The Little Paris Bookshop
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
The international bestseller, translated from the German by Simon Pare.
On a beautifully restored barge on the Seine, Jean Perdu runs a bookshop; or rather a 'literary apothecary', for this bookseller possesses a rare gift for sensing which books will soothe the troubled souls of his customers.
The only person he is unable to cure, it seems, is himself. He has nursed a broken heart ever since the night, twenty-one years ago, when the love of his life fled Paris, leaving behind a handwritten letter that he has never dared read. His memories and his love have been gathering dust - until now. The arrival of an enigmatic new neighbour in his eccentric apartment building on Rue Montagnard inspires Jean to unlock his heart, unmoor the floating bookshop and set off for Provence, in search of the past and his beloved.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
A bookseller embarks on a quest for his own happy ending in George's novel. Jean Perdu's Literary Apothecary is unique among Paris bookshops, and not just because it's a barge moored on the Seine. Perdu has the uncanny ability to prescribe the perfect book to cure any spiritual malady: heartbreak, loneliness, ennui. But for 21 years ever since the woman he loved walked out of his life Perdu has lived an ascetic, routine-filled existence, and he's never opened the farewell letter she left for him. When he's finally compelled to read it, the unexpected contents spur him to hoist his anchor and take the bookstore barge on a trip upriver to Avignon, in search of closure and forgiveness. Max Jordan, an eccentric young author paralyzed by writer's block, hitches a ride as the boat is pulling out of port. Along the way the pair encounters a host of other quirky characters, who feed Perdu incredible cuisine, help unravel a long-unsolved literary mystery, and teach him to feel joy again. Though George's prose is sometimes a bit overwrought and the "physician, heal thyself" plot device has been done to death, her cast of engaging characters keeps the story moving. Her sumptuous descriptions of both food and literature will leave readers unsure whether to run to the nearest library or the nearest bistro.
Customer Reviews
Unexpected delight
Didn't know what to expect but it was delightful. Poignant, introspective, sad, life-affirming. Just read it.
Yes think
Did I just wake up or just read something so unique that will change my way forward in life.
Loved this book
This book is a great escape and captures the emotions of men in a rare way. It combines whimsical humour with and emotional journey and sheds light on the French countryside all at the same time. Beautifully written.