Peaches for Father Francis

A Novel

By: Joanne Harris

Narrated by: Rula Lenska, Gareth Armstrong

The bestselling author of Chocolat and The Girl with No Shadow returns to Lansquenet in this enchanting new novel

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 beautiful French village in which eight years ago she opened a chocolate shop and first learned the meaning of home.

But returning to one’s past can be a dangerous pursuit. Vianne, with her daughters, Anouk and Rosette, finds Lansquenet changed in unexpected ways: women veiled in black, the scent of spices and peppermint tea—and there, on the bank of the river Tannes, facing the church, a minaret. Most surprising of all, her old nemesis, Father Francis Reynaud, desperately needs her help.

Can Vianne work her magic once again?

Critic reviews

“The puzzle explodes with incandescent intensity.” —Kirkus Review

“Harris’s skill at vibrantly depicting the charm and eccentricity of rural French life is at the heart of this delightful novel.” —Library Journal

“Worth immersing yourself in the sights, sounds and smells of Lansquenet’s narrow 200-year-old streets.”—The Washington Post — Nancy Robertson

“Readers familiar with the Rochers will welcome the newest installment of their story, particularly as it addresses contemporary problems in a familiar setting.”—Publishers Weekly, Pick of the Week
— Publisher's Weekly

Slow start but worth the wait.

If you could sum up Peaches for Father Francis in three words, what would they be?

French-optimistic- fun.

What other book might you compare Peaches for Father Francis to and why?

A follow-up to Chocolat

What about Rula Lenska and Gareth Armstrong ’s performance did you like?

I initially thought Ms. Lenska's voice was to old for the lead character but her performance of the ethnic dialects were so brilliant that I soon forgot any one character and enjoyed them all . Mr. Armstrong's Father Franci was perfect from the first word.

Love!!!

I love all the books in the series (well I cant access "The Strawberry Thief" but I'm sure I'll love it whenever I finally get my hands on it.

as always sensational

I cannot stop listening to this series. magical, real, speaks to my soul. thank you

Left still hungry

I enjoy Joanne Harris' books. Have read them all. I enjoyed this one to the extent that I liked her characters, but the plot was veneer. And the ending less than satisfying. It won't be made into a movie like Chocolat and it doesn't have the depth of Five Quarters of an Orange, but it was pleasant to read about Vianne once again. I wish Anouk and Rossette had played more of a role, but they were quite peripheral to the story. Best rendered character this time is Father Francis.

Read this only if you have enjoyed the two previous books, Chocolat and Girl Without a Shadow.

Charming and thoughtful.

What did you love best about Peaches for Father Francis?

The combination of Harris' story and Roula Lenska's performance was superb. I saved listening to it so that it would seem to last longer. On one level the book continues the story of Vianne and her daughters revisiting the village that was the scene of the movie "Chocolate. However, the book also involves the issues of race and immigration/assimulation, predjudice and religious beliefs.