Lovely gentle book which takes you to Paris and beyond

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.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

Wonderful painfully intense emotion

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Charming

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!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

Compelling

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.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Language and descriptions

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.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Not found a book like this since Eat Pray Love

Where does The Little Paris Bookshop rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

As an editor and publisher I read, read, read and not often do I come across books I shout about from the rooftop. I absolutely loved this book and have already bought it for several friends as gifts. It is one of those rare gems that has you wanting to write lines down and keep them to reflect upon; the characters were marvellous and the story enchanting. I only wish I hadn't read it so I could enjoy it for the first time allover again. Thank you Nina George!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

Wonderful

Would you listen to The Little Paris Bookshop again? Why?

I really loved this book- very thought provoking! Beautifully descriptive- I feel as if I have been to all the places in the book!

What other book might you compare The Little Paris Bookshop to, and why?

completely different story but the other book I loved this year was the illegal gardener by Sara alexi. Again beautifully written- made me question a lot and so descriptive I felt I was there!!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes- most definitely!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

What an inspiring book

I absolutely love this book. It is so insightful and inspiring. Really enjoyed it... The narration was fantastic too.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Beautiful

If you've loved with passion and lost and experienced grief with the same depth of feeling, you will relate to this story. I loved the characters, the friendships and the sensitive way they are portrayed. The descriptions of the French landscapes and culture really sent me there.

Having lived on a narrow boat, I could identify with all the joys and challenges of life encountered on the waterways.

This tale managed to touch a chord in me and made me laugh and cry and think about life and the importance of not wasting a moment, especially with those we love.

If you are young, herein lies very good advice. If, like me, you are in the autumn of your life, you will identify with some of the themes and enjoy this heart warming tale of love, friendship, grief and the joy we can find when we feel all hope is lost.

Beautifully written, wonderful narrator. I'm recommending this to all my friends. Just lovely. *sigh*

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

Self indulgent and boring

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No. Firstly, this story is about a man in his 50s but there are several aspects to this story that make it very, very clear that this book is written by a woman for female readers. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, I'm simply saying that there were certain elements, for instance the ways Perdu identifys women's desires, pains, relationships with other men, that seemed far-fetched and rendered his character unrealistic. It felt to me like the kind of things women can see clearly in other women, but the kind of things that men rarely notice or understand.

Secondly, I would agree with others who have accused this book of being highly self-indulgent. I stopped listening very near the end in the final parts of Manan's travel journals, a deeply emotional scene is portrayed in such a contrived way that I simply couldn't stomach so I stopped listening.

I did enjoy the description of Perdu's journey South to Provence and I would praise the writer for some lovely words decribing french food, landscapes and the local community.

What will your next listen be?

No idea. Desperate for something with a good plot.

What three words best describe Ray Sawyer’s performance?

Well suited to the main character.

If this book were a film would you go see it?

Nope.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful