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onionthefirst's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
hugbandit7's review against another edition
4.0
This is the kind of book that can send you down a rabbit hole to learn more about the characters!
I love when I can learn new things about our past! While this book is fictionalized, it is based on some real-life people including bookshop owner and publisher Sylvia Beach, author James Joyce, and many many more. Set primarily in the 20s and 30s, this is a look into Sylvia's life opening a bookstore and deciding that Ulysses by James Joyce needed to be published and since America was banning the book as obscene, it needed to be published in Europe. Imagine typing up the book from someone's handwriting, that could be treacherous work and it was in one case where the husband came home and burned the pages because he considered it scandalous. Needless to say, that caused quite a pickle since there was not a way to recreate the chapter...or was there?
I have to admit, when I first started reading the book it was hard to get into and I'm not sure why. It might have felt a little high brow, but as I settled into the characters and their lives, I became immersed in the lives of the artists, how Sylvia was doing with her bookstore, her life with her lover Adrienne, and a little family drama thrown in to boot. I have to admit to searching online for Sylvia Beach and her life and accomplishments. I love that she jumped right in and started her store, primarily for ex-pats living in Paris, but it because a meeting place for writers, musicians, poets, and more.
James Joyce was a mess in this book. I don't know if this is how he was in real life, but I have to imagine it is loosely based on the truth. He might have had a brilliant mind, but he was hard to deal with on many fronts and it cost Sylvia nearly everything.
This well-researched book will have you dreaming of Paris and the life that was available to many in the early 1900s compared to other countries. The glimpses of well know authors had me wondering what that life must have been like, to meet such great minds before they were just that.
Overall, we give this 4 paws up and will be looking for more books by this author.
I love when I can learn new things about our past! While this book is fictionalized, it is based on some real-life people including bookshop owner and publisher Sylvia Beach, author James Joyce, and many many more. Set primarily in the 20s and 30s, this is a look into Sylvia's life opening a bookstore and deciding that Ulysses by James Joyce needed to be published and since America was banning the book as obscene, it needed to be published in Europe. Imagine typing up the book from someone's handwriting, that could be treacherous work and it was in one case where the husband came home and burned the pages because he considered it scandalous. Needless to say, that caused quite a pickle since there was not a way to recreate the chapter...or was there?
I have to admit, when I first started reading the book it was hard to get into and I'm not sure why. It might have felt a little high brow, but as I settled into the characters and their lives, I became immersed in the lives of the artists, how Sylvia was doing with her bookstore, her life with her lover Adrienne, and a little family drama thrown in to boot. I have to admit to searching online for Sylvia Beach and her life and accomplishments. I love that she jumped right in and started her store, primarily for ex-pats living in Paris, but it because a meeting place for writers, musicians, poets, and more.
James Joyce was a mess in this book. I don't know if this is how he was in real life, but I have to imagine it is loosely based on the truth. He might have had a brilliant mind, but he was hard to deal with on many fronts and it cost Sylvia nearly everything.
This well-researched book will have you dreaming of Paris and the life that was available to many in the early 1900s compared to other countries. The glimpses of well know authors had me wondering what that life must have been like, to meet such great minds before they were just that.
Overall, we give this 4 paws up and will be looking for more books by this author.
amalgamation_of_things's review against another edition
challenging
informative
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
I found this hard to get into. The first 50 pages felt like rushed plot to set up exposition. I was able to connect with Sylvia, but the constant name dropping got me bogged down. There are some good themes to talk about in book club, but this was not my favorite pick. I am interested in trying to read Ulysses, though.
teaandlibri's review against another edition
1.0
Borrowed this on a whim because I have some familiarity with Shakespeare and Company, and thought this sounded like an enjoyable read. I was curious to read a fictionalized version of this story, how the bookshop came to be, its origins, and more.
It seemed like a great concept: the founding of the store and the publication of James Joyce's 'Ulysses', which publishers would not even consider, until Shakespeare and Company. Lots of historical figures, ground in reality, and it's a bookstore/lending library. What's not to love?
I normally like historical fiction but this was really, really dull. It was not particularly compelling and while as others say: it does appear to be well-researched, a fictional retelling is perhaps not the way to go about this. Overall, it was tough to care for the characters, hard to get into the story and nothing about it really pushed me to keep reading.
Lots of people seemed to really enjoy this but I can't say the same. I would imagine that this is the type of book that some who are into historical fiction, the Shakespeare and Company store, Joyce, etc. might enjoy something like this, but as a "light" read it definitely did not fit the bill for me.
Personally found this completely skippable but you may disagree. Recommend as a library borrow and that was the best for me.
It seemed like a great concept: the founding of the store and the publication of James Joyce's 'Ulysses', which publishers would not even consider, until Shakespeare and Company. Lots of historical figures, ground in reality, and it's a bookstore/lending library. What's not to love?
I normally like historical fiction but this was really, really dull. It was not particularly compelling and while as others say: it does appear to be well-researched, a fictional retelling is perhaps not the way to go about this. Overall, it was tough to care for the characters, hard to get into the story and nothing about it really pushed me to keep reading.
Lots of people seemed to really enjoy this but I can't say the same. I would imagine that this is the type of book that some who are into historical fiction, the Shakespeare and Company store, Joyce, etc. might enjoy something like this, but as a "light" read it definitely did not fit the bill for me.
Personally found this completely skippable but you may disagree. Recommend as a library borrow and that was the best for me.
zackarinareads's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I liked a lot of this but it also dragged on and on and took me forever to finish.
I would recommend it though, if you're looking for a descrete queer book! It doesn't say anything on the blurb and is very queer on the inside.
I would recommend it though, if you're looking for a descrete queer book! It doesn't say anything on the blurb and is very queer on the inside.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Antisemitism, Suicide, and Terminal illness
hermoine7's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
msnyderk's review against another edition
5.0
This book was like stepping into the famous bookstore along with Beach, Joyce, Hemingway and all the others who championed it.