Title: The Little Paris Bookshop
Author: Nina George
File Size: 2058kb
Publication Date: June 23, 2015
Publisher: Broadway Books
Language: English
ASIN: B0000286ms
Source: Purchased from Amazon
This is a delightful story centered around a man by the name of Jean Perdu. Jean owns a most unusual book store in a barge named "Literary Apothecary." The store lives up to its name, because Jean Perdu has a special talent of being able to prescribe the book a person needs based on what the person has going on in their life. He can do this without the person telling him what they are experiencing.
Jean Perdu lives alone in an apartment that he has had for many years. He has spent the last 20 years grieving for his lover who left him 20 years ago. He works in his bookstore and goes home to an empty apartment every night. His only friend is his cat. When a new neighbor moves into the apartment building and is in need of furniture, Jean gives her an old table. Then later when he meets the new neighbor in person, the lady gives him an unopened letter she found in the table he gave her. When Jean sees the letter he feels overwhelmed, because it is the letter that his lover, Manon had written when she left him. He had never been able to bring himself to open it. However, he does open it and was very surprised by what Manon had written. All of the past 20 years Jean had believed that she left because she no longer loved him. However, Manon had left him because she had found out that she was dying from cancer. Now, Jean realized that she was likely dead and had died thinking he did not care enough to come see her.
Jean decides that he is going to take his barge to Manon's home town. Much to his surprise, the young man that lives in his apartment building, that is also a well known author asks to go on the trip with him. The young man, Max has always seemed a little peculiar because he wears earmuffs all the time, even though it is not cold. Jean reluctantly agrees to take him along . While on this trip they meet some interesting people and also learn a lot about themselves. Jean also fluctuates between thinking about his new neighbor, and how much he misses Manon. Jean is convinced that if he goes to where Manon lived and was buried, that he will somehow find some peace.
This story is about love and loss, friendships and new beginnings. I love the idea of a floating book store with an owner that has the ability of prescribing the perfect book for customers. I did find it a bit sad that he can prescribe the perfect book for others, but not for himself. It is a story that stands out from the crowd. This book is perfect for anyone looking for something different to read. I will leave you with a short excerpt from the book.
"Do you know that there's a halfway world between each ending and each new beginning? It's called the hurting time, Jean Perdu. It's a beginning; it's where your dreams and worries and forgotten plans gather. Your steps are heavier during that time. Don't underestimate the transition, Jeanno, between farewell and new departure. Give yourself the time you need. Some thresholds are too wide to be taken in one stride."
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