The Keeper of Stories meets The Lost Apothecary in this evocative and charming novel full of mystery and secrets.
‘The thing about books,’ she said ‘is that they help you to imagine a life bigger and better than you could ever dream of.’
On a quiet street in Dublin, a lost bookshop is waiting to be found…
For too long, Opaline, Martha and Henry have been the side characters in their own lives.
But when a vanishing bookshop casts its spell, these three unsuspecting strangers will discover that their own stories are every bit as extraordinary as the ones found in the pages of their beloved books. And by unlocking the secrets of the shelves, they find themselves transported to a world of wonder… where nothing is as it seems.
The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods is an interesting story. It is told from three points of view (Opaline, 1921 and the present day). The story does contain good writing. I found the pacing to be slow especially in the middle (it dragged). The book is too long (407 pages). I can tell that the author loves books based on her beautiful descriptions of the bookstore and books. I can certainly relate to that special feeling you get each time you enter a bookstore. The wonderful smell of the paper and ink. You never know who you will meet or where you will go when you pick up a book. Opaline created a special bookstore with creative displays. It is a tragedy what happened to her (I am not going to tell you). The laws in early twentieth century were archaic and gave men too much leeway over the women in their “care”.
There are a number of characters, and it can be difficult to keep them all straight. The bookshop with its magic is intriguing. I especially liked the stained-glass windows with their changing scenes. I felt for Opaline, but I had trouble relating to Martha and Henry (I was not a fan of Henry). The story had, of course, romance (I would have preferred two woman who came into their own and carved their own path). I was not a fan of the intimate scenes. The story does contain foul language (quite a bit). Those who have suffered physical or mental abuse will find triggers in the story. There are various things that happen without explanation. I can understand letting a couple of things be mysterious, but all of them. It becomes frustrating. The last twenty percent is the best (if you make it that far). I like how everything came together. The ending was expected because the storylines are similar to those I have read in other novels. The Lost Bookshop has mystery, love, magic, and books. Three strangers who discover their stories by unlocking the secrets of a special bookstore. I wanted to like The Lost Bookshop, but I found it tedious to wade through it (long and slow). The Lost Bookshop is a book for bibliophiles with beloved books, a Parisian paramour, a brutal brother, a helpful position, an absent bookshop, phantastic happenings, and a magical culmination.
Kris
The
Avid Reader
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