Peaches for Monsieur le Curé

Chocolat, Book 3

By: Joanne Harris

Narrated by: Rula Lenska, Gareth Armstrong

Length: 13 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

It isn't often you receive a letter from the dead.

When Vianne Rocher receives a letter from beyond the grave, she has no choice but to follow the wind that blows her back to Lansquenet, the village in south-west France where, eight years ago, she opened up a chocolate shop.

But Vianne is completely unprepared for what she finds there. Women veiled in black, the scent of spices and peppermint tea, and there, on the bank of the river Tannes, facing the square little tower of the church of Saint-Jerôme like a piece on a chessboard - slender, bone-white and crowned with a silver crescent moon - a minaret.

Nor is it only the incomers from North Africa that have brought big changes to the community. Father Reynaud, Vianne's erstwhile adversary, is now disgraced and under threat. Could it be that Vianne is the only one who can save him?

©2012 Frogspawn (P)2012 Random House AudioGO

A wonderful further chapter in the Chocolat saga

If you could sum up Peaches for Monsieur le Curé in three words, what would they be?

Intriguing, riveting, familiar

What did you like best about this story?

That Joanne Harris had maintained the same familiar characters but brought it up to date by introducing a whole load of immigrants with very familiar culture and how that culture was received by the small remote French village.

Have you listened to any of Rula Lenska and Gareth Armstrong ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, I had not listened to others of their performances but I was very impressed with their rendition of this book. Both gave remarkable performances.

If you could rename Peaches for Monsieur le Curé, what would you call it?

I would never attempt to rename an author's work.

Beautiful

What did you love best about Peaches for Monsieur le Curé?

Joanne Harris hasn't let us down. Loved this book as much as her others. Beautifully written, I feel like I am dreaming when I read/listen to her stories.

What didn’t you like about Rula Lenska and Gareth Armstrong ’s performance?

I found the voices difficult to distinguish at first. I prefer audiobooks that use different actors for all the different characters.

Delightful and delicious

If you could sum up Peaches for Monsieur le Curé in three words, what would they be?

Vivid, entertaining and enlightening.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Peaches for Monsieur le Curé?

When they picked the first peaches - I could almost taste them!

Which scene was your favorite?

When the cure was giving confession through his letter box. I also liked spending time in the kitchen with the Muslim women.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I liked having the time to digest each chapter without having to rush through to the next. Having said that I couldn't wait for my journey to continue so I coulod listen to the next bit of the story.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed this reading as the two voices brought the characters to life.

The Magic of Chocolat continues

I really enjoy listening to all of the books in this series of four. This one number 3 has a very definite message on a number of very modern dilemmas facing us all. Food for thought! As always the atmosphere draws you in on all senses, and you become immersed in village life in France - a wonderful aromatic escape! Chocolat lives on throughout all the books and delights the reader

Vianne Never Stays Long Enough

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

As always Joanne Harris delivers yet another spellbinding tale from Lansquenet and so a must for all of those who have followed Vianne Rocher and her family through the trilogy.

What did you like best about this story?

I always adore the way Joanne Harris weaves her spell in the way she write her stories.

Which character – as performed by Rula Lenska and Gareth Armstrong – was your favorite?

Vianne and the children by Rula and Monsieur le Cure by Gareth Armstrong

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When the veil was removed for the first time and the story is behind that veil revealed.

Any additional comments?

I thoroughly enjoyed hearing this book. The story brings a thousand different images through Joanne Harris' superb ability to capture her readers in a web of intrigue. The smells, colours and characters are seen in the eye of the mind so clearly that again I felt transported to France. I only wish I could visit that wonderful fictitious town known as Lansquenet and visit the Chocolaterie. Perhaps another movie on the way, I hope so.

Intriguing …… the best yet!

This is Joanne Harris’s best yet. I have read most of her books and enjoy her writing but this one surprised me I could not have predicted the twists in this story. It was a terrific sequel to Chocolat and I hope there will be more to come. Highly recommended.