Robert M. (shotokanchef) reviewed Parnassus on Wheels (Common Reader Editions) on + 813 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
This is the book that starts Roger Mifflin on the road as a bookseller and philosopher. It is a simple story of the wanderings of a bookseller in rural New England. After years on the road, he is ready to retire to write his own great American novel. So he sells Parnassus, his book van, his horse, Pegasus (naturally), and his dog to lonely Helen McGill. Together they romp through the countryside selling books, bringing cheer, and sharing adventures until finally they realize that they were meant for each other. Through his characters, the author imparts his own philosophy of life, learning, and literature through a world of books. This is a delightful book that may be read easily in an afternoon. So, fix that cup of tea and some noshes, relax in the sunlight, and enjoy.
I don't even know what to day about this. It was fantastic. It seems I say that about a lot of my reads, but I guess I just have good taste!
Helen, the protagonist is sick of her brother the Andrew. He's living the life of a farmer when suddenly he gets it into his head to write a book, which of course got published. This lead to publishes beating down the door, and Andrew going off for weeks and months at a time leaving Helen to handle things on the farm.
Needless to say she tires of it quickly, so when Mr. Roger Mifflin arrives at the farm with his bookstore on wheels, proposing to sell it to Andrew, Helen buys it instead. She'll be damned if Andrew goes off on another months long adventure and stick her with all the farm work. This is the beginning of a ridiculous, fabulous adventure for the forty-year-old woman who hadn't had so much as a vacation in fifteen years.
Andrew's in a right state when he finds out about it and ends up chasing down Helen and Mifflin, who was staying on only long enough to show her the ropes of Parnassus, the rolling bookstore. There are fights, robberies, deception, visits with book enthusiasts, actual book sales, and all along it turns out to be a love story.
It was really quite beautiful and a must read for all bookish people. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of the sequel, The Haunted Bookshop!
Helen, the protagonist is sick of her brother the Andrew. He's living the life of a farmer when suddenly he gets it into his head to write a book, which of course got published. This lead to publishes beating down the door, and Andrew going off for weeks and months at a time leaving Helen to handle things on the farm.
Needless to say she tires of it quickly, so when Mr. Roger Mifflin arrives at the farm with his bookstore on wheels, proposing to sell it to Andrew, Helen buys it instead. She'll be damned if Andrew goes off on another months long adventure and stick her with all the farm work. This is the beginning of a ridiculous, fabulous adventure for the forty-year-old woman who hadn't had so much as a vacation in fifteen years.
Andrew's in a right state when he finds out about it and ends up chasing down Helen and Mifflin, who was staying on only long enough to show her the ropes of Parnassus, the rolling bookstore. There are fights, robberies, deception, visits with book enthusiasts, actual book sales, and all along it turns out to be a love story.
It was really quite beautiful and a must read for all bookish people. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of the sequel, The Haunted Bookshop!
