*** (28/01/2016 04:47)
Love the shop, but absolutely despise the shopkeeper. Reading the other reviews here, it really does feel like piling on, but the woman in question truly is deserving of any slam and re-slam she may receive. As Simon and Garfunkel sang oh so well, "Heaven holds a place for those who pray.", and the proprietor of Librairie des Abesses better be prayin' a-plenty!

*** (06/05/2011 00:56)
My local bookshop.

*** (23/07/2017 16:07)
Not a huge selection, but cool interior.

Near my house, there is a bookshop maintained by 3 or 4 people, all incredibly cultivated. Every 2 weeks, I go to find something new and entrust myself entirely to their advice.

She spend the entire transaction yapping with another woman behind the till. as well.

*** (23/04/2015 01:54)
Deserves zero stars, but the poll won't allow it.

I went out because it was only 10 cents, but she seemed me xxxxxx.

*** (10/05/2017 17:03)
The woman working in the book store is awful. I went in to browse the culinary section. I was not greeted as she was too busy talking on the phone. When I was acknowledged, she was very brusque when she demanded, "What do you want?!" I had already found the section I wanted, but she rushed to me so quickly that she bumped into me and stepped on my foot. I was startled when she ran into me and apologized, stepping back away from her. In doing so, I knocked three books off a table behind me. She started to yell at me, exclaiming, "Oh my god, your bag, off, OFF!!!" I quickly and quietly picked up the books and returned them neatly to the table, apologizing again although I never would have disturbed the books had she not rudely slammed into me. She again demanded to know what I wanted, and I told her cookbooks, to which she gestured in front of us. She then proceeded to yell at me again to remove my bag, which I did. I had not done so after the first demand because I was so flustered and overwhelmed and anxious. I ended up staring at the books trying not to cry out of frustration, humiliation, and anger. I then politely left with a "merci, au revoir" and tears in my eyes. Fortunately, this was my only bad experience in France, and all others were very nice and helpful. This woman was truly a witch, though. I don't recommend going to her store, whether French or not, as someone so rude does not deserve your business. Instead, I found my cookbooks at Librairie Fontaine: 48 rue de Lévis. I much prefer the kind, warm people at that bookstore and appreciate their hospitality.

I think that if you're a foreign customer, she'll laugh at your face.

*** (11/04/2013 06:11)
I saw a book with pictures, where kids can paint, and I went into the bookshop to buy it. When I tried to speak to the shop assistance in English, she said very angry "Only in french!!" Then, I made signs to explain her that I wanted her to buy me the book.

*** (07/09/2013 01:45)
Having read other reviews on this site and others, I can only conclude that Marie Rose enjoys being nasty to people. She is rude, ignorant, has no manners and turns away genuine customers who have a love of books. The book shop is lovely, the woman is vile.

It costed 4,90 € and I paid her with a 5 € note. She catched the note, sat down without said me anithing and started to whistle. I was looking at her for some seconds waiting her to return me 10 cents, but she continued whistling.

*** (08/12/2017 17:49)
My husband and I are visiting from Canada and we have had a lovely experience in Paris. However on our last day we went into this book store to buy a book for his nephew so we were looking at the children’s books when the owner who is literally the most disgusting vile woman I have ever encountered came up to me and started yelling “what do you want!? Stop touching and opening the books!!” I looked at her and just said you do not need to be rude and she exclaimed “the books are delicate!” And I proceeded to tell her I was 30years old and could handle touching a children’s book. We left and did not buy the 25 euro book we had picked up. Just awful. It makes me sad that someone so alike to Satan is running such a cute little bookstore. Save yourself the heartache and avoid this place at all costs!

I suppose some people would find this endearing; I think it's a tedious waste of time to deal with people such as her. Still smarting over that whole Waterloo thing with us, I suppose.

Amusing to see how many other people here find her rude -- both in English and in French. I guess if you want the French Bernard Black experience, this nasty vache is the gal for you.

Visited on 21 April 2015 -- spoke French to the proprietor, who did not like how I spoke, screaming at me in English that I didn't know French. Quite rude to me when I asked, again in French, after a book I was looking for -- again, that I was wasting her time because I was an English speaker. I did manage to pay for the book, and told her that she was very rude -- and that I have been speaking and reading French for 40 years. Her reply, 'So what?' When informed I would be writing a bad review and warning people away from her shop, I was rewarded with a very Gallic shrug.