Perdu had narrowed it down to eleven possible names: seven women and four men. For two decades he had been analyzing the rhythms of the language, the choice of words and the cadence of sentences, comparing the style and the subject matter with other authors’. Nina writes, “So Monsieur Perdu kept on searching. Perdu is obsessed with finding the author of a novel, Southern Lights. On page 13, George begins the first of numerous literary references, the first being The Elegance of the Hedgehog.

I remember a long-closed bookstore in downtown Philadelphia, whose proprietor, might ban a shopper for refusing to buy a book he deemed essential to any library. I fear, if I were ever to open a bookstore, this would be my fate. ‘Give me the book, take my money, and we can both pretend it’s a nice day.’ // ‘It is a nice day, and tomorrow is the start of summer, but you’re not going to get this book. Not a husband, mon cher Monsieur.’ // ‘With all due respect, what you read is more important in the long term than the man you marry, ma chère Madame.’ // She looked at him through eyes like slits.

Okay, Excuse me, but maybe I should point out to you that I’ve come to your book barge for a book. ‘Why not?’ // ‘Max Jordan doesn’t suit you.’ // ‘Max Jrodan doesn’t suit me?’ // ‘That’s right. The customer looked at the bookseller, taken aback. Of the many novels on his book barge – the vessel moored on the Seine that he had named Literary Apothecary – she had inexplicably chosen the notorious bestseller by Maximilian ‘Max’ Jordan, the earmuff wearer from the third floor in Rue Montagnard. ‘I’d’ rather not sell you this book.’ // Gently he pried Night from the lady’s hand. Chapter three begins, “‘No,’ Monsieur Perdu said again the following morning. He has a peculiar talent for assessing what troubles his customers, and he “prescribes” books for them to read. Monsieur Perdu calls himself a sort of apothecary.

Bookshop is apparently her first work translated into English. She was born in 1973 in Bielefeld, Germany and is a prize-winning and bestselling author and freelance journalist, who has published 26 books, including novels, mysteries, and non-fiction. I’m Jim McKeown, welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and biographies.Īh! A bookshop in Paris, France, a love story, and a most unusual librarian – what could be better? I did not need to read any of the impressive blurbs on the dust jacket to purchase Nina George’s wonderful novel, The Little Paris Bookshop. Delightful and heart-wrenching story of love lost and of love found.

The Grunt 1 by Latrivia S. Nelson