I loved this story! WWII books are my favorite historical fiction to read, and this one did not disappoint. I loved that this was told with two timelines, and each timeline was equally as interesting. I found myself wanting to get back to each as I was reading the other, which usually doesn't happen. Definitely recommending this to everyone, especially those who love reading books about books.

In 1939 Paris, Odile Souchet has just gotten her dream job, working as a librarian at the American Library in Paris. When France goes to war with Germany, and Nazis invade Paris, Odile stands to lose everything. In 1983 Montana, Lily is curious about her reclusive neighbor and decides to write a school report about France, hoping to talk to her neighbor and learn more about her.

<i>The Paris Library</i> is based on the true story of the American Library in Paris remaining open throughout World War II and the ways they defied the Nazis. I love that the author included so many real people from ALP in her story. I was fascinated by the way librarians at the time filed both fiction and nonfiction books under the Dewey Decimal system at the time. The book mostly switches points of view between Odile and Lily, but occasionally, it will come from a side character's point of view for a chapter. I understand why that happened, to report things that Odile wouldn't have been present for, but it took me out of the book a little bit each time that happened. My only complaint would be that the endnig seemed rushed.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book.

This book started out a bit slow, but my advice is to keep reading. You will be rewarded with a new perspective on WWII novels about France. This books provides a fresh look at the war through the eyes of librarians and their love for books. I wasn't as excited when the perspective flashed back to Lily in Montana as that was a bit dull, but everything about Odile was fresh and interesting. While I liked this book, I am not sure I would compare it to Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale, but it did keep my interest and taught me a bit more about WWII in Paris. It is definitely worth a read.
Thank you, NetGalley, for an ARC.

I am a huge fan of Historical fiction, and this novel checked all the boxes for me! Beautiful setting, well thought out characters, and lovely prose. So happy I had the opportunity to read this!

I received this read from NetGalley. This is a historical fiction story that takes place in Paris and Montana and in 1930s and 1980s respectively. In Paris Odile is a librarian of the American library, where she joins the resistance during WWII through books and finds herself betrayed. In Montana, Lily is a teenager befriending her elderly neighbor who shares her love of language. They both find themselves learning a secret that binds them together. I liked the theme of not everything is as it seems and everyone has their own story. The character's were great, but there was a few places that Lily seemed a little whiney, but as a teenager we all were that way. I would recommend this to anyone interested in WWII chick lit type of books.

The Paris Library was a heartbreaking look at a woman dealing with the war in her past and a little girl dealing with her life changing in the "present."

I liked how the timelines were intertwined and they were both very emotional. I ended up purchasing a copy to pass on to my mother-in-law who also enjoyed the book.

Read this for a book club-- and there will be so many good questions to discuss! One of my biggest takeaways is that during war, people may do unspeakable things that they would have never done otherwise. Who am I to judge what others have done during duress... yet many of the things bothered me. How can Odile forgive Paul for his complicity and marry him anyway? Characters conspire with the enemy to save others' family members. And how difficult would it really be to subsist on so little food and go day to day not knowing whom to trust? How do you give up one of the most important things in your life to someone who has wronged you in some way? Why can historical fiction at times be more powerful than nonfiction? Is that authors try to get us invested in the characters?

I found the Paris parts of the story much more interesting than the sometimes-mundane Montana segments. Yet, I can see the point of it as showing that as different as their situations are, Odile and Lily have some things in common. (And how did Lily get into Columbia, anyway, with some of those grades?)

The book really is a love letter to libraries; how could you read it and not be proud of the profession? I really appreciated the backmatter and the true stories and people that inspired this, and as with many books I enjoy, I look forward into doing some of my own research to learn more. Hopefully, on my next trip to Paris, I can visit the American Library!

The Paris Library is a story that covers two timelines. Lily is a teenager living in a small town in Montana. She is intrigued by her older women neighbor who is different- stylish, exotic, and ,mysterious. As Lily finds a way to start making a relationship with Oldie, the stories weave back and forth from Montana in the 1980s, to Oldie's past in Paris as WWII breaks out. Oldie had one dream- to work in the American Library in Paris. She pushed back on the pressures of her family to work at the library, to discover that it contained more than just books, but also friendships and bonds that would help her survive the war. She even unexpectedly finds love. So why does Oldie now live in a small town in Montana and hasn't been back to Paris since leaving? You'll have to ready to find out!

This was an entertaining and relatively quick read. I found when it transitioned from one time line to other thinking "No, not yet!" as I quickly became captivated with both stories. One underlying theme of this book is highlighting the struggles of women and the double standards to which they are often held. I think it is so important to continue to shed light on the bias that has existed throughout time and continues to exist today. Also, this book is based on true stories which is important to note!

Overall, if you like reading about libraries, or characters who love books, or WWII historical fiction, I recommend this one. Thank you to Janey Skeslien Charles, NetGalley, and Atria Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles. It was a wonderful read. This book is set in Paris during World War II. The American Library in Paris is practically a character itself. I want to read more by this author and I certainly want to research the American Library some more as well. A five star read!

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles is based on the history of the American library in Paris during World War II. The story is told in two timelines, and as with most books, one is usually more compelling. It is, as the name of the book suggests, the story in 1939 Paris. The story of 1983 Montana seems a frame around Odile's story of the war, providing context and closure.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2020/03/the-paris-library.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

A wonderful historical book about the American Library in Paris.
I found it fascinating that they kept the library open during the German invasion of France. Kept it open despite the danger it placed themselves in.
This is definitely a different take on WWII than I have read before so I found that an interesting read.


Pub Date: 09 Feb 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you @netgalley and @atriabooks for this free egalley. "In the darkness of war, the light of books." This historical fiction is based on the heroic librarians of the American Library in Paris during WWII. I loved the author's note at the end detailing the real life people who risked their lives to bring books to everyone and keep the library open during Germany's occupation of France. I enjoyed the back and forth timeline of Odile in the 1940s and then with Lilly in the 1980s. Clever how Odile would reference a topic and then immediately follow it up with its number in the Dewey Decimal system. I am glad that I ended up picking this up in audio from my library because I would never have pronounced all the French words correctly and they were a great addition to the story. A book about books is always a good choice.

Always a fan of libraries I was thrilled to read about a wonderful library that brought joy to so many people. I love that this book was set during WWII. It only added more fascination. I also love that this book was a fast and pleasant read. I never found myself bored during any chapter of this book. Would highly recommend.

Paris 1939, Odile, is young woman who dreams of working in the American Library in Paris.. Odile gets her wish as war breaks out and the Nazis move into to Paris.

Montana 1983 , Lily a lonely teenager who finds a new friend when a school assignment leads her to interview her reclusive neighbor.

This is a interesting story about war, censorship, hatred, friendship and the resilience. The characters are complicated, well developed and perfectly imperfect. I am a big fan of historical fiction, and this novel did not disappoint.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

{The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles~
Paris 1939, a young woman named Odile has just landed her ideal job as a librarian at the American Library. Her parents are unfortunately not thrilled by her new found independence but Odile is not your typical girl, she not only loves to read but lives and breathes the written word. Her dedication and passion is noticed by all and she soon becomes an asset to the library. When the Germans arrive to take over Paris, their reputation precedes them and the librarians fear the American Library will be next in the path of destruction. In an effort to fight back they deliver books to those who have been deemed unworthy and provide a glimpse of happiness.
A small town in Montana 1983, a young girl named Lily studies her elderly neighbor from a distance, admiring the woman’s clothing, mannerisms and habits. She wonders just who this Mrs. Gustafson is and how she came to be in a small town in Montana, so far from France. Divine intervention arrives in an assignment from school, and Lily quickly becomes a friend to Odile Gustafson.
I forget that news didn’t always travel at the speed of light, in the past everyone didn’t know what was going on at the other side of the world and during WWII there were many people who weren’t aware of the whole truth. The story moves from past to present and truly allows the reader to bond with the characters. Though Odile had many admirable qualities she also suffered from naïveté and wasn’t the most perceptive, but she was loyal and loved to help others. The book itself was very well written, informative and provided a different insight. I personally enjoyed Odile’s bizarre fascination with the Dewey Decimal System. An overall great read!

Wanted to like this but found the premise unexciting, the two sides of the story pretty disjointed and the characters lackluster.

I liked what I had read but had a hard time getting invested. Didn’t finish it. I might pick it up again someday, but for now I need to stop reading it about 1/3 in.

The Paris Library takes place primarily at The American Public Library in Paris, and includes the real people who were employed during the WWII time period. This book features two stories, side by side. One is about Odile Souchet, a librarian in 1939 Paris and covers her experiences in Paris during Hitler’s occupation in the library and helping at the war hospital. The other is about Lily, a 7th grader in 1983 who becomes interested in learning more about her reclusive neighbor, Odie, who now lives in Montana. She decides she wants to interview Odie for a school project.
During the occupation, Hitler’s rules prevented Jewish patrons from using the library, so those in charge secretly delivered books to them, at great risk to themselves. The novel describes in depth the horrors of the occupation and how Odie eventually makes her life in Montana. Odie’s chapters were well researched and compelling. Lily’s chapters were weaker but their friendship was well developed. Thanks to Atria Books for allowing me to read and give an honest review.

We start this novel off in Paris 1939, meeting Odile, a young Parisian woman who is in love with the Dewy Decimal system. Odile loves her family, her country and working at the American library. Living in uncertain times, she worries about her brother Remy who joins the army, and about her beloved patrons at the library.

Then we visit Montana 1983 , Lily is a teenager who feels alone in the world. She is interested in her mysterious neighbor Odile, a woman who doesn't quite seem to fit in, much like herself. Lily decides to do a school project on this neighbor to get closer to who this woman is.

I am always a huge fan of historical fiction, but this novel I thought was just good. As always I enjoyed the alternating timelines and liked the past time line the best. The library pulled me into this book and I craved more about the library and the people within it. There were times I felt really pulled into the story but then I would drift back out of it. Overall I liked the premise of this story, and as a whole the book was just good

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Historical Fiction is a hit or miss for me.. in this case it was a success.

I absolutely loved the setting of this story and the way the author described the war. I felt a connection with the main character because her life was just so interesting. I never felt bored and had a great time with this!