J'adore The Little Paris Bookshop

Monsieur Perdu is a bookseller, a very special bookseller who recognizes, that "it was a common misconception that booksellers looked after books. They look after people." His little barge, affectionately christened "Lulu" and publicly known as the "Literary Apothecary," floated along the Seine in Paris as Perdu's life mostly unwound itself with little real involvement from him for the past 20 years. But a new tenant has come to 27 Rue Montagnard, and for the first time in decades, Jean Perdu senses something astir within.

So begins Perdu's adventure and journey to rediscover life and his own essence. Nina George has presented readers with a wonderful volume "dedicated to the therapy of private life. It addresses--mainly in homeopathic doses--the minor and major ailments of existence and helps with the 'treatment of the average inner life.'"

Devastated when he discovers the letter his lover left on his table 20 years ago when she last graced his rooms with her presence, Perdu unties his boat and sets sail through the navigable rivers and canals of France for the place where she went to die those many years ago. Along the way he gathers a couple of travel companions (in addition to his literary cats!) to share thoughts, experiences, and philosophies with.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Little Paris Bookshop! George's writing is full of sensual details that left this reader feeling as though I was immersed in the French countryside along with Perdu and his companions.

I love the respect and honor given to reading and writing and the role that books play in our lives! (Subsequently I was thrilled to discover, at the back of the tome, "Jean Perdu's Emergency Literary Pharmacy" in which all the books mentioned throughout the text are listed with brief descriptions included. What a treasure! One could make a wonderful reading list from this delightful addition!)

It's also great fun that several recipes are included for the dishes mentioned which are cooked and/or enjoyed along the journey's route.

I adopted Perdu's advice that a book is not to be rushed through, but rather savored, pondered, and adored page by page (and at times word by word). Because it is the story of mourning loss, resolving grief, and learning to live and love again, the story deserves a slow and thoughtful reading.

J'adore The Little Paris Bookshop. I believe you will too!

Thanks to Blogging For Books for the Reader's Copy I received in exchange for this review.

From the Publisher . . .

“There are books that are suitable for a million people, others for only a hundred. There are even remedies—I mean books—that were written for one person only…A book is both medic and medicine at once. It makes a diagnosis as well as offering therapy. Putting the right novels to the appropriate ailments: that’s how I sell books.”

Monsieur Perdu calls himself a literary apothecary. From his floating bookstore in a barge on the Seine, he prescribes novels for the hardships of life. Using his intuitive feel for the exact book a reader needs, Perdu mends broken hearts and souls. The only person he can’t seem to heal through literature is himself; he’s still haunted by heartbreak after his great love disappeared. She left him with only a letter, which he has never opened.

After Perdu is finally tempted to read the letter, he hauls anchor and departs on a mission to the south of France, hoping to make peace with his loss and discover the end of the story. Joined by a bestselling but blocked author and a lovelorn Italian chef, Perdu travels along the country’s rivers, dispensing his wisdom and his books, showing that the literary world can take the human soul on a journey to heal itself.

Internationally bestselling and filled with warmth and adventure, The Little Paris Bookshop is a love letter to books, meant for anyone who believes in the power of stories to shape people’s lives.

About the Author . . .

NINA GEORGE works as a journalist, writer, and storytelling teacher. She is the award winning author of 26 books, and also writes feature articles, short stories, and columns. The Little Paris Bookshop spent over a year on bestseller lists in Germany, and was a bestseller in Italy, Poland, and the Netherlands. George is married to the writer Jens J. Kramer and lives in Hamburg and in Brittany, France.

www.nina-george.com
@nina_george • @jean_perdu