What a beautifully written book! It is a tribute to the importance of books, of reading, of friendship, of trust. I feel in love with Odile, the main character, both as a young woman during the war in Paris and an older woman in Montana forty years later. The story goes back and forth between the two timelines, painting a picture of this woman’s life. Odile worked at the American Library in Paris during the war and did many brave and important things. Yet she had some unhappy secrets, and she finally confides in a young girl, Lily, and this helps both of them.

I love me some World War 2 fiction and while I've read my fair share of novels set during the era, they always run the risk of slipping into 'sameness'. But The Paris Library was different. Set against the backdrop of the American Library in Paris, we meet a group of resistance fighters. And while they aren't fighting with weapons per say, they're fighting with...books.

My kind of people! A motley crew of librarians, historians, writers, and book lovers that work at the library as the Nazis invade Paris. Our heroine, Odile, a new librarian with a love of literature, English language, and everything the library and books represent, finds herself at the heart of a mini resistance as the library distributes 'banned' books to Jewish library patrons. The story alternates between Odile in Paris in the 40s, and Montana in the 80's in a small town. As she grieves the recent loss of her mother, teenager Lily seeks out the friendship of her elderly, reclusive, foreign neighbor....Odile. As Lily learns more about Odile's history, Odile gives Lily lessons in French, in life, and finds a flicker of her old self that she thought she had once lost.

[Unpopular Opinion]

I was excited for this book. I had originally received a copy almost one year ago, however the publishing date was delayed to 2021 - and it was finally released this month.📖.
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I really enjoy historical fiction so the idea of historical fiction combined with the theme of love for books - was an an amazing premise. Unfortunately, this book didn’t work well for me. Although interesting in parts - the “based on real events” story of the American Public Library in Paris during WWII, and the librarians who continued to educate, support and provide assistance during the time of Nazi occupation - the writing just held me back from really enjoying the book. I may be alone on this but I felt the writing to be strangely simplistic - which really took away from the book and almost made the book read like a very junior story. This book follows Odile - a young French woman who worked at the library during the 1940’s and forty years later as a widow living in the US.📖.
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The dual timeline didn’t really make any sense and didn’t contribute to the overall story. There were parts where I was interested - about mid way through - but it wasn’t enough - and I put it down multiple times throughout this whole week. Also, the ending is so strange - basically the story just stops with no real wrap up. Overall, I did appreciate the story and the research work done by the author but I didn’t think there was enough to really make this book stand out. Thank you to @netgalley for this copy.⭐️⭐️.
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The Paris Library is a beautifully written book based on the true World War II story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris who defied the Nazis by continuing to provide subscribers as well as soldiers as many books as they possibly could no matter what restrictions the Nazis placed upon them. As Odile learned after a short time working there, "The Library was more than bricks and books; its mortar was people who cared." In fact, the library itself is a powerful character in the book, and its employees and regular visitors become important members of this literary family.

The story is told in two timelines: Odile as a young Parisian woman in 1939 and as an older woman living in Montana in 1983. In many ways, I thought the second timeline was unnecessary other than to show Odile attempting to rescue a young girl who was on the same path that Odile traveled so many years ago-- and of course for the complete unveiling of Odile's past.

Odile drew me right into the story. I could smell the books on the shelves of the American Library in Paris. I could hear the two old friends' daily arguments in the periodicals room. And I felt no shock when the "crow letters" began arriving at Nazi headquarters informing them that the librarians were hiding forbidden literature and providing reading material to Jews.

As beautifully written as The Paris Library is-- and there are many passages that illuminated my imagination-- I had a difficult time immersing myself fully into the story. As much as sentences like "Her bookshelves ran over, so her vanity table was a mixture of pink blush and Dorothy Parker, mascara and Montaigne" warmed my heart, and facts such as Zora Neale Hurston being Odile's favorite living writer made her come alive to me, part of me still held back.

Why? It has more to do with me as a person than it has to do with the story. The overarching theme of The Paris Library is jealousy, and I've always had trouble warming up to people or characters who live by that emotion. Since my reaction to this novel is so subjective, take my opinion with a grain of salt and give it a try. It is a rich and multi-layered tale.

A slow story based on actual people and the trials they lived through during the Nazi occupation of Paris during World War II. I was getting tired of reading WWII novels because they all tend to be the same, this book sounded like a promising read from a much different point of view. It turned out to be more of a love story told from two different periods of time rather than a story about heroic librarians. Not my cup of tea.

Another great historical fiction! About halfway into this book, I was ready to give it four stars. It started out strong. I was liking the characters and was fully invested to see what happened. Then it started to slow down and I was wishing for more of Lily's timeline. I was ready to pick up another book and give this one a rest for a day or two. But then the action picked up and I found myself interested again. We also get a few plot twists that I honestly can say I didn’t see coming.

In the end, I realized that this was Odiles story to tell much more than it was Lily's. Lily was just a catalyst that came along at the right moment.

In the last quarter of the book there are some truly ugly occurrences. So be forewarned. In the end there were some truly charming events that occurred too and had me tearing up more than once. I also enjoyed reading the author’s acknowledgements telling what parts of the story are true and what she embellished.

"The Paris Library" by Janet Skeslien Charles is a historical fiction that is going to be a hit with book lovers everywhere! Highlighting the timeline of WWII and then also Montana during the 1980s, this book blends together different eras and locations but weaves the story together effortlessly that will leave readers turning pages. With themes of friendship and love of literature, the characters in this story are well developed, interesting and will live on long after the novel has ended within the hearts of readers. I would like add: so many books have been written about the WWII time period. "The Paris Library" stood out to me amongst the others. This book was different and held my interest. I felt invested in the story from the beginning and didn't want the book to end!

Blogger's Note: Thank you to the publisher for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I love Paris and I love libraries so I was very excited to read this book. I have to say I did not love this book but I did like it. I liked Odile and Lily and how the author interchanged their lives. I liked learning about the American Library in Paris and what the workers did during WWII to keep getting the books circulated to people who were banned from the library. Odile was naive in her younger years. Her father was always inviting possible husbands over for Sunday brunch. Danny was one of those young suitors. She fell in love with him but he was not a nice person or maybe the war had something to do with his hostility. Odile also was a librarian at the ALP and it is there that she made some wonderful friends who were like family to her. After something Odile said led to a horrible consequence, Odile moved to Montana and lived next door to Lily. Lily is a young naive girl who befriends Odile. Odile teaches Lily French and helps her through the loss of her mother. She also tries to teach her to keep her mouth shut and mind her own business. The relationship between Odile and Lily was beautiful and that is why I like the book. I did feel that it moved a little slow at times. Scenes between Odile and Danny in apartments that were not theirs did not add to the story and I felt they could have been eliminated. Other than that if you like Paris and libraries and historical fiction I would definitely recommend.

Thanks to #Atriabooks and #netgalley for the ARC of this book

I instantly wanted to read this book based on the title... I’ve always wanted to go to Paris and who doesn’t love the charm of libraries. This book really did capture the love of books that I was hoping I would connect with.
Set in WWII German occupied France and Montana (of all places) in 1983, this novel had it moments of betrayal and tragedy. But the author found a way to tie every sad moment with a quote from a novel. So even though Odile and Lily’s lives had had these massive ups and downs, literature helped them through the toughest times. And I feel like that resonates today.
One of the quotes that marked was “Yes, this war had divided us, but a love of literature would reunite us.” This has to be the motto that take with me as I battle through life.
I’m sure that I could write more, but honestly, there are many surprises that I don’t want to give away. Just know, books are the thread that weaves this story together. Friendship between an older woman and a child blossoms. And so many life lessons are learned!

I'm sorry to say I didn't finish this one. This story is a WWII historical fiction, told on a dual timeline of modern day, when the protagonist has moved to a small town in Montana. The storyline, though, despite the war, is just. so. slow. I've read plenty of WWII historical fiction, and usually appreciate the nuances and differences in the characters and what they went through, but in this book, the main character doesn't really have too much conflict to resolve. Her beau is with her in Paris, due to his working a farm in harvest season, her brother is at the front, but largely unharmed, and her job is relatively intact with no real risk to her. I was just bored.

The Paris Library is a historical fiction novel that is based on actual happenings before and during WWII. It is woven from true events of the brave and heroic group of The American Library in Paris that worked tirelessly during the war to keep the library open. Odile is a young Parisian book lover that gets a job at the library just before the war - although her family, particularly her father, would rather her not work outside the home and get married instead. She is strong willed, bright and passionate and that is displayed well throughout the book. Of course, not all strong willed, passionate people make the best decisions all of the time....

Outside of the narrative of Odile's life and family, you will learn all about The American Library in Paris and the events that took place before and during the war.

There is a second timeline in the 80's as well with Odile in Montana that takes a little bit of a back burner to the first but I enjoyed this part of the story as well. Young teen-aged Lily is very interested in the mysterious Odile and they become friends and help each other quite a bit without realizing it.

As a lover of libraries myself, I did very much enjoy all of the history of The American Library in Paris and appreciated learning everything that was done to keep it open. There were a few parts throughout the book that at times became a bit tedious and I did find myself skimming more than once. All in all, a good historical fiction read. If you enjoy WWII historical fiction, you will likely enjoy this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review. The Paris Library will be released on 2/9/21.

This book snuck up on me, grabbed hold and wouldn't let go until the very end....and even then I didn't want it to be over. Janet Skeslien Charles gives us a well researched and fascinating story of the American Library in Paris during the time leading up to...and during WWII. She introduces us to the brave librarians who worked to keep the Library open and the books safe during the war. A duel time-line story it alternates between Odile a young French woman coming of age at the library during the war years, and the 1980s in Froid, Montana when Odile meets and befriends Lily, her young neighbor. Their friendship grows as Odile teaches Lily French and helps her navigate the tender teen age years. Despite the difference in their ages a deep friendship is forged.
I REALLY liked this book....it will stay with me for a long, long time.
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, did I love this book! While it was based during WWII, as so many historical fiction books are, it focused on a topic I knew nothing about until reading this book: The American Library in Paris. The library sounds like it was an lovely place even before the war, but what's really incredible is the heroes that worked there during WWII. Their dedication to their jobs, subscribers, and their soldiers is incredible. I think it's amazing that they made the effort to send and deliver books to soldiers to help keep up their morale.

This book included a great cast of characters, and it was incredible to learn that many of them were real people, and this was based on their real stories! I found most of the characters likeable and really liked the dual timeline. So many times with dual timeline books, the more recent timeline is present day, so the people who lived through WWII are not normally present in the current day timeline. But because this book's more recent timeline was set in the 1980's, we got to experience Odile's story both in the 1940's and the 1980's. I really enjoyed her friendship with Lily and the advice and direction that she gave her.

If I had to find one thing to critique it's that there was a part of Odile's life that was explained towards the end of the book that felt a bit rushed. I realize there was no way to explain all of those years in detail, but because I found Odile so endearing, I would've loved to have known more about her life in the years in between the two timelines that were the focus of the book. So not necessarily a critique, just a desire for more, because I enjoyed Odile's story so much!

I also really appreciated the library setting, as I think any bibliophile will. This was a great story that was well-written and, judging by the author's note at the end, also very well-researched. I will look for more work from Janet Skeslien Charles in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advance e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have a natural love of history, I grew up with a father that was a history buff and he engrained that love in me. I would say that at least if not more than 1/4 of my bookshelves are stacked with books from my favorite historical time period because every history buff has one they gravitate to. So it stands to reason I am also a big fan of Historial Fiction.

When it comes to reading Historial Fiction I do gravitate to WWII, maybe because it is not so distant in the past, or that being Jewish, it reminds me of the horrible obstacles my people overcame, or that it is a way to learn and honor the 6 million Jewish people that died for no reason other than believing differently than others. Mostly I think I enjoy the stores of the preserver of the common people, the ones who quietly fought against the Nazis away from the front lines, their small stories and actions are what made this was so different from others.

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles was the first HF book I picked up this year. Drawn to it by its gorgeous cover, I was quickly taken in by the story, especially having had worked in a library for years. The story has dual storylines. One taking place in 1939-1944 during the war, and the other later in the 80s. It is the story of Odile Souchet, a young determined girl who gets her dream job at The American Library in Paris ( ALP ) It also features Odile in later years living in America in a small Montana town, lonely and alone until she meets her neighbor Lily who comes to visit wanting to interview her for a High School class.

While I enjoyed the small glimpses of Odile in the more present day, the part of the book that captivates me was the period in Paris during the war. I fell in love with the American Library and understood Odile’s need to work there. I also fell in love with the people of the library, they were the soul of the building. As a former librarian, I understood their need to make sure people were able to read, the need to get books to people who wanted them, such as the soldiers and the Jewish subscribers that had been banned from reading. In fact, for the book to have taken place in WWII, there is little mention or details of the war, you are transported to the library during the occupation of Paris by the Nazi’s. That is the purpose of the book, showing how the library and the people inside risked their lives for the love of books and reading.

The entire book was well researched by the author. Many of the happenings and people in the book are base on truth and real people, it is a flawless blend of fact and fiction that will keep you captivated. The Paris Library held so much magic for me. The friendships, and how they are depended on trust and easily torn apart when that trust is tested. The love of family, and how the dynamics of a family can change at any given moment. But mostly it was reading about the power of books and literature, and how much these things actually mean to people, especially when they are no longer readily available, and people who are willing to risk their lives to continue to provide the means to read.

I have been waiting for a new book from Janet Skesleien Charles since reading and loving Moonlight in Odessa in 2011. When I heard about her new book, The Paris Library, I was doubly excited because I love books set in Paris. The Paris Library was one of my most anticipated reads of 2021. The book is based on a true story of librarians and workers of the American Library in Paris, who kept the library open through the Nazi occupation and delivered books to their subscribers.

I am sad to say The Paris Library didn't live up to my expectations. I was in a funky reading mood when I started reading it, so maybe that's why I didn't love it as much as I wanted to, but I wasn't captivated by the story. I usually find WW2 stories emotional and moving, but in this case, I didn't feel any connection to the characters and wasn't moved by their struggles. I found most of the characters one-dimensional and lacking complexity. Often, their actions didn't make sense to me. This book also had dual timelines, with the second timeline being 1980s Montana. I found the storyline of the 1980s even less developed than the war-time storyline.

The Paris Library will appeal to historical fiction readers and anyone who loves books about libraries and book shops. This book has mostly positive reviews, I think I didn't read it at the right time, or my expectations were way too high.

The only thing more beauitful than the cover is the story. The Paris Library is both heartbreaking and heartwarming and impossible to put down

Not a big fan of historical fiction, but had to take a look at this one as I love libraries! I thought the story was interesting and enjoyed the characters. It was enlightening to me as I didn't realize there WAS an American Library in Paris (and is still open and operating! Now there is a reason to add Paris as a place I want to visit!) The story itself takes place during WW2- and in the 1980s- two timelines. They seemed abrupt to me at times, but I still enjoyed the story. I enjoyed reading about the staff even more when I looked up the library and discovered their names- they were real people during the time period and worked to get books to soldiers, the Jewish patrons, and even worked in the resistance. Nice intro to the library with a good read to boot!

Set during World War II, The Paris Library tells the story of the heroic librarians who worked to keep the American Library in Paris open during the German occupation of France. I really enjoyed this story about the power of literature to bring people together.

I particularly love when historical fiction is based on a true story, and this novel was no disappointment in that department. I encourage readers to read the author’s note at the end, where the author discusses the real-life people on which the characters in the book were based. The author ultimately did a wonderful job bringing these people to life. During times I wasn’t reading, I found myself wondering about them, and every time I put the book down, I felt compelled to pick it back up again.

Although I kept feeling the call to pick up the book, I would characterize this story as even-paced. As it takes place during WWII, there is most definitely a bit of action and suspense involved in the plot, but the true beauty of this story lies with its quieter character development. The reader follows Odile when she is a young librarian in Paris who is learning tough lessons about the world and also forty years later, when she becomes a mentor to her young neighbor, Lily, who is also trying to find her place in a harsh world. I generally enjoy dual-timeline stories; however, I wished we ultimately would’ve gotten a little more from Lily’s point of view, who is growing up in a small town in Montana in the 1980s. At times, the book was very Odile-focused, and I wished the characters in Montana were given a bit more air-time.

Read if you:
-loved The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
-like historical fiction based on a true story
-believe in the power of literature to bring people together

My rating: 4 stars

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for this ARC! I posted about this book on my blog last week (linked below) and will post this review on my blog on the publication date: February 9.

“We’d gone down a dark road, fraught with ugly feelings, but she’d seen me at my worst, and still loved me.”

THE PARIS LIBRARY is historical fiction based on the efforts of the librarians at the American Library in Paris during World War II. I was entirely unfamiliar with this story, and I really enjoyed reading about some different aspects of World War II. I also really enjoyed the relationships throughout the story: the relationships between brother and sister, friends, colleagues, and particularly the relationship between the two main characters of the book, the French librarian Odile and her young American neighbor Lily. each relationship is both flawed and beautiful, equally heartbreaking and heartwarming. 4/5⭐️—I liked it!

The Paris Library
By Janet Skeslien Charles

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of this book.

“This war…this war…this war…” World War II Paris looms large in this book that bounces back and forth between Paris during the war, and Froid, Montana in the 1980s. Odile came to Montana from Paris in 1945, and Lily is the young girl who lives next door and is fascinated by the “war bride” and why she keeps herself secluded from the rest of the town. Of course, over time, the two become friends. Odile helps Lily learn French and many other life lessons, and Lily helps Odile connect to the present and the people that are with her now instead of the ghosts in the past. Their path is not always smooth, but that’s life, c’est no?

What I liked:
The descriptions of Paris both before and during the war.
The American Library in Paris where Odile worked and all of her friends and “habitues” that she works with.
The realistic depiction of the dangers many people faced during the war.
Odile and Lily’s relationship which is typical in some ways since Odile is older and Lily a young teen, but they are both impetuous and given to irrational outbursts that hurt themselves and others, so there is a more layered connection.

What I disliked:
The last quarter of the book where we learn how Odile came to live in Montana. The whole story was moving along beautifully until that moment. It was abrupt and didn’t make a lot of sense. It was almost as if someone told the author, “Okay, you have enough now; just wrap it up.”

Rating:
This book was heading toward a 5 out 5 stars read for me until the last part of the book. I really felt cheated by the ending, so I bumped it down to 3.5 out of 5 stars.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Paris, libraries, learning about WW II, and time jumps, but prepared for the ending. Maybe it is just me, but I was not happy with that.