “Lasquenet” with “Paris”, and let this one out into the world. My recommendation is simple – if you liked Chocolat, you’ll like this. If you didn’t, you won’t. I did. Joanne Harris still does something wonderful, and her books invariably make me a bit hungry. ( )

This is the sequel to Harris's [Chocolat] and has also been published under the title [The Girl With No Shadow], thought I'd clear that point up before going any further.

Set four years after the events of Chocolat Vianne has changed her name and is trying to live a magic free life, sinking into mundanity so that she can raise her children without notice. Into this small family's life comes Zozie, a flamboyant, bohemian character much like Vianne a few years earlier. As she befriends Annie, Vianne's young daughter, more sinister events unfold.

Wonderful, magical lyrical prose with a story of family and community; fitting in when you are different and growing up. I actually enjoyed this one more than Chocolat. ( )

I started this book with a lot of expectations and i am happy to report that I enjoyed it thoroughly. Joanne Harris's Lollipop shoes is like dark,creamy chocolate with a hint of spice-totally heady and difficult to resist. Narrated from three POVs(Yanne, Anouk and Zozie), the narrative flows seamlessly. I loved how Joanne let a huge chunk of the narrative be told from Zozie's perspective- I don't really think i have read too many novels that have been narrated from the Villain's point of view.Also,even the minor characters seemed etched out and the writing exceptionally vivid.Despite being a sequel to Chocolat, this one reads like a stand-alone book.I don't think not reading the first book before tackling his one matters much.

The spells,totems,fables and stories about faeries and witches that Zozie and Yanne mention make the book more exotic and fascinating.It's no secret that I am a huge fan of magic realism-Joanne's book is a fine specimen of that genre.The writing is measured,yet intimate and warm,just like the characters in the book. There is something dangerously appealing about a slinky,chameleon-like villain and I loved Zozie's character the most(even more than Anouk and Yanne.). The bullying and name-calling that goes on in schools also forms a huge part of the story -atleast when the narration is done from the perspective of the eleven year-old Anouk.

Joanne's writing is breathtaking and flows beautifully.This has to be one of the best books I have read in a long, long time and I don't think I can rave enough about it. People who are fascinated with the art of chocolate-making will love the details that Joanne shares with us and the book is about good food as much as it is about anything else.

Sample some of her writing ..

"That red-orange flare as the fire spread ,leaping and tumbling and somersaulting like an evil acrobat from a rail of scarves to a trapeze of dreamcatchers and finally to a stack of books."

"The problem is me.I just don't match.I'm the wrong shape,somehow the wrong colour.I like the wrong books.I watch the wrong films in secret.I'm different whether they like it or not and I don't see why i should pretend otherwise."

Overall,an awesome book I'll recommend to lovers of good fiction.A full 5 on 5 from me.I am going to hunt down and read every single book written by this incredibly talented lady. ( )

I like books about magic and chocolate. Mainly chocolate. ( )

I did not read the book "Chocolate" before I read "The Girl With No Shadow" so I had no preconceived idea of what to expect in the story or the characters, and after reading over other reviews, I'm very glad it happened that way. I was completely charmed by this story and all it's unique and wonderful characters. I was pulled in almost right away as I met Vienne, Annie and Rosette. The mystery of their past hanging over the secrets of their present made me want to know more immediately. Enter the character "Zozie" with her own irresistible, irrepressible charm (who could not be charmed by her? In spite of her secrets!) who takes an instant interest in the little threesome, add a couple of vastly different male suitors, some "practical" (and impractical) magic and you have the ingredients for an amazing story! All the charm of Paris, engaging peripheral characters, the smell of "chocolate" and descriptions of it all filled with beauty, depth, angst, hope, and yes, more magic! A wonderful, wonderful book to transport you to a world far away from your own which allows you to believe, even against your better judgement, for a little while, truly, that dreams can come true! ( )

This book is a sequel to Chocolat, which was made into a movie, but it's not necessary for you to have read the book or seen the movie to enjoy The Lollipop Shoes.

The Lollipop Shoes is the story of a mother's love. Yanne is really Vianne, a gifted witch who uses her magic to protect her family and bring love and hope to those around her. It appears however, that her gift is placing her children in danger, so she runs away, changes her name, and swears to never use magic again. The opening of the book finds Yanne living in fear, trying desperately to be as invisible as possible. She lives above a little chocolate shop, in which she works selling factory-bought chocolates. No longer the wearer of red dresses, and the creator of divine home-made chocolates, instead she is as brown and bland as possible.

Yanne's daughters have inherited her gift for practical magic, but Yanne is frightened of the consequences so is desperately trying to explain away any unusual occurences as "accidents". Her older daughter, Annie (formerly Anouk), is approaching adolescence, and really needs her mother. But she cannot trust the stranger that Yanne has become.

Into this mix sweeps Zozie, with her "lollipop shoes", eclectic mix of bohemian clothing and unstoppable energy. Zozie is also a witch, and befriends Annie, slyly becoming the mother figure that Annie desperately needs. She has sinister plans for the little family.

I thoroughly enjoyed this magical tale. Like Yanne, I have an eleven-year-old daughter, so the description of their increasingly difficult relationship resonated for me. It reminded me how much our children need to see us being authentic, open and not fearful. Highly recommended. ( )

Really good sequel to "Chocolat." Very enjoyable. ( )

This is the sequel to Chocolat.

While not entirely necessary to have read the first one, without having read it, I do not think the reader would have a full idea of the characterization of Vianne and her daughter, Anouk.

This is the story of what happened after Chocolate, and where Vianne goes, and what she is afraid of. It is the story of Anouck growing up, and how she strives to be herself.

It is also the story of how an interloper comes into their lives, intent on something ill and evil, and how her machinations eventually turn both into dark ways, and into some light and fortune.

Overall, this is a much darker book than the previous one. It contains most of the familiar characters, and many new ones. The magic is more on display here, and becomes a focus point during much of the story, although the personalities of the characters and their decisions are the main plot-driving points. It ends satisfactorily, but it is a long, dark, anxiety producing narrative, told by the three main female characters: Zozie, Vianne, and Anouk. While perhaps more true to the worries and fears that dog even the most assured of us, it is a less satisfying story as a "pick-me-up" read because it delves into the shadowy nature of "happily-after-after", giving less of a lift to the reader than its predecessor. But it is a thoughtful ride if you like some bitter with your sweet. ( )

The Girl with No Shadow (aka Lollipop Shoes) is a sequel to the wonderful novel, Chocolat and proves the point that when you have a great thing, don’t try to add to it. Where Chocolat is a rich, dark seductive treat, TGWNS is a waxy, flavorless Tootsie Roll.

Our heroine from Chocolat, Vianne Rocher, has set up a chocolate shop in Montmartre, a village on the outskirts of Paris, with her daughter, Anouk, now 11, and a new addition to the family, Rosette, age 4. There are hints that they left Lansquenet because of some magic gone awry, performed by one of the children, both of whom have obviously acquired their mother’s talents. Vianne has changed her name to Yanne Charbonneau and, in addition to giving up her identity, has lost her passion and flair. She’s settled for a quiet, decidedly un-magical life and deals daily with the stress of keeping in check her daughters’ witchy tendencies.

The antagonist is a self-proclaimed identity thief and witch, who blows into town on an ill wind and worms her way into Yanne’s life. Trouble ensues, good vs. evil, yada yada yada.

It’s impossible not to compare this novel with Chocolat; but it’s almost as though they were written by different authors. Where the magic in Chocolat was subtle, just a hint of it sprinkled here and there, Harris hits us over the head with it in TGWNS, with glamours, charms, cantrips, spells, incantations and herbal potions on every page. It becomes quite tedious. The characters are flattened out. The plot has a couple of nice twists and surprises, but by the time they came around, I really didn’t care about them.

Harris has written some wonderful books in addition to Chocolat – Coastliners and Three Quarters of the Orange were favorites of mine. This one fell short. Way short. Now I’m off to have some good dark chocolate to cleanse my palate. ( )

Ahhhhhhhh.........Chocolat! That is what I kept thinking about as I read this novel by Joanne Harris. She rings forward her wonderful characters from "Chocolat" and adds a couple of new folks. I was interested in how the ending would work, and I like the characters. However, this is one of those sequels which begs the comment, "I hope she does not try to continue this story." A fun story, full of magic and charm, just not in the same amounts as in "Chocolat"! ( )

Another very winning novel from Joanne Harris, well in the spirit - as well as the world - of "Chocolat." Indeed, the only way I felt significantly removed from the experience of reading "Chocolat" - that is to say, a conscious awareness that I was reading a different story - was in the added complexity of "The Girl with No Shadow." "Chocolat" was beautiful, even poetic in its simplicity, like a little fable. It moved effortlessly and concluded in a pleasingly open-ended manner. "The Girl with No Shadow" has much of the same richness of prose, but we as readers aren't being treated to a fairy tale any longer. This is a darker, stronger chocolate: both literally as a longer, more melancholic novel, and structurally, as Harris moves from fable to a more complex form of storytelling.

In fact, my one complaint might be that this time around, Harris has cemented her story just a little too strongly. "Chocolat" seemed to take place in a "no-time" France, with only the rare fleeting mention of technology (making it quite easy to adapt into a film set in 1959). "Shadow" is filled with credit cards, mobile phones and other indicators of the present day that seemed to slightly counteract the magical element of the story, which of course becomes more and more prevalent (and important) as the tale goes on. Furthermore, I was secretly a little pleased to have Vianne and her daughter, Anouk left to their changing wind at the end of the original novel; in the sequel, everything wraps up just a little too tidy. I realize that Vianne's need for stability is a constant theme of the book; it just made it feel the *tiniest* bit less special, that's all.

Still, though, there's a great deal to delight in here. Vianne and Anouk - now going by Yanne and Annie - find themselves faced with a new and far more terrifying adversary, Zozie, who (both realistically and magically) steals identities. The conceit of gaining trust through magical chocolates, so much a part of "Chocolat," is turned on its head here as Zozie manipulates Vianne's new chocolaterie to serve her own purpose. There are both thematic and literal links to the earlier novel - including one or two questions answered - and we are introduced to Vianne's curious new daughter, Rosette, along with her own special "spirit animal." This is a novel to enjoy over many long, savored cups of hot chocolate.

A few more words about the American edition of the novel. Although I appreciate the title of "The Girl with No Shadow," I'm a little sorry that the original title, "The Lollipop Shoes," was not kept for the American market. It just seems to fit better, especially as the eponymous shoes are such a constant through the story. Furthermore, while I enjoyed the stylistic touch of introducing the different narrated sections with a little illustration - Cat Moon for Vianne, Rabbit Moon for Anouk, and a New Moon for Zozie - these were not always consistent in my Advanced Reader's Edition, which left me occasionally confused. I hope they were corrected for the final, printed edition as they very gently telegraph the flow of the story without interrupting the ease of reading.

Overall, a very fine book. I will be recommending this to friends who have read the earlier novel or seen the film. ( )