> The warren-like 17th-century building has played host to readings by authors ... James Joyce (who some claim is buried in the cellar)

That's just...a very Paris rumor to circulate. :) Especially in the vicinity of Notre-Dame and the catacombs.

My Shakespeare and Co. anecdote: I visited them February 2020, just before the lockdowns (in fact, the Monday following my visit, the Louvre employees would go on strike due to COVID19). I was musing about whether or not their interior layout is intentional or accidental. It seemed to me it was a maze of nooks to just rest, read, or just marvel and soak in the ambiance. It's a cozy experience you don't have to pay for to just sit on a couch, browse a book, or observe people in there.

(I did end up buying two books, because how could I not! You can get it stamped with the store logo on the cashier so you can show it off to other bibliophiles.)

If you ever find yourself overwhelmed doing tourist-y things in Paris, find Shakespeare and Co. There is/was also a nice cafe outside, you can try out.