The Paris Library

The Paris Library
By Janet Skeslien Charles 
Published by Atria Books
Publication Date: June 20, 2020

Description:
Paris, 1939. Odile Souchet is obsessed with books and the Dewey Decimal System, which makes order out of chaos. She soon has it all – a handsome police officer beau, an English best friend, a beloved twin, and a job at the American Library in Paris, a thriving community of students, writers, diplomats, and book lovers. Yet when war is declared, there's also a war on words.

Montana, 1983. Widowed and alone, Odile suffers the solitary confinement of small-town life. Though most adults are cowed by her, the neighbor girl will not let her be. Lily, a lonely teenager yearning to break free of Froid is obsessed by the older French woman who lives next door and wants to know her secrets.

As the two become friends, Odile sees herself in Lily – the same love of language, the same longings, the same lethal jealousy. The Paris Library’s dual narratives explore the relationships that make us who we are – family and friends, first loves and favorite authors – in the fairy tale setting of the City of Light. It also explores the geography of resentment, the consequences of unspeakable betrayal, and what happens when the people we count on for understanding and protection fail us.

The wit, empathy, and deep research that brings The Paris Library to life also brings to light a cast of lively historical characters and a little-known chapter of World War II history: the story of the American librarian, Miss Reeder, who created the Soldiers’ Service to deliver books to servicemen, and who later faced the Nazi ‘Book Protector’ in order to keep her library open. She and her colleagues defied the Bibliotheksschutz by delivering books to Jewish readers after they were forbidden from entering the library. 

Review: I love WWII stories, and as a former librarian, of course I love libraries as well, so this was a novel I couldn't pass up. I love the fact that so much of the story revolved around the American library in Paris; it was so fascinating to see how the library operated and to get glimpses of the patrons and employees. I also loved how the book took place in two time periods, and how Odile tried to pass along some things she'd learned to Lily--and how Lily also imparted some wisdom to Odile. The writing has an elegance to it that makes me wish I were more eloquent; while I'm hopelessly blunt American in my language, I adored the graceful French feel of the book. The characters in the book were realistic, with both virtues and flaws, and while I wish it were possible to dig deeper into some of their backstories, what I did get to see of them made me want to scoop them off the pages and bring them into my life. They're also the sort of characters you desperately want to discuss with someone, so this is definitely a book to share with friends and book clubs! 

4.5 stars. 

I read an ARC provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.