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The Little Paris Bookshop

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The Little Paris Bookshop

By: Nina George
Narrated by: Ray Sawyer
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About this listen

On a beautifully restored barge on the Seine, Jean Perdu runs a bookshop - or, rather, a 'literary apothecary', for this bookseller possesses a rare gift for sensing which books will soothe the troubled souls of his customers. The only person he is unable to cure, it seems, is himself.

He has nursed a broken heart ever since the night, twenty-one years ago, when the love of his life fled Paris, leaving behind a handwritten letter that he has never dared read. His memories and his love have been gathering dust - until now.

The arrival of an enigmatic new neighbour in his eccentric apartment building on Rue Montagnard inspires Jean to unlock his heart, unmoor the floating bookshop, and set off for Provence, in search of the past and his beloved.

©2013 Nina George (P)2015 Isis Audiobooks Contemporary Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction Heartfelt

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Critic reviews

"Nina George tells us clever things about love, about literature that 'puts a bounce in your step', about tango in Provence. One of those books that gets you thinking about whom you must give it to as a gift even while you're still reading it, because it makes you happy, and should be part of any well-stocked apothecary." ( Hamburg Morning Post)
"The feelgood story." ( Grazia Germany)
"Enchanting and moving.... Rarely have I read such a beautiful book!" ( Tina Magazine)
All stars
Most relevant  
I enjoyed the book and its quirky nature and characters. Beautiful descriptions of scenery and France. Lovely charachters who you really got to know. Not contrived, but I did guess the ending and found the story did slow down somewhat towards the end. All in all, a great read.

Lovely gentle book which takes you to Paris and beyond

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Not my cup of tea I’m afraid! I felt the voices were too exaggerated. I just couldn’t get into it

Okay

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Love this book. it's a beautifully written story, thought provoking and moving. Great characters and setting too.

A wonderful listen

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I loved this though at times it was almost too intensely emotional. Great performance of a wonderful complex and yet simple story of grief and finding oneself

Wonderful painfully intense emotion

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This was a charming story that made me feel like I had gone back 50 years until the word "text" appeared which made me realise it was present day.

This book was a recommendation from my book club and was very different from my normal style of fast adventure and murder mystery. So this was a real change, but a thoroughly enjoyable change.

The story had some twists and turns but was fairly predictable but again in this genre I felt that was the right thing to do. The descriptions took me to the various places and the characters were well formed.

The main thing it did for me was to make me want to escape, get a barge and float off down the Seine!

Charming

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A superbly compelling story of regret, opportunity, and the realisation that the everyday challenges that life bestows upon us is merely a test to overcome. And happiness, happinesses in ourselves and in the life we choose to live is the the key to all such challenges.

Compelling

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I enjoyed the imagery and character development in this book. I felt the people were real. I also loved the concept of a floating book apothecary.

Language and descriptions

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What made the experience of listening to The Little Paris Bookshop the most enjoyable?

The descriptions of the characters and the scenery being travelled on the barge

What did you like best about this story?

It's just a gentle, relaxing story that allows your imagination to wander through beautiful scenery.

What about Ray Sawyer’s performance did you like?

I really loved Ray's performance and can't associate with the review who described it as monotonous - he created beautiful, sensitive characters and brought the scenery very much alive.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I enjoyed it very much and got involved with each of the characters - but unfortunately, Manon grated with me as my view is she was a selfish, self-centred person and so I struggled embracing the emotions the author wanted her readers to do.

Any additional comments?

I'm reviewing this to balance some of the other reviews I read before purchasing. Firstly, I found the narration to be excellent - bringing character to each of the individuals in the book, bringing to life all the beautiful scenery and not in any way monotonous. I also didn't find anything predictable about the story (in fact, the old cliche twist that I was dreading didn't happen and I was very glad about that). The comments about this being written by a woman with men appearing as a woman would idealise them to be, I also couldn't associate with - firstly, it should be remembered these are Frenchmen not Englishmen! :o) I think anyone who would enjoy hearing about a small Parisian community, a narrow boat book store moored on the Seine and a group of people who then travel through the French canals and river systems would enjoy this book. I wished I'd travelled more in France to be able to picture their journey - I could certainly picture exactly where I would moor the barge on the Seine in Paris! It also left m feeling I would love to travel France's canals. So why only four stars? Just because Manon - one of the main characters - grated with me. I have thought about was that due to poor characterisation and I don't feel it is - she is probably more human than other characters in other books where romance is involved. But it grated someone so selfish and manipulative in my opinion, became this venerated character. Maybe, therefore, why it should be five stars ...because the character is flawed and human, and therefore the story very well written ;o)

Who can't love Paris, a bookstore, and canal barge

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it is not often that a female author pens a. male protagonist with such finesse. I was enchanted by the narrative.

Incredible

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I’m not easily given to crying over novels : I laugh easily but crying ? No . Not me . How wrong can I be ? It’s wonderful . Wonderfully read . Enjoy but expect to be touched long after the last page has turned .

Just one of those special literary finds

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