The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
UK Publication: February 2021
Reviewed by: Book Worm
Rating: [★★★]

This ARC was provided by John Murray Press (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.

Don’t ban or burn books – Read Them!

Synopsis from Goodreads: Based on the true World War II story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris, this is an unforgettable story of romance, friendship, family, and the power of literature to bring us together, perfect for fans of The Lilac Girls and The Paris Wife.

Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet has it all: her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Together with her fellow librarians, Odile joins the Resistance with the best weapons she has: books. But when the war finally ends, instead of freedom, Odile tastes the bitter sting of unspeakable betrayal.

Montana, 1983: Lily is a lonely teenager looking for adventure in small-town Montana. Her interest is piqued by her solitary, elderly neighbor. As Lily uncovers more about her neighbor’s mysterious past, she finds that they share a love of language, the same longings, and the same intense jealousy, never suspecting that a dark secret from the past connects them.

A powerful novel that explores the consequences of our choices and the relationships that make us who we are—family, friends, and favorite authors—The Paris Library shows that extraordinary heroism can sometimes be found in the quietest of places.

My Thoughts: This is a beautifully written and well researched work of historical fiction. I appreciated the authors notes at the end detailing what and who were fictional and what and who were real.

Based in Paris during the German occupation you just know that this book will have more than its fair share of tragedy. What I didn’t appreciate before going in was how much hope, love and courage would also be found in the same place and at the same time.

This book cements what I have always known that the world would be a better place if more people read and read more widely and that the best place in the world is a library.

The timeline in the 1980’s didn’t really work for me the one purpose it served for this reader was to allow me to know that Odile would survive the war. It also allowed Odile to come to terms with her actions and those of others and to move forward from a terrible time in history.

Who would like this? I would recommend this to historical fiction fans and to those who have an interest in libraries, reading and what it means to be brave.

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