The little Paris Bookshop is a bit of misnomer, because although the bookshop starts out in Paris, it soon travels to the country side. Monsieur Perdu is the bookseller; no, more of a book prescriber. He always knows the right book for what ails his customers. The shop is a floating, literary apothecary, there to heal heartache, to soothe and sometimes to excite and motivate. However Perdu, cannot heal himself; his great love left years ago, and he never got over it. She sent a letter, that his pride and pigheadedness prevented him from opening. Until more than two decades later, he finally does. The letter is more heart-rending and surprising then he ever expected and he impulsively casts off, with two stray cats and his author neighbour in tow. Both the cats and the author invite themselves; Perdu is fine with the cats, the neighbour he's a little more unsure of. As the bookshop travels down the canals and rivers (a map is included!), they meet people and Perdu starts on the long journey of becoming whole again.
A lovely and lyrical read, especially impressive as this is a translation from German. Simon Pare is the translator and his talent is evident on the page. Included in this book, is the aforementioned map, Provencal recipes (Lavender Ice Cream!), reading guide, author interview, preview of her next book, and almost as good as Lavender Ice Cream, a list of literary prescriptions. (

Calling this a wild release, but really it's going to Helen!