Name: The Paris Library
ISBN: 9781432879686

Janet Skeslien Charles

Based on a true story, describes how a lonely teenager in 1983 Montana befriends an elderly neighbor and uncovers her past as a librarian at the American Library in Paris who joined the Resistance when the Nazis arrived.

The Paris Library

Cassandra Tang

Language is a gate that we can open and close on people. The words we use shape perception as do the books we read, the stories we tell each other and the stories we tell ourselves.

An instant New York Times, Washington Post, and USA TODAY bestseller—based on the true story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris during World War II—The Paris Library is a moving and unforgettable “ode to the importance of libraries, books, and the human connections we find within both” (Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author). Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet seems to have the perfect life with her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. When the Nazis march into the city, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Together with her fellow librarians, Odile joins the Resistance with the best weapons she has: books. But when the war finally ends, instead of freedom, Odile tastes the bitter sting of unspeakable betrayal. Montana, 1983: Lily is a lonely teenager looking for adventure in small-town Montana. Her interest is piqued by her solitary, elderly neighbor. As Lily uncovers more about her neighbor’s mysterious past, she finds that they share a love of language, the same longings, and the same intense jealousy, never suspecting that a dark secret from the past connects them. “A love letter to Paris, the power of books, and the beauty of intergenerational friendship” (Booklist), The Paris Libraryshows that extraordinary heroism can sometimes be found in the quietest places.

A Novel

Enjoyable read inspired by real events, ending felt rushed. 

a serviceable ww2 historical fiction that still manages to be rather light-hearted and pleasant; quick read, not the most impressionable, in one word: “fine!”

rin 🐇

i am very on the fence about this book. it deals with a quite sensitive subject, and yet i just don't care? i believe this is meant for an adult audience and yet the writing is so utterly juvenile. maybe this is a bit hypocritical of me since i read mostly young adult, but that's not what i expected from this book, nor the adult main character who is living in the middle of a WAR. in the 1940s. i really do think she'd be at least somewhat more mature than the modern day coed. 

and this is a very petty complaint, but i just don't think someone who lived their entire life in paris would romanticize it like a foreigner? yet odile speaks about paris the same way middle school farm girls from wisconsin would. exactly like the small town tween girl from the secondary timeline, in fact—they have very similar voices, if not the same exact voice. the only difference is that one just happens to be a few years older.

the secondary timeline seemed unnecessary to the main plot line and added random points i really didn't care for, but i will say that it nicely wraps up odile's storyline, which is good for me because i usually don't like ambiguous endings.

overall, very underwhelming, but maybe that's because i had very high expectations.

2.75/5

Based on the true World War II story of the American Library in Paris, an unforgettable novel about the power of books and the bonds of friendship—and the ordinary heroes who can be found in the most perilous times and the quietest places. Paris, 1939. Young, ambitious, and tempestuous, Odile Souchet has it all: Paul, her handsome police officer beau; Margaret, her best friend from England; Remy, her twin brother who she adores; and a dream job at the American Library in Paris, working alongside the library’s legendary director, Dorothy Reeder. When World War II breaks out, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear—including her beloved library. After the Nazi army marches into the City of Light and declares a war on words, Odile and her fellow librarians join the Resistance with the best weapons they have: books. Again and again, they risk their lives to help their fellow Jewish readers, but by war’s end, Odile tastes the bitter sting of unspeakable betrayal. Montana, 1983. Odile’s solitary existence in gossipy small-town Montana is unexpectedly interrupted by her neighbor Lily, a lonely teenager craving adventure. As Lily uncovers more about Odile’s mysterious past, they find they share not only a love of language but also the same lethal jealousy. Odile helps Lily navigate the troubled waters of adolescence by always recommending the right book at the right time, never suspecting that Lily will be the one to help her reckon with her own terrible secret. Based on the true story of the American Library in Paris, The Paris Library is a mesmerizing and captivating novel about the people and the books that make us who we are, for good and for bad, and the courage it takes to forgive.

Very well written historical fiction. I enjoyed reading it.

Yega

Melissa Palmer

Excellent historical fiction novel. Set during World War II as well as 1980s Montana, this book tells the story of Odiele, a young librarian. Well written, I highly recommend it.

Charlsy Sekyere

⭐️4-4.5

Beautifully written, this book flows smoothly.

A great book with an impressive, diverse cast of side characters and an intriguing way of weaving Odile and Lily's timelines and stories together, exploring romance, friendship, family, courage, betrayal, and how literature can unite us, all the while fascinatingly combining real-life facts and fiction about World War II and the establishment of the American Library in Paris.

In some parts of the book, I felt like the pace was a bit sluggish, particularly at the beginning. I also wasn't as interested in both timelines equally, since I enjoyed Odile's storyline more at times and Lily's storyline more at others. Although these are minor issues, they don't detract from my enjoyment of the book, which is without a doubt one of my favourite historical fiction books this year.

Vicky (A City Girl's Thoughts)

Thank you Netgalley, Atria Books, Simon & Schuster, and Janet Skeslien Charles for choosing me to review this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I'm a huge fan of WWII historical fiction so I couldn't pass up this opportunity to review this! On top of that, I'm also an avid library user and supporter, so two of my favorite topics in one book? Yes! I enjoyed Janet's exploration of the different employees who worked at the American Library in Paris, their quirks, and Odile's (the protagonist's) all-conuming love for her work and friends at the American Library in Paris. Told in alternating point-of-views: Lily, an ambitious, lovable, and curious teen who's Odlie's neighbor in 1980's Montana, USA, and Odile herself. 

Lily's growth from her middle to high school years are influenced by Odile's wisdom as she helps Lily navigate adolesence through her mistakes she made as a teen herself. Although she didn't experience the brunt of WWII, her run-ins with the Nazis on-the-job shaped her morals and ethics as she dealt with secret spies, anti-semitism, and her friend's questionable loyalty to the Allies. Assumptions and hesitation led to some hiccups in her relationships but she used those lessons to teach Lily how to deal with situations similar to her's, such as jealousy. The writing isn't hard to follow; there's a few typos at the beginning but other than that it's fine. 

Odile, Lily, Odile's family, Felix (Odile's boyfriend), Mary Louise, Odile's second husband, and the residents of Montana are the only fictional characters in this story, but just because they're fictional doesn't mean I agree with their justifications as a teachable moment. For example - this will be a spoiler but its worth mentioning - Odile tricks her to-be husband into thinking she's single when she's currently married to Felix, all because he beat up her friend for having an affair with a Nazi. There's also an emotional disconnect between the reader and Odile's WWII story. Yes, she's probably blessed to have escaped a lot of violence and gore under the Nazis, but I didn't feel the thriller-esque feel promised, even when she physically ran into them twice. But other than that it's a great story.

Vilandra

I really loved this book. Well-written, great characters, and an interesting historical subject.

Michelle García

Not bad. But not great either. I felt it was very lukewarm. Sadly meh

Nadine 

Interesting look at the continuing services of the library during WW2 & a very human story of loyalties and betrayal

Judy McClure

Jordan Heustis

This book was very enjoyable. I have 2 things I didn’t like about it. I’m picky about books that chance POV and I didn’t love it in this book. I also felt like the ending dragged on. Other than that, the book was fantastic! It was so interesting to read about WW2 from characters that weren’t people who are Jewish nor were they prisoners. They were just a regular group of people living in France while it was occupied by Germany. I also loved that it centered around a library!

Pam Sartain

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles is set in Paris during World War 2, and is the story of the librarians at the American Library in Paris.

We meet Odile who is young and in love, living with her parents and brother in Paris in 1939. She has a young man who is courting her, and works at the American Library, except the Nazis have taken control of Paris.

In Montana in 1983, Lily is a teenager, whose mother is dying and her neighbour Odile is there at a time when she is most needed.

We jump between these two stories, learning more about Odile and Lily, and what happened in Paris and Montana. This is a well written book, with stories of friendship, love and loss. 

 The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles was published on 9th February 2021, and is available on Amazon , Waterstones (signed edition!) and Bookshop.org .

You can follow Janet Skeslien Charles on Twitter and her website .

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to John Murray Press .

Paige Green

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: The Paris Library

Author: James Skeslien Charles

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 4/5

Recommended For...: historical fiction fans, library lovers

Publication Date: February 9, 2021

Genre: Historical Fiction

Recommended Age: 16+ (Language, Antisemitism, Hitler mentions, War, Grief, Sexual content)

Publisher: Atria Books

Pages: 368

Synopsis: Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet has it all: her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Together with her fellow librarians, Odile joins the Resistance with the best weapons she has: books. But when the war finally ends, instead of freedom, Odile tastes the bitter sting of unspeakable betrayal.

Montana, 1983: Lily is a lonely teenager looking for adventure in small-town Montana. Her interest is piqued by her solitary, elderly neighbor. As Lily uncovers more about her neighbor’s mysterious past, she finds that they share a love of language, the same longings, and the same intense jealousy, never suspecting that a dark secret from the past connects them.

A powerful novel that explores the consequences of our choices and the relationships that make us who we are—family, friends, and favorite authors—The Paris Library shows that extraordinary heroism can sometimes be found in the quietest of places.

Review: Oh my goodness this book completely swept me away. I am a huge lover of anything that takes place during world war II. The story was very well plotted out and the characters are very well developed. I also felt that the world building was very well done. I was instantly hooked upon starting the book and I wasn't able to put it down until I finished it.

However, there were some moments in the book that I felt like the author could have went more into the whores of world war II and what was happening with the Jewish people, but they didn't. The book is very sweet, but it doesn't have that emphasis on not repeating the same mistakes that were made to start that war. So if you're looking for a book with heavy emphasis on the horrors of world war II, then this isn't your book. But if you're looking for a book that set during that time period and that can show you what it was like for people that were non-jewish, non Romanian, non-LGBT+, etc then this would probably be a good book for you.

Verdict: It was good, but I wished it showed more of what happened in the war.

Heather Harrington

*I received a copy of this via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Odile Souchet lives a charmed life. She landed her dream job at the American Library in Paris, she’s courting a handsome police officer, and she has a loving family even if her father drives her crazy most of the time. Odile believes she’s on track for living the life that she’s always wanted, but everything changes once war breaks out and the Nazi’s take over Paris. With her twin brother off fighting, Odile takes it upon herself to help out at home wherever possible. She and the rest of the staff at the Library join forces to help smuggle books to those deemed “unfit” to enter the premises and to soldiers all over to keep up morale. When the war comes to an end, Odile is hopeful that the horrors and heartbreaks she’s endured are finally over, but unfortunately, instead of her happily ever after she’s left with only more betrayal from those closest to her.

Lily is a lonely teenager in a small town in Montana. She longs for adventure and the world outside the wide stretches of farmland that surround her. Nothing piques Lily’s curiosity more than her elderly neighbor, Odile. Lily is fascinated by this strange, solitary, elegant woman. The pair strike up an unusual friendship based on their mutual love of stories, languages, and the same longing to live their lives to the fullest. The more time they spend together, the more they start to view one another as family, but will their newfound foundation start to crumble after a dark secret from the past comes to light?

I’m a sucker for books about libraries, and couple that with the fact that this is based around the true history of the librarians at the American Library in Paris, and you’ve got me hook, line and sinker. I enjoyed how this was set in two different timelines and places, both Paris during WWII and Montana in the 1980s, and also from the POVs of a young, ambitious Odile and Lily, an awkward teen. From a historical point, I did enjoy Odile’s chapters more because it was fascinating reading about Paris during the war and the library itself. These chapters especially came across as very atmospheric and heartbreaking, but also hopeful. Lily was a fine enough character and I liked seeing her grow and develop as the book went on, but she just didn’t interest me as much as Odile did. If you enjoy well-written stories about friendship, family, and the power of books, I’d definitely recommend it.

Missy Gaile Geronimo

** spoiler alert **
           One of the best historical fiction book I have read! It showed us how people struggle during the war, how people were discriminated and banned based on their race or religion. Nicely written book with a wonderful closure, but I think Odile’s ending with Buck was a little bit rushed!

Jacklyn O’Brien 

** spoiler alert **
           This book was wonderful! I am a lover of libraries, so this just made me love them even more. Well paced, with terrible sadness at the end. The only thing I would change is having Odile go back to the library years later, not even to see friends or family, but just to be in her favorite place. Other than that, this book was perfect!

Sharon Steinman

This was such a great read, I would highly recommend reading this book. I loved the way the story unfolded in the telling of Odile's life while she was a woman in her 20s. 

We also get to meet Odile through the eyes of Lily her young neighbour who has a strong curiousity about Odile. in her senior years in the United States. I truly enjoy reading historical fiction books where I have an opportunity to learn new things about about our history.

Heather Ellis

I received an e-copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really interesting premise! As a historical fiction lover I’ve read a lot of books about the Second World War and this was pretty unique. The market of Second World War fiction is quite saturated lately, and usually much darker. This book had a good balance of light and dark.

The Paris Library follows Odile, who is a new librarian at the American Library in Paris. In this library is a cast of unique employees and subscribers who bring Odile joy everyday. As someone who loves libraries, this was a really great part of the book. Odile and her friends find their lives forever changed when the Second World War broke out and the ever increasing Nazi presence. Friendships and families are tested and choices have important ramifications during the war and after.

Odile’s story is punctuated by Lily, a seventh grader in Froid, Montana, 1983. Odile and Lily’s stories intersect, as Odile also finds herself in America after the war.

Overall, this is one of the lighter historical fictions I’ve read about the occupation of Paris. There are also the similar themes that have occurred in other historical fiction on this time period. I would have liked to see more of the secondary characters developed throughout the book. You were bombarded with so many characters at the library that it was sometimes hard to keep track who they were.

Erin 

I'm really disappointed by this one. Unfortunately it's not even a case where the book was just different than I anticipated. The story seems to be exactly what I thought it would be, it's just not well-written. It's simple, plain, and boring. Characters have no personality. It tells us, not shows us, and that's exhausting. There's too much information we don't need to enjoy the story, and not enough that we do. It's weird and odd and doesn't make sense. I question nearly every action of every character, with just an overarching sigh and "why?"

Our main character Odile is obsessed with the Dewey Decimal System, which I suppose is the author's way of telling us that she's "nerdy" and "quirky". You know, ~different than other girls~. But's it's emphasised in such a weird way. Odile goes around categorising everything. She looks at a dog. That's this number. She looks at a lamppost. That's this number. She has a conversation, and has to tell the other person exactly where that thing would be filed away. Frankly, it's weird, and boring, and so exhausting having to read about it all the time. Every few paragraphs we get another tidbit as to what number corresponds to what subject - even things that have nothing to do with the story. Constantly. I get why the author put it in. It's a way to have this underlying thread throughout your story that doesn't really have anything to do with the plot but connects you from beginning to end. However, the author should have done a bit of research on it before deciding to make it such a big part of her story. The problem about the DDS is that it has racist undertones, is heavily biased to Christianity and the Western World, as well as has an extremely demeaning, outdated, and frankly disorganised treatment of LGBTQ+ issues, black history, religion, etc. etc. All of this is hardly unexpected, given the era in which it was created. My complaint is not that they're using it or even that it's mentioned. I am not about to hold history to modern standards. I am, however, going to hold the author to modern standards, and if she had done a little research on the DDS at all, she would have discovered how problematic it is, and perhaps would have written her main character to be less obsessed with it. Yes, they would have used it (a lot of libraries even today use it). BUT, as a 21st century woman with the internet at your fingertips, it didn't need to be part of your character's personality. We are better than that. 

The misogyny is also a big problem for me. Again, I understand that this is the 30s/40s, it was not as common for women to hold and/or want jobs, but I wanted to hurl my e-reader across the room every time Odile's father opened his mouth. It was so tiring hearing about how deeply no one wanted her to have a job. It was insulting, frankly, rather than just being opposed. Her treatment by her own family in this regard was just awful, I didn't want to read any more of it. There's one particular line between two characters:

"Ma fille, women have a short shelf life."
I giggled, He always knew how to cheer me up.

Honestly, this is something I would expect from a male writer, not a female one. I can't read a book that has this underlying theme throughout the whole thing. Again, I understand that things were different for women then. I'm not saying every character needs to be a raging feminist. But, the author doesn't need to write it so blatantly. It's another example of something being told rather than shown, and it made reading it wholly unenjoyable.

I don't know why the author chose 1980s Montana as her present-day time and location. Maybe she explains it somewhere, who knows. But I can't think of anything less interesting. In these kind of books where a historical period is juxtaposed with a "modern" one, the modern one is always the less developed one, and it also diminishes the experience of reading. I did not like Lily at all. She was insufferable, just as Odile was. Maybe that's why they get along so well. To be fair, I don't think it's the character's fault she's unlikable. It's the way she is written, which is reflective of the whole book. It is very much a telling rather than showing book, which no one wants. There's far too much information that we don't need, and not enough of the information we do need. The interactions between Lily and Odile are cringe-worthy, especially when Lily begins to interview her and ask her questions. Tact, anyone? It's an awful idea to go straight in and ask deeply personal questions about one's experiences about WWII, everyone knows this. You have to work your way up to it. It feels like the author is so desperate to get to the exciting plot of her story that she's abandoned the gradual buildup that a story like this needs. If you're going to write a piece of WWII historical fiction, you need to know how those books work. You can't just make it up, otherwise you end up with a book like this that disregards the experiences of what people have done. I know it's fiction. I know it's not real. But it's historical fiction, for crying out loud. The point is to be realistic and still relatable. This was neither.

It may sound like I'm being overdramatic, and I'm sure there are people who will really enjoy this, because whether a book is well-written or not doesn't matter to them. But it should matter to the author. Please, do your research on basic things, like how to make characters appeal to your audience, the problematic nature of something that you want your character to be obsessed with, and please don't try to make a historical fiction novel sound modern and contemporary. It's historical for a reason, and if you write one, I guarantee that your intended audience will want it to sound historical instead of a story that could have taken place last year. It could have been really well done, I just don't think the author had the right intentions with it. Maybe it will be someone's first delve into historical fiction, where they will hopefully search for and find better written books. I wanted this to be good. I'm quite sad that it wasn't.

This is the part where I'm going to lose a lot of people (if I haven't already): I didn't actually finish the book, but you may have already been able to tell. After reading few other reviews, I now see that this is based on a true story, and that the author once worked at the American Library in Paris, where she heard the story. I don't know how much of this book is fabrication and how much is truth. I do give her a bit more credit with research and having worked in a library, but most of my opinions still stand. I still don't think it's well-written. I don't think there should be excited emphasis on the Dewey Decimal System, and I think the original story itself was given the wrong treatment. However, I think for people who don't typically like historical fiction this book will work, and will work for those who don't really mind if it isn't well written and just want something entertaining without too much emotion too (that just ain't me).

i received an advanced copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Dakota Gigout

It has been a long time since I stayed up all night to finish a book! 

Based on real events and people, this story genuinely captures what it is to live. I personally love when the protagonist has flaws. Odile is very much human and makes mistakes. We watch her succeed, we watch her fail those around her. Then, we watch as she mentors Lily and gives her the key to succeed in life as Odile did not. 

This story encapsulates so many emotions! There was not a single page in which I was bored. 


Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC

Catalina Petre

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book contains all my favourites: a book about books/library, Paris, Historical Fiction, strong female characters, dual perspective. 
The Paris Library is a historical fiction book centred around Odile and the American Library in Paris. It takes place during the Second World War, mostly during the German occupation of Paris. The novel is based on real facts and some of the characters are based on real people. Odile is a librarian who does everything she can to get books to her subscribers, even when she risks her own life. Under the German occupation of Paris certain groups of people had their freedoms removed, including the ability to go to the library. Odile and her other colleagues will deliver books to these people, to soldiers on the front and in hospitals, defying the Germans, even the Gestapo. 
The book is written from the perspective of Odile, during the Second World War, and from Lily’s perspective, in Montana around 1980s. Lily and Odile form an unexpected friendship who benefits both. Odile is like an older, experienced sister, who guides and supports Lily during some difficult moments on her life, while Lily rescues her new French friend from a life of solitude and more.
The book is very well written and researched. The story only fully unfolds in the last chapter and I shed tears. 
I have very much enjoyed this book.

PARIS, 1939Odile Souchet is obsessed with books, and her new job at the American Library in Paris - with its thriving community of students, writers and book lovers - is a dream come true. When war is declared, the Library is determined to remain open. But then the Nazis invade Paris, and everything changes.In Occupied Paris, choices as black and white as the words on a page become a murky shade of grey - choices that will put many on the wrong side of history, and the consequences of which will echo for decades to come.MONTANA, 1983Lily is a lonely teenage desperate to escape small-town Montana. She grows close to her neighbour Odile, discovering they share the same love of language, the same longings. But as Lily uncovers more about Odile's mysterious past, she discovers a dark secret, closely guarded and long hidden.Based on the true Second World War story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris, this is an unforgettable novel of romance, friendship, family, and of heroism found in the quietest of places.

A Novel of Courage and Betrayal in Occupied Paris

Thanks NetGalley for a copy of The Paris Library.
This book contains all my favourites: a book about books/library, Paris, Historical Fiction, strong female characters, dual perspective. 
The Paris Library is a historical fiction book centred around Odile and the American Library in Paris. It takes place during the Second World War, mostly during the German occupation of Paris. The novel is based on real facts and some of the characters are based on real people. Odile is a librarian who does everything she can to get books to her subscribers, even when she risks her own life. Under the German occupation of Paris certain groups of people had their freedoms removed, including the ability to go to the library. Odile and her other colleagues will deliver books to these people, to soldiers on the front and in hospitals, defying the Germans, even the Gestapo. 
The book is written from the perspective of Odile, during the Second World War, and from Lily’s perspective, in Montana around 1980s. Lily and Odile form an unexpected friendship who benefits both. Odile is like an older, experienced sister, who guides and supports Lily during some difficult moments on her life, while Lily rescues her new French friend from a life of solitude and more.
The book is very well written and researched. The story only fully unfolds in the last chapter and I shed tears. 
I have very much enjoyed this book.

The Paris Library

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