The Little Paris Bookshop

If you're a fan of romance novels and dream of lazy summers on the French countryside, you'll love this book. While I do dream of sultry days in southern France and quite enjoyed that imagery, I really don't like sappy, cheesy romance novels and this book definitely falls into that category. It was saved by some beautiful writing and a certain French je-ne-sais-quoi that added an allure, but otherwise I felt unenthused by my reading experience. Interesting back cover copy that ultimately led to my disappointment.

Sometimes books are begun with a fabulous idea. That, I think, is the way this one began. Here's the idea: A man sells therapeutic books from his boat in Paris. How can you go wrong? you might ask. Well, you can go wrong when the great idea is all there is. The story itself is quite predictable; I knew from page one where the story was going. Quite disappointing.

This book isn't just a book about books. It is more so a book about life and friendships and grief. And love. And loving. And grieving that love.

Most of the characters are in their 50s, and since majority is spent in dialogues among the characters, the book is overall rather slow-paced. During their journey along the river, and in betwern docking to different harbours, or when they finally arrived at their destination, the book explored more the characters' individual point of views about love, grief, their experiences, their ideologies, etc.

The themes in this book makes me want to pick up another book by Nina George. It has that healing effect, which is what she intended for her book. And I believe she's accomplished that here.

A book with the word “Bookshop” in its title is my kinda book, so I had to read this. I have to say this book left me feeling very very disappointed. Monsieur Perdu lives alone in Paris and owns a book barge called Literary Apothecary. He recommends books to people based on what he thinks they really need to read in their current emotional state. The love of his life walked away from him 21 years ago and he has just being going through the motions since, not letting anyone into his life. He knows everything about all his neighbors in his building but no one knows the real him. Until a shocking secret turns his life upside down and he embarks on a sudden journey to find life and love again.

The book is supposed to be about love, loss, grief and getting through all of them with the love of books. Somehow, I just couldn't connect with the story or the characters. The book went on and on and after a while, I just skimmed a lot of the pages. Almost everything about the book seemed so unrealistic to me, even the fact that every single person we meet in the book is a book lover or reader. I would love if the world was like that, but it truly isn't. The only reason I finished the book and even rated it is because it has some beautiful quotes that make you think and contemplate. Unfortunately, these little words of wisdom don't make up for the lack of a good story.

[b:The Little Paris Bookshop 23278537 The Little Paris Bookshop Nina George https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1412462018l/23278537.SY75.jpg 42866547]First Book of the Year!My friend Kelli read this on an eight-hour flight home and she texts me saying I would love it and she is so right. This author is new to me and after this I am a big fan! Monsieur Perdu owns a floating bookstore aboard a barge located on the Seine. With his bookstore he can prescribe just the perfect book to dispel someone's fears, problems, and social anxieties. That is with one exception himself. Twenty-one years earlier the love of his life left him and left him only a letter, which he never read because he came across it twenty-one years later and has lived with his heartbreak ever since. He finally reads the long-lost letter and sets sail for the south of France with a young, famous author on board, who is hiding from his fame and looking for inspiration for his next book. Then once on their travels they pick up an Italian chef. The journey these men partake in is described as both internal and external experience, sometimes together, sometimes apart. Believe me you will be touched by their journey.This novel is enchanting, warm, and filled with memorable characters. There are so many beautiful literary quotes in this book anyone who loves to read will be delighted by it, not to mention the wonderful quotes about the power of reading. Further the French countryside is alive and beautiful as rendered by George. She is a wonderful wordsmith. I can see why my friend read this in eight hours it draws you in and holds you there and the pictures that are drawn with this tale will stay with me for a lifetime. Highly recommended and will read again.

This was a bargain book buy and turned out to be a delightful read. Part love letter to books, part love letter to France - especially it's rivers, and part journey of self discovery. Perdu is a man who feels he's wasted 20 years of his life due to an event in his past that comes full circle when he confronts it unexpectedly. It sends him on a journey from his safe harbour in Paris down the rivers of France to the South, where he meets many kindred souls and slowly begins the journey toward finding life and love again. It's an inspiring story that reminds us that it's never too late to take that journey and to face our shortfalls, our past and our own inner demons in order to move past them and find a life worth living. It is a story that reminds you to savour the small things, to connect with people and that sometimes you need to slow down enough to truly appreciate what life has to offer. All the while it is also chock full of book references and how stories can help us on our way in life. I really enjoyed Perdu's journey and the ultimate discoveries he has about life along the way. The vivid imagery of France that Nina George paints with her words will make you want to leave it all behind and travel along with Perdu's book barge through that romantic country. You'll want to sip wine, read books and watch sunsets while listening to cicadas in the warm evening air. Highly recommended for book lovers, armchair travellers and those who need a little inspiration to ‘find life again'.

Well, this novel was a delightful surprise. I received it as a Christmas gift, and guessed from reading the synopsis that I would enjoy it. I was certainly right about that.

This book feels VERY French. Now, I've never been to France, so I could be very wrong about that - but reading this book felt like taking a trip across the ocean and experiencing life in a Paris apartment, and in the countryside of Provence. There was just something about the pace - the tone - the language that was slower, more deliberate than an American novel. This book was about the experience of reading as much as it was the story, and I loved the experience.

This book is, of course, a celebration of the love of reading. It was such fun to read the references peppered throughout to various great books of history. It is also a book for readers who love the written word, and the way a story looks and sounds on the page. I found myself purposefully reading slower, to savor the time I spent in this world.

I had not heard of this book before my friend gave it to me, so I likely would not have found it without her. I am thrilled The Little Paris Bookshop found it's way into my life. It was a lovely, heartbreaking, and spirit-lifting experience. Definitely recommended.