The Paris Library: A Novel

The Paris Library: A Novel by Janet Skeslien Charles is a beautifully crafted and emotionally resonant story that transports readers to the heart of World War II Paris. This novel is a testament to the power of literature and the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. The narrative skillfully intertwines two timelines: the story of Odile Souchet, a librarian at the American Library in Paris during the Nazi occupation, and Lily, a young woman in the 1980s who uncovers Odile's past. The dual perspectives provide a rich and multifaceted exploration of the impacts of war on personal lives and the enduring power of books to offer solace and hope. Charles’ writing is both evocative and engaging, painting vivid portraits of Paris during a tumultuous period while also delving deep into the emotional and personal struggles of her characters. Odile's story is particularly compelling, showcasing her bravery and determination as she navigates the challenges of war and fights to protect the library and its priceless collections. The book also excels in its portrayal of the significance of literature and the bonds formed through shared love of reading. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and their journeys are portrayed with empathy and depth. The exploration of themes such as friendship, love, and sacrifice adds layers of richness to the story. The Paris Library is not only a historical novel but also a heartfelt tribute to the resilience of individuals and the enduring power of stories. It is a beautifully written and deeply moving read that will captivate anyone who appreciates compelling historical fiction and the timeless impact of literature. Overall, The Paris Library is a must-read for fans of historical fiction and anyone interested in stories of courage and the transformative power of books. Janet Skeslien Charles has delivered a remarkable novel that is both touching and unforgettable. Highly recommended!

I rarely read secular fiction. This isn't because I'm a prude, although some examples certainly do go heavy on the content I don't think I should read. No, it is simply that I'm picky about what I read, Christian and secular, and the latter tends to disappoint. But The Paris Library did the exact opposite. As noted, it's perfect for book lovers, of which I am one. It's also a well-written, rich, and unique book, period. First off, the portrayal of the American Library in Paris (ALP) is spot-on. From the front doors to the Afterlife, the Library is every bookworm's dream encapsulated in the written word. The books are a big part of that, but more, it's because the Library provides a home and community for Odile and her fellow librarians and subscribers. A great workplace will provide both, and those are rare today. I had one once, in a writing/tutoring center, and so visiting the ALP felt like coming home in more ways than one. This also helped me root even harder for Odile and the others as they worked to save books and bring literature, and hope, to subscribers who couldn't come any longer. As with any great book, the characters pop off the page. Odile is my favorite, partly because we're both bookworms but mostly because she is so human. She could be considered a World War II heroine, which fiction has plenty of these days. To consider her such would not be out of line at all. At the same time, she makes horrible mistakes and misinformed choices. She erects walls of unforgiveness and hides behind elegance and an attempt at perfection, like real people do, like I admit I do sometimes. You root for her precisely because she is imperfect, because she either walks among you or lives in your mirror. I didn't identify as much with Lily, but she was a breath of fresh air amid the heaviness of the rest of the book. She deals with some heavy stuff, and Janet Charles does a great job exploring those issues. Yet, Lily embodies what it meant to be a typical teen in the 1980s. I especially enjoyed her time period because I was born at the end of the decade and enjoyed seeing it through the eyes of teens and adults. Yet, I also enjoyed Lily for the ways in which she wasn't typical, or the ways she set herself apart and made a life for herself in small ways. The scene with the dove gray beret touched me in an odd but appreciated way, and I loved watching her relationship with Eleanor grow. The other characters are wonderful, too, especially the women. Margaret, Miss Reeder, Eleanor, Brenda...they each have their own stories and somehow, they all fit together, even when you wonder how or if they should. The male characters, too, are more fleshed out than I usually see in a novel like this. Pryce-Jones and Nerciat are funny, annoying, and comforting in their presence by turns. Boris provides a great perspective on WWII because he's already lived through the Russian Revolution. Remy provides gravitas and grounds the story in the reality of war without the overbearing sense you sometimes get from books like this. And I loved the twists with both Paul and Papa Joubert. Finally, I appreciated how Janet Charles probed some of the lesser-known aspects of World War II, such as, of course, the saving and banning of books, the "crow letters," and the way people from different countries came together to fight on the home front. I appreciated her approach to Nazi and civilian relations through Margaret and Dr. Fuchs, because again, that exploration isn't common. Most of all, I applaud Janet for presenting World War II through the lens of, "This is what it's really like to live through war as a civilian. It blows your life apart, and yet you keep going." I did question the constant shifts in POV, and whether certain POVs needed to be in the book. That is, a person's POV would be given once, and then you'd never see it again. I really wanted the story to focus only on Odile and Lily, and perhaps more of their inter-generational, international friendship. The end got a little tedious too, since Odile went back over information readers already knew and circled back to the first time she met Lily. I wasn't sure I needed to see it again, although I understand the choice. Overall then, The Paris Library is a solid, rich 4.5 that gets my definite recommendation. I'll be looking for more books like this, from all time periods. Book lovers unite!

The Paris Library combines fact and fiction to shed light on a remarkable chapter of World War II history. Based on the real American Library in Paris and the librarians who continued to serve readers during the Nazi occupation, the novel highlights a quiet yet meaningful act of resistance — delivering books to Jewish subscribers when they were forbidden to enter public spaces. Author Janet Skeslien Charles worked at the library herself, and it shows. The Paris chapters are rich with accurate detail about daily life under occupation — rationing, censorship, vigilance, and the moral choices ordinary people faced. The story also includes a later timeline in Montana, which creates a thoughtful connection between generations and shows how history lives on in personal memory. This is not a story of battlefront heroics; it’s a tribute to those who protected knowledge, dignity, and community when it mattered most. A compelling and accessible read for anyone interested in France, World War II history, or stories of quiet bravery. Highly recommend.

A wonderful story of family, friendship, and love during a time of war. I enjoyed the history and friendship formed between a young girl and her elderly neighbor.

A friend recommended this book when he learned how much I appreciate stories set in WWII. I'm glad I listened to him, as the "based on true events" novel has everything I appreciate: a coming-of-age story, a problematic love story, the bonds of friendship, people making difficult choices, and, of course, a devotion to books. The only thing it's missing is a cat as a main character. As the summary makes clear, this novel is told in two times: Odile, a young woman who in 1939 gets her dream job as librarian at the American Library in Paris, and Lily, a girl stuck in small town mid-America in 1983. Early in the book, Lily encounters the older Odile in her Montana town, and the narrative shifts back and forth. It creates an effect of mystery, because as a reader we share Lily's curiosity about Lily's wartime experiences. It'd be too easy to give spoilers, so I'll say... The book earns its accolades. It successfully brings us into a time and place we don't expect -- life during the Nazi occupation -- with people whom it's easy to care about. The library itself isn't just a setting; it's almost a character on its own. I kept wanting to turn pages until the end.

This is a book for bibliophiles for it is written about books, brave librarians and people who love to read. Threaded throughout the narrative are lines from works the reader knows by authors like Shakespeare, Dostoevsky, Austen, Steinbeck, Bronte, Hemingway, Dickens and Kafka to name a few. It is like meeting old friends in a new, but still familiar setting: a library. This is no ordinary library, but the American Library of Paris (ALP) founded in 1920. The story begins in Paris in 1939 as Odile Souchet goes for a job interview at the ALP. She loves books, reading and the Dewey Decimal System. She gets the job and interacts with a dynamic and quirky group of coworkers and subscribers from around the world. The story is based on real people and events. With courage, the library staff defies the enforced censorship and removal of certain works and the banning of Jewish patrons and workers considered "enemy aliens" by the Nazis At the risk to their own lives, librarians surreptitiously bring tomes to the apartments of patrons now banned from the library itself. There is love, fear, jealousy and deception. The characters are so real and the reader anxiously follows these people before, during and after the war. Odile is reintroduced in the little town of Froid, Montana. She befriends a pre-adolescent named Lily whose mother has died. This unusual friendship opens up Lily's world and shapes her as a sensitive, young woman. For Odile, it restores her sense of purpose, reconnects her to her French culture and allows her to love again. The book is beautifully written. This reviewer could not put it down, and yet never wanted it to end.

... it was also a bit of a disappointment. I say that because it came highly recommended, and I liked the concept of a WW II story that took place before the occupation as well as during it. What i didn't care for was the jumping back and forth in time to the 1980s, especially in the point of view of a character that I really began to dislike - Lily. I know what the author was trying to do - which is to take these two characters who were a lot alike at the same age and show the similarities and contrasts between the two. My problem is that while I could understand and accept the character of Odile being a sheltered librarian with controlling parents in the late 30's and early 40's, I really didn't care for the contrast with pre-teen and selfish (and incredibly rude) Lily. I get pre-teens who have traumatic events happen to them might need to work through it, but I really didn't want to read about it. quite a few of Lily's actions made me want to skip over her sections of the book, and I almost didn't want to know how Odile got there to Montana because i didn't find it interesting - I wanted the story during the War. In fact, looking at many of these female characters, they were almost all flawed in many ways - Bitsy, Margaret, Odile, her mother - there were a few exceptions such as Miss Reeder and the Countess who were strong women (which I appreciated) but the petty and childish actions by the other characters detracted from the book. It's a shame, because there are parts that are beautifully written and I enjoyed immersing myself in occupied Paris and seeing all the things that the librarians did to help their subscribers as well as soldiers on the front. It was the interpersonal stuff that pulled me out of the story, which is a shame. I have not read any of this author's other works, so can't compare to other books, but this story didn't live up to what I thought it might be.

I put books on my kindle that I call "knock offs" or what used to be called paper backs; books read for leisure and then given away and never read again. After reading a knock off I typically remove it from my kindle, but I did not remove this book because I want to read it again. I loved this story. I admit that I also love libraries and books. The story and the characters are compelling because it is based on true stories of survival, compassion, personal growth and quiet resistance against an enemy intent on destruction, not just of books but also culture, history and the people who want to know the truth. It reminds me of more recent stories of curators who stayed behind in Iraq to save artifacts and protect the museums. Some died. Some survived. It is easy to forget these stories of human passion and commitment to something, or someone, loved and cherished. We often forget about those who quietly go about protecting our culture and history while maintaining continuity for the community and the individual. They become the quiet heroes. The dual stories demonstrate the conflicting perspectives between youth and age that are only reconciled by compassion and understanding. History is often considered boring and forgettable but history, large or small scale, is what shapes us and often seems to repeat itself. Books and libraries remind us that language, culture, government, fantasy, and dreams of the future change; that change is inevitable. We learn from change. Books and libraries help us to do that.