A Novel Bookstore - by Laurence Cossé (Paperback)

About the Book

This Europa classic blends book love and bookstore love with a brilliantly conceived and entertaining mystery and is a delight for readers of all tastes.

Book Synopsis

A Europa classic about love, deceit, Paris, and books!

Ivan and Francesca decide to open a bookstore devoted solely to good literature and their love of books. Frustrated by the glut of mediocre books printed every month and envisioning a true literary paradise, they offer a selection of literary masterpieces chosen by a top-secret committee of like-minded literary connoisseurs.

To their amazement, after only a few months, their vision proves popular. Very popular. Tucked away in a corner of Paris, the bookstore quickly becomes a haven for bibliophiles. Indeed, it becomes so successful that the great majority of Parisian readers are now buying their books only at Ivan and Francesca's store, and other stores in the city are starting to change how they order and display books too. Now big publishing's powerful elite are desperately trying to adapt their business model to the demand for quality above all else. As the store's success grows, venomous comments begin circulating online and the owners, and their selection committee, become the target of vicious editorials and threats.

A Novel Bookstore blends book love and bookstore love with a brilliantly conceived and entertaining mystery and is a delight for readers of all tastes.

Review Quotes

Praise for A Novel Bookstore

"Reader manifestos, tricksy narration, a dash of mystery, somewhat surreal plotting - Cossé stacks her novel full of the delights of sophisticated writing." --The Guardian

"Eminently readable, it is a love letter to the novel (literature junkies will find within its pages a seemingly endless supply of book suggestions) and a profound exploration of human nature." --Library Journal

"Cossé poignantly depicts characters who have turned to literature for solace against the pain in their lives." --Publishers Weekly

"Marvelous and stimulating." --San Francisco Chronicle

"Ivan has a passion for books, but only 'good' books. Francesca shares his book lust. Together they open a remarkable bookstore in Paris, a store with only 'good' books, a place for readers who love the written word. Initial success is followed by fear and heartbreak as their shop comes under attack. Who is trying to kill the bookstore? This is a treasure for all of us who love books." --Deon Stonehouse, Sunriver Books & Music

About the Author

Laurence Cossé worked as a journalist before devoting herself entirely to fiction. She is the author of the satirical thriller, The Corner of the Veil, and the bestselling Prime Minister's Woman. A Novel Bookstore is her ninth novel. She lives in France.

Alison Anderson has translated numerous works of literary fiction, including the bestselling novel The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery. She has also written her own works of fiction and resides in Switzerland.