THE PARIS BOOKSELLER
The Gulf Harbour Book Club met on October 21 due to Hurricane Milton. There were 22 of us with most of us in person and others on Zoom. We had the privilege of having the author of The Paris Bookseller on Zoom. Kerri Maher, author, was absolutely delightful. Her vibrant personality jumped right through the screen.
Her first novel, The Kennedy Debutante, came out in 2018, and her second in 2020: The Girl In White Gloves: A Novel of Grace Kelly. Her third, The Paris Bookseller, about trailblazing entrepreneur Sylvia Beach and the original Shakespeare and Company bookstore in Paris, a fact that makes her feel incredibly lucky and grateful after spending so many years (and years!) writing and working on the craft. She is also the founder of an award-winning journal of Young Adult literature, YARN.
She has lived on both coasts, and currently calls Massachusetts home. She lives near Boston, and loves all the museums and long, leafy walks this part of the world provides, but if you ask me where she’s from, I’ll always say California. Here’s a bit more information about her, but really—if you want to know more, the best place to look is her book, This is Not a Writing Manual, since it’s a memoir of her writing life, starting in middle school. There are loads of stories in there about her and writing, like how much she learned from eavesdropping and watching soap operas, how she was inspired by SARK and Dead Poets Society, and how she used to hate her writer friends who were more successful than she was (don’t worry, she learned to get over that—and herself).
She got her MFA at Columbia, and first teaching gig as a grad student instructor in the undergraduate writing program there. She taught writing for eight years, starting as a grad student, then as a lecturer at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, before moving to Massachusetts and having a baby and changing her life yet again.
These days, she writes full time and hangs with her daughter Elena. Together, they love taking advantage of everything the Boston area has to offer – trips to the Museum of Fine Arts, apple picking, traipsing around the Boston Common, and soaking up the history in Concord and Sturbridge Village.
The Paris Bookseller is her first gangbuster breakthrough as a writer. The book brings Paris alive in the 1920s. From The AU this is their review. “Kerri Maher’s latest novel, The Paris Bookseller, features at its core the little-known history behind the setting up of the iconic Shakespeare and Co. bookshop.
The Paris Bookseller is the story of Sylvia Beach, a young woman who loves books. She writes, true, but her real passion is for reading and for connecting books with readers. Inspired by the woman she loves, who runs a French language bookstore, American ex-pat Beach decides to set up an English language bookstore nearby; something she accomplishes with a little help from her mother’s savings account.
Soon, Shakespeare and Co. becomes the center of the literary community consisting of writers such as Hemingway, Stein and (much to Sylvia’s delight) James Joyce. Sylvia idolizes Joyce and when she hears that the great man is in Paris, lives in hope that he will come to her shop. She gets more than she bargained for, however, when Joyce becomes something of a friend – if indeed, James Joyce could be said to have had any of those.
Joyce appears to be afflicted with a problematic ego, one which means that all his relationships are about how others can serve him and not the other way around. People seem to forgive him because he is “a genius.” He lives off the charity of others, and when his work in progress, Ulysses, is banned in the United States for being obscene, Sylvia comes to his rescue. She will publish the book, under the umbrella of Shakespeare and Co. The novel tells the story of exactly why this is the only book the store ever published.
The writing in this book is exquisite, taking the reader not only to Paris but back in time. Bibliophiles and history buffs alike will rejoice in the detail and atmosphere that Kerri Maher creates on the page. I found myself thinking not only of a comparison to Natasha Lester, but also to Paula McLain’s enduring breakout novel, The Paris Wife, and last year’s sensational The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles.
Maher’s approach to using real people in her novel shows a deep respect for the people she is portraying. Even the mercurial figure of Joyce, portrayed here warts and all with his bad behavior and constant taking of advantage, is treated with sympathy. Maher’s approach seems to acknowledge that relationships are often far more complex than historical research can ever seek to show. She explores Beach’s life and her friendships with a sense of care. Likewise, the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ characters, and the related discussions of the attitudes of the time are included in a sensitive fashion, rather than to sensationalize the book or make it feel more cosmopolitan. Sylvia’s preference for women is laid out on the page from the very beginning and isn’t revealed as something shocking or traumatic to be overcome – she just is.
If you’re looking to travel to Paris in the 1920s; if you loved Midnight in Paris; or if you’re interested in literature and the history of publishing, then this is the book for you. You don’t even have to have read Ulysses.”
We highly recommend this book!
*****
MARIA’S SCARF
The Gulf Harbour Book Club met on November 4 to discuss Maria’s Scarf by Zoro. We had 30+ in person and a few on Zoom. This may have been the best presentation by an author we have ever had. We had Zoro for an hour and 20 minutes. His ability to communicate is brilliant. One of his messages to us was we have to have goals … personal, professional and spiritual.
Here’s a little about Zoro. Known by musicians around the world as the “Minister of Groove,” Zoro is an internationally renowned rock star, one of the world’s most respected and award-winning drummers. Throughout more than 30 years of his career, Zoro has been consistently voted the No. 1 R&B drummer and clinician by the premier music industry publications Modern Drummer, Drum!, and Rhythm Magazine. Zoro has toured and recorded with some of the most famous legends in the music industry including Lenny Kravitz, Bobby Brown, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, New Edition, Jody Watley, Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire, Angie Stone, Vanessa Paradis, Sean Lennon, Lisa Marie Presley, and Brian King Joseph.
But Zoro breaks the “rock star” stereotype. More than a drummer, he’s a dreamer. With his deep passion for teaching, inspiring, and guiding others to follow their own dreams, his star-studded musical career has catapulted him to a different stage … as a motivational speaker, dynamic storyteller, and inspirational author, sharing his practical wisdom that empowers people to cultivate the greatness that lies within and live out their dreams. A kinetic bundle of human energy and enthusiasm, the Minister of Groove captures audiences and readers with his contagious spirit, sense of humor, and signature hip style.
We Recommend This Book To Every Child, Woman And Man. “One of the best books I’ve read in years. Uplifting, hilarious, heartbreaking and heartwarming, Maria’s Scarf is a revelation. A love letter to those who love us unconditionally, a story of faith and passion and the power of a praying mother. Every kid with a dream needs to read this book. Every adult with a dream should read it. Every person who thought their dream passed them by needs to read it and get out there and see what faith and belief can do.”- Tosca Lee, New York Times Bestselling Author
“Zoro and our lifelong customer, Elvis Presley, were cut from the same cloth. Both grew up dirt poor, passionate about R&B music and fashion. What makes them stand apart besides their talent, though, is their big hearts and adoring love for their mothers. We live in a culture that worships fame and celebrity, placing little value on the gatekeepers of our well-being. Zoro’s book pays tribute to the heroes who shaped his life in such a beautiful and honoring way that you can feel the love seeping off the pages. Elvis would have loved Zoro and this book!” – Hal Lansky, Third Generation Owner Of Lansky Bros. Known As The Clothier To The King
“Serving as a uniting force for an increasingly divided culture, this inspiring story will open hearts, fuel hopes, and restore faith for readers across multiple generations, backgrounds, and beliefs. Exploring everything from identity and relationships, to mental health, poverty, and the power of music, Maria’s Scarf is the kind of uplifting story you’ll want to read and discuss with everyone you know. The absolute must-read of the year.” – Julie Cantrell New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Perennials
The Gulf Harbour Book Club meets on the first Monday of each month in the club’s boardroom. If you want to join the book club email [email protected]. Zoom is available for members during the off season. We have seven authors lined up for the 2024/25 season. We have the following authors on Zoom.
December – The House on Biscayne Bay
January 2025 – Family, Family,
February – Becoming Madam Secretary
March – The sequel to Ravenscraig
April – The Stolen Queen, and The End of Your Life Book Club
The famous authors are Zoro, Chanel Cleeton, Laurie Frankel, Stephanie Dray, Sandi Altner, Fiona Davis, and Will Schwalbe.
