The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris by Daisy Wood
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Web ID: 167779243 reviews
Highly recommend
The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris is a dual timeline novel with the main story taking place in Paris between 1939 and 1945. Jacques, the owner of La Page Cachée (The Hidden Page) bookshop and his wife Mathilde are mostly just trying to survive life in German occupied Paris and stay below the radar. Their resistance activities begin with helping an elderly British neighbor hide from the enemy and eventually assist her to leave Paris. Thus begins a series of individuals who are sheltered in a hidden storeroom within the bookshop, so appropriately named. The present day story serves to bring the history of these endeavors out of the shadows of the past with the reestablishment of a bookshop in the same premises by Juliette, an American with an unexplained attraction to the past and this particular place. I loved the WWII story. I thought it was a very good depiction of everyday life during the occupation, with real events interspersed into the narrative. Everything was realistic You could feel the fear engendered by the deteriorating conditions and the tension of living in these difficult times caught between appearing to cooperate while making daily small efforts to make a difference in the fight against the occupiers. The modern storyline was more of a filler for me in the beginning, but it served its purpose well and became more interesting as the two storylines intersected. I highly recommend The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris, which is the second of two adult historical fiction novels by Daisy Wood. The first is The Clockmaker’s Wife, which I have not yet read but fully intend to. Whenever I read what for me is a new author and I’m checking to see if there is a backlist I can also read, I know I have found a very good author. Ms Wood has joined that group. Thank you to the author, the publisher Avon and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Great Read
The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris by Daisy Wood, is about a broken marriage, healing, romance and well researched history. Set in the city of lights during the 1940's and in present time told by the points of view of the two main characters. It was Paris 1940, Jacques and Mathilde have been married a short time when the horrors of war began to affect their lives; the Germans had taken over the city, and no one was safe. Jacques continued to work in his beloved little bookshop, La Page Cachée, while Mathilde worked at the nearby art gallery. The couple lived in an apartment a couple of floors above the bookshop, under the close scrutiny of Madame Bourdain; unsure if she can be trusted. Mathilde finds living under German occupation difficult, as the Gestapo are watching her movements and she needs to flee Paris. Jacques sends Mathilde into hiding, vowing to meet in a little spot, on the day of their wedding anniversary each year. Mathilde would be safe and Jacques would be helping in the war effort, using the secret room in his bookshop, he created before the war started, to hides boxes, supplies, people escaping across the borders, and eventually Jewish children. He desperately hopes Mathilde is safe in the countryside, as he can’t contact her, hopeful to meet after the war ends. Juliette and her husband Kevin traveled from America to France for a much needed holiday, in the year 2022. Juliette’s grandmother had been born in the city of love and lived through the war years; although she refused to talk about it before she died. Juliette was left a painting, that was a large part of her grandmother’s life and she was determined to find the little square depicted. Kevin can’t wait to return home, and when Juliette discovers why, he left, leaving Juliette to search alone for her Parisian roots and investigate her grandmothers mysterious past. Juliette grandmother left her a picture of a square in Paris and she explores the Parisian streets and cafes trying to find it. Juliette finds a derelict old store for sale, in the square she'd been drawn to. Juliette decided to renovate and re-open the old store, calling it The Forgotten Bookshop. As she sets about renovating the old bookshop she uncovers the hidden secrets from the past. Daisy Wood flawlessly combines the past and the present in a wonderful and well written dual timeline tale. Jacques, Mathilde, and Juliette are interesting characters, making it enjoyable to read about their connection the story about war, love, loss, betrayal, rebellion, defiance, hardship, secrets, greed, and fate. I highly recommend The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris to other readers. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A dual timeline story and a five star read!
Jacques and Mathilde have only been married a short time when the Germans invaded Paris. Jacques owns a bookshop called la page cachée and Mathilde works at a museum. The war drags on, Mathilde loses her job, Jacques still earns a living selling novels, guidebooks and postcards. The couple live in an apartment a couple of floors above the bookshop, under the close scrutiny of Madame Bourdain and they don’t know if they can trust her? Mathilde finds living under German occupation difficult, the Gestapo are watching her movements and she has to flee Paris. Jacques created a secret room in his shop before the war started, and here he conceals a box of banned books. After Mathilde leaves, he begins helping the resistance, he hides boxes, supplies, people and eventually Jewish children. He desperately hopes Mathilde is safe in the countryside, he can’t contact her and they made plans of where to meet after the war ends. The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris has a dual timeline it’s set in the city of lights during the 1940's and in present time, and it's told from the two main characters points of view. Juliette and her husband Kevin have traveled from America to France for a much needed holiday. Juliette’s grandmother Marie was French and she moved to America after the end of the Second World War. Kevin can’t wait to return home, Juliette discovers why, she decides to stay in Paris and investigate her grandmothers mysterious past. Juliette grandmother had a picture of a square in Paris and she explores the Parisian streets and cafes trying to find it. Juliette becomes friends with a French couple, she discovers an abandoned bookshop, and she decides to stay in France. Juliette falls in love with The Hidden Page, she sets about renovating the old bookshop and she uncovers hidden secrets from the past. Daisy Wood flawlessly combines the past and the present in a wonderful and well written dual timeline narrative. Both Jacques, Mathilde, and Juliette are appealing characters, I really enjoyed reading about their connection and it’s a story about war, love, loss, betrayal, rebellion, defiance, hardship, secrets, greed, and fate. Five stars from me, I highly recommend this book and the author’s previous historical fiction novel, The Clockmaker’s Wife.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com