The Little Paris Bookshop

Chapter 37 is a letter from Perdu to Catherine. Perdu tells Catherine that he has taken a job at the local bookshop and is fixing up a small house in exchange for rent. Perdu has settled into life in Sanary-sur-Mer; he knows the locals’ patterns and describes them in great detail to Catherine. Cuneo and Samy come to visit him for a week. Samy urges Perdu to take the time he needs to heal.

Swimming in the ocean every day helps Perdu manage his sorrow. One morning while he is swimming, he dozes off and dreams of Manon. He apologizes to her and then sees himself through her eyes, all the versions of himself throughout his lifetime. He wakes from his dream feeling energetic and angry. He rages, shouting as if he were shouting at Manon for not calling him to tell him that she was dying.

Over the following days and weeks, Perdu cries less often. He keeps a regular routine, working in the bookshop, swimming, and playing boule.

Perdu earns the nickname “the book epicure,” because he has started to think about books like they are food.

For the first time, Perdu calls Catherine instead of writing. He doesn’t want to leave her guessing about how he feels although he is also not yet ready to start a relationship.