Book Review: The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods
Embark on a journey of literary escapism with The Lost Bookshop - a magical tale of self-discovery and bookish treasure hunts that spans two timelines, moving from London to Paris to Dublin. Written by Irish author Evie Woods, this enchanting novel is a must-read for all readers, bibliophiles and book-lovers.
What's the craic?
"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.
Why we love it
Oh where to start?! This book is just delightful. Beautiful written, it's charming, heart-warming, heart-wrenching and utterly magical - I loved it!
The book begins in London in 1921 with Opaline Carlisle, a young woman with a passion for books, facing the prospect of an unwelcome marriage to a complete stranger at the behest of her cold and over-bearing older brother. Rather than endure such an unsatisfying future, she runs away to Paris and embarks on a career as a rare bookseller...because really, who wouldn't given the choice?!
In a modern day timeline, Martha, a young woman fleeing from an abusive husband and learning to live again, encounters Henry, a PhD student searching for an illusive lost manuscript by Emily Bronte, last referenced in a letter written long ago by Opaline. And so the story unfolds, intertwining our characters together, past and present, as they try to solve the mystery of the missing book while discovering their own destiny along the way.
The book is perfectly paced throughout and the transitions from one time period to another, and from one character to another, are seamless. The richly detailed storyline enticingly references historical events and the literary scene in 1920s Paris, particularly around Sylvia Beach's Shakespeare and Company Bookshop and the writers who frequented it - James Joyce, Ernest Hemingway and so many others. But the story also touches on much more serious issues around loss, abuse and trauma with a delicate and empathetic touch.
Overall, it's a 5-star review from us on this one. The Lost Bookshop is a joy to read, immersive and moving from start to finish, and we thoroughly recommend it.
