Thanks to Hachette Australia, NetGalley and Janet Skeslien Charles for my copy of The Paris Library.

Paris, 1939: Odile Souchet is a girl obsessed with both the Dewey Decimal System and her boyfriend Paul and has just been employed as a librarian at the American Library in Paris. With the shadow of another war looming, she and her parents are worried about her twin brother Remy and of course he joins the French army. The German army easily overcome the Maginot Line, they march into Paris and the Parisians are now living in a city with new rules and regulations. Guided by the directress Miss Reader, the library has already started to hide many of the thousands of precious books and the librarians deliver books to Jewish people who can no longer use the library and soldiers convalescing in hospital. When the war finally ends instead of celebrating Odile is devastated she has been betrayed by the person she thought she could trust and loved.

Montana, 1983: Lily Froid is a lonely teenager; she is doing a school project and decides to ask her elderly neighbor Odile some questions. Odile is a widow; they refer to her in town as the war bride, she arrived in 1945 married to Buck Gustafson and no one knows anything about her life before moving to Montana? When Lily’s mother Brenda becomes ill, Odile supports her and after her mum passes away she’s someone who she can talk to and confined in. One day Lily crosses the line by snooping into Mrs. Gustafson past and she does uncover things about her neighbor’s life in Paris during WW II and has her invading her friend’s privacy ended their friendship?

The story focuses on the complex relationships between the main characters in the book, too many to mention, it has a dual timeline and I had no trouble following it. The Paris Library is an unforgettable story about choices, friendship, loyalty, family, deceit, loss, betrayal and books. Heroism can sometimes be found in the quietest of places and that’s the library. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own and I gave The Paris Library five stars.

A beautiful story about love, war and consequence.

I love a duel perspective, I did find myself rushing though the later story line to get back to what I felt was the meat of the story. Set in WWII Paris, Odile is a young woman who dreams of being a librarian. She accomplishes this just prior to the war breaking out and her story follows how her life and how the Nazi occupation of Paris affected her, her colleagues and the subscribers of the library. The second story is set in the 1980's America and follows Lily and her blooming friendship with the now elderly Odile.

This is a beautiful story of love, war, friendship deceit, betrayal, coming of age and is well worth the read.

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles presents us with the American Library in Paris in the months leading up to WW11 and during the war. Like all stories set in this era at times it is stark and heart breaking. The people suffer so much.

Yet within the confines of the library there are warm friendships among those who work there and those who come to read, write and borrow books. Odile is a wonderful character - she loves reading and books and she so wants to work at the library.

We meet Odile again in 1985 in Montana, USA. What is she doing there? Why does she live like she does.? Well, enter Lily the young girl next door determined to find out. Before long an important relationship is formed.

I am not going to mention plot again, this is a book you need to read and go into it without knowing what happens next! But... I think any reader who loves Paris, libraries, books, courageous people and people who make terrible mistakes will find much to reflect upon in this book.

‘How can you stay?’ Gently, she cupped my cheek. ‘Because I believe in the power of books – we do important work, by making sure knowledge is available, and by creating community.’

A story about books and Paris ... too good to pass by! This is a dual time narrative, one that is both well researched and written, exploring a librarian during WWII and an American high school student who meets up with the Parisian librarian many years later.

‘Sometimes I like books more than people.’ ‘Books don’t lie or steal,’ he said. ‘We can depend on them.’ I was surprised, and heartened, to hear an echo of my own feelings.’

The thing I probably admired most about this tale was the focus on books and their impact during dark times. The importance of libraries and the power of literature to see a person through difficult days at any stage in life is something I support. The author herself states that ‘... 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.’ To bring to people's attention this unique story from WWII and the courage demonstrated by these Parisian librarians was notable.

‘People read,’ the Directress said. ‘War or no war.’

The Author’s Notes at the conclusion of the story reveal that many of the characters are in fact based around real people and actual events that occurred during Nazi Occupation. Having worked for a time in the American Library in Paris in 2019, the author committed to following up on stories she learnt of what occurred during this time and the result is this most insightful book. Odile makes for a fascinating lead character who is a master of the Dewy Decimal system and thrilled to be working her first job at the library in 1939. The range of secondary characters who work or volunteer at the library is broad and eclectic. As they are determined to stay open during occupation, Odile and the staff work to provide books to recovering soldiers and as many of their Jewish subscribers as possible. There will be risks and there will be sorrows.

‘We must serve in the field of morale.’ ‘Morale? Then why books? Why not wine?’ a redhead quipped. ‘That’s what I’d want.’ ‘Who says it’s either or?’ I asked. They laughed. ‘But seriously, why books. Because no other thing possesses that mystical faculty to make people see with other people’s eyes. The Library is a bridge of books between cultures.’

My problem with the book was the modern day timeline. I just didn’t like it. Montana USA 1983 sees an older Odile as seen through the eyes of teenager Lily and the relationship they embark on. I thought there would have been better ways to make the connections of past to present and confess not to be interested in Lily’s story at all. I truly feel that the American Library in Paris contained enough material and merit without having to bring in teenage angst from the 1980s.

‘I was needed at the Library. I was happy there. ‘I can’t rest,’ I told my father. ‘Miss Reeder says books promote understanding, which is important now more than ever.’

All up bibliophiles and lovers of historical fiction will appreciate this window into a little known part of the Nazi occupation of Paris. Told from such a unique perspective, it was gratifying to learn of the librarian's courageous enterprise through literature and how the devastation of war impacts upon people. Most certainly a tale of betrayal and loss but also one of hope and the power of friendship.

‘You were brave,’ I told Odile. ‘Keeping the Library open and making sure all people could check out books.’ She sighed. ‘I merely did the minimum.’ ‘Le minimum? What you did was amazing. You gave subscribers hope. You showed that during the worst of times, people were still good. You saved books and people. You risked your life to defy the fricking Nazis. That’s huge.’ ‘If I could go back, I would do more.’





This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

With themes including trust, betrayal, jealousy and shame, The Paris Library is an engrossing and compelling dual timeline read. While the story centres on The American Library in Paris during the Nazi occupation of that city in WWII, it also reflects on the things that impact on us in times of extreme stress through the eyes of 12 year-old Lily as she gets to know her elderly neighbour Odile in 1983 Froid Montana.
This story is beautifully written and richly layered, seamlessly moving from the WWII timeline to the 1983 one. It gives readers a glimpse of a side of the war that most of us have never given much thought to, while also showing us the narrow-mindedness of small-town bible belt America. Throughout the story we see unlikely heroes, exceptional bravery, kindness and friendship, all of which counters the ugly events taking place in Paris during the war. The more I read the more I wanted to keep reading. This is a story that will definitely be on my keeper shelf.

I started this book three times on the third I perserevered. The Dewey numbers at the beginning made me think this would be a rather dull novel about a library but boy was i in for a ride. This book is based on factual events and people during World War Two in The American Library in Paris. I smiled, cried and was immersed into the lives of librarians who in a small way helped during this horrific time. I loved this book and will read this again as I believe the second time I will get even more from it. This is a perfect bookclub book

Book lovers will love this dual timeline narrative set in the city of love during the 30’s and Froid, a small US town in the 80s.

Margaret is new in Paris, and can’t seem to find her groove. So far all the the luxury haute couture, delicious food and romantic sights have taught her is how much she misses her mum back in London. She steps through the doors of the American library, not because she reads or is American, but she misses the sound of her mother tongue.

Odile lives and breathes books. She is a fan of the dewie decimal system, and this is what prompts her to apply for a librarian position at the American library in Paris, as they use this (relatively new) system.

As they strike up a friendship, they learn that they each have a lot to teach the other. Margaret unlocks parties, dresses and champagne. Odile teaches her French, gives her a volunteer job and keeps her company. But with war and French occupation looming, what will become of the women? Their friends and families? And not to mention the books.

Decades later, Lily faces the toughest days of her life. Her father, worries for her, enlists the help of their neighbour Odile, to watch her after school. In Odile, she finds a quiet elegance, and the beginning of her love of literature.

This is a book for book lovers. You will nod along with all the anecdotes about books and library life. Unable to return a well loved book until you find a few more by the same author. Hoping your favourite characters walk in and whisk you away to coffee. Reading the last few pages of a book very s l o w l y to savour every last word.

But, this is also a book about war: rations paranoia, hatred, grief and death. It’s a book about hope. It’s about the coursgeous men and women that kept the library open and defied Nazi orders to share literature with their Jewish subscribers when they were ordered to not enter the library. , while the city was falling to pieces around them. That even during the worst of times, there was still joy in books. I thoroughly enjoyed this, but the ending left me wanting more. I’d still recommend it without hesitation.

“‘Libraries are lungs,’ she scrawled, her pen barely able to keep up with her ideas, ‘books the fresh air breathed in to keep the heart beating, to keep the brain imagining, to keep hope alive. Subscribers depend on us for news, for community. Soldiers need books, need to know their friends at the Library care. Our work is too important to stop now.’”

Inspired by true events, The Paris Library is an engaging historical novel by Janet Skeslien Charles.

A dual timeline introduces Odile Souchet, who is thrilled when she gains her dream job at The American Library in Paris in February of 1939. Under the direction of the aptly named Ms. Reeder, the library provides an extensive range of reading material in English and French to their subscribers, and as war begins, becomes a haven for the community. Forty years later a thirteen year old girl, Lily, living in small town Montana, introduces herself to her elderly neighbour, Mrs. Gustafson, marvelling at her extensive library and her ‘tres chic’ French accent. The two form an unusual bond, united by their dreams and their regrets.

The story of Odile in Paris is the more fascinating of the two, especially as it’s based in truth - The American Library was founded in 1920, and still exists today. In this novel, as WWII breaks out and the Germans make their way towards Paris, Ms. Reeder is determined that the library will remain open to serve the community. This not only includes welcoming patrons to the reading room, but also sending donated books and periodicals to French, British and Czech troops (about 20,000 tonnes in the autumn of 1940). Even when Paris is occupied by the Nazi’s, the library remains open, the librarian risking their lives by smuggling books to their Jewish patrons.

Populated by a delightful collection of multicultural characters, whose personalities are based on the actual library staff during that period, I enjoyed spending time with Odile among the stacks, easily imagining the good natured bickering of the regular patrons, and the camaraderie of the librarians.

Odile is a young, rather naive young woman, who lives at home with her middle class parents, and twin brother Rémy who is studying law. Her father, a police commissioner, is opposed to Odile working, preferring she find a husband. As the rumours of war become reality, Odile finds herself challenged by life under the Nazi regime - protecting the library, parting with her brother when he enlists, and losing everything when she makes a tragic error in judgement.

As the second timeline unfolds from 1983, we eventually discover how Odile ended up in Montana living next door to the teenage Lily. Facing challenges of her own Lily finds comfort and friendship with Odile, who tries to pass on the lessons she has learned. While I didn’t mind reading about Lily, I think I would have preferred that the author had simply chosen to concentrate on the American Library and Odile’s experience in Paris.

Book lovers will be drawn to this title, and won’t be disappointed. The history is interesting, the characters appealing, and the story engaging.

The Paris library is a historical fiction novel that is based on fact about the American library in Paris during World War 2 when the Germans invaded the city.

It tells the story of Odile who loves books and graduates from Library School after being fascinated by the Dewey Decimal System. She applies for a position at the American library in Paris which was very much against her parents wishes, as they believe she should just find a husband and get married. She begins her role at the library and is in her element. But soon Paris is caught up in war.

When the Germans infiltrate the city they start to pillage libraries of the books they consider propaganda including books by Ernest Hemingway – they had a list of banned books which included hundreds of works – Odile believed without these books Paris would lost a part of its soul. They also had other rules such as no Jewish people were allowed into the library. They systematically went to the Israeli library, and the Ukrainian library where they arrested the librarian who was never seen again.

The chief librarian at Odile’s library was horrified by this and together they formed a system whereby the staff and volunteers delivered books by foot to their subscribers, to ensure that they still received their books and it was a way of relocating these supposed “banned books” to a safer place outside the building. They also risked their own lives delivering books to French soldiers and hospitals while the war went on around them.

There was also a cast of colourful characters that spent all their days inside the library as well.
Of course, there was a bit of romance in this novel between Odile and her French boyfriend, as well as friendships between the library staff and tragedy. Odile features in two timelines, one during WWII and the other in the 1980’s when she moves to America and becomes somewhat of a mentor to her young next door neighbour Lily who she sees so much of herself as a younger girl in.

I enjoyed the many Dewey decimal quotations throughout the book and the lovely quote from the author at the end: “My goal in writing this book was to share this little-known chapter of WWII history and the capture the voices of the courageous librarians who defied the Nazis in order to help subscribers and to share a love of literature – The Library is a bridge of books between cultures”
I really loved reading this book and I suppose because I work in a library the subject matter did appeal, it just goes to show that still today Libraries are Changing Lives!

Many thanks to NetGalley & Hachette Australia for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. #TheParisLibrary #NetGalley

The Paris Library is based on fact and an actual library that ran during the WWII occupation of Paris. Odile Souchet only ever wanted to work at this library and had trained as a librarian specifically for this. The story is told in parallel time lines, one during the war and the other in the 80's which finds Odile living as a mysterious widow in Montana. Lily as a young neighbour of Odile befriends her and her story starts to unravel.
Together these two unlikely friends help each other as both deal with grief and loss. However, when Lily oversteps a boundary and shatters Odile's trust the friendship is tested to the maximum.
This is also a book about books with a large library right at the very centre of the story and all of the incredible characters who are drawn to this library.
A well told and intriguing story about friends, that also deals with the occupation, trust, betrayal, love and loss, and most importantly books!
Thank you Hachette Australia and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this digital ARC for an honest review.

Odile Souchet lived an extraordinary life working in the American Library in Paris. This historical library journey walks us through the streets of the French city as WW2 approaches. Odile watches her brother, Remy, go to war, learns to live within an occupied city, falls for Paul, perserveres with her relationship with her father, becomes part of the library family, and then continues to inspire Lily in her steps towards the start of her life as an adult. The discovery of Lily's and Odile's love of language and literature helps to illustrate the same longing and yearning they both seemed to have in their respective lives. And it is the discovery of Odile's past that creates the catalyst of their connection.
There is so much real emotion in The writing - being based in a real story of the library in Paris and of those who fought for the library in the war - which created and fuelled a string connection to the deeply developed characters. The cobbled streets of Paris seemed like they were a stone's throw away, and the library aisles seemed full of imagination and surprises.
The connection to Lily and development of her character built over the course of the book and as the back and forth in time occurred, it became more evident of the meaning and the connection of their lives, and just how much of a role Lily played in Odile's. Highly recommended, a beautiful historical tale.

eautiful, heartbreaking, mesmerising. The Paris Library is about the brave and stoic librarians who remained in occupied Paris during the Second World War. It’s about how love and friendship grows and saves and about how hate and jealousy destroys.
I loved the juxtaposition of the settings as part of this story is told much later when the main character has moved on to a new life in Montana USA and I loved that it uncovers yet another remarkable story that might have otherwise not have been told. Enquire, refined ... I’m gushing at this point but it was bittersweet and beautiful. A must read if you’re interested in WW2 or just a general book lover