Chocolate and Chocolat

I've probably watched the movie Chocolat about half a dozen times. I never had any real intention of reading the book it's based on, but figured I'd give it a try when I picked up a copy for a few pennies at a library book sale.

I was surprised to find that the book is actually much darker than the movie is. The magical elements that give the movie a fairy tale feel come across as sinister on the page. Certain characters play different roles in the book, and the ending is much more ambiguous, to the point of being a let down. I may be influenced by the fact that I saw the movie before reading the book, but I have to say that this is rare case where I think the screenplay improved upon the original story.

The book did share one thing with the movie- the ability to induce chocolate cravings. The movie has been known to send me scrounging in my cabinets for a packet of hot chocolate. I was more prepared this time around and got my sweet fix by making some quick and easy Nutella cookies that were making the blog rounds last week.

Have you ever cooked along with the theme of a book?