Discussion Questions:
1. “Memories are like wolves. You can’t lock them away and hope they leave you alone.” The Little Paris Bookshop
begins when Monsieur Perdu opens the room he’s kept sealed off for two
decades. What are your first impressions of Perdu, and do you think he’s
justified in shutting out the past?
2. “Perdu
reflected that it was a common misconception that booksellers looked
after books. They looked after people.” Monsieur Perdu helps countless
people find books that heal them. In your life, have you ever felt that a
book restored you to yourself? If there was a Literary Apothecary where
you lived, would you visit?
3. In Chapter 3, Perdu refuses to sell a copy of Max Jordan’s Night
to a customer, because he feels it would upset her. How would you react
if this happened to you? Is there such thing as a dangerous book?
4. On their journey South, Perdu forges a powerful friendship with
both Max and Cuneo. What do the three characters teach each other?
5. The death of the deer is an emotionally charged scene that
serves to ignite something within Perdu. What do you think it
represented for the three men?
6. We come to know Manon
through Perdu’s account of her, and her travel diary. What did you think
of her as a character? Do you believe it is possible to love more than
one person at once, as she does?
7. In Chapter 32,
Samy says there are three kinds of love: sexual love, logical love, and a
love that “comes from your chest or your solar plexus, or somewhere in
between.” What do you think she means by this, and do you agree?
8. The time to mourn, or “hurting time,” becomes important for nearly every character in The Little Paris Bookshop.
Do you believe a period of grieving is necessary when a loved one is
lost? Does it depend on the circumstances in which they left your life?
9. Perdu finally arrives in Bonnieux, where he asks
Manon’s husband Luc for forgiveness. Does Luc provide Perdu with the
sense of closure he lacks? Does Perdu offer anything to Luc?
10. The text that is perhaps most vital to Perdu’s emotional journey is Sanary’s Southern Lights. Were you surprised to discover the author’s true identity? Why or why not?
11. The novel includes pages from Manon’s journal, letters between
Perdu and Catherine, recipes, and a reading list. Did these artifacts
make your reading experience a richer one?
12. Love and friendship, the power of stories to heal—of these, what do you think this novel is most about?
Source: http://penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/241309/the-little-paris-bookshop-by-nina-george/reading-guide
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