On a scale of 1-5 stars (with 5 being the best) how do you rate The Lollipop Shoes?
*****
50%
[ 6 ]
****
16%
[ 2 ]
***
8%
[ 1 ]
**
0%
[ 0 ]
*
0%
[ 0 ]
Gave up on it :(
0%
[ 0 ]
Didn't read this one
25%
[ 3 ]
Total Votes : 12
Author
Message
Tigerlily Administrator
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 7637 Birthday: 7th July
Location: Shropshire
Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 10:40 am Post subject: May's Book - The Lollipop Shoes by Joanne Harris
May's Book - The Lollipop Shoes by Joanne Harris
Discuss your thoughts on the book here as soon as you have finished reading it. Did you (not) enjoy it? Anything that struck you or maybe someone else can answer if you have a question? We're not really looking for in depth discussions...just tell us what you think of it!
For those who have finished it, please choose a star rating for the book based on how much you liked it. What did you think of it? Do you have any questions based on the book?
If you do have something to post that reveals plot details which could ruin others' enjoyment of the book, please use the spoiler function (details: http://onlinebookclub.myfreeforum.org/about12.html)
_________________ Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10
I finished this last night - it was wonderful. I was worried that it would not be as good as Chocolat, but in fact I really think it is better.
I dont like all of her books but this was so magical - old characters revisited and some really great new ones. _________________ Currently reading: The Tent The Bucket and Me by Emma Kennedy and Granny The Pag by Nina Bawden
1001 Challenge Books read in 2009 - 3
1001 Challenge Books read in 2008 - 8
1001 Challenge Books read in 2007 - 13
Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 4137 Birthday: 12th December
Location: Cumbria
Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 7:41 pm Post subject:
I agree Anne there is something magical about the book
Spoiler:
bang up to date magic, if I remember right a lap top screen saver was used instead of a crystal ball.
I was influence by this book to try chocolate with chili. But I didn't get the drink, I bought some chocolates, hot and very hot. I couldn't eat the very hot and neither could anyone else. I took what was left to work and left them in the kitchen with a warning note, for anyone who wanted them. Nobody, believed the note - until they tried them.
It is a while since I read it but its a book that I definitely read again along with Chocolat.
Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Posts: 381 Birthday: 16th February
Location: Upper Largo, Fife
Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 8:22 pm Post subject:
Well, never judge a book by its cover...or its title...or the fact that its a bestseller
I had heard of Chocolat but I didn't know anything about the story or the characters so Vianne and co were all new to me. I had np idea what to expect but I wasn't expecting
Spoiler:
magic!!! I love stories that have magic in them. I'm a sucker for fairy tales Anything that requires imagination and I'm there.
One of the things I liked most was how the people and places formed perfectly in my mind - it was very easy to dip in and out of during the day. Zozie was so perfectly hateful, Vianne annoyingly reserved (at least to begin with) and Anouk was infuriatingly like an eleven year old child. The fact that it was her who wffectively vanquished Zozie in the end was a nice touch.
I guess this novel explores what its like to be considered different, to not conform to the idea of a normal family unit. We see Vianne considering settling for normal when it means sacrificing so much of her personality, even her entire identity, because she is afriad of the consequences of being different. I'm glad she chose to fight back in the end. My favourite line in the whole books is "I'd rather be a freak than a clone".
The ending was a bit annoying tho - I would have liked to have found out what happened to the shop and to the other characters in the novel.
Having read this, I don't think I will read Chocolat as I think reading this gives you the jist of that novel anyway and knowing what happens in the end is a bit annoying. I'm glad I read this one, it was something new for me. _________________ Currently reading: Man in the Dark by Paul Auster
Joined: 05 Jul 2007 Posts: 919 Birthday: 23rd December
Location: Dorset, UK
Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 12:59 pm Post subject:
I really enjoyed reading this one, even more so than Chocolat. Joanne Harris has this wonderful way of making her books come to life, and that is what makes her books so difficult to put down. Lisa x _________________ Currently Reading - Want to Play? By P.J Tracy (again)
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 7637 Birthday: 7th July
Location: Shropshire
Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 7:09 pm Post subject:
Really enjoyed The Lollipop Shoes too and think it a good follow up to Chocolat, which I loved.
Spoiler:
I can understand Vianne's reasons for wanting to conform and was glad Zozie helped to bring back the true Vianne, even though she was an evil con merchant!
I liked the fairy tale aspect of the book, the idea of 'The Kindly Ones' and what they represent, and the window dressing - the advent house and shoes filled with chocs. Loved the magic.
It reminded me in parts of The Book of Lost Things, with Zozie as the trickster.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who knew Roux did have a boat tucked away. I could see Vianne selling chocolates on a boat so's she and Roux could live the lifestyle they wanted, so wasn't surprised when he took them to see the boat he'd been working on. And I couldn't help but picture Johnny Depp as Roux
I liked the idea of people projecting a certain image but being surprisingly different deep down - conforming so's they fit in and are accepted. It was a relief when Vianne rejected Thierry's marriage proposal. I liked that Zozie got her back on track. Ok she was nasty, but without her Vianne might still be selling manufactured chocolates, and wouldn't have discovered her birth mother. Zozie is a fascinating character.
_________________ Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 7637 Birthday: 7th July
Location: Shropshire
Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 7:12 pm Post subject:
Gwen, where did you buy the chilli chocolates from? I really want to try some of the chocolates mentioned in the book and I love spicy food, anything with a kick to it _________________ Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 7637 Birthday: 7th July
Location: Shropshire
Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 3:34 pm Post subject:
Ooh thanks for that Gwen Will let you know how I get on _________________ Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10
I really enjoyed this one, too. I liked it more than Chocolat - I think Zozie's character was brilliant and kept the whole novel pulled together really well. I have all her others on my TBR, and really must get round to reading them.
Joined: 01 Oct 2008 Posts: 843 Birthday: 25 September
Location: Bristol
Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 1:57 pm Post subject:
This is another that I devoured last summer. I have loved everything I have read by Joanne Harris and The Lollipop Shoes was no exception. Quite often a title just grabs you and you have to read it - well, I find that anyway, and that was how it was with this even though, like Anne, I worried that another story about Vianne Rocher would not match up to Chocolat. All my worries were blown away though and I loved it.
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Anything that requires imagination and I'm there.
Will let you know how I get on 