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Review: The Red Notebook by Antoine Laurain, translated by Jane Aitken and Emily Boyce



Blurb from Goodreads:
Heroic bookseller Laurent Letellier comes across an abandoned handbag on a Parisian street. There's nothing in the bag to indicate who it belongs to, although there's all sorts of other things in it. Laurent feels a strong impulse to find the owner and tries to puzzle together who she might be from the contents of the bag. Especially a red notebook with her jottings, which really makes him want to meet her. Without even a name to go on, and only a few of her possessions to help him, how is he to find one woman in a city of millions?
My Review:
 
This is a short one and was a very quick read.   I was never not interested in the story but I felt like there was probably a little something (magic) lost in the translation.  Laurent discovers an abandoned purse in the street; he becomes fascinated with its contents and discovering the owner of the purse.  A bit of deduction through the streets of Paris ensues and, overall, the entire story was very romantic.  We learn a bit about Laurent through his search and a bit about Laure through her objects.  I won't tell you how it ends . . . but I'm sure you can guess.

I would recommend this to anyone that likes the Amour et Chocolate series by Laura Florand (mostly based on the setting) or the movie Amélie, although it's not as fantastical there is still that meeting borne from loved and lost objects.  The Red Notebook came out last year, and you can purchase HERE!  
Can you experience nostalgia for something that hasn't happened?  We talk of 'regrets' about the course of our lives, when we are almost certain we have taken the wrong decision; but one can also be enveloped in a sweet and mysterious euphoria, a sort of nostalgia for what might have been.  Meeting Laure, that might have happened but didn't and yet Laurent remembered the cafe where they had arranged to meet.  She wore that white strappy dress, her mauve bag and sunglasses.  It had been a very sunny day.  As it was fine they had chosen to sit on the terrace.

Comments

  1. I love books with Paris settings! This sounds cute. Great review!

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  2. Quick and entertaining is exactly what I need sometimes. And I love the Paris setting. Glad you enjoyed this one, Eva! Great review! <3

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  3. I love Paris settings, since it's on my list of places to visit before I die. I think the setting alone would have me devouring this one.

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  4. I've never heard of this one! I'm not a huge fan of shorter books, but it sounds like this one worked for you, for the most part. Great review, Eva! :)

    Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!

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  5. I'm a huge fan of Laura Florand's Amour et Chocolat series and so I wonder if I'd like this. The premise sounds really cute. Wonderful review, Eva! :)

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  6. Let me guess how it ends ... He's run over by a car right when he meets her, turns into a zombie and thus begins the Apocalypse. I'm right, aren't I? lol. Seriously though, sounds like a cute book.

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