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Time Was Soft There
Time Was Soft There: A Paris Sojourn at Shakespeare & Co. | Jeremy Mercer
24 posts | 20 read | 72 to read
"Some bookstores are filled with stories both inside and outside the bindings. These are places of sanctuary, even redemption---and Jeremy Mercer has found both amid the stacks of Shakespeare & Co." ---Paul Collins, author of Sixpence House: Lost in a Town of Books In a small square on the left bank of the Seine, the door to a green-fronted bookshop beckoned. . . . With gangsters on his tail and his meager savings in hand, crime reporter Jeremy Mercer fled Canada in 1999 and ended up in Paris. Broke and almost homeless, he found himself invited to a tea party amongst the riffraff of the timeless Left Bank fantasy known as Shakespeare & Co. In its present incarnation, Shakespeare & Co. has become a destination for writers and readers the world over, trying to reclaim the lost world of literary Paris in the 1920s. Having been inspired by Sylvia Beach's original store, the present owner, George Whitman, invites writers who are down and out in Paris to live and dream amid the bookshelves in return for work. Jeremy Mercer tumbled into this literary rabbit hole and found a life of camaraderie with the other eccentric residents, and became, for a time, George Whitman's confidante and right-hand man. Time Was Soft There is one of the great stories of bohemian Paris and recalls the work of many writers who were bewitched by the City of Light in their youth. Jeremy's comrades include Simon, the eccentric British poet who refuses to give up his bed in the antiquarian book room, beautiful blonde Pia, who contributes the elegant spirit of Parisian couture to the store, the handsome American Kurt, who flirts with beautiful women looking for copies of Tropic of Cancer, and George himself, the man who holds the key to it all. As Time Was Soft There winds in and around the streets of Paris, the staff fall in and out of love, straighten bookshelves, host tea parties, drink in the more down-at-the-heels cafs, sell a few books, and help George find a way to keep his endangered bookstore open. Spend a few days with Jeremy Mercer at 37 Rue de la Bucherie, and discover the bohemian world of Paris that still bustles in the shadow of Notre Dame. "Jeremy Mercer has captured Shakespeare & Co. and its complicated owner, George Whitman, with remarkable insight. Time Was Soft There is a charming memoir about living in Whitman's Shakespeare & Co. and the strange, broken, lost, and occasionally talented, eccentrics and residents of this Tumblewood Hotel." ---Noel Riley Fitch, author of Sylvia Beach and the Lost Generation: A History of Literary Paris in the Twenties & Thirties "There does seem to be something about the odd ducks that work at bookstores. Jeremy Mercer has captured the story of a wonderful, unique store that could only be born out of a love for books and the written word." --- Liz Schlegel, the Book Revue bookshop, Huntington, New York
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review
Zephsomething
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Mehso-so

Y‘all is fine, it‘s an interesting enough story but it starts to drag if you don‘t read fast enough and I think it would have been a better audiobook than a read

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Zephsomething
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So far this book has mostly succeeded in making me deeply sad (almost nostalgic except for something I‘ve not been in this life) that I am not a white man who is able to simply travel Europe without worrying overmuch about personal safety. There‘s a corner of my soul that wants nothing more than to travel and wander new streets at twilight but unfortunately I am a small clearly female human and that automatically sets the risk much too high.

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TheKidUpstairs
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@Read-y_Picker your package has arrived! I can't wait to read everyone's thoughts on the #LMPBC books. And thank you so much for the extras, I adore books about Paris, and the pencils are the cutest!

slategreyskies I love The Housekeeper and the Professor! :) 3y
Read-y_Picker YAY! I have a feeling you're really gonna like it :) It'll definitely make up for how not-bookish my last #LMPBC pick was. 3y
44 likes2 comments
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Read-y_Picker
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#3Books that inspired my first solo travel experiences. 📕Ovid‘s Metamorphoses 📗 The Agony and the Ecstasy 📘Time Was Soft There. I remember reading these and falling down the rabbit hole referencing art and music and books. The rest is history ❤️✈️🖼🏛⛲️🎼☕️🍷💜

OriginalCyn620 👍🏻📚👍🏻 4y
15 likes1 comment
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TheEllieMo
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I read this quite some time ago, and decided I really wanted to visit the infamous bookshop in #Paris. Haven‘t made it yet 🙄

#JamminJune @Eggs

TrishB It‘s worth the wait 👍🏻 I went for my 50th a couple of years ago, 4y
Eggs I hope you get to visit it! 4y
28 likes2 comments
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TheKidUpstairs
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Next up!

When I made my reread list for #BookSpin April, I felt disappointed that this one's number didn't come up. Which is as good a sign as any that I really want to read it!

64 likes2 stack adds
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smilingshelves
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Day off reading spot #4. Different library, different chair - still just as comfortable! I've finished my first book of the day (The Alcatraz Escape by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman), and now I'm moving on to the tagged book.

twohectobooks That looks like an excellent reading chair! 5y
smilingshelves @twohectobooks It is! I wish I could take it home with me! 5y
Tamra Oh, love that chair! 5y
See All 6 Comments
smilingshelves @Tamra Isn't it gorgeous? And so comfortable! 5y
Changed.by.Christ Okay, I love that "Read Books" tote! ? 5y
smilingshelves @Changed.by.Christ It was a Christmas present last year. I love having the chance to use it! 5y
33 likes6 comments
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Teafiend
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A week ago today I was there! It was so dreamy

72 likes1 stack add
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TrishB
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#feelsohigh#lilithjuly
Some highlights from my Paris trip 😁

Oryx Beautiful! 5y
KarenUK Gorgeous!! 😍Love Paris... 💕 (edited) 5y
emmaturi My favorite city! 5y
See All 15 Comments
Cathythoughts Fabulous! Paris ♥️ 5y
Kalalalatja Lovely photos! 5y
Balibee146 Brill photos ❤️ 5y
Caroline2 Lovely!! 😍 5y
Reviewsbylola Jealous! 🥰 5y
Cinfhen Stunning 😍 5y
CaramelLunacy Lovely photos! 5y
105 likes1 stack add15 comments
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youneverarrived
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this 😁 It captures the essence of Shakespeare & Co. It‘s full of stories and anecdotes about the people that lived in the bookshop with him and filtered with little bits of info about the owner and the history of the shop. Hopefully get to visit in June 🤞 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #booked2019 #remindsyouofyourhappyplace

Cinfhen Very 😎 6y
JennyM That sounds great 👍 6y
Cinfhen But why bedbugs???? 6y
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TrishB It‘s great 👍🏻 6y
Cathythoughts Looks really fab ♥️👍🏻 6y
Rachbb3 Stacked! 6y
youneverarrived @Cinfhen I think coz the author describes it as being not the most hygienic place to stay but I dunno 🤷‍♀️ 6y
Cinfhen The idea of bedbugs FREAK ME OUT 🥺😳🥴 6y
BiblioLitten @Cinfhen I was bugged by the same question. 😖 6y
Cinfhen Hahahahaha “bugged” by the same question @BiblioLitten 😉😂😂😂 6y
90 likes5 stack adds12 comments
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youneverarrived
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I‘m off work this week so enjoying a bit reading on a morning ☀️

I think this is called Time Was Soft There in the US. Started it a couple days ago and I‘m really liking it. Bookshops are my happy place and this one in Paris is special 💗#remindsyouofyourhappyplace #booked2019

Leftcoastzen Love anything about Shakespeare and Company, forgot to put this one on TBR. 6y
LeahBergen I have this waiting on my shelf (under the other title). 👍🏻 6y
TrishB I brought under the other title too and read before I visited the shop 👍🏻 6y
73 likes4 stack adds3 comments
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MrBook
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This stack is what I've added to my White display.

Have you read any of these?

#LitsyLovesLibraries #MrBooksDisplays

ephemeralwaltz I've read Choke. It's a crazy ride😂😂 Palahniuk is ridiculous. 6y
ephemeralwaltz But I really enjoyed it! 6y
bookaholic1 I enjoyed THE SNOWMAN myself 6y
98 likes3 comments
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Lcsmcat
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This memoir made me want to visit this famous #bookstore, but not befriend the author. #readingresolutions @Jess7

SilversReviews Great photo and word placement. 7y
readinginthedark Interesting! 7y
51 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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Book_in_hands
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1. TGIF shows, My So Called Life
2. Time Was Soft There
3. Spicy foods
4. Opening swap packages!!!! Maybe a visit from some family
5.❤️
#friyayintro

HOTPock3tt TFIG!! ❤️👏man I miss those shows!! 7y
48 likes1 comment
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writerlibrarian
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Mehso-so

Started interesting enough but fell into the trap of bad autofiction and bellybutton gazing. The writing is average, the tone is uneven. I usually like memoir about writing, books and especially this part of Paris, if only because it has so much history, the neighborhood (St-Julien les Pauvres, the bookstore) is something Highlander fans love. But it's not enough to help the poor style of writing and squattered way the story is told. YMMV

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TrishB
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Pickpick

I love the romantic idea of upping sticks, running away and sleeping rough in Shakespeare and Co 💓 the actual thing - not so much!! No proper bathroom facilities, cockroaches in the kitchen, no money....
The book is a great little read about someone doing just that. Braver than me!

111 likes5 stack adds
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TrishB
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#currentread A little light interlude in the dark reading. Another story about Shakespeare and Co, with their bookmark 😀

Book_in_hands This is a great book!!! 7y
LeahBergen This is sitting on my TBR! 7y
TrishB @LeahBergen I want to live there 💜😀 7y
122 likes5 stack adds3 comments
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ReallyCoolLibrarian
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Mehso-so

I wanted this book to be...romantic, soft or opitimistic (as the cover/title may suggest) ,but i found it dark and gritty almost.
I know this is a memoir but i think there could have been a really nice fictional book in there.
I guess “don't judge a book by it's cover” really does go both ways, because that cover has me all over it.
#disappointing

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EvieBee
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Dottie isn't a fan of grooming, but I like to take a picture before the bows fall off. They usually last 15 minutes because of the horseplay when she gets home. #dogsoflitsy #dottie

BookishMarginalia Awwwwww! Adorable! 7y
MrBook 😻😻😻 7y
DGRachel Soooooo cute!!! 7y
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BrownGirlReading Adorable! 7y
Zelma She is super cute! 💕 7y
Ms_T She's a sweetie ❤️ 7y
BellaBookNook She looks so cute. Love the tipped head! 7y
mcipher So cute!! 💚 7y
TheBookAddict Cute!!! 😍😍😍 7y
Soubhiville Such sweet eyes! She looks adorable. 7y
LauraBrook Aww!!!! 7y
shanebeth precious!! 7y
Redwritinghood 💕💕🐶🐶 7y
Nute I love the head tilt. So precious!🐶💜 7y
CherylDeFranceschi 💕🐶 7y
LeahBergen Aww!! ❤️❤️ 7y
EvieBee @Nute Lol thank you! I asked if she wanted a treat right before snapping the pic! ☺️ 7y
88 likes19 comments
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TheKidUpstairs
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A Parisienne cafe. A glass of wine. A visit to Shakespeare and Co. Sounds like #paradise to me!
#lyricalapril @Cinfhen 🗼

scripturient That book is ❤️! 8y
TheKidUpstairs @scripturient it's a regular re-read for me. It warms my heart 😊 8y
Cinfhen Or heaven😇 8y
Tnovo Great choices 😁🤘 8y
35 likes6 stack adds4 comments
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MamaGina
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Interior shot of the book shop at the top of my bucket list, the famous Shakespeare & Company.
One Day ...

#getindie #litsy

MrBook 😳😱😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👌🏻 8y
annahenke Beautiful photo! 8y
scripturient Best bookshop ever!!! You should definitely go! :) 8y
34 likes3 comments
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scripturient
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It's #TBT! This week I chose this little gem of a memoir. It brought back so many memories of my own time in Paris and my frequent returns to this wonderful bookshop (Shakespeare & Co). ❤️

ImaginativeMom Oh! We spent time in Paris this summer and stopped by the shop. I have to admit I didn't love Paris, but I bet I'd still love the book. Thanks for the review! 😄 8y
bookishkai When I was in high school and traveled to Paris with our French club, a friend and I were determined to go to Shakespeare and Co. and just about walked out of Paris trying to find it because our map wasn't quite accurate. But once we got there it was so worth the walking! 8y
91 likes20 stack adds2 comments
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scripturient
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#24in48 #readathon #spinepoetry -- I crossed out one author name so it wouldn't interfere with the titles. Hope that's alright. 😊 Time was soft there:
the signature of all things [is]
pale fire,
infinite jest [in]
the center of winter.

LorneGuyland Pale Fire and Infinite Jest are two of my favorites. 8y
56 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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CarrieKitz
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Library sale find #1.

MrBook Nice find! 8y
CarrieKitz @MrBook Thanks! 8y
13 likes2 comments