Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I'm not sure how I can so strongly dislike a book that contains so many of the things I love: books, a bookstore, a book seller, France, and food. And it is a loving ode to books. This started out promising and was sprinkled with some good moments, but I forced myself to finish it. Every few chapters I wanted to stop. I must admit that I have been in a reading slump. I have not liked the last four books that I have read. Jean Pardue (John Lost--get it?) is a book seller with a broken heart. The love of his life, Manon, walked out on him over twenty years ago. She left a letter, which he put in a drawer unread. Then he sealed up her favorite room in his apartment and went on with his unhappy life. He owns a bookstore that is located on a moored barge. He has a special intuition for matching the perfect book to a person. He uses books to heal other people's emotions, but not his own. In helping a new neighbor, Jean ends up reading Manon's letter. He is gutted and decides to pull anchor and pilot his barge to her hometown. Like one of those road trip comedy movies, Jean picks up various emotionally wounded passengers along the way. I did not care for this plot line and sadly it takes up most of the book. I don't think it is a spoiler to say that Jean (and everyone he encounters on his journey) find whatever emotional peace they are looking for. The book is also interspersed with Manon's travel diary, which gives some insight into her and her choices. People describe the writing in this book as beautiful and poetic. I found it to be too flowery and emotionally overwrought. There is a heavy dose of romance in this book, which is not my favorite genre. The story is also long--almost 400 pages--and was in want of some good editing. I also found the ending too neat, tidy, and happy to be believable. I don't want to be too specific, as that would be a spoiler, but Jean's blossoming relationship with Manon's family is just ridiculous. Who are these sainted people? There was an excerpt of the author's new book at the end. I did not read it. Maybe I am just a jaded and cranky old bat, but I did not enjoy this book.