The Girl with No Shadow by Joanne Harris.
A little background. This book is actually the sequel to Chocolat and that book was actually made into a movie. This was originally titled "Lollipop Shoes" but it was rebranded into "The Girl with No Shadow."
The story is about a woman named Vianne Rocher, although she goes by many names. She is a woman that follows the wind and has a knack for practical magic. Chocolat is all about Vianne and who she is as she confronts Pere Reynaud. The Girl with No Shadow is about Vianne and Anouk (her daughter) as they confront some of their past and Zozie (the owner of the 'lollipop shoes').
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| A signed first edition which I purchased off of Amazon. I have never (knowingly) met Joanne Harris, but I was lucky enough to receive this in the mail. It is also a hardcover and I'm afraid my bookshelf lacks those so I love this all the more. |
It has three different perspectives. Zozie, Anouk and Vianne which puts the reader in an interesting situation. We know our "villain" from the start, but when will our characters learn, how will they learn, what will they do?
I appreciate the sensory descriptions. Joanne Harris did not lose her touch. If you've read Chocolat, then you know that her descriptions can make your mouth water. There is a very subtle and delightful imagery that she builds in your mind from the first page.
Not only that, but her characters leap from the pages. They are individuals with secrets and those secrets draw readers further into the story. What has happened to Vianne and Anouk since we saw them in Lansquenet sous Tannes? We know the family of two has become three with the addition of Rosette, but Vianne (now Yanne) is far from herself. Reserved, quiet, gray - she has become quite a faded photo of herself.
Read on for a more in-depth discussion and spoilers.
Read on for a more in-depth discussion and spoilers.
