A review by kendranicole28
Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley

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