The bouquinistes might conjure up romantic notions of a book-loving French population but the reality is a little more complex. Bouquinistes are regulated and apparently are required to allocate three out of every four boxes of merchandise to books. This apparently is causing them some financial hardship as many are located in areas frequented by non-francophone tourists and, given the choice, many would prefer to sell postcards and the omnipresent models of the Eiffel Tower that everyone takes home with them. [0].

[0] https://publishingperspectives.com/2010/10/paris-seine-side-...