This was a very "hazy" read for me, in the sense that all the words and ideas started to run together. Chocolate, desire, churchy people vs. gypsy people, the French countryside.... something like that. I did very much enjoyed the film, which I saw a few years ago. Maybe the book was just too bland and generic. Maybe I need Johnny Depp, who knows? I never felt a connection to anything, except Armande who played the enjoyable, independent old woman trope.