Reviews

Pernassus on wheels by Christopher Morley

mmccarthy14's review against another edition

challenging slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No

littletaiko's review against another edition

4.0

Sweet fun book the celebrates the love of books. What more is there to say?

kendranicole28's review against another edition

5.0

Helen McGill is a 39-year-old spinster who is bored with her life on a farm, baking bread and keeping house for her ungrateful brother, Andrew. But her life changes in an instant when a charismatic bookseller named Roger Mifflin arrives at her doorstep in Parnassus, his traveling book wagon, offering to sell the store so that he can settle down and begin writing books. Helen knows that Andrew will be quick to snatch up Parnassus, heading off on an adventure and once again leaving her at home, so she beats him to it and sets out on an adventure of her own. Soon she and “The Professor” are traipsing across the countryside, hand selling books to farmers and countryfolk and having the time of their lives. Their time on the road is peppered with harrowing roadside brawls, run-ins with the law, plenty of soul-searching and book discussions, and even a touch of romance.

This book is an absolute delight! I loved everything about it: the bookish themes, the spunky protagonists, the folksy tone, rollicking pace, and especially the insights into the role books can play in creating a meaningful life. For a book that was written more than a century ago, this feels shockingly current (minus some unkind descriptions of Helen’s body size that may bother some contemporary readers). I wish the ending had not been so abrupt, yet I found the novella length to be nearly perfect. This is a must-read for every booklover.

My Rating: 5 Stars // Book Format: Kindle

herhorizon's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

readacorn's review against another edition

4.0

Die Vorgeschichte zum Leserliebling "Das Haus der vergessenen Bücher": Bevor Büchernarr Roger Mifflin sich dem stationären Buchhandel in Brooklyn zuwendet, ist er als fahrender Buchhändler mit seinem Planwagen in New England unterwegs. Dort trifft er auf die resolute Helen McGill, die gemeinsam mit ihrem Bruder eine Farm bewirtschaftet. Kurz entschlossen kauft sie Mifflin, der das Vagabundendasein gründlich satt hat, den Bücherwagen samt Pferd und Hund ab und entdeckt die wunderbare Welt der Literatur und die Liebe.

Dieses erstmals 1917 erschienenes Werk bezaubert nicht nur durch eine klare, ästhetische Sprache, die eine schöne Mischung aus victorianisch und modern ist. Auch die Rolle der alleinstehenden, unabhängigen, selbstbestimmten Frau wird hier sehr schön deutlich. Eine sehr gerne gelesene Lektüre

bekab20's review against another edition

5.0

Such a sweet charming book! "Lord!" he said, "when you sell a man a book you don't sell him just twelve ounces of paper and ink and glue—you sell him a whole new life. Love and friendship and humour and ships at sea by night—there's all heaven and earth in a book, a real book I mean. Jiminy!" And that is exactly what happens in this book.

saroz162's review against another edition

3.0

This is a cheap and cheerful little tale about the beauty of reading and the personal agency that can come from literacy. As such, it can't help but feel a little didactic sometimes - in fact, in its strongest moments, Morley might as well be delivering a monologue about the power of books. The funny thing is how that basically runs counter to Morley's own assertion that the very best books have a lot of heart and very little "forehead"; this story is certainly very sweet, but it seems to have an intellectual, teachy motivation behind it that's a little hard to ignore. Worse, it makes it hard to make an emotional connection with the book. There are aspects of "Parnassus" - the unconventional buddy/romance pairing, the travelogue, the encounters with ordinary people on the road - that are reminiscent of movies 20 years later (most obviously, It Happened One Night); a 1930s comedy, however, even at its most screwball, would generally be more endearing. Parnassus on Wheels is a pleasant little read, but it doesn't really stick with you.

punnygirl789's review against another edition

5.0

“When you sell a man a book you don’t sell him just twelve ounces of paper and ink and glue - you sell him a whole new life. Love and friendship and humour and ships at sea by night - there’s all heaven and earth in a book, a real book I mean.”
― Christopher Morley, Parnassus on Wheels

Short and very sweet - a little book about books that includes humor, adventure and romance.

mfumarolo's review against another edition

3.0

A very cute little novella about a peculiar man who sells his traveling book selling business to a single woman sick of staying home and longing for an adventure. I wish I could remember where I first heard about this book, but I’m glad I finally got around to it!

kbogdano80's review against another edition

4.0

A short, extremely pleasant tale of an eccentric man who roams around the country in a traveling bookshop. When he tries to sell it, an overworked, bored country spinster buys it from him and off they go to have some adventures. This book was utterly delightful: light, funny, with a little romance thrown in. And books! There's lots of talk about reading and books, which is sure to appeal to any bibliophile.
4 1/2 stars and the only reason I'm not giving it 5 is because I wish it were longer!