Based on the true Second World War story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris who risked their lives during the Nazis war on words, The Paris Library by award-winning novelist Janet Skeslien Charles is an unforgettable story of romance, friendship, family, and of heroism found in the quietest of places. Television buffs will smile at the Kincaids resemblance to the Roys of Succession. In 1939, idealistic, courageous, and ambitious Odile Souchet works at the American Library in Paris when the Nazis arrive. She freezes; its an image of a book she hasnt seen in sixty-five yearsa book she recognizes asThe Book of Lost Names. Profoundly influenced by her mothers disowning of beloved Aunt Carowho divorced for good reasonOdile is determined to not depend on men for financial security. Reeling from the loss of her mother and her father's remarriage, Lily finds herself adrift: overlooked at school, out of place at home. His discontent was seen as he was required to direct traffic and when he was forced to clean up slurs painted on Nazi posters. In her second novel, The Paris Library, Janet Skeslien Charles ( Moonlight in Odessa) weaves Odile's story together with that of 14-year-old Lily Jacobsen, growing up in Montana in the mid-1980s. Although Lily doesnt know it, Odile is about to kill herself when Lily knocks on her door the first time. British literature. Bree is a friendly but standoffish bookstore owner who keeps everyone she knows at arms length, from guys she meets in bars to her friends. ISBN-13: 9781250307187 Summary One day in the City of Light. Historical fiction concerning the intricate battles over succession within the family that controls a poor rural county in postWorld War I Virginia. Book Reading, Writing, and Literature . Despite the fact that Nazis often destroyed art and literature, they seemed to recognize that learning and reading were still important enough to keep the library open. Published in 2021, Janet Skeslien Charless The Paris Library: A Novel tells the story of the American Library in Paris during the Nazi occupation. The twist actually took away from the story for me. Director, American Library. Looming war with Germany? And his French frienda walrus with a bushy mustache. Lily is a lonely teenager desperate to escape small-town Montana. Eva Traube Abrams, a semi-retired librarian in Florida, is shelving books one morning when her eyes lock on a photograph in a magazine lying open nearby. My novel, The Paris Library, tells the true tale of the international team of librarians who defied the Nazis in order to hand-deliver books to Jewish readers. Curious about Odiles past, Lily looks through Odiles personal effects and, on finding a crow letter (which Odile stole), wrongly accuses her of being an informant. Odile often reminisces about food from France or makes dishes for Lily. RELEASE DATE: March 28, 2023. Why was it important for the librarians to continue to spread the love of reading during the war? As Lily uncovers more about her neighbors 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. I hope that you will download the book club reading guide. Odile personally delivers books to Professor Cohen. Chapter 3 - Paul comes to lunch - aperitif of sherry and vermouth, potato-leek soup, pork roast and rosemary . Did you ever have someone outside of your family who helped guide you through a difficult time and learn to appreciate your family, despite their flaws? Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Disclaimer. I found the Montana parts just unnecessary! So here is another instance in which the narrators of an audiobook can affect the readers experience. As Lily uncovers more about her neighbors 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. Now housed in Berlins Zentral- und Landesbibliothek library, it appears to contain some sort of code, but researchers dont know where it came fromor what the code means. As Odiles family, home, and eventually coworkers are all affected by the Nazi occupation of France, she fights the war with the best weapons she hasbooks. In the first, book-obsessed teenager Odile Souchet tackles her new job at the ALP amid a thriving community of students, writers and avid readers. Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet seems to have the perfect life with her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. Did it feel like you were reading a YA novel and a historical novel? Odiles father, a police captain, must investigate the thousands of tips from informants. I love to read and review various genres with a focus on contemporary fiction, historical fiction with some mysteries/thrillers and also select nonfiction and memoirs. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. As I mentioned in the intro, recipes for books about World War II are often a challenge since most countries faced rations, if not starvation. Each day, they light a stinky cheroot and debate. When Lily's mother becomes ill, Lily grows close to her previously frosty next-door neighbor Odile, who moved to Montana as a bride immediately after the war ended. Your email address will not be published. "The Paris Library" marks Janet Skeslien Charles's second novel of her writing career. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. I do think there are stronger WWII historical fiction out there. 841. There will be spoilers so for more context about the story, check out spoiler-free review first. Agatha Christie novels have withstood the test of time, due in no small part to Christies masterful storytelling and clever mind that may never be matched, but Agatha Christies untold history offers perhaps her greatest mystery of all. A powerful novel that explores the consequences of our choices and the relationships that make us who we arefamily, friends, and favorite authorsThe Paris Libraryshows that extraordinary heroism can sometimes be found in the quietest of places. When Odile visits Margaret, shes horrified. Halfway through the book, I would have rated it barely 3 stars. While the novel is filled with gorgeous settings and a delightful cast of characters some of whom actually existed in real life what I loved the most about The Paris Library is the way it celebrates the power of books, libraries and storytelling. The voices just werent right. Professor Cohen, who is Jewish, is another who sees war coming. Surely you know where this is going, by this point? Family intrigue plays out against the backdrop of 1920s Claiborne County, where racism is a given, Prohibition is the law, and bootlegging is the main source of income for Blacks and Whites. The story is told via two parallel narratives. What do you make of her complicated friendship with Margaret? And, because Odile isnt Jewish and has some connected friends, she sometimes partakes in black market dishes even during the war. Why do you think Odile continued to wear the red belt 40 years later? This 1954 classic by a precocious 18-year-old takes us to the sun-drenched Riviera, where lazy and selfish 17-year-old Ccile is holidaying with her widowed father and his latest girlfriend. And when Margaret begins a relationship with a Nazi solider, shes horrified. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Again, I thought it was fine overall but I kept wanting to go back to the WWII storyline. The Paris Library is another novel about WWII France from a unique perspective. As the war proceeds and the Nazis take over the city, she fears for her twin brother, who has been captured by the Germans, places herself in danger by transporting books to Jewish patrons who are forbidden to visit the library, and begins to question some of her boyfriend's actions. Using her own life experiences, Odile guides Lily to accept her overprotective father and her stepmother, who is struggling with two baby boys. What other books about libraries have you read and loved? The American Library in Paris was able to stay open throughout the war. Odiles husband and son are deceased. Book club questions for The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles examines both timelines in this historical fiction story. 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. I was not familiar with this one prior to seeing it on the list and since Im a huge fan of historical fiction, I decided to check it out. What role did her unfaithful husband play, and what was he not telling investigators? Drama. It has been called a coming of age book, but in many regards, it is more. But when the war finally ends, instead of freedom, Odile tastes the bitter sting of unspeakable betrayal. Odile describes them to a dying American soldier she tends to: Theres an Englishman imagine a crane wearing a paisley bow tie. Did it satisfy you or were you left wishing for more? The main character, Odile, narrates the time in Paris, while a secondary narratora young girl named Lily, who is coming of age in a small Montana town in the 1980sallows the author to revisit Odile later in life and emphasize the timelessness of friendship. Did this surprise you? Together with her fellow librarians, Odile joins the Resistance with the best weapons she has: books. Additionally, Odile motivates Lily to stand up for herself and insist on achieving her goal to attend college. ", Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Lost Names, "Intelligent and sensuously rich.A novel tailor-made for those who cherish books and libraries.". Duke Kincaid owns most of Claiborne County, both financially and politically. But the twist, agh, the twist was just so bizarre. But as Lily uncovers more about Odiles mysterious past, she discovers a dark secret, closely guarded and long hidden. One follows Odile Souchet, a new librarian . Discuss the dual timeline. Three woman who join together to rent a large space along the beach in Los Angeles for their storesa gift shop, a bakery, and a bookstorebecome fast friends as they each experience the highs, and lows, of love. The author has actually worked there in recent years and learned first-hand about the efforts of librarians and volunteers not only to keep it open during the German occupation of Paris, but to smuggle books to Jews and to allied forces on the front. Still, the WWII parts were interesting and well written. How would this have changed your reading? Bookseller friend of Hugo. What did you think? Strong and kind women, such as Professor Cohen of the Sorbonne and Library Directress Miss Reeder, are role models for Odile. Related Topics . Categories: document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Janet Skeslien Charles is an award-winning author with over a decade's worth of roaming the streets of Paris and researching in its libraries. She feels a frisson of pride at violating Nazi edicts, as she packs books to send to British and Jewish colleagues who are banned from the library building. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. World War II Paris during the German occupation forms the setting for an intelligent and sensuously rich novel of a young woman's coming-of-age. More importantly, Odile prevents Lily from ruining a good friendship with Mary Louise, a schoolmate, in a fit of jealousy. Eleven days later, she reappears, just as mysteriously as she disappeared, claiming amnesia and providing no explanations for her time away. The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles Publication Date: March 1, 2022 Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction Paperback: 384 pages Publisher: Atria Books ISBN-10: 1982134208 ISBN-13: 9781982134204 While that might not be historically accurate, this is a novel, after all. There she meets an American soldier, agrees to marry him, and leaves Paris without ever seeing her family and friends again. Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. GENERAL FICTION, by It is charming and moving, with a perfect balance between history and fiction., Tatiana de Rosnay, New York Times bestselling author of Sarah's Key, A fresh take on WWII France that will appeal to bibliophiles everywhere. 823. Giving her a belt, Margaret tells Odile to remember the meaning of friendship when she wears it. The book in the photograph, an eighteenth-century religious text thought to have been taken from France in the waning days of the war, is one of the most fascinating cases. Reader Q&A, One day in the City of Light. One night in search of lost time. Hard Times. World War II Paris during the German occupation forms the setting for an intelligent and sensuously rich novel of a young woman's coming-of-age. Over the next five years, through the Nazi Occupation of France, the ALP founded in 1920, it still stands today also becomes the main source of Odiles small joys. Jeannette Walls. While a fundamentally decent person, Odile displays the human weaknesses of jealousy and anger. The Paris Library. 823. However, her twin brother, Rmy, with whom shes close, and Paul, her new suitor, are supportive. Categories: View my Affiliate Disclosure page here. Janet Skeslien Charles If you'd like me to review your book, contact me! Although Odiles family and the library staff suffer from hunger and worry, they dont really undergo tremendous hardship. A book begging to be read on the beach, with the sun warming the sand and salt in the air: pure escapism. Odile is initially angry but understands Margarets predicament. Your email address will not be published. Very distracting. Her interest is piqued by her solitary, elderly neighbor. In any event, there is plenty to discuss about The Paris Library and who doesnt love a WWII novel? Because of this, I cant quite give it 5 stars. Hard Times. The Paris Library is a dual-timeline story of family, friendship, resistance, romance, betrayal, heroism, bravery, and books. Finding refuge in a small mountain town in the Free Zone, she begins forging identity documents for Jewish children fleeing to neutral Switzerland. Janet Skeslien Charles is the award-winning author of Moonlight in Odessa and The Paris Library. In what ways were they similar? LITERARY FICTION | You can order the book on Amazon here. [Paul is interesting. In 1983, Lily is an awkward teenager trying to find her place in small-town Montana. In many ways, this story really is a love letter to bookworms. Then, what seems like a small conflict elsewhere, suddenly escalates into war. The authors affection for both Paris and the ALP, where she worked as a programme manager in 2010, comes through beautifully as she integrates the stories of many of the real-life employees and patrons of the library into the story with finesse. Having learned the French language from Odile, Lily has become a Francophile and decides that she will head to the American Library upon her arrival. Still, though, I did enjoy learning about the real-life American Library in Paris and the push to keep reading alive during the horrors of war. Told over the course of a single day in 1927, The Paris Hours takes four ordinary people whose stories, told together, are as extraordinary as the glorious city they inhabit. I also loved all of the mentions of Zora Neale Hurstons Their Eyes Were Watching God in the novel, a personal favorite of mine! I love to read and review various genres with a focus on contemporary fiction, historical fiction with some mysteries/thrillers and also select nonfiction and memoirs. HISTORICAL FICTION | The Book of Lost Names revolved around a female document forger. He knew arresting those people was wrong. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Even beyond the wartime drama, the ALP community, many of them true historical figures, are an engrossing, colourful coterie of regulars. Meticulously researched,The Paris Libraryis an irresistible, compelling read., Fiona Davis, national bestselling author of The Chelsea Girls, The Paris Libraryis a refreshing novel that celebrates libraries as cradles of community, especially when we need them the most. She recovers from her fit of jealousy with Bitsi and repairs that relationship. The puzzle of those missing eleven days has persisted. As Odile describes some of them to a dying American soldier whom shes tending: Theres an Englishmanimagine a crane wearing a paisley bow tie. First Edition. I literally shook my head at it. Her shorter work has appeared in revues such as Slice and Montana Noir. Loyalty and betrayal? What did you think of this decision by Odile to leave everything behind? All opinions are 100% mine and every book, unless otherwise noted, is handpicked by me to be featured on the site. 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. How might Lilys life have been different without Odile? After roaming the streets of Paris, Odile gravitates to the American Hospital, where she once volunteered and does so again. The story is told via two parallel narratives. The answers unspool in this well-plotted and richly populated novel, primarily through Odiles and Lilys alternating, first-person narrations. As a result, Margarets husband leaves her and takes their daughter. Were you shocked by what happened to Margaret? Strong and kind women, such as Professor Cohen of the Sorbonne and Library Directress Miss Reeder, are role models for Odile. Even beyond the wartime drama, her ALP communitymany of them true historical figuresare a wonderfully colorful lot. Lilys mother tells her People dont always know what to do or say. RELEASE DATE: May 31, 2022. Her World War I veteran husband and her daughter have no knowledge of her whereabouts, and England unleashes an unprecedented manhunt to find the up-and-coming mystery author. A powerful novel that explores the consequences of our choices and the relationships that make us who we arefamily, friends, and favorite authorsThe Paris Libraryshows that extraordinary heroism can sometimes be found in the quietest of places. 2021. Odile loves her job at the Library, where she finds belonging among kindred spirits. For the young Parisian Odile Souchet in the winter of 1939, working in the American Library in Paris sounds like her ideal job. If you'd like me to review your book, contact me! Im always curious about what makes the New York Times bestsellers list. I do recommend The Paris Library, but the print version, please. For dessert you could serve Professor Cohens Russian cigarettes! [I'm wondering about what happened to the character of Paul? Jeannette Walls When war breaks out, the Nazis are soon in Paris. 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. That said, I had a major problem with the audio version. While additional detail would have made the horrors wreaked by the Nazis and Odiles dilemmas during this time more vivid, this is a novel after all, and more than earns its place in the pantheon of WWII fiction. Do you think that Odile knew that there would be consequences to telling Paul or not? Janet Skeslien Charles's latest novel, The Paris Library, introduces us to Frenchwoman Odile Souchet. Nonfiction books describing Late Stage/End Stage capitalism. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. But erasing people comes with a price, and along with a mysterious, handsome forger named Rmy, Eva decides she must find a way to preserve the real names of the children who are too young to remember who they really are. 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Do you think Margaret and Odile reconcile eventually? When the Nazis march into the city, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP | In a moment of anger, Odile reveals Margarets secret to Paul but immediately regrets doing so. 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. "The Paris Library is a refreshing novel that celebrates libraries as cradles of community, especially when we need them the most. Rivalry and secrets? Atria Books. Her friendship with Odile was a strong part but I wasnt so into the teenager angst. . Each day, they light a stinky cheroot and debate. My sister, who is an avid reader, read the print version at the same time that I listened to the audiobook, and she loved it. Her story is juxtaposed with that of a teenager named Lily who, in 1983, lives in a small rural town in Montana. How Odile ends up in the US unfolds over the course of the book. Increasingly angry at his subordinate role to the Nazis and his humiliating tasks, Paul has outbursts of anger directed mainly at French women consorting with German soldiers. It is 1939, and Odile Souchet has just returned to Paris after completing library school. Todays topic: Prousts madeleine, should it have been a croissant?. Do you think it was harder for Odile to forgive herself than it was for Margaret to forgive her? Check out my book club questions here. How does this go back to the quote from Lilys mother (question #2)? Her father refuses to help the Professor. After all, she loves to read, speaks fluent English, and has memorized the Dewey Decimal system for cataloguing library books. The Paris Library is a historical fiction novel based on the true WWII story of the librarians at the American Library in Paris. Yup another historical fiction novel that I could not put down. Together with her fellow librarians, Odile joins the Resistance with the best weapons she has: books.