Description
For fans of The Little Paris Bookshop and The Elegance of the Hedgehog, The Girl Who Reads on the Métro is the French phenomenon by Christine Féret-Fleury, ready to charm book-lovers everywhere . . .
When Juliette takes the métro to her loathed office job each morning, her only escape is in books – she avidly reads on her journey and imagines what her fellow commuters’ choices might say about them.
Then she meets Soliman – the mysterious owner of the most enchanting bookshop Juliette has ever seen – and things will never be the same again. For Soliman believes in the power of books to change the course of a life, and he’s about to change Juliette’s forever . . .
Review
This book was on a list for books to choose from in my library book reading group. The title of the book and the description drew me to this book, but in the end I was disappointed with it. I listened to the audio version of the book.
In essence this is a fairytale set in the real world. I hadn't thought that would be the case, instead believing it to be by someone who goes to run a bookshop. I like a little bit of magic and fantasy but for me this was just too fantastical and for a lot of the book I had no clue what was happening.
The parts of the book I liked the most where those where the books were used to help sell and market properties in Paris. Ironically this is the job that Juliette leaves behind. A lot of the narration on the Metro reminded me more of the London underground and many words were not translated as such but English words substituted when French ones would have been understood. So at times I forgot the book was set in Paris.
The narrator had a fairy tale telling lilt to her voice and this was just right I think, making it a little more intriguing. It's not the voice I would have had in my own head whilst reading. I'm pleased I listened to it as audio as I don't think I would have finished it in paper book form.
I'm giving this book 3 out of 5 stars. My thanks to borrowbox and the local library for the loan of the audio book.
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