Review of 'The Bookseller of Paris' by Suzanne Kelman
Review of 'The Bookseller of Paris' by Suzanne Kelman
Release date: August 5th, 2024
Publisher: Bookouture
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REVIEW
A story of love, betrayal and war. Written in two timelines by the talented Ms. Kelman whose stories are filled with passion, bravery and forgiveness. They are based on great women of the past. And true to form, once again, Suzanne has enchanted, inspired and educated me with her latest outstanding war rendition The Bookseller of Paris with characters that lept off the page, found a way into my heart and made me feel a multitude of emotions.
In the historical timeline, we meet Madeline who is modelled after real life heroine, Adele Kibre, an exceptional spy chosen to preserve knowledge by the Allies during WW2. This woman successfully and bravely carried important material across enemy lines. She had numerous connections with bookstores, libraries and underground groups and navigated through some dangerous territory. Microfilm was the key and Adele learned micro-photography to take shots of important documents. She had an amazing life of service and it is easy to see why she sparked Ms Kelman’s story.
Fictional character, Madeline is a symbol of bravery and resilience. She is a Parisian bookseller. But she is so much more. She is a preserver and protector of stories, history and other important reading material—keeping hope alive in readers’ hearts. Which is why she gets the code name Story Keeper when she becomes a Resistance agent. She is a woman of action and we witness her dedication. Besides her Resistance duties, she also is on another mission that involves her late husband. After receiving a letter from a German woman named Ada, she learns her husband was married before and has a son. After recovering from the initial shock, she vows to find Ada and her part-Jewish son, Kurt, and save them. What follows are some nail biting events that kept me on the edge of my seat!
In the more recent timeline, we learn about this boy who is now an old man and a grandfather to another point of view character, Livi. His scars are evident from the events he witnessed. Much healing is needed. His granddaughter, in pursuit of answers, discovers who was his father. This knowledge will set him free from the torments of his greatest fears. And Livi will uncover the missing piece of her own life.
I have not mentioned the romantic elements of this novel. But yes, there are some wonderful relationships in both timelines of couples that I admired. I won’t delve into that area for the review, though, but rather leave it for the reader to enjoy! There are some beautiful and heartbreaking moments romantically.
During the reading of this novel, I was reminded of an article ‘How the American Librarians Helped Defeat the Nazis’ and was amazed at how they used their skills to gather and share intelligence with Allied forces. These women played an important role that we must never forget for they have left behind a great legacy of knowledge as a result of their courageous acts.
The Bookseller of Paris is another excellent story by Suzanne Kelman that provides an unforgettable experience. This is a glorious tribute to the story keepers of the past. The cast of characters are memorable, the plot has many twists and reveals and many scenes are haunting. The poetic prose is beautifully rendered. I had to keep a box of tissues close by as my eyes were constantly fighting back the tears. It is obvious this story is close to the author’s heart as her sincerity and love for her characters shine through. 5 Stars for an Epic reading experience. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a review copy.
