The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles is a historical fiction set in the Paris American Library during World War II. The story is about the love and escapism of books during hard times, and the choices and secrets we keep. This book captures the library and the community it creates, really well while highlighting the power of books. The author, Charles heard this story secondhand when she was working for the Paris American Library making flyers, and became enamored with the story of community and survival. The story is well written and you can feel the history while reading it. The narrative has burst of excitement, and some bits of lull. I did feel Charles stuck a little too close to history at times, their's some deaths that I just wasn't impacted by, and I felt I should be. Not to sat the novel did not have emotional scenes but I thought the two main deaths could have more impact on the reader. I would compare this novel to Dear Mrs. Bird by A. J. Pierce and Lilac Girls by Martha Kelly Hall. I read the advanced reader's copy of The Paris Library thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books. The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles was published on February 9 2021.

The Plot: Odile has a passion for reading and the Dewey Decimal system. She's a french girl that has learned to speak english through books, and has frequented the Paris American Library all her life, and now wants the go for her dream job of working for it in 1939. She gets the job, where she is surrounded by books and fellow book lovers, it is the greatest year of her life. She has her dream job and her dream beau a Paris police officer, then the war hits and changes everything. We jump forward and meet Odile 44 years in the future living in Montana as a bitter old woman. We learn how a woman so full of life can live all alone. She meets Lilly a girl who reminds her of her yourself, she tells her story as a warning of choices. What happened to Odile in Paris from 1939 to 1944.

What I Like: The love and genius of the Dewey Decimal system to categorize library books. I like that the Dewey Decimal device is used by Odile to categorize her life. I learned lots, that the French soldiers could still send mail, and weren't treated great but not too bad as soldiers go. The people who had it worst are the women that dated Nazi soldier, no matter their reasons, had there head shaved and were beaten. I loved the friendships between Odile and Margaret and Odile and her brother's fiancé. The love of books and the library. There's a lot of book discussions that I found interesting, I'm adding There Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Thurston to my TBR, because of Odile affection for it, and the passages used in the book. The scene where Odile puts together where Paul, her beau, was really taking her to be alone. The final twist was a good one.

What I Disliked: It took the book a little too long to start connecting the 1939 story to 1983 story, I ended up liking it but it took a while to get there. There is two deaths in this book and I did not feel them like I should have, I was kind of shocked that there wasn't any lead up to them.

Recommendations: I will recommend The Paris Library, it is a good historical fiction that highlights the importance of books. The dramatic scenes are good and have some an intensity. If you love books about survivors of World War II then you will like this book. I rated The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles 4 out of 5 stars.

The Paris Library is a bibliophile's dream - there are so many beautiful quotes about the refuge books provide and so much discussion on a number of amazing titles.
Initially, I thought this aspect would easily be what I loved most about the book, but I also fell in love with both timelines and the characters in each of them.
The writing is beautiful and atmospheric and I love the research the author put into this book. She details the parallels to the true events that took place in the Paris Library during WWII.
I definitely recommend adding this book to your TBR for an escape to Paris.
Many thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advance copy.

The Paris Library is a perfect example of why I love historical fiction. This story brings a wonderful opportunity to learn something new and to connect with the experiences of those who came before us.
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With a wonderful blend of well-researched fact & fiction in Janet Skeslien Charles' story telling, I learned of the American Library in Paris and the courage of the women & men who kept the library operating "as a symbol of freedom and understanding, of service to all, a fine piece of democracy.”⁣
Dorothy Reeder ⁣
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I loved the use of dual timelines. I think this mechanism was used well to build tension and generate a sense of mystery. The dual timelines also highlight the valuable learnings we can take away from other's experiences as we slowly come to understand the similarities between Odile & Lily. I do feel that Odile's timeline was the stronger of the two and I wasn't emotionally connected with either narrators - like I often am in historical fiction, but I think this was due in part to the deliberate manner with which Odile's story unfolds. ⁣
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The Paris Library explores human nature and how jealousy, paranoia, hatred, fear and grief can bring out the ugliness in people or test your moral compass, to devastating consequences. Despite the wartime setting, The Paris Library is also a story that will leave you with hope. ⁣

The Paris Library is based on the true story of the American Library in Paris and the men and women who protected the library's books, patrons, and access to reading for all individuals during World War II. The story is a dual timeline, following Odile, a librarian at the American Library in Paris during WWII, and Lily, a teenager in Montana in 1984 who is struggling through her teenage years without her mother. The reader is sent on a journey of two young women navigating very different environments while learning about relationships, jealousy, evil, and how books help us all see through a different set of eyes.

What I appreciated about this book: I thought the author did a phenomenal job of describing the American Library, its patrons, the staff and the hardships that they endured during the Occupation of Paris. I was really intrigued with Odile's story and appreciated the author's clever use of the Dewey Decimal system in Odile's thoughts. And I loved the setting of the library and the many references to how books and reading can change us, give us meaning, and play such an important role in our personal lives.

What did not work for me: The dual timeline in this book seemed choppy and while I appreciate how the story tied together in the end, I felt like the book would have been just as strong with only Odile's story. I also felt the book moved incredibly slow for the first half. While I never considered not finishing, at times, I really had to push myself to keep reading in anticipation of the events that were sure to come.

Thank you for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. Such a wonderful story and another part of history that I did not know.! The first couple of chapters were hard to get into but I am sooooo glad I went past them. The story is based on and includes real people, although the two main characters do not seem to be the real characters. Wriiten between the two time periods and beautifully intewoven. A MUST Read!!!!!

Thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Paris Library • Janet Skeslien Charles
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5/5)
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“You showed that during the worst of times, people were still good. You saved books and people.”
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👍🏼 Thumbs Up:
Overall a solid historical fiction book. I liked learning about a new aspect of the French occupation and the deeper points and lessons this book discusses were thought provoking.
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👎🏻 Thumbs Down:
The writing felt choppy to me at points. The multiple POV switched very randomly and not equally (some POVs are seen more often than others) which threw me off.
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🤓 For Readers WHO:
Are fans of books about books or historical fiction.
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👉🏼 This is what’s WHAT:
The American Library in Paris and its workers must make big changes and sacrifices when war and Nazi occupation comes to their doorstep. They find ways to resist and deliver hope and literature despite the risks and none of them will end the war the same as they were when it started.
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⏳WHEN I read this book:
I was reminded of Guersney and the Potato Peel Pie Society!
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🚨WHERE you should watch out:
Closed door sex scenes, some semi descriptive sex scenes, violence, death, war, imprisonment
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📍WHY you should read this book:
It’s a good historical fiction and that hits on deeper questions about what darkness lies inside all of us and what happens when faced with hard choices.
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📚 HOW I read this book:
On my kindle from @netgalley

Loved this book. I’ve read a lot of WW2 books and this one was unique and special. Great read that follows the main character Odie and all the secrets she keeps.

The Paris Library was a microcosm of what was happening in the world surrounding it during World War II. Being an American library, the staff hailed from several different countries, as did the subscribers, or patrons, of the library. This book takes us through the journeys of those in the library during a perilous time in history and reveals the true nature of things, the good, the bad, and the ugly, during a time of war and deprivation. Some people are quite noble, some are caring, some are indifferent and others are quite horrendous in their actions, thoughts, and deeds. This book was written in two different time periods, 40 years or so apart, in the life of Odile, one of the librarians. Engaging and thought provoking from the beginning to the end, I would highly recommend this book. Thank you to NetGalley for an advance read copy.

The Paris Library tells the stories of the librarians and volunteers in WWII that kept the American Library open, specifically Odile. It also follows Odile's new life in the 1980's in Montana as she befriends her teenage neighbor, Lily, who wants to do a report on France.

I loved this book so much. It is a love story to book lovers and those who understand the value of books in our lives. Odile's character was the so relatable and honest. I loved her as a protagonist. Lily was so innocent and unassuming. She tried so hard to make it but struggled every step of the way. I loved the relationship that Odile and Lily form. It is so special and I loved to see it grow throughout the book. This is one of those books that has me struggling for words to describe my love for it.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

I believe I am the exact demographic for which this book was written.
I have a Masters in Library and Information Sciences - a degree I pursued simply due to my love of books - so technically, I am a “librarian”. I am a Canadian who spent 8 years dreaming of a literary life in Paris and who now moved here. I spend most of my time (pre-pandemic) lost in books or between book stacks all around the city. I love historical fiction, particularly books that have a touch of fact and take place during WWII. In addition, I am married to a Jewish Parisian man. So it’s safe to say my expectations for this book were quite high -- and I’m sad to say that I was left disappointed.

Let me start by saying that I am, by no means, an easy reviewer.
And there were two aspects of this book that caused it to immediately lose a star:
One: It’s not a book I would consider re-reading and therefore is not a five-star book, plain and simple (it’s my rule).
Two: It’s a POV novel and I almost stopped reading entirely because I was so bored by Lily’s POV.

At about 10% of the book, it almost became a DNF because I was so completely bored by Lily’s storyline. Yes, Odile created a life in America and is shrouded in the ghosts of the past and mystery. But frankly, this new life of hers is a bore. And Lily is also terribly uninteresting. I only cared about Odile’s POV chapters. Every time it switched back to Lily I sighed and took a break from reading. Every time it was immersed in the life of Odile, I didn’t put the book down. Why are we supposed to care about Lily? I understand it’s a “life teaches you lessons/history repeats itself” situation but it could have been done without Lily’s chapters. She felt like filler. She adds nothing to Odile and Odile’s story.

That being said, another thing I did not understand is that Odile and Lily’s POV chapters were first-person and the random POV chapters that were slipped in throughout the novel switched to third-person. I understand it’s meant to be like a sneak-peek of a person looking in on that additional life, but it just made me want to skip the additional character chapters. It messed up the “flow” in my opinion. If you can’t tell, I really hate books with multiple POVs. Odile’s experience was full and complete and meaningful on its own.

Now, let’s dive into a few quick thoughts I had on the book...

It was certainly well-written and I could imagine myself in the shoes of Odile, doing what she can during the most difficult of circumstances. While smuggling books seems like a minor offense, she could have been killed for this act of treason. As the Doctor (Who) once said, “Weapons? We are in a library! Books are the most powerful weapons in the world!”-- this is true. Books encourage free-thought, resistance, a deeper understanding of the “enemy”, community, escape. Books are a tool and a refuge.

Without spoilers, I do not understand Odile’s reaction to Lily’s behaviour when her reaction to Paul’s at the 70% mark - which was way more severe - was so much more lenient. Also, she was older in the Lily POV moments; would that not have made her wiser, and softer, and more compassionate? It really was a silly discrepancy, in my opinion.

Odile, who is so book-smart, who is investigative, who is intelligent, how did she “miss” so much in this story? And again, without spoilers, how does Paul transform so quickly? It seemed like a rushed way to explain why Odile married Buck - and I have much to say about how that came about, as well. Had Odile not just realized that shoving everything under a rug instead of dealing with emotions was a terrible idea? Didn’t she have this revelation literally a page before?

I learned a lot about France’s position in WWII and the history of many-a-general. I didn’t anticipate gaining so much knowledge from a historical fiction book, though it is inspired by true events. I also learned a lot about the French behaviour after the war, and it was probably one of the most appalling parts of the book to read, as details for much else were not really shared.

The gift from Odile to Lily? Anyone who has lived in Paris (or is a born Parisian) knows that’s not truly French (but for tourists).

I don’t comprehend Odile - an old woman - getting advice from a teenager with jealousy issues. It’s silly to me. It’s further proof that Lily’s piece in this story just doesn’t fit.

My biggest issue with this novel is that Odile would remain connected to someone fraternizing with Nazis. In addition, the author’s attempt to gaslight Odile at the end - “It was for you!” - and the sad way in which this scene is written to make us sympathize with the character is a bit vomit-inducing. It’s written like this disgusting betrayal can be excused by love or comfort or assistance. I can tell you now that I’d rather go hungry than befriend a Nazi. I’m surprised the author seems to write this in a way that sounds “reasonable” or “excusable”. This part caused the book to lose a star, immediately.


Chapter 47 was ridiculous and truly not believable that Odile would choose that route.


How is Lily - unpopular, mediocre grades, invisible Lily - valedictorian? Silly. At this point, I just wanted the book to be done; I was so disappointed with what it became.


I was quite broken-hearted reading this novel, especially at the mention of “Crow Letters” - “From black-hearted people who spy on neighbors, colleagues, and friends. Even family members.” -- This has existed during the pandemic. Bored, black-hearted Parisians telling on their neighbours to police for, “Going out too often,” “Not wearing a mask in the apartment building,” or on suspicions of, “Having people over who do not live there.” History has repeated itself, and in difficult times, Parisians have continued to out and try and ruin the lives of their community members. “These “crows” have convinced themselves they’re doing their patriotic duty.” It breaks my heart because I fear that if the atrocities of WWII happened now, it would again be the French Jews outed by their French neighbours. Parisians showed their true colours during this pandemic.

In all honesty, I probably would have given this book four stars until the last 10% of the novel. This seemed rush, irrational, illogical, contradictive, and just like a messy attempt to tie up loose ends and explain things (without much reason) and I reached a -disappointing- point where I couldn’t wait for the story to be over.

I wanted to love this book. The synopsis spoke to me in ways I hadn’t really found with other Parisian Historical Fiction texts. But, alas, I was let down. I was excited, I was falling in love, I was eager to read more, and then I was dropped from the beautiful Parisian rooftops into the pee-filled metros of Paris…

“The Paris Library” explores the relationship between Lily, a lonely girl in small-town and her neighbor, Odile, a French émigrée with a lifetime of secrets that she holds close. As the two unlikely friends bond over a love of books and language, Lily begins to unpack those secrets, and learn important life lessons from the older woman. Odile learns some surprising lessons from Lily as well.

The background of the novel is the American Library in Paris at the start of the German occupation in 1939. Odile is a librarian, and part of the library's oddly assorted community of book lovers. Her relationships with her colleagues and clients form the person she will become during and after the war.

The novel is based on true events, and the history is fascinating.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3838986945

The Paris Library is a beautiful dual timeline book focused on Paris during World War II and 1980’s Montana. The book focuses on Odile’s life and the American Library in Paris during World War II and Lily’s life in the 1980’s and her newly found friendship with her next door neighbor, Odile. It is based on real events and individuals employed at the library during that time period and was a 4 star read for me. I was not aware of the story of this library and how it was so integral to so many during World War II. My favorite quote came from the author’s note at the end: “A friend said she believes that in reading stories set in World War II, people like to ask themselves what they would have done. I think a better question to ask is what can we do now to ensure that libraries and learning are accessible to all and that we treat people with dignity and compassion.” I’ve always wondered while reading World War II historical fiction what I would do in the characters situation. However, I’ve also understood, as I was told numerous times by my high school History teacher and having read variations of the quote by scholars, that if we don’t learn from history then we are doomed to repeat it. The library provides us with the tools to learn about the past and it’s essential that these tool’s be available to everyone.

Likes
The relationship development between Odile and Lily. I think it would be amazing to have a neighbor who has so much life experience to share. Lily came into Odile’s life right when she needed it and vice versa. Their relationship made me very emotional.
The details about the library and the characters.
How Lily’s relationship developed with Ellie.

Wanted more
I would have enjoyed reading more about: how Odile left Paris, did her family try to find/contact her, is she really going to go visit Margaret? So many questions.

I look forward to reading more books by this author.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishing house, Atria Books, for providing an advanced e-copy for review. All thoughts and opinions written in this review are my own. My review of The Paris Library can be found on Goodreads, Amazon, my Instagram and Facebook book club page, and my local library website.

Odile becomes Lilly’s mentor, friend and confidant in a small town in Montana in 1983. Through their friendship Odile passes on advice from her life in Paris during WWII and from her favorite books. Odile was a librarian at the American Library in Paris during German occupation of Paris. The book examines what it was like to live under the regime and the decisions Parisians had to make in order to survive. While I enjoy a book about WWII I enjoyed the relationship between Odile and Lilly more.

This duel timeline of Odile at the time she was living in Paris during WWII, then in Montana during the 1980s is a story that is both touching and informative.

Odile Souchet began working at the American Library in Paris before the Nazi occupation. After the occupation, she and the other librarians continued working, to the degree they could. They attempted to secretly provide books to those suddenly exempt from using the library, the Jewish, and they sent also worked to ship books to soldiers. Odile’s family life, friends, and first love are also part of the Paris side of this book.

The duel timelines, as expected, swing back and forth. The 1980s covers Odile’s life in New York, which is the present day. For years she is known in the neighborhood where she lives as a recluse and unapproachable. But when her young neighbor Lily asks if she can interview her for a school project, it opens the door for new friendships and lessons to be learned.

There was much to be learned from both timelines. Some of that was historical and other things more relational. The author’s notes at the back of the story added so much to my understanding and appreciation of the true events.

My Concerns
Though I loved the book, it felt a little slow during the WWII timeline. On the other hand, maybe that was because I was anxious to return to the 1980s.

My Final Thoughts
If you enjoy historical fiction with family elements and relationships, you won’t want to overlook this book. The relationships and characters in this story felt very believable.

Though this is my first book by Janet Skeslien Charles, it won’t be my last.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC and the ability to post my opinion.

While I don't consider this a five-star read, it will stick with me for a long time due to its themes. Love, loss, grief, judgement, betrayal, prejudice, friendship, guilt, and more star in this novel. What knocked it down a star for me was I think it could have been shorter; in some parts it seemed to drag on, even though it covered two time periods of five-six years apiece in a little under 400 pages. The two time periods are 1939-1944 Paris, France, and 1983-1989 Froid, Montana.

The earlier storyline revolves around Odile, a young woman who gets a job at the American Library in Paris right before war breaks out. It was a little disconcerting not knowing her age (or if it was stated, I don't recall), because while she was doing very "grown-up" things, she was a very immature character for much of this time. Fast-forward to 1983, and Odile lives in the small town of Froid, Montana, next to a school-aged girl who wants to know more about her. They become fast friends, with Odile sharing life lessons and French lessons, but even this relationship has its share of judgements and betrayal.

In the end, it is both sad and hopeful. We finally find out why Odile left Paris, but I wish there had been more closure for her story. It is very open-ended, although I'd like to think she wrote someone a letter, and I'd like to believe that person wrote her back.

I think the most impactful part of the novel is that it makes you consider the impact of your jealousy and words, and the power they have to hurt others irrevocably. It is a push in the direction of compassion, understanding, and taking the time to consider another's perspective, or as Odile would say, to walk "in their skin". It also made me want to check out some books that meant a lot to the characters in the novel!

Fans of historical fiction will love this, I'm sure. It's incredibly engrossing, and the characters are really well-written. I'm not usually a historical fiction lover, but this was still really good and interesting!

This was a delightful read. There were parallel story lines. One focused on Odile, a young French woman working at the American Library in Paris during WW2. The other was set in Montana during the 198os and focused on Lily a high school girl living next to an older Odile. The intertwining of their stories, difficulties and lives was effective. As a librarian I was particularly excited to read about the dedication of the American library staff during the occupation.

A quaint story based on the library's commitment to stay open during the war. The Nazis invade Paris and the dire results change lives. Told in flashbacks from the perspective of Odile, the librarian and a neighboring family in her later years that bring her out of her isolation. Based on real events with interesting characters and history.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

The Paris Library, by Janet Skeslien Charles is novel based in Paris during WWII. The library, becomes a character in this novel. The people that work there, the people that visit it & the secrets it keeps is fascinating based on a true story, we meet Odile Southey, whose ambition in life is to work at The American Library in Paris. She has done her homework, studied and has nearly memorizes the entire Dewey Decimal System and even has a handsome boyfriend. Life changes for Odile as the war starts. Her brother enlists to fight & her world is rocked. The library and her co-workers become her life and her solace. Feeling helpless Odile joins the resistance the best way she knows how, with books. And in the end, war isn’t the biggest tragedy of her life. Fast forward to Montana 1983 and we meet Lily a lonely teenager looking for adventure and friendship. Lily begins a likely friendship with her neighbor, she learns that the two have much in common. Strange but true, they become friends.
The way the story is written you get such a clear understanding of both ladies life. The twist and turns make for an even better read. It reminds us that even during war, betrayal, death and secrets can still fester. The way the story is told you can’t help but sympathize with Odile and Lily, and the hands that they were dealt. I enjoyed this book so much. I really felt it was very well written and researched. I was intrigued to learn more about the Library, I never knew it’s history. I want to thank Netgalley & Janet Skeslien Charles for copy to read, for an honest review. This was a 4 star read for me and I have recommended it to everyone. I have also posted it on my Instagram page and shared my review on Barnes $ Noble. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did.

It is 1939. We are in Paris. Odile Souchet is a young lady who seems to have a pretty happy little life. She loves her parents, even though her dad is obsessed with getting her married and presents her a new suitor every other day. She has a brother --Remy-- whom she calls her twin, even they are biologically no twins, but they just get along so well. She cannot imagine her life without Remy in it. Only one thing could make this cozy life perfect: getting a job at the American Library of Paris. She applies and get accepted. Odile is over the moon. Around the same time, she finally falls for a young man, Paul, who actually works for her dad. Soon after she starts at the ALP, brother Remy falls for Bitsi, one of Odile's co-workers, and Odile despises her for taking her brother away from her. Then war is being declared and the story actually starts.

The second timeline is set in Froid, Montana, in the 80s. Lily is the main character. Odile is Lily's strange neighbor who talks to no one. What is wrong with lady, Lily wonders. She decides to go talk to her and use school work as an excuse.

Both timelines are just as enjoyable: Paris tells us the story of the atrocities afflicted by the Germans to the allies and Jews. I learned about the American Library of Paris, a real building that stills exists to this day. Despite my many trips to Paris, I never visited the place because I have never heard of it till now. I will make sure to visit next time I am in Paris and pay tribute to men and women who put their life on the line to maintain the library open throughout the war, who protected their subscribers, no matter their ethnicity or religion, and kept distributing books to soldiers to help them escape reality for a few hours.

What I loved most about this book was that both Odile and Lily are flawed, just like all of us. They have made their fair share of mistakes, but unlike many, they learn from them by quickly accepting that what they did or said was wrong. They are sensitive to the negative consequences some of their acts or words might cause. I also enjoyed Remy's role in the story, even though he was mostly absent.
This book is teaching us so much:
1. don't immediately jump to conclusions; let a person explain oneself
2. don't jump into marriage, let your lover show their true colors first
3. your friends are human. They might have pledged allegiance to this precious friendship you share, but they are allowed to have a life outside the friendship, they are allowed to make mistakes, they are allowed to say the wrong thing ever so often. You put them on this pedestal, but remember that they are not perfect.
4. don't snoop
5. accept change
6. don't be a snitch

I am finishing writing this review and I come to realize that putting words down on what I thought about this book made me love it even more.

This book is ideal if you love historical fiction, books about books, stories about love, friendship, redemption, and second chances.

Thank you so much Net Galley and Atria for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.