Stevie‘s review of Christmas Chocolat by Kate Defrise
Women’s Holiday Fiction published by Kensington 29 Sep 15
I’m always a little wary of reading books with ‘Christmas’ in the title too early in the year, but this story begins in the autumn and deals mainly with the run up to the Festive Season, which makes things a little easier for me. Plus, how could I resist a book with the promise of Belgian recipes and ‘Chocolat’ as the other half of the title. Told in the alternating points of view of the three sisters (their brother is strangely silent), this book reveals the impact on the members one family when their usual holiday routines are thrown into chaos.
All four Arnaud siblings are creative in one way or another. Magdali’s talents lie in the kitchen and in explaining her craft to the readers of her popular cookery books, although she longs to try other forms of writing. Jacqueline is an opera singer, who longs to have a baby. Colette earns a living in academia but longs to turn her hobby of clothing design into a career. Art, their brother, meanwhile, never seems to settle to anything, although his main outlet is photography.
The three sisters’ lives and their plans for Christmas are disrupted collectively by their father’s announcement that he wants the celebrations to be arranged differently this year, as well as individually by major upheavals that none of them could have anticipated. Magdali’s agent announces she is retiring and wants to write a novel – which Magdali feels is what she ought to be doing. Jacqueline is worried that travelling to the US for Christmas will jeopardise her latest opportunity to go full term with a pregnancy, having miscarried more than once previously. Colette faces losing her teaching post and at the same time is dumped yet again by her flaky boyfriend, who this time clears out with all her savings and furniture.
Following all these life-changing events and worries, each sister is faced with more dilemmas. Magdali journeys in search of a new agent and finds that flirtation with a stranger has unexpected consequences. Colette encounters a thief and embarks on a crime spree. Jacqueline faces a number of further changes to her routine on top of deciding whether she wants to make the journey across the Atlantic to see her father.
Of the three sisters, I find Colette’s story the most engaging and Jacqueline the trickiest sister to warm to, while Magdali comes across alternately as entertaining and annoyingly naïve. I’d have liked to have seen something of Art’s point of view as well, although at times it is difficult enough following the three separate storylines and locations that we are given.
All in all, a cute introduction to the author, and I’d like to see what she comes up with next, as well as trying out her recipes at some point.
Grade: B
Summary:
In this warm, engaging debut novel, four siblings make their way home, where their father, the memory of their mother, and long-held family secrets all collide just in time for Christmas
For Maggie Arnaud and her siblings, childhood Christmases meant lavish feasts and beloved rituals. The day began with hot chocolate and cougnole de Noel—the sweet, rich bread traditional in their parents’ native Belgium. Those special holidays ended with their mother’s death, and their father has grown more distant each year. But now, he has summoned his grown children once again. And none of them is eager to expose their imperfect lives to his scrutiny…
Jacqueline is an opera singer living in Brussels—outwardly successful but yearning for a deeper fulfillment. Near Philadelphia, cookbook writer Maggie’s career and marriage are in turmoil. Colette, an aspiring clothing designer in California, lost her boyfriend and her savings in one blow. And roving younger brother Art is still searching for something—or someone. Armed with their insecurities, rivalries—and their mother’s most delicious recipes—the Arnauds gather in Pennsylvania. But a good meal does more than feed the body—it awakens memories, nurtures bonds, and might even bring a family back together.
Includes classic Belgian recipes
Read an excerpt.
