loved it! It was a perfect historical fiction. I was racing through the pages to find out what happened and I really loved the connections made.

This will fall under the heading of "why did I wait so long to read it" but I have a strange relationship with WWII fiction and often just need to wait until the time is right. The time was indeed right and this novel moved me to tears, filled me with hope, and enlightened me to another aspect of the unsung everyday "heroes" of a continent in crisis.

Told in a dual-timeline account, it is also a beautiful reminder of the value of friendship and loyalty, finding yourself, and the power of books to bring knowledge and comfort. I appreciated that it was a unique story when many titles set in this era can read the same. I enj9yed that its focus was not solely the war and glamorized suffering, but ordinary people attempting to live their lives in extraordinary circumstances.

I bought my own copy of The Paris Library and finished it on March 1, 2021. I enjoy reading historical fiction and gave it 4 stars at the time. It introduced me to something new as I did not know anything about the American Library in Paris before this book. It was very interesting to learn about its history and what happened during WWII. The library worker and patrons were Resistance fighters in their day as they worked to save the library and books as best they could during that time.

*Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this e-ARC.*

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

I am always tempted by books about libraries and book stores because I work in a library, however this book quickly became a did not finish on my shelf.

I only occasionally read historical fiction and if it's hard to comprehend or like I quickly will put it aside.

The Point of View writing in this book just turned me off to the whole book and I attempted to read it a couple times to the point where I didn't finish the book.

I can see the potential that this book has; it is different from other historical fiction novels as it doesn’t heavily focus on the impact of the war on Parisians, Odile actually seems very oblivious to everything happening until she’s forced to confront it because of her actions.

I disliked the main characters Odile and Lily so much. I felt like they were both whiny and not very well-developed, very one dimensional and had no real personality to them. I understand what the author was trying to accomplish in this novel – having the setting be the American Library in Paris and having a whole range of characters and their personalities clash sounded like a good premise to me, but the execution wasn’t there. I was left wanting more; more drama, more intrigue, but I received none of that.

There wasn’t a specific moment where I was on the edge of my seat of what could happen next – it was very one note for me.

Overall it was an okay book – nothing really stood out to me now that I’m reflecting back upon it.

This is a beautiful tale of the librarians of the American Public Library during the lead up to and continuing through the German occupation of France in the 1930s-1940s juxtaposed against the upbringing of a young girl in Montana who befriends an ex-librarian in the 1980s. Not only does it uphold the tradition of libraries being a place for all, no matter what the rules of oppression governments declare, but it effortlessly brings the reader into such contrasting moments from the past with passion and vulnerability.

I loved this book. Classic historical dual point of view. Another unique look at an aspect of World War II that isn't overtly discussed. The history was spot on , and actually led me to do further research on the American Library in Paris. Already itching for a reread.

Unfortunately this book didn't work for me, so I am opting out of writing a review on goodreads. Thank you anyways for the chance to read it .

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an advance copy.

This is a sweet read, and by that I mean that instead of the nitty gritty WW2 storytelling, this is more a tale of two young women of different decades with the older helping the younger to navigate through some hard life experiences.
Odile lives in Paris and her love of books draws her to a job position at The American Library in Paris. We follow her life as the war approaches and the impact on her family. The war changed her and that of the people she thought she knew and caused her to make a drastic move. There are some tense moments relating to the horrors of the occupation in Paris but used more to put the timeline in context than as a main point of the storyline.
Years later we find her living in American next door to a young girl, Lily, who has undergone a traumatic loss of her own. The two form a friendship with Odile guiding Lily through life and helping her avoid some of the mistakes she made as a young woman.
For me this book is more about the personal relationships between characters and how some very difficult situations can shape or break a person.

Highly Recommend

3.5

This was a lovely account of the times of Paris during German occupation and the ways it impacted the life of Odile told through past and present. I found it to be an interesting topic as I didn't even know that the American Library in Paris existed and now I can't wait to visit one day. As much as I did enough this story though, I did find it a little hard to get through. I'm not the biggest fan of historical fictions that take place in past and present so I wasn't really as interested in the present story but as I neared the end, I did end up liking where the story went and the full circle moment.

I did really enjoy the plot and the characters. I loved learning about how Paris would have been like during German occupation and through the eyes of someone who wasn't necessarily always directly involved. We see Lily grow up through the novel and she isn't the most likeable character at times, but you can tell Odile and her are good for each other.

Overall, enjoyable, just not a favourite

I have always enjoyed books where the setting happens to take place in Paris !!
Even better a story about books !!!
Set in 1939 , Odile gets her dream job at the American Library in Paris! She makes wonderful new friends and loves being there!
In addition to Odile’s life as a young woman and library employee in Paris - through the eyes of Lily- lonely teenager living in Montana 1983. We learned about Odile as an aging senior through Lily’s eyes and it is as engaging as if it came right from Odile !
Loved the dual timeline and how even though it was set during WWII there was enough light and beautiful moments to bring wonderful life to an historical period that we will never forget!
Fantastic read 😊

It's early in 2021 still; but I feel this is likely to be one of my top historical fiction recommendations of the year. I absolutely loved it. The Paris Library takes a slightly different approach to telling the story of the occupation of Paris during WWII than most novels in this highly saturated genre. WWII fiction has boomed in the last few years and certainly there are millions of stories to be told that are all different. It's appropriate that as many of them be told as possible; not only so that we can learn from history, but I find that I always appreciate my current life more after reading about the harsh conditions of that time.

Perspectives & the American Library Setting
Before we get into the deep war talk, I just want to touch lightly on some of the super cool ways that Janet Skeslien Charles narrates this novel. This is a split perspective book from the past to 'current day'. We have our core story during WWII in Paris that features Odile's perspective most of the time. The second story is in the 1980's and features a teen girl's view of the world where her neighbour is Odile; obviously later in her life. While the split perspective with years in-between is super common in historical fiction these days it's rare that the main character of the past is a support character to the future. I really enjoyed this view of Odile and her choices.

The cutest part of The Paris Library is the Duey decimal system references that Charles uses. When Odile is struggling to relate or trying to remember something she will often indicate a word or phrase followed by it's top or secondary Duey decimal number (ie: Shakespeare, 822 or Infidelity, 306). This was adorable and it intrigued me at times as you could see that the topics were in the same batch of numbers or were very different from one another. A clever way to keep reminding us that this library has no computers, no easy searching, and is laid out in the same order libraries or bookstores were at one time. As someone who had a Duey decimal catalog for their libraries into my early teens I really loved this throwback. If you're too young to remember the Duey decimal system then take a quick look on Wikipedia to understand the layout and use.

We are also reminded of the set-up and use of the library many times as Charles refers to our characters updating sign-out cards, adding bookplates to new books, bundling holds, and delivering them to those who can no longer enter the library. For most of our characters the library is a refuge and an essential piece of keeping sanity and mental health in check during the war. For others it becomes a reminder of what is forbidden to some by the Nazi's and how everything is now censored. For me, the reader, the library represented a fixture that was so changed by the Nazi's occupation of France that it was never the same again; just like our characters. So in a way it was a character in the story. And really what book lover doesn't want to read about a library?!

Why The Paris Library is Different?
Let me be very honest and clear, the violence and gruesome moments of the war are significantly toned down. While there are still beatings, mass killings, etc., when we are in the past; it's not near as difficult to read as many WWII stories of late. We never see or encounter a concentration camp, we see people put on trains a couple times; but it's from Odile's perspective (whose only 20-something at the time) and her view of the world is very tinted by rose coloured glasses.

This view is really what makes Charles story so different. It's the war from the perspective of a woman just starting her life. She's naive and trying to make huge life decisions about a career, marriage, and shaping her life. How the war affected those decisions and shaped Odile's later life are the real 'learning's' (if you will). I feel like many of us, including myself, that live in first world, non-war torn countries, are very lucky to live the way we do. But also that we are just as naive as Odile was about our own surroundings.

Perspective
The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly brought circumstances surrounding many of us to light in a lot of ways. For example I knew, but didn't really understand what it meant to: have neighbours who are using the food bank every week to feed their children, coworkers who live alone and see no one without an office or event to attend, friends who get groceries and carry them on transit every couple of days. These are difficulties, of varying degrees, that many of us perhaps were 'aware of' but didn't really understand until the pandemic hit. I'm much more empathetic towards others these days; and want to be more aware of reality than ever before. It's difficult and overwhelming; and frankly depressing, but it's critical we are all in this life with eyes wide open so that we can change the circumstances.

It was the same for Odile who heard rumours of 'death camps' and people stripped from their homes; but she never truly understood it until it was late in the war years. She too feels guilty and helpless once she starts to see what is actually happening. This is a story we could all benefit from as it reminds us that we should not assume certain things and be sure to seek the truth.

The Moral
Many historical fiction books have strong morales at the end of them that are almost child-like in nature. WWII fiction usually focuses on the importance of life, individuality, freedom, and what I'll call (as a Canadian) multiculturalism (be it in race, religion, sexuality, etc.) as things we must focus on and ensure we provide to everyone.

In the Paris Library our morales are a bit different. While certainly the library is full of interesting foreign characters we meet; it's also about how important knowledge is. A giant building full of books is only truly valuable when certain 'subjects' or texts haven't been stripped out. Knowledge is power. Had many known what was truly happening, or believed those rumours (almost all of which were true) about what the Nazi's were actually doing to people, we can't help but wonder, could more have been done? It's impossible to argue either way as we must remember that people were at gunpoint, at risk of starving, at risk of being persecuted themselves if they defied the orders given. Yet Charles ask the question of the reader that I have often asked myself; would I have acted different knowing what I know today?

Overall
I could talk about this book for thousands of words. The characters are vibrant and relatable (given most of them were real people that makes sense); the setting of the American library itself is unique from other WWII books, the naivety of Odile and others is refreshing, and the way Odile teaches our 'current day' teen is commendable. There is something for everyone to learn from The Paris Library.

This is a WWII book I can recommend to absolutely everyone as the gruesome events in it are toned down or only alluded to in comparison to those in say The Tattooist of Auschwitz or The German Girl. While I know that may disappoint some people to hear; but I think it opens things up for many people to read a WWII historical fiction book that otherwise might not be able to stomach it. Don't get me wrong there are still awful things, history is still abided by, and the war is still obviously brutal; however, this perspective is one that many readers are likely to be able to relate to and I believe can learn from.

Kudos to Charles for the extensive research done for this book. I loved the afterward notes, the biographies of the real characters, and admitting to where she may have altered things to hit her story. This is often my favourite part of any historical novel and Charles certainly delivered to ensure it was clear what is truth and what is not.

My final note on The Paris Library is to add it to your TBR for sure if you read a lot of historical fiction, consider adding it if you are intrigued, and if you usually avoid war novels maybe try it out. You might find this one a little more palatable without diminishing how awful the conditions were.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

First, I'd like to thank Simon and Schuster Canada and Netgalley for my free review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I'm rating this one a 3.5 but rounding it up to four stars. I enjoyed the story a lot, especially the characters. What I really enjoyed was that this book was based on a true story about a group of people who worked at the American Library in Paris during the second world War. They often worked in secret, delivering books to those who needed them. These librarians were so passionate about their jobs and I really liked the main character Odile.

A book about books! For a book lover, what's not to love!? I liked the setting of the library and could almost picture what the stacks of books looked like. I was entertained throughout the story and wanted to keep reading. So why the 3.5 stars?

Honestly, it just dragged a little bit in the middle for me. Not enough to want to stop reading, but it just hit a bit of a lull. While I liked the characters, I didn't feel overly attached to them. I felt like I wanted just a little bit more from the story.

But overall, if you're a fan of historical fiction you will enjoy this story! It was about family and friendship and hope in hard times. And I'll always be a sucker for a book about books!

This was such a great read, I would highly recommend reading this book. I loved the way the story unfolded in the telling of Odile's life while she was a woman in her 20s.

We also get to meet Odile through the eyes of Lily her young neighbour who has a strong curiousity about Odile. in her senior years in the United States. I truly enjoy reading historical fiction books where I have an opportunity to learn new things about about our history.

I think we are realizing more and more what an important role women played in WWII. They couldn't go to the front but they took on all kinds of roles at home to keep their cities and countries going during the hard times.

Life in Paris was hard during WWII, but the American Library stayed open as long as it could to meet the needs of its patrons. Knowledge is one of the most powerful weapons and Odile and the rest of the staff of the library are trying to use to do their part to help win the war.

A parallel story takes place in Montana in 1983, as a teen named Lily gets to know her mysterious next door neighbour. Lily's mother has recently passed away and Lily is floundering, trying to find her way.

These two stories connect in a great way and both Odile and Lily learn about how they can make a difference in the world around them.

I had been sitting with my copy of Janet Skeslien Charles' The Paris Library for almost a year before I finally read it. You see, the book was originally supposed to be released in 2020 but was only just published this month. I was even lucky enough to be able to get a physical ARC at the last event I attended in early March 2020 before the world shut down. I enjoyed hearing from Skeslien Charles herself and looked forward to reading her book. Fast forward eleven months and I enjoyed my time spent getting lost in Paris as I read the novel.

Here's the synopsis:
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.

The cover and opening chapters of this novel are completely swoonworthy. Odile is a bookworm, desperate to work in her favourite place: the American Library in Paris. I completely identified with her love of reading, and even with hoping she'd be able to work at the library where she feels most at home as my first job was at my hometown library and I adored it. Skeslien Charles did the library (where she had worked herself years ago) credit and I really felt like I was there with Odile and the whole cast of characters who loved the library as much as she did. This love of books and the library being a sacred space was my favourite part of the whole novel.

This is a quiet historical novel. There isn't a whole lot that seems to happen - there are no battles being fought here - but everything changes over the course of the story. As the war begins, things gradually get deteriorate until Paris is occupied and German soldiers are crawling all over the city and imposing rules that impacted all citizens and the library. And things get even worse from there. Jewish subscribers were no longer welcome in the library and Miss Reeder (the real life American directress at the time) could not let that stand. The librarians arranged to deliver books to those who were no longer allowed into the library and continued to send books to soldiers when they could. It seems like such a small thing but they were risking their lives by doing this. They could have been arrested, or worse, for providing reading material, of all things, to Jewish subscribers or by having a banned book in their possession. Other libraries and museums had been pillaged already by the Nazis and Miss Reeder made sure to have some of their collection hidden in case their library was next. As we're learning now, during this pandemic, culture isn't going to cure us of COVID-19. It isn't going to feed us or find housing and safety for those who need it. But it is important for our mental wellbeing and we need libraries, and other institutions like them, to be around when we're finally able to emerge from this world we're living in right now. I think the librarians knew that, too.

I didn't like the dual timeline. I'm being increasingly picky when there is a historical and a present-ish day storyline woven together. I want it to have purpose and I didn't really feel like Lily's story in 1980s Montana really had a purpose. I wanted to know more about Odile and the secrets that she was apparently keeping but Lily's story didn't hook me. It was sort of clunky too and just didn't flow well. I would have much rather the story be told chronologically. Maybe in parts with the final part in 1983 as Lily helped Odile finally lay her ghosts to rest. I think this was a huge part of why I didn't like the book more than I did. I didn't want to be taken out of the story and I was whenever a chapter from the eighties came up.

I wanted to love The Paris Library but it didn't quite make it. I would still recommend Janet Skeslien Charles' novel for those who want a different perspective on World War II and how difficult it would have been to live in Occupied Paris. I look forward to what she writes next!

*An ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher, Simon & Schuster Canada, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

I loved this book. However, I didn't love how some things were left at the end. I feel there are already so many WWII novels, it's a bit trite to pick up another, but this one was definitely worth it. As a reader, obviously the library setting was enjoyable - even if I prefer Library of Congress cataloguing. It was a story embedded in a true history that I didn't know, so it taught me something, which I like. I also really liked how it showed that war and people aren't black and white and how people came to react and do what they did during war times (and peace times too). It taught a lot of moral tales as well, without preaching on things like friendship and loss. So it was really well rounded, and also intriguing. As it went on I just kept wanting to read it more. The short chapters from other characters' perspectives was also well done in that it provided more depth, without being intrusive or quirky.

really loved how the story unfolded. The novel contains a dual timeline, one that follows Lilya high school student in a small town in the 1980's and the second is Odile who worked as a librarian and a member of the resistance when she was younger during WW11 They meet and Lily decides she wants to know Odile better so she decides to approach and request to interview Odile on the guise she's doing a school project on Paris. A wonderful friendship begins to blossom between the two.

A beautiful historical fiction full of relisilence, resistance, family and friendship.

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

This was a beautiful story, written about some of the people who worked at the American Library in Paris during WWII. It was heartwarming to read about the bravery they showed in keeping it open after the Occupation. When the Nazis banned 'certain' people from using the library, the librarians risked their own lives by sneaking books to them past checkpoints. We observe the way people turned against and reported on others for survival. As the story unfolds, we follow Odile in Paris, and discover how she ended up in Montana.

Based on real people, the author brings to life some of the characters from a really dark time in our history. I highly recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for a digital ARC for an honest review.

#NetGalley #TheParisLibrary

WOW! This is such a fantastic book that got me hooked from the very beginning.
This is very well written that you get sucked into the story and just forget all your plans for the day because you just can't stop reading.