A Novel Bookstore

BOOK: A Novel Bookstore

AUTHOR: Laurence Cosse

GRADE: A+

Ladies and Gentlemen: This has earned the title of my top read for 2011. Without a doubt, Lawrence Cosse’s book runs miles around every other book I’ve read this year. I simply cannot implore you enough to go and purchase A Novel Bookstore immediately. You will not regret it. You have my word.

The premise of A Novel Bookstore appeals to the literary snob in me. Unless heavily coerced, I steadfastly refuse to read the titles that turn into national cult phenomena. If everyone else is reading it, you can be pretty sure I’m not. Is it fair of me to write things off simply because everyone else is doing it? Probably not; but it’s ingrained in me and old habits die hard. Finally, I’ve found a novel that gets it!

Laurence Cosse builds his story around the creation of a bookstore that offers only literary masterpieces (both contemporary and classics) chosen by a secret committee of eight members whose identities are hidden from the public and even from each other to ensure the total purity of their choices and the lack of pressure from others. The current bestsellers are not stocked. The troves of “sub par” books published month after month are not stocked. Nope, The Good Novel offers its clientele pure literary gold. And it’s an instant success! Die hard readers and lovers of true literature (as opposed to popular fluff) flock to the store right from opening day. Its founders dreams have become a reality and all is well.

Well, no one could possibly predict the hatred that this simply little specialty store unleashes. Months after its creation, attacks start coming in; taking the form of op ed articles in all the popular newspapers, web attacks on the store’s site and hateful messages left on the answering machine. All of this is vastly annoying but not life threatening. That is, until one by one three members of the secret selection committee are attacked violently; leaving the other five members at risk and in fear for their safety. An investigation is launched and the outcome is a true shocker – including the unfathomable death of the person you would least expect. Just to add to the fun, Cosse throws in a beautiful and complex love story that will leave you aching to know more.

A Novel Bookstore is an amazing read. Page turner. Beyond beautifully written. Suspenseful and satisfying. Get thee to a bookstore and pick it up. Right now. You have no idea what you’re missing….