From My Bookshelf: Jane, Paris, Swan

My “main” bookshelf, which sits in the second bedroom of our apartment – sorry, the office of our apartment – is officially full. It’s a small two-shelfer, approximately 38″ wide, and fits maybe half or a quarter of my books. Let’s say a quarter. Seeing the bookshelf full is so pleasing, aesthetically and soulfully; all the different heights, widths, colors, and wear of the books blend together, and yet stand out. Most are slightly worn, but some are not at all. It is three of these not-at-all-ers that I am featuring for this post. Jane Steele, The Little Paris Bookshop, and A Wild Swan and Other Tales.  

Jane Steele Lyndsay Faye

This is the one book out of these three that I have read, and I can’t wait to read it countless more times. After my disappointing experience with Eligible, I was a little wary of a retelling of a classic novel I love, but Lyndsay Faye knocked it it out of the park. Jane Eyre, love, and murder – a perfect twist executed to perfection (pun not intended, but unavoidable). Also, I accidentally purchased the paperback twice, because I forgot I had bought it, so if you would like a copy to read or reread let me know here or in the comments below and I’ll get it to you.

The Little Paris Bookshop Nina George

I know Nina George’s novel has been on my TBR list for far too long. What I didn’t know, is that the story was originally written in German. If the first two sentences of the summary don’t grab you and make you fall in love – “Monsieur Perdu is a literary apothecary. From his floating bookstore in a barge on the Seine, he prescribes novels for the hardships of life.” – well, I’m sorry for you.

A Wild Swan and Other Tales
Michael Cunningham

I’ve been more on the lookout for modern fairy tales, fairy tale adaptations, and other fairy tale related literature since I started my Grimm’s Fairy Tale project. Michael Cunningham writes about what happens after our beloved fairy tales end, the parts of the stories we don’t know about in A Wild Swan and Other Tales. I think I’ll read this over the weekend – it will surely be a mystical beach read.