What an amazing book by Janet Skeslien Charles. The Paris Library was the perfect book to accompany me while being snowed in last week. I read a lot of WWII historical fiction, but I had never heard of the American Library in Paris. I am glad I read the Author Notes first. I loved finding out that the author worked in the library in 2010. I also liked knowing that many of the people in the book, Boris, Miss Reeder......were real people.

This book is told during two time periods. The first time period is WWII through the eyes of Odile Souchet when she gets her first job at the American Library in August 1939. Loved all the references to books and the Dewey Decimal System. Having spent a lot of time in the library while growing up in the sixties I could relate to Odile. The second time periods takes place in Montana in the 1980s where we find Odile, a widow, who enters the life of Lily, a young girl whose mother has cancer and passes away. These two form a wonderful relationship through books and learning French.

This book gave me warm fuzzies as I read. I learned a lot about every day life in Paris during the war and am amazed that the library was allowed to exist. Thank you Atria and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions are my own.

As a lover of books and libraries, the premise if this book was intriguing. Based on a true story, I enjoyed the history intertwined within this story. While not nearly as significant as the millions of people that lost their lives during the war, this book showed the perspective of people affected by the war, but not directly involved per se. The fact that librarians went against the law to deliver books to soldiers and to people to keep hope alive and keep up morale is fascinating. How had I never thought of or known this before?!

While this book is beautifully written,  I never felt like I was part of the story; merely an onlooker. Young Odille wasn't a likeable character, which may be the point, but I tend to struggle with that. Also, there were several gaps and details in the story that were never addressed and continue to remain a mystery. Why include details if they aren't particularly relevant to the story?

Ultimately if you like WWIi historical fiction, I would recommend checking this one out!

My Review:⭐️⭐⭐⭐/ 5 stars

This book has been on my kindle library for almost a year - and now it's finally released today! Happy Pub Day!

This duo timeline historical fiction follows the story of two women, Odile Souchet during WWII in Paris and Lily, a young teenager in Montana in 1983. Odile has the bibliophile’s dream job working at the American Library in Paris, helping to keep the doors open while also worrying about the Nazi occuppation and the lives/safety of her friends and family. Lily, on the other hand, is fascinated by her elderly next door neighbor from France, who no one really knows anything about. She befriends Odile and learns more about her past and how Odile has ended up in Montana. There is a betrayal that shifts Odile’s life for the rest of her life and Lily is curious as to what it is. .Their growing friendship is heart-warming and wonderful to read, especially Lily’s growing fondness for the French language. They soon become each other’s life line, despite their age difference. There are parts that are very slow, but the story overall was such a delight. You can tell everything was meticulously researched, and it is based on the true story of the librarians at the American Library.

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

I wasn't sure what to expect when I requested this book to read! I am not a Historical Fiction kind of girl, I like my fantasies and horror and darkness and tend to stay away from real life scenarios as much as possible! With that being said this book surprised me and pulled me in. It was fascinating following along with our heroes and heroines as they struggled through WWII to protect an American Library! It showed that human emotion, want and need for survival and preserving literature.
I would absolutely read from this Author again. It was an amazing story to ride along with.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me an Ecopy of this book to read and review!

This book was beyond amazing! I cannot say enough great things. The story was inspiring and beautiful. The writing was superb. This is definitely one book that will be highly recommended by me!

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles is a novel book lovers and fans of compelling fiction set in World War II Paris will love. It begins in February 1939 when Odile Souchet, having recently completed her library degree, applies for a job at the American Library in Paris (ALP). Odile has an interview with Dorothy Reeder, a character based on the real Miss Reeder, the library’s director, a remarkable woman whose work contributed to the war effort and to elevating women and books. After their conversation, Odile pens a note:

“Dear Miss Reeder,

Thank you for discussing the job with me. I was thrilled to be interviewed. This library means more to me than any place in Paris. When I was little, my aunt Caroline took me to Story Hour. It’s thanks to her that I studied English and fell in love with the Library. Though my aunt is no longer with us, I continue to see her at the ALP. I open books and turn to their pockets in the back, hoping to see her name on the card. Reading the same novels as she did makes me feel like we’re still close.

The Library is my haven. I can always find a corner of the stacks to call my own, to read and dream. I want to make sure everyone has that chance, most especially the people who feel different and need a place to call home.”

The library hires Odile and she adores her job where she becomes friends with Margaret, a British volunteer, and many of the library’s patrons based on actual historical figures. Odile falls In love with Paul, a kind police officer, which helps her when her beloved twin brother is captured by the Germans.

Once the Germans occupy Paris, the library’s Jewish patrons are no longer allowed to visit so Odile deliver books to them. Odile joins the Resistance and her actions are both enlightening and treacherous. Odile, Margaret, and others face repercussions and betrayal.

The library also helps ship books to soldiers. It’s fascinating to note that between September 1939 and May 1940, the “Soldiers Service” supplied more than 100,000 books to English and French soldiers including those in the French Foreign Legion.

The novel also features an interwoven narrative featuring Lily, a girl living in Froid, Montana in 1983, who describes her neighbor:

“Her name was Mrs. Gustafson and she lived next door. Behind her back, folks called her the War Bride, but she didn’t look like a bride to me. First of all, she never wore white. And she was old. Way older than my parents. Everyone knows a bride needs a groom, but her husband was long dead,

She wasn’t like the other ladies in Froid. They were plump like wrens, and their lumpy sweaters and boring shoes came in dowdy grays. The other ladies wore curlers to the grocery store, but Mrs. Gustafson donned her Sunday best —- a pleated skirt and high heels —- just to take out the trash. A red belt showed off her waist. Always, she wore bright lipstick, even in church.”

When Lily’s mother becomes ill, Odile Gustafson becomes the friend Lily needs. Their relationship builds and the reader begins to piece together the arc of Odile’s life since 1944. Odile and Lily’s relationship offers a way for both to manage their difficulties.

Summing it Up: The Paris Library is an evocative and lovely novel of war, love, sacrifice, and betrayal. It’s a love letter to books and Paris — a true Francophile and bibliophile treat. It’s just what readers need in a pandemic year. The author worked at the American Library in Paris in 2010 and her love for the library is contagious.

The Paris Library is the #1 Indie Next Pick Great Reads Pick for February 2021 as selected by independent booksellers.

Rating: 5 Stars

Category: Fiction, Five Stars, Grandma’s Pot Roast, Pigeon Pie, Super Nutrition, Book Club

Publication Date: February 9, 2021

Author Website: https://www.jskesliencharles.com/

Reading Group Guide and Complete Book Club Kit: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5dee27076290e80dd6fa1974/t/602108a3fb20424c24db27cc/1612777646233/ParisLibrary_BookClubKit.pdf

The Story Behind the Book: https://www.libraryjournal.com/?detailStory=author-janet-skeslien-charles-shares-the-story-behind-the-paris-library

What Others Are Saying:
BookPage: https://bookpage.com/reviews/25877-janet-skeslien-charles-paris-library-fiction#.YCGyyIFOKf0

Kirkus Reviews: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/janet-skeslien-charles/the-paris-library/

Publishers Weekly: https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-9821-3419-8

“A love letter to Paris, the power of books, and the beauty of intergenerational friendship.” ― Booklist

This is a new take on WWII. I have read quite a few of these novels lately. This one is a little different. It involves a library! This story is narrated by two voices and in two different time periods.

Lily is a teenager in the 1980s. She reaches out to her French neighbor, Odile, for a report about Paris. There is so much going on in Lily’s life that she ends up depending on Odile for a multitude of things. Odile becomes a guiding force in Lilly’s life. And Lily helps Odile realize there is much more in life than her past!

I loved all the book references. Plus the history surrounding Paris and this library during the war is very uniquely done.

Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

"Books the fresh air breathed in to keep the heart beating, to keep the brain imagining, to keep hope alive." Odile Souchet has landed her dream job at the American Library in Paris 1939. Life seems to be going well for her until the Nazis take control of Paris and threaten not only the lives of its residents but also her beloved library too. I was fascinated by the courageous acts of defiance the librarians took against the Nazis from hiding banned books to delivering books to their Jewish subscribers when they were no longer allowed in the library. I found Odile and Lily (her young neighbor in Montana) to be kindred spirits due to our shared love of books and reading. Unforgettable historical fiction that has introduced me to a place and a group of dedicated librarians I am excited to learn more about. Perfect for spirited book club discussions!

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles is a complicated story of a woman who survived in Paris during the Nazi occupation of WW II. Odile worked in the American Library from the time she began working. There she met people who loved books; those people were from many walks of life and led her many places, eventually to Montana, where she lost her husband and her son, and grew old alone. It is a heart-breaking tale of a time in history where evil seemed to be winning, and people did things they would never have believed themselves capable of. We think of the Holocaust as being about the Nazi's cruelty in the concentration camps, but there is so much more. The cruelty extends to the places that Nazi's occupied: the deprivations, the fear they decimated, and the deaths they caused.

Odile was a victim, time after time, actually, but most especially of a young woman whom had grown to love, who snooped, and drew the wrong conclusions, and broke Odile's heart again. I have pretty much given up on Holocaust books. There is rarely a happy ending; how many different ways can the story be told? This was a lovely book, which told a heart-breaking story of betrayal. I cannot recommend it strongly enough.

I received a free ARC of The Paris Library from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #theparislibrary

The Paris Library is a WWII fictional novel based in two different timelines and Countries - Paris France starting in 1939 and Froid, Montana in the late 1980’s. The two main protagonists are the older neighbor Odile and the younger neighbor Lily. The story is based on real life events and individuals who work at the American Library in Paris and how they fought to keep the Library open during WW11. The bravery and dedication of the Librarians of the American Library of Paris was remarkable. And, how important friendship and trust is to be cherished are the themes going through the time in Montana.

Thank you #NetGalley, #Simon&SchusterInc and #JanetSkeslienCharles for the advance readers copy for my honest review.

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles is for the book lover in all of us readers. A sweeping tale based on real events told through the eyes of our two heroines. At the heart of this novel we a story about women finding their own way through unique struggles, surviving WWII and new beginnings. Anyone who loves a great read set during WWII or loves historical fiction will be right at home with this novel.

The majority of our tale follows French librarian, Odelie. We begin at her job interview in 1939 at The American Library of Paris and follow her until late in her life. Odelile is very close to her family. Her father is a police chief, her mother a homemaker and her twin brother is studying to be a lawyer. We follow their family dynamic change with romantic relationships, work life and her brother going off to war. The American Library of Paris plays an enormous role in the book and in the life of many in Paris. I loved hearing about the library and the day to day work there. I felt like I was there with Ms. Reeder, Bitsi, Boris, Pete, Professor Cohen, the Contessa and all the rest. Charles creates a beautiful, large cast of characters that I loved instantly whether they were likable or not.

Watching our characters and Odelie struggle through occupied Paris can be very hard to read at times. Charles puts us right into the fray and I can feel that characters fear walking home past check points. It is a heartbreaking reminder that to this day we are fighting Nazis propaganda and rhetoric.

We meet Odile again in 1983 in Montana of all places. In the eighties, we see Odile through the eyes of her teen neighbor Lily. Odile is widowed, has lost a son and is only known by the town through church. Lily decides to do a school report on France but it is really her curiosity which brings her to know on Odile’s door.
Lily has her own heartbreaks and struggles. Without the friendship, French lessons and the honest conversations Lily has with Odile, I don’t think she would have been a lost teen.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #TheParisLibrary #JanetSkeslienCharles

Odie loves her job at the American library in Paris, her safe place. She learns later of a betrayal and must flee Paris, moving to Montana. The book has a duo timeline and I think book lovers will enjoy reading about the library. I do think it may have focused a little on that rather than the story itself or character development but still enjoyed it nonetheless. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Atria for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Odile, a young French woman, loves her job at the American library in Paris. Even after World War II breaks out and Paris is occupied, the American library is her solace and strength. Until she learns of a betrayal that makes her leave everything, eventually fleeing her native land and family.

In 1980s Montana, Lily befriends Odile, her mysterious French neighbor. Odile guides her through tragedy and more mundane teenaged problems, keeping her own tragic youth secret.

THE PARIS LIBRARY alternates between these two very different settings. The privations of Nazi-occupied Paris are brought to life, as is less charming 1980s Montana. Lily and Odile are both engaging protagonists who triumph over difficulties and forge a deep friendship despite their huge age gap. #TheParisLibrary #NetGalley

The Paris Library is an historical fiction novel about the American Library in Paris. I really wanted to love this because I LOVE WWII historical fiction, but this story was nothing special. The first half was really slow and despite this being based on the true story of the librarians at the American Library, I didn't feel the writing did them justice.

Told in a dual timeline, Odile, moved between her time during the war in Paris and her later life in Montana. The story line was flip flopping back and forth without any real content. A lot of the book was spent on explaining the dewey decimal system instead of character development. The end of the book felt very rushed and could have easily been threaded in throughout the novel.

Thank You Atria Books and Net Galley for an advanced copy of this e-galley.

I fell in love with this book almost instantly. It was well-written and kept my attention the entire time. I wanted to read it initially because I love Paris and was hooked on the title. But I loved reading of Lily's life in Montana. The way the story weaves old and new is really captivating. The story has lessons we can all learn from -- learn from your mistakes. Well done.

I’ve read close to 200 historical novels set during WWII, and believe me, there are many recurring plots. However, “The Paris Library” by Janet Skeslien Charles brings a new angle to this period of history which has long fascinated me.

Odile, a young French librarian, begins working at the American Library of Paris shortly before the Germans invade France. The library is her love and offers stability at an uncertain time. Odile’s twin brother joins the Army and is soon captured. Meanwhile, the Bibliotheksschutz (Nazi officer in charge of libraries) makes changes to library operations. However, the staff resists – and when Jewish subscribers are no longer allowed into the library, the librarians smuggle books to their homes.

This is a dual timeline novel: WWII Paris and 1980s Montana--where an elderly Odile has opportunity to re-experience jealousy, suspicion, and betrayal, this time in her relationship with a neighborhood teenager.

The author knows whereof she writes, having been employed at the American Library of Paris herself. 2020 was the centennial for the ALP, as well as the original publication date for this novel, delayed by the pandemic.

“The Paris Library” is a fitting homage to the libraries and librarians. Anyone who loves books will want to see how brave librarians undermined the oppressive Nazi regime in the cause of intellectual freedom. They will also smile at universal library antics and humor. (E.g. “Of course, he knew something was wrong, he was a librarian—part psychologist, bartender, bouncer, and detective.”) It’s also a fun way to test your knowledge of the Dewey Decimal System.

From my blog: Always With a Book:

Historical fiction is a genre that never fails to disappoint me and I knew as soon as I received this book that it would be something special. Little did I know just how much I would be able to relate to it now.

I love dual timelines and this one was done so well. I was equally invested in both and found myself quite upset when the story would switch from one to the other because even though I was eager to get back to the other timeline, I also didn't want to leave where we were, if that makes sense. I also loved how as the story moves forward, we slowly get all the pieces of Odile's mysterious past and again, as I mentioned in an earlier review, these historical mysteries are really becoming my jam!

I've never read anything before about The American Library in Paris, so this was a huge treat for me but it was also so interesting how the library handled things during WWII. I didn't realize that the Germans tried to take over the library and forced mandates on who could use the library during that time. Luckily the librarians were willing to bend the rules to make sure everyone was able to read who wanted to as they believe books provided a source of comfort during an uncertain time, much like they have done for us now during our pandemic. Reading provided an escape from all that was going on, a way to shut out the real world for a little while. Does this sound familiar to anyone right now?

This book grabbed me and didn't let go. It delves into relationships we forge during tough times, the choices we make, and how we learn to live with those choices. This book is one I won't be forgetting anytime soon. If you love historical fiction, I highly recommend picking this one up...you won't regret it!

This was such a marvelous book! It has books, it's set in the most beautiful city in the world (Paris) as well as Montana, USA, and it has love and friendship - even unlikely friendships. Although I didn't see where the "dark secret from their past" connected them from the blurb, I did love Odile and Lily's friendship. I loved Odile's story and it broke my heart and also I loved Lily's teen angst story. This book pulled me in and I wanted to keep reading until there was nothing left and all the secrets were uncovered. The characters were so vividly described and the story was beautifully written - if you enjoy historic fiction, you'll love this book

The story is told in two different time lines. It is 1939 Paris and Odile has just graduated from library school. She is obsessed with the Dewey Decimal System and loves the order it brings to chaos. She dreams of working in the American Library in Paris with no interest in the suitors her family presents at Sunday dinner until Paul. During the War her and the rest of her co-workers struggle to keep the library open and safe from the Nazi's, delivering boxes of books to soldiers on the front and delivering to the Jews who are banned from the library. The library is filled with a colorful cast including Miss Reeder, the director, who is determined to stay in Paris even though she is American. Bitsi is the children's librarian who falls in love with Remy, Odile's twin. Margaret is a rich woman whose husband is a diplomat and a cad. In order to find some meaning to her life she becomes an invaluable volunteer at the library and close friends with Odile.

The second time line is in Froid, Montana, in the 1980's. Odile is living alone and rarely leaves the house but Lily, a young girl who lives next door, decides she wants to interview Odile for a school paper and learn what she can about Paris and surprisingly Odile agrees. The two become close and after Lily's mother dies she helps her navigate high school and a new stepmother and two baby brothers.

I found the Odile parts of the book way more interesting than Lily's trying to keep the library open, worry about Remy who was off fighting and her romance with Paul. I felt there were lots of gray areas in the book and moral dilemmas that were dealt with. Many times I would stop and think what would I do in that same situation. I was happy that she found romance but the descriptions would drag at times and felt overly long . I didn't feel the connection they had perhaps because Paul wasn't as developed a character.

Lily's part was interesting. She learned plenty of lessons from Odile, one was learning to speak French, but I wasn't engaged with that. I mean learning French from an older neighbor in Montana just cannot be as riveting as trying to run a library in war torn Paris.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. I kept pushing ahead because I wanted to know how Odile ended up in Montana, what happened to Paul and who was sending the crow letters and if it was anyone they knew. I would recommend this to quite a few of my friends.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for providing me with an advance copy.

4.5 Stars

She proffered The Brothers Karamazov. “I wept when I finished.” Her voice swelled with emotion. “First because I was happy to have read it. Second because the story was so moving. Third because I’ll never again experience the discovery of it.”

Wonderful and well-researched story about occupied France. Loved the dual timelines! Highly recommend.

Any bookworm will love this story about the American Library in Paris set during World War II. Odile is a lovely protagonist and her obsession with the Dewey Decimal System was completely relatable. I really loved the dual timeline approach, weaving Odile's story with that of young Lily in Montana several decades later.

There are many historical fiction stories set during WWII and I did find this storyline especially unique. I became immersed in the lives of each of the library's subscribers and with the lives of each of the employees of the library. The love of reading and books bound them all together. I was especially touched by the author's notes, where I learned that many of the characters were based on real-life people, which added a layer of richness to this novel.

Odile was not a perfect heroine but that made her actions all the more realistic. Her family suffers terribly during the German Occupation, like most of France did, but the author really shines when she describes the small, day-to-day details of Parisiennes' lives. How did they survive German brutality and poverty? This book is not all grim, however, and in fact the writing is beautiful and the settings are magical, especially when the author describes Odile's love and reference for reading:

“I ran my fingers along the spines. Choosing one, I opened to a random passage. I never judged a book by its beginning. It felt like the first and last date I’d once had, both of us smiling too brightly. No, I opened to a page in the middle, where the author wasn’t trying to impress me."

This book should be on your list if you are a fan of historical fiction. The world created by Ms. Charles is filled with hope, life and a true love for the magic of books.

(Thank you the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, provided in exchange for an honest review.)