The Little Paris Bookshop

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The protagonist’s name, Jean Perdu, translates to “John Lost” in English. In what ways did you see him transform from “lost” to “found” throughout his journey?

2. How does The Little Paris Bookshop compare to other novels about healing journeys like Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat Pray Love or Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist?

3. What did you think about Perdu’s concept of being a “literary apothecary” who prescribes books like medicine for emotional ailments?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Perdu walls off the “Lavender Room” for 21 years to avoid confronting his grief. What physical or emotional barriers have you created to protect yourself from painful memories?

2. Which sensory pleasure in the novel—from Cuneo’s cooking to swimming in the Mediterranean—reminded you of your own healing experiences?

3. The novel explores various types of love through Samy’s descriptions of physical attraction, logical connection, and heart-centered love. Which of these distinctions resonates most with your own experiences?

4. When have you experienced a missed opportunity or misunderstanding that significantly altered your life’s trajectory?

5. Who in your life has demonstrated “transperception”—Perdu’s ability to read a person and know exactly what they need?

6. When have you experienced a creative block similar to Max’s, and what helped you overcome it?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. What does the contrast between Parisian city life and the countryside of Provence reveal about the divide between rural and urban living in France?

2. The French canal system in the novel represents a slower, more contemplative mode of travel. How does this system serve the different characters in the novel? What is the novel suggesting about the place of canal life in modern times? 

3. The traditions of Provence, including the 13 Christmas desserts and the mistral winds, play significant roles in the novel’s conclusion. What do these cultural elements reveal about French tradition and community?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. What purpose do the excerpts from Manon’s travel diary serve in developing the narrative and your understanding of her character?

2. Analyze how the “Lavender Room” functions as both a literal space and a metaphor for Perdu’s emotional state.

3. Which entries in Perdu’s Encyclopedia of Small Emotions did you find most compelling? How did this entry reflect the key themes in the novel?

4. Fear appears throughout the novel as a response to loss and grief. How do different characters’ reactions to fear affect their development?

5. The motif of light appears throughout the novel, especially in Manon imagining herself becoming light after death. What does this symbolism contribute to your understanding of love and loss in the story?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you created your own floating specialty shop like the Literary Apothecary, what would you sell and how would it help others heal?

2. Imagine reorganizing your favorite books according to their emotional impact rather than by genre, as Perdu does in his bookshop. Which books would you put together?

3. What entry would you contribute to Perdu’s encyclopedia that describes a feeling without a single word to name it?

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