Chapters and Grapes: Chocolat

Books on the Hill is hosting another session of Chapters and Grapes on Wednesday 24 February, and this time the book on the table is Joanne Harris's Chocolat. It's a mid-week evening, running from 19:00 to 21:00, so you'll be home in time for a normal night's sleep.

If you've never come across Chapters and Grapes before, it's the book club run by Books on the Hill, the independent bookshop on Holywell Hill. They do a fair bit more than just sell books — they programme author events, book launches, signings and literary activities throughout the year, and this club is one of their regulars. The format is pretty straightforward: an informal group discussion of a chosen title, paired with wine and light nibbles. The wine is curated by Gabriele from Baruccio, who picks the bottles to go with the book, and the nibbles are there to keep you going while you talk. The one thing to keep in mind is that it's a discussion, not a reading group, so you're expected to have read the book in advance.

For this one, the focus is Chocolat, Harris's novel about a chocolatier who opens a shop in a small French village and finds herself at odds with the local community. It's a story that sits right at the intersection of food, tradition and the way a small town reacts to something new arriving on its doorstep, so it's a natural fit for a night that brings together reading and tasting.

It all happens at Books on the Hill, 1 Holywell Hill, St Albans, AL1 1ER, from 19:00 to 21:00 on Wednesday 24 February. If you're planning to join in, make sure you've finished Chocolat before you turn up.