Literary The Readers' Room by Antoine Laurain

sun surfer · 04-16-2021, 02:00 PM

'When the manuscript of a debut crime novel arrives at a Parisian publishing house, everyone in the readers’ room is convinced it’s something special. And the committee for France’s highest literary honour, the Prix Goncourt, agrees.

But when the shortlist is announced, there’s a problem for editor Violaine Lepage: she has no idea of the author’s identity. As the police begin to investigate a series of murders strangely reminiscent of those recounted in the book, Violaine is not the only one looking for answers. And, suffering memory blanks following an aeroplane accident, she’s beginning to wonder what role she might play in the story …

Antoine Laurain, bestselling author of The Red Notebook, combines intrigue and charm in this dazzling novel of mystery, love and the power of books.'

Goodreads

There are two phases of discussion. The first begins immediately and may contain conversations about anything pre-completion of the selection including reading progress, section thoughts, outside info, etc. The second begins on the 1st and also includes anything post-completion. These are recommended to help us discuss things in a similar timeframe but anyone can discuss any part or aspect at any time.

This is the MR Literary Club selection for April 2021. Everyone is welcome so feel free to start or join in the conversation at any time; the more the merrier!

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fantasyfan · 05-04-2021, 07:36 AM

I felt the book started rather slowly but when it ignited it was a real page-turned. The Goodreads review described its “intrigue and charm” and summarised The Readers’ Room as a “dazzling novel of mystery, love and the power of books.”I can agree with most of that. I really didn’t find much “charm” though. It was quite dark and sinister with some remarkable twists and turns in the plot. I thought at one point I had it all figured out. Of course, I didn’t.

It isn’t the kind of mystery novel I usually read—I’m a fan of Father Brown and Lord Peter Wimsey but I really enjoyed The Readers’s Room.

Bookworm_Girl · 05-04-2021, 12:25 PM

I really enjoyed this book. I read it very quickly because I couldn’t put it down. It was an unusual plot device the way the publishing house was involved. I was surprised by the twist too! I don’t want to reveal too many spoilers.

AuntiWiddershins · 05-06-2021, 11:01 PM

Reallistic description of publishers competing for the Goncourt book prize. The author name dropped enough authors to keep me reading for some time. Michel Houellebecq, the only author from the book I have seen interviewed, chain smokes and takes five minutes before he replies to questions. The cloud of smoke around him description is accurate.
The email exchanges between Voilaine and Camille were entertaining. /Very polite, yet desperate tone.
An enjoyable mystery with a lot of suprise events and misdirections. Thanks for the suggestion.

Bookworm_Girl · 05-07-2021, 12:06 AM

I’m glad that people enjoyed this book. I really enjoyed The Red Notebook by the author and so I had high hopes for this one. It was fun having the literary references throughout the book.

Thanks for the info on Michel Houellebecq - that was an interesting story.

sun surfer · 05-18-2021, 04:01 PM

This novel is a ridiculously fast read; I read it in one day! I haven't read a (non-audio) novel in one day in forever; it might normally take me days, a week or even longer to get through over 200 pages and here I've done it in hours.

I really enjoyed the book. I loved the setting and the literary references... who would've thought that the lit club would read a book with Stephen King, and not as an author but as a character, lol. Then there's also the talking Proust and all the others.

The book does get a little wild by the end and most everything still comes together, but I have one lingering (very spoilery) question I can't find any answer to. So Fabienne, excuse me Marie, wrote the book predicting these four deaths, and then they happen. So Vlad killed the first three, but it was completely unrelated since it was a drug deal situation gone sour. And then the last, Pierre, just ups and dies of a heart attack at the end. Yet, all their deaths were exactly as described in Sugar Flowers. How?

Is it insinuated that someone - Marie? Fabienne? who? - actually did set this all up somehow and we're supposed to gather that? Or is it simply supposed to all be completely coincidental/otherworldly interference by the dead Fabienne?

04-16-2021, 02:00 PM	#1
sun surfer languorous autodidact ✦ Posts: 4,235 Karma: 44637926 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: smiling with the rising sun Device: onyx boox poke 2 colour, kindle voyage	The Readers' Room by Antoine Laurain 'When the manuscript of a debut crime novel arrives at a Parisian publishing house, everyone in the readers’ room is convinced it’s something special. And the committee for France’s highest literary honour, the Prix Goncourt, agrees. But when the shortlist is announced, there’s a problem for editor Violaine Lepage: she has no idea of the author’s identity. As the police begin to investigate a series of murders strangely reminiscent of those recounted in the book, Violaine is not the only one looking for answers. And, suffering memory blanks following an aeroplane accident, she’s beginning to wonder what role she might play in the story … Antoine Laurain, bestselling author of The Red Notebook, combines intrigue and charm in this dazzling novel of mystery, love and the power of books.' Goodreads There are two phases of discussion. The first begins immediately and may contain conversations about anything pre-completion of the selection including reading progress, section thoughts, outside info, etc. The second begins on the 1st and also includes anything post-completion. These are recommended to help us discuss things in a similar timeframe but anyone can discuss any part or aspect at any time. This is the MR Literary Club selection for April 2021. Everyone is welcome so feel free to start or join in the conversation at any time; the more the merrier!

05-04-2021, 07:36 AM	#2
fantasyfan Wizard Posts: 1,368 Karma: 26886344 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Ireland Device: Kindle Oasis 3, 4G, iPad Air 2, iPhone IE	I felt the book started rather slowly but when it ignited it was a real page-turned. The Goodreads review described its “intrigue and charm” and summarised The Readers’ Room as a “dazzling novel of mystery, love and the power of books.”I can agree with most of that. I really didn’t find much “charm” though. It was quite dark and sinister with some remarkable twists and turns in the plot. I thought at one point I had it all figured out. Of course, I didn’t. It isn’t the kind of mystery novel I usually read—I’m a fan of Father Brown and Lord Peter Wimsey but I really enjoyed The Readers’s Room. Last edited by fantasyfan; 05-05-2021 at 06:12 PM.

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05-04-2021, 12:25 PM	#3
Bookworm_Girl E-reader Enthusiast Posts: 4,871 Karma: 36507503 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southwest, USA Device: Kindle Oasis 3; Kobo Aura One; iPad Mini 5	I really enjoyed this book. I read it very quickly because I couldn’t put it down. It was an unusual plot device the way the publishing house was involved. I was surprised by the twist too! I don’t want to reveal too many spoilers.

05-06-2021, 11:01 PM	#4
AuntiWiddershins Member Posts: 12 Karma: 306870 Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: On an island in the Pacific Device: Kobo auraHD	Reallistic description of publishers competing for the Goncourt book prize. The author name dropped enough authors to keep me reading for some time. Michel Houellebecq, the only author from the book I have seen interviewed, chain smokes and takes five minutes before he replies to questions. The cloud of smoke around him description is accurate. The email exchanges between Voilaine and Camille were entertaining. /Very polite, yet desperate tone. An enjoyable mystery with a lot of suprise events and misdirections. Thanks for the suggestion.

05-07-2021, 12:06 AM	#5
Bookworm_Girl E-reader Enthusiast Posts: 4,871 Karma: 36507503 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southwest, USA Device: Kindle Oasis 3; Kobo Aura One; iPad Mini 5	I’m glad that people enjoyed this book. I really enjoyed The Red Notebook by the author and so I had high hopes for this one. It was fun having the literary references throughout the book. Thanks for the info on Michel Houellebecq - that was an interesting story.

05-18-2021, 04:01 PM	#6
sun surfer languorous autodidact ✦ Posts: 4,235 Karma: 44637926 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: smiling with the rising sun Device: onyx boox poke 2 colour, kindle voyage	This novel is a ridiculously fast read; I read it in one day! I haven't read a (non-audio) novel in one day in forever; it might normally take me days, a week or even longer to get through over 200 pages and here I've done it in hours. I really enjoyed the book. I loved the setting and the literary references... who would've thought that the lit club would read a book with Stephen King, and not as an author but as a character, lol. Then there's also the talking Proust and all the others. The book does get a little wild by the end and most everything still comes together, but I have one lingering (very spoilery) question I can't find any answer to. So Fabienne, excuse me Marie, wrote the book predicting these four deaths, and then they happen. So Vlad killed the first three, but it was completely unrelated since it was a drug deal situation gone sour. And then the last, Pierre, just ups and dies of a heart attack at the end. Yet, all their deaths were exactly as described in Sugar Flowers. How? Is it insinuated that someone - Marie? Fabienne? who? - actually did set this all up somehow and we're supposed to gather that? Or is it simply supposed to all be completely coincidental/otherworldly interference by the dead Fabienne?

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