A Novel Bookstore

by Laurence Cossé, Alison Anderson (Translator)

Overview

“A love letter to the novel . . . and a profound exploration of human nature.”—Library Journal

Ivan and Francesca decide to open a bookstore devoted to their love of books. Tucked away in a corner of Paris, the store offers a selection of literary masterpieces chosen by a top-secret committee of literary connoisseurs. To their amazement the little dream store quickly proves a success. And that is precisely when their troubles begin. At first, both owners shrug off the anonymous threats that come their way and the venomous comments circulating on the Internet, but when three members of the supposedly secret committee are attacked, they decide to call the police. As the pieces of this puzzle fall ominously into place, it becomes increasingly evident that Ivan and Francesca’s dreams will be answered with pettiness, envy and violence.

“Charming and compelling and very readable.”—Words Without Borders

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798889661214
Publisher:	Europa Editions, Incorporated
Publication date:	04/01/2025
Pages:	424
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 8.25(h) x (d)

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.

Editorial Reviews

Marvelous and stimulating.”—The San Francisco Chronicle

“A hymn to fine literature.”—Le Figaro

“At once a wish-fulfillment fantasy for bibliophiles, a love story, a satire of the contemporary literary scene, and a mystery . . . many readers will find a reason to linger in A Novel Bookstore, which makes a good argument for literature as a sensual pleasure surpassing even sex and fine wine.”— Washington Post

“A love poem to literature.”—The Book Habit

“Packed with sublime, enthusiastic descriptions of reading and literature.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune

“An Agatha Christie-style mystery bolstered by a love story worthy of Madame de la Fayette . . . Laurence Cossé excels in deconstructing the world of books.”—Madame Figaro

“A deeply satisfying manifesto of book love and a sharp indictment of those who would use such love for their own evil purposes.”—The Huffington Post

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

“A Novel Bookstore is . . . a declaration of love for the art of the novel and its effects on human history.”—La Croix (France)

“A Novel Bookstore plays out just like an excellent French film—great entertainment on a surface level, yet some deep philosophical statements resonate in the background.” —Mostly Fiction Book Reviews

From the Publisher

When French author Cossé(A Corner of the Veil, 1999, etc.) pairs unlikely business partners in the opening of a unique Parisian bookstore, The Good Novel, that will sell only the best fiction, their venture succeeds and draws vehement criticism—and worse.

The selection process at The Good Novel, owned and backed by the lovely Aldo-Valbella Francesca and run by Ivan Georg, is rigorous. Members of a secret committee of writers and bibliophiles compile novels that they consider superior to the usual bestseller-list folderol. Their bookstore is a success. But almost immediately detractors publish diatribes accusing The Good Novel's proprietors and denizens of snobbery. Worse, someone is pasting these attacks up around town. When attempts are made against the lives of several members of the selection committee, Ivan and Francesca turn to the law in the person of a publishing-industry veteran turned cop, Gonzague Heffner, to determine how it is that seemingly coordinated thugs have learned the meticulously concealed identities of committee members. Is there a centralized plot by publishing interests to overthrow the upstart store, or are these the isolated jabs of irate inferior writers who take issue with the store's exclusive policies? As the investigation unfolds, rival bookstores open, initially strong sales falter, and it becomes clear that the attacks are a reaction to the very concept of quality in literature. This mystery is however incidental to larger themes of what superlative work in the literary sphere constitutes. Not without its surprises,the book doesn't quite live up to the high literary standards that its characters apply. While the central mystery stalls and dissipates without satisfactory resolution, the central conceit—what place is there for great and often difficult literature in a mercenary world—is manifest in the plight of the store and the disruptive influence it has on critics and booksellers the world over. The book's real strength is its romances—of both the bookish and human varieties. In attention to matters of the heart the story is redeemed, delivering a touché where its original thrust misses the mark.

A literary idyll preselected for bookworms and bibliophiles.

Kirkus Reviews