The Little Paris Bookshop: A Novel Paperback – Large Print, March 22, 2016

THE LITTLE PARIS BOOKSHOP, BY NINA GEORGEPUBLISHER: BROADWAY BOOKS; MARCH 22, 2016Are you a lover of books and reading? Do you love beautiful language and carefully chosen words? Do you enjoy romance mixed with humor, soul-searching and finding peace within? If any of those things appeal to you (and really, why wouldn’t they??), then The Little Paris Bookshop, by Nina George should be next on your reading list. I received this novel last week and had a long list of books already waiting to be read, however, a last-minute getaway to the beach prompted me to pull this one out and read first – and it was perfect. I sat on the deck about 15 yards from the waves breaking on the shore, absorbing every wonderfully written line, and this book was exactly what I needed.This story is centered around Monsieur Perdu, a bookseller that has transformed an old barge docked on the Seine into his literary apothecary. Monsieur Perdu has a gift of choosing the perfect novel for a customer based on what they are feeling and/or experiencing. He also will quickly tell a customer when a novel the are seeking is not the right novel for them to read. Monsieur Perdu goes about his life each day selling books from his barge, talking to people as needed, but lonely and heart-broken due to his great love, Manon, leaving him 21 years ago. When a newly divorced woman (Catherine) moves in nearby and Monsieur Perdu is pressured to donate furniture to the woman, he must face the room long closed off because of the memories of Manon still remaining. Catherine finds an a letter in the table, which Monsieur Perdu later confesses he received from Manon 21 years ago after her leaving, but never had the strength to open the letter. Once Monsieur Perdu finally opens and reads the letter, everything he has thought and felt for 21 years is shattered and turned upside down, prompting an amazing journey! Monsieur Perdu fires up the old barge and decides to leave his safe location on the Seine, with a young author, Max Jordan, who manages to jump aboard the barge, begging to come along to avoid the press and his writer’s block. Thus begins a fantastic adventure of encountering new people, building friendships, trading books for supplies, and mostly – facing one’s true feelings and being honest with themselves and others.I normally fly through novels, but not this one. Not that I wasn’t burning up the pages to find out what happens next, but there are so many lines in this novel that are so beautiful you will want to re-read them, and then reflect for a moment on what they mean to you. Moreover, I found myself going back to read something again pertaining to a character’s description, because they were all so unique and wonderful in their own ways. This book represents the regret and sadness that we all experience at some point, but most importantly, it represents the choice that we all have to overcome and find happiness. Each of us has the option to succumb to sorrow, and walk through this world each day without truly living. However, we also each have the choice to address and conquer what haunts us, and live each day to its fullest! This novel doesn’t have a typical fireworks happily ever after ending, but it will leave you feeling cheerful and delighted for the characters and each of their transformations from within. I recommend this fabulous novel to any reader, male or female, they wants to experience a beautifully written adventure and characters unlike they’ve encountered before! Nina George has written and incredible novel with The Little Paris Bookshop, and I cannot wait to read more from her in the future!Want to know more about the author? Visit: [...]P.S. Make sure to check out the link to the Literary Apothecary, it’s so cool!Dying to know more about this novel? Visit: [...]*I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

Author Nina George is one of those people with an inner desire to solve the puzzle of love’s pain. She writes with earnest feeling but does it in a gentle manner that does not intimidate the reader. Her lessons on how love should feel and be expressed resonate deeply and the reader hardly notices it. Other writers also feel it but don’t have a clue on how to get it out.In “The Little Paris Bookshop,” George tells us about Jean Perdu, the proprietor of a book barge on the Seine, who has a unique presence about him. His enterprise has the title of “literary apothecary” because he can tell what ails a reader and prescribe a book that might provide a cure. Heartwarming is a term often overused but totally appropriate in this case. Perdu’s own broken heart bangs away and he hasn’t a clue how to stop its persistent thump. Twenty-one years prior his beloved, Manon, left him and, having never read her farewell letter, he doesn’t understand why. But he remains sensitive to the feelings of others.So he goes through life having many friends and acting as dispenser of healing thoughts for others. Manon dies, leaving even a greater void in his being. He meets Catherine, a discarded young woman, and is attracted to her, resulting in him opening Manon’s letter. He, is prompted, along with a young writer and Catherine, to set sail for the South of France to put his questions about Manon to rest. The story is particularly meaningful for the author, having suffered many of life’s disappointments herself, allowing her own deep feelings to be exposed. In her own exodus to South France she was also looking for warmth because “I was in sort of a living coma” and wanted to escape her own apathy.The themes are deeply personal to George and she relates with the reader in their authenticity. There are references to inspirational books, warming food, and the peace of beautiful surroundings. In fact, some good-looking recipes are included at the end of the book. It’s a book of strong emotions and healing adventures that bolster the readers’ own inner feelings. I highly recommend it as a tranquil respite from life’s disruptions.Schuyler T WallaceAuthor of TIN LIZARD TALES

This had such promise for me but then fell flat. It started off interesting and had some quick twist right off the bat. I thought this would turn into a sweet love story where the connection of reading and loss would heal the two lovers, and their regrets over wasted time, but the middle of the book ruined it. It was so disjointed and became tedious. It was almost as if the author couldn’t decide what she was writing about and in the last 1/4 of the book got back to the love story, with an occasional mention of a book here or there.Plus I found the 20 year angst of Jean and then the continued agony after he read the letter, to be overdone and irritating. I wanted to slap him about 15 years earlier and say for God sakes man, snap out of it. And although the story probably would not have worked without this fact,I kept thinking, who the hell keeps a letter for 21 years and doesn’t read it? I also could not figure out what the heck the scene about the deer was all about. It seemed inserted for shock value.The book did have some sweet, sad and promising moments, expressions/quotes. If you have ever had your heart broken or had a loved one die, which is most of us, you will tear up and become a bit melancholy, but it wasn’t enough to save it for me, since I was so hoping it would be great.

I picked up this book when I was in desperate need of a pick me up. And I wished that there was someone like Jean Perdu, who could look within and figure out the right book for me to read. It was the idea of "a literary apothecary" that drew me in.In hindsight, the book seems to follow a tried and tested formula: one visits beautiful places, eats good food, meets intriguing strangers and finds peace within. This book reminded me of Eat, Pray, Love and Under the Tuscan Sun. So this book is for all those who obsessively dream of going on a similar voyage of self-discovery and ending up transformed from within.

It does not talk much about Paris... it mostly talks about a lost love and a trip to Provence! Deceiving...

Leitura agradável para um fim de semana preguiçoso. Ótimos cenários regionais franceses, personagens interessantes, muito romance, gostosas receitas provençais, boas indicações de livros ao longo da obra. Merece só três estrelas porque a autora às vezes força um pouco a barra ou "pesa" a mão em certos momentos -- impossível explicar melhor que isso sem dar spoiler... Quem ler vai perceber.

Ottime condizioni e lettura piacevole

It not only presnts a good story, it talks about books and their value. I thoroughly enjoyed reading also about places I had traveled in France starting with Paris Avignon, etc... Lovely story.