Map Monday #1

Hello and welcome to my brand new feature ‘Map Monday’. This was inspired by the current pandemic and lockdowns and the inability to travel. I will share one book each week with you that is set somewhere different to where I live. I’ll chat a bit about the book and throw some interesting facts out there about the place. I hope you enjoy travelling through books with me…

This week I’ve picked ‘Paris by Starlight’ by Robert Dinsdale – our February #TsundokuSquad book club read. I have never actually been to Paris, despite my best friend moving there 2 years ago (shameful I know!!)

Book Synopsis:

Every night on their long journey to Paris from their troubled homeland, Levon’s grandmother has read to them from a very special book. Called The Nocturne, it is a book full of fairy stories and the heroic adventures of their people who generations before chose to live by starlight.

And with every story that Levon’s grandmother tells them in their new home, the desire to live as their ancestors did grows. And that is when the magic begins…

Nobody can explain why nocturnal water dogs start appearing at the heels of every citizen of Paris-by-Starlight like the loyal retainers they once were. There are suddenly night finches in the skies and the city is transforming: the Eiffel Tower lit up by strange ethereal flowers that drink in the light of the moon.

But not everyone in Paris is won over by the spectacle of Paris-by-Starlight. There are always those that fear the other, the unexplained, the strangers in our midst. How long can the magic of night rub up against the ordinariness of day? How long can two worlds occupy the same streets and squares before there is an outright war?

Some Facts I Found Interesting About Paris:

• Paris is one of the most visited cities in Europe and was originally a Roman City called “Lutetia” until 630AD- something I did not know.
• The Louvre is the worlds biggest arm museum – To see every piece of artwork (spending 30 seconds at each you’d be there for 35 days.
• It is believed there is no stop signs in the entire city. The only one dissapeared around 2012.
• The Eiffel Tower has 1665 steps – I’m not sure if this is much more or less than I imagined.
• Paris has it’s own statue of liberty.
• It has 830 libraries – yes – 830 separate libraries! A bookworms dream!
• In 1984 they found a crocodile in the sewer system!!
• There are at least 14 ‘ghost’ metro stations, which aren’t used (except as a film set)

Have you read Paris by Starlight? Or visited Paris? – drop me a comment!