Binding: Paperback
EAN: 9780552773157
ISBN: 0552773158
Label: Black Swan
Manufacturer: Black Swan
Number Of Pages: 496
Publication Date: April 21, 2008
Publisher: Black Swan
Studio: Black Swan

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating: out of 5 stars

Rating:

- Not amazing, not dreadful.....
.....just a bit disappointing. I got really excited about this and bought it hardback as soon as it came out, however I don't feel it matched up to Joanna Harris's other works. Don't get me wrong, its well written, the descriptions of the chocolate still make your mouth water, and the magic is ever present, there is just something missing. I loved Vianne's unique and quirky character in 'Chocolat' but in lollipop shoes there is something that doesn't quite follow. A must if you've read Chocolat, but probably very frustrating if you haven't.

Rating:

- A great summer or rainy days read
Loved this book and had difficulty putting it down until I'd finished it. You definitely need to read Chocolat first in order to set the scene for this sequel.

Loved to hate the character of Zozie, who I'd expect to be the star character if the book is made into a film. Bit disappointed in the "wimpiness" of Vianne (the main character from Chocolat) but, for me, that made this book refreshingly different and I'd say it was a brave move by the author.

Loved the way the narrative switched from one character to another too.

Rating:

- well usually sequels are
- derivative and boring, but this one certainly wasn't. Joanne Harris is a real storyteller and the book just kept me hooked from beginning to end. In fact I think was better than Chocolat. Harris has matured as a writer without ever selling out. Long may she continue!

Rating:

- A very worthy sequel
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.

Rating:

- More like a luke warm cup of tea than a delicious mug of hot chocolate
I was so disappointed with this book; when it first came out I even bought it in hardback as I had absolutley loved Chocolat (and the others of Harris's that I have read). I had practically been counting down the days to the release of this book and was left feeling incredibly underwhelmed by the whole thing.

The Lollipop Shoes is the story of Vianne and Anouk and Vianne's new daugher who have moved to Paris and set up a chocolate shop there too but there is none of the magic of that first shop, it's very dull and lacks sparkle. Also, the characters in Lollipop Shoes don't even seem to be the same people they were in Chocolat; Vianne was carefree and happy in Chocolat and in this she is dull and conventional (I know she is supposed to be hiding from her past but I just didn't buy it). And I found the storyline of Red coming back to find her almost ludicrous as their relationship in Chocolat never developed into what we are lead to belive it did in this book.

Call me an old cynic but I just get the feeling that this book has been penned this in order for it to be made into another film - it had none of the magic I had expected. Infact, it left me feeling flat as a pancake.

I would always invite someone to make up their own mind about a book but this really didn't cut it for me.

Try searching the Internet for "The Lollipop Shoes (US title is The Girl With No Shadow)" or Ebay for "The Lollipop Shoes (US title is The Girl With No Shadow)".

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