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pegsustain's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Ms George is masterful in the way she describes certain emotions and experiences.
deluciate's review against another edition
5.0
This book is full of relatable characters, evocative sensory descriptions, and thoughtful musings on life and how to recover from loss. I copied a great number of quotes into my notebook to think about further. I loved the language and the literary references and the whole idea of books as medicine and of "little emotions". Highly recommended. And when you read it, I'd love to talk with you about your impressions.
astrireads's review against another edition
2.0
Based on its title, The Little Paris Bookshop, I thought this book would be a charming little story that I would love. Unfortunately, that did not happen. I wanted to like this book, I really did! So much so, that I pushed myself to read it til the end, hoping that I will like it eventually. I found myself reading - to be precise, skimming - through the pages without actually knowing what I have read. I appreciate how the author incorporated the beautiful scenery of Paris in the story, and also wrote some beautiful quotes on life. Other than that, this book did not spark any love from me at all.
mericherry's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
roxnn2000's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! This book was just wonderful.
A story of love lost, love found, heartbreak, sorrow and the complex emotions of life. I went into this story expecting something completely different than what I got and am glad for it.
The audio book was done wonderfully and I enjoyed listening to it. I would also have liked to have a physical copy of the book as well as there were several passages and quotes that I loved but were unable to keep as this was a borrowed audio book.
I will definitely read this again and recommend this to anyone who has lost someone they cared deeply for. It was so wonderful and unexpected and I loved it.
A story of love lost, love found, heartbreak, sorrow and the complex emotions of life. I went into this story expecting something completely different than what I got and am glad for it.
The audio book was done wonderfully and I enjoyed listening to it. I would also have liked to have a physical copy of the book as well as there were several passages and quotes that I loved but were unable to keep as this was a borrowed audio book.
I will definitely read this again and recommend this to anyone who has lost someone they cared deeply for. It was so wonderful and unexpected and I loved it.
sydney_jane's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
rightlyrianna's review against another edition
3.0
This was a cute read, something different than what I usually read. It didn’t have too so too much with running a bookstore in Paris
ranee_samaniego's review against another edition
2.0
2 / 5 Stars
Rating = R
This book started off wonderfully - I was transported to the middle of Paris and was healing my soul within the rocking walls of the Literary Apothecary, a boat on which a bookseller has an uncanny ability to identify people's hurts and prescribe exactly the right book.
I loved the IDEA of the book - a Literary Apothecary, picking up and transporting those who are in need of healing. Individuals from different walks of life, with vastly different pains and hurts, finding healing within themselves along the quiet banks of the Seine, under the country-side stars, and amongst the stuffed bookshelves of a floating bookstore.
The story was downhill after the first few chapters. While Nina George seemed to indicate that our protagonist, Jean Perdu, desperately needed to heal himself from a past heartbreak that occurred some 20-years prior, she simultaneously repeatedly showed that the end result of his healing was another romantic relationship. This is incredibly contradictory and perpetuates the idea that, at the end of it all, romance is the ultimate fulfilling goal.
Moreover, I was confused as to why Jean had held so desperately onto to his brief affair with Manon for 21 years. We are never given an explanation of why Manon was so important to Jean - Manon did not seem special, nor do we see any insight into Jean's psyche as to why he held so desperately on to a woman that was never committed to him from the beginning.
Moreover, the story was highly over-sexualized.
Finally, the story seemed to meander aimlessly. Ironically, I happen to love world-building-heavy books (compared to plot-focused books), but this novel had neither strong world-building nor a very strong plot.
Overall, I think the story had potential, but this was not the book for me.
Rating = R
This book started off wonderfully - I was transported to the middle of Paris and was healing my soul within the rocking walls of the Literary Apothecary, a boat on which a bookseller has an uncanny ability to identify people's hurts and prescribe exactly the right book.
I loved the IDEA of the book - a Literary Apothecary, picking up and transporting those who are in need of healing. Individuals from different walks of life, with vastly different pains and hurts, finding healing within themselves along the quiet banks of the Seine, under the country-side stars, and amongst the stuffed bookshelves of a floating bookstore.
The story was downhill after the first few chapters. While Nina George seemed to indicate that our protagonist, Jean Perdu, desperately needed to heal himself from a past heartbreak that occurred some 20-years prior, she simultaneously repeatedly showed that the end result of his healing was another romantic relationship. This is incredibly contradictory and perpetuates the idea that, at the end of it all, romance is the ultimate fulfilling goal.
Moreover, I was confused as to why Jean had held so desperately onto to his brief affair with Manon for 21 years. We are never given an explanation of why Manon was so important to Jean - Manon did not seem special, nor do we see any insight into Jean's psyche as to why he held so desperately on to a woman that was never committed to him from the beginning.
Moreover, the story was highly over-sexualized.
Finally, the story seemed to meander aimlessly. Ironically, I happen to love world-building-heavy books (compared to plot-focused books), but this novel had neither strong world-building nor a very strong plot.
Overall, I think the story had potential, but this was not the book for me.
dearlylovestolaugh's review against another edition
1.0
I wish I could withhold the one star rating because I've had root canals more enjoyable than reading this book.
The main character is a 50-something man who wasted away his life pining for the self-centered and noncommittal girlfriend who walked out on him 25+ years ago without a word. Or so he pretends...because he's been hiding away a letter she had left behind for him on that fateful night she disappeared and he has refused to read it all this time because *reasons.*
I will say that there was one interesting thing about the main character I'll call "Whats-his-name" (since I don't remember his name even though I just finished the book 5 minutes ago, he was that forgettable) is that he owns a book barge located on the Seine River and he has an almost magical ability to know the exact book a customer may need the moment he meets them. An idea that could have been fun to follow along, but is promptly chucked into the river after he finally reads the letter and discovers Miss Paris-Pixie-Dream-Girl had written a confession in it admitting that she was dying from *something* and she had to leave so she'd only be a perfect memory for him.This news upsets him so much he uproots his life to sail down the river to the place she's buried for *reasons*.
Why he would bother missing the woman to begin with I have no clue, because any flashback he has about her or the chapters that were pieces of her diary show nothing about her that would inspire such lifelong loyalty. Her life goal is to always be cheating on whoever she's with so that she's not "tied down" and she's totally okay with screaming and slapping her boyfriend in the face because he's not dancing right and What's-his-name thinks it's so hot that she's so wrapped up and controlled by her emotions (thought no guy ever). He should have dumped her looooong before she decided to leave him.
There are some other random characters that attach themselves to him as he begins his journey. And every single one of them (as well as What's-his-name) act like they are philosophers of love and life. One character attempting to spew their sage advice during EVERY line of dialog would be gag inducing enough, but EVERY character?!?! It makes me glad I didn't understand French when I visited France a few years ago because I'd be nauseous listening to them all if every French citizen talked the way this book is written!
It's no wonder I found this book for $1 at Goodwill. I'm not the first to read it and think it wasn't worth keeping.
The main character is a 50-something man who wasted away his life pining for the self-centered and noncommittal girlfriend who walked out on him 25+ years ago without a word. Or so he pretends...because he's been hiding away a letter she had left behind for him on that fateful night she disappeared and he has refused to read it all this time because *reasons.*
I will say that there was one interesting thing about the main character I'll call "Whats-his-name" (since I don't remember his name even though I just finished the book 5 minutes ago, he was that forgettable) is that he owns a book barge located on the Seine River and he has an almost magical ability to know the exact book a customer may need the moment he meets them. An idea that could have been fun to follow along, but is promptly chucked into the river after he finally reads the letter and discovers Miss Paris-Pixie-Dream-Girl had written a confession in it admitting that she was dying from *something* and she had to leave so she'd only be a perfect memory for him.This news upsets him so much he uproots his life to sail down the river to the place she's buried for *reasons*.
Why he would bother missing the woman to begin with I have no clue, because any flashback he has about her or the chapters that were pieces of her diary show nothing about her that would inspire such lifelong loyalty. Her life goal is to always be cheating on whoever she's with so that she's not "tied down" and she's totally okay with screaming and slapping her boyfriend in the face because he's not dancing right and What's-his-name thinks it's so hot that she's so wrapped up and controlled by her emotions (thought no guy ever). He should have dumped her looooong before she decided to leave him.
There are some other random characters that attach themselves to him as he begins his journey. And every single one of them (as well as What's-his-name) act like they are philosophers of love and life. One character attempting to spew their sage advice during EVERY line of dialog would be gag inducing enough, but EVERY character?!?! It makes me glad I didn't understand French when I visited France a few years ago because I'd be nauseous listening to them all if every French citizen talked the way this book is written!
It's no wonder I found this book for $1 at Goodwill. I'm not the first to read it and think it wasn't worth keeping.