Fun for its discussion of literature, but the plot’s a real drag.

somewhere between a 3 and 4 star. the early 19th c language and the quotes about the importance and magic and love of books were charming in the first half of the book, but started to wear in the second half - I’m sure if I was reading this 100 years ago I would have rated it between 4 and 5 stars!

Good fun quick read nice atmosphere actually readable classic good fall book Aubrey is a moron

The sequel to Parnassus On Wheels finds us in new digs and a whole new genre of fiction, per say.

Having closed up the mobile bookshop of the original novel, Mr. and Mrs. Mifflin have opened a rather delightfully musty second hand shop in the heart of Brooklyn, filled to overflowing with quirky titles and irregular patrons with regular habits. Mifflin is doing the Lord’s work, attempting at every corner to legitimize all good tastes in books and firmly convinced that it is the book dealer’s job to give the reader what he needs, not simply what he asks for. When a wealthy patron desires that his daughter should have a little real world experience was a bookstore clerk for a few months, the Mifflins find themselves delighted by her company. But strange things are afoot in The Haunted Bookshop, and their youthful new acquaintance Aubrey Gilbert is committed to protecting the young heiress at any cost.

This book is the ultimate indulgence in literary name dropping. Morley is obviously one of the most well read authors of all time and he is constantly sidelined, as is his protagonist Mifflin, by mentioning title after title that has delighted him, along with a few he looks askance at. He talks about what titles are best for which parts of the day, for which seasons, for reading in bed or at the dinner table, etc. His book obsession is a constant source of comfort and distraction, to the readers delight and, occasionally, boredom.

The story eventually turns into a comic mystery that feels a bit light Wodehouse lite. The comedy is not so central, but the characters and plot feel like a Wodehouse setup with a beautiful little romance unfolding in the end. There are slow spots for sure, but anyone at home in a library or used book store work surely end this read delighted and with a long “to read” list.

Sometimes it is not worth revisiting an old acquaintance. I had enjoyed reading Parnassus on Wheels again and so I thought that I would revisit the second novel in the series. I finished this, but Morley did not do his characters justice. The book is anti-German, disrespectful of women and downright silly. I guess it is a good indication of the times since it was first published in 1919, but the storyline was dated in many ways.

I finished it because I had nothing else to read at the time and I can't manage the treadmill without something to distract me.

I don't recommend this to anyone.

A week in the life of Brooklyn’s Parnassus Used Books, written and set in 1919, included romance, intrigue, German spies, and, of course, bibliophilia and bibliomania. A fun read, with the exception of the understandable German stereotypes leftover from the war.

I wasn't expecting a cloak and dagger type mystery! Loved all of the quotes about books.

Well, this wasn't nearly as much fun as "Parnassus on Wheels" but still a romp. A lot of material dealing with the aftermath of WWI. The usual fun comments on books, bookselling and bookmania. I wish I could "reform" Roger off his constand smoking, though. Smoking was such a part of this story sometimes it almost seemed to me I could SMELL the pipes, cigars and cigarettes. Yuck! Fun little story though.

What a quaint charming book. I would never have found it had it not been suggested to read in my book club. The only part that was difficult was the vocabulary, my gosh there were some sentences I had no idea what was said. It was a fun read and I am very grateful for the experience.