A powerful novel that explores the consequences of our choices and the relationships that make us who we arefamily, friends, and favorite authorsThe Paris Library shows that extraordinary heroism can sometimes be found in the quietest of places. Books connect a middle-aged ex-librarian and a schoolgirl, both of whomlong for similar things (Photo: Atria Books). Janet Skeslien Charles. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Montana, 1983: Lily is a lonely teenager looking for adventure in small-town Montana. She loves everything about books and libraries. Despite knowing about Lilys faults, Odile loves her unconditionally and accepts her. Drama. 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. Charles herself actually lived in Paris for over a decade and even worked at The American Library in Paris, which is certainly evident when you follow her detailed descriptions of this building and the different kinds of people who occupied it. If you'd like me to review your book, contact me! Few in Paris recognize the looming threat of war. Your email address will not be published. The Paris Library - Barbara Delinsky 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. Odile initially blames Bitsi, Rmys love and her friend, for his decision but later repairs the friendship. Looming war with Germany? When she decides to write a report on France, she visits the only French person she knowsher lonely neighbor, Odile. He felt guilty about what he'd done and took it out on Margaret. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast . Odile loves her job at the Library, where she finds belonging among kindred spirits. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. When Odile goes to his office to appeal for help finding Professor Cohen, she sees these crow letters, named for the black-hearted people who inform on their neighbors. Instead, Odile consents to an interview for Lilys project about France. Meanwhile, in 1980s Montana, Lily is a lonely teenager desperate to escape the small town she lives in, as she balances mourning for her late mother, her relationship with her fathers new wife and her misunderstood passion for the written word. Profoundly influenced by her mothers disowning of beloved Aunt Carowho divorced for good reasonOdile is determined to not depend on men for financial security. 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. At the same time, I heard hushed, terror-filled stories from relatives were Jewish about the atrocities committed by the Nazis. [I'm wondering about what happened to the character of Paul? Defining what is moral becomes complicated for Sallie. Did it feel like you were reading a YA novel and a historical novel? There she meets a young woman who is the same age she was during the war and who badly needs a life coach. There she meets an American soldier, agrees to marry him, and leaves Paris without ever seeing her family and friends again. Looming war with Germany? After a scold at the Library informs on Professor Cohen, its Paul who arrests her. As Lily learns more about Odile and they begin to share a love of language and books, she faces her own trials, but Odile is careful to guide Lily away from the same mistakes that have haunted her since the war. The twist actually took away from the story for me. She divides her time between Montana and Paris. The totality of the ALPs anti-Nazi efforts seems to involve delivering books. This guide provides access to digital materials at the Library of Congress, links to external websites, and a print bibliography. 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. Hugo's close lady friend. With his help, Margaret procures food and other items, which she shares with Odile. Based upon her own experiences working at the American Library in Paris and growing up in rural Montana, Charles tells the story of "The Paris Library" with two distinct threads. 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. How do you think Odile helps her cope with that? Giving her a belt, Margaret tells Odile to remember the meaning of friendship when she wears it. On that note, Ive provided book club questions and a delicious food ideas for The Paris Library, so if you are looking for book club ideas and more, keep reading! Their friendship blossoms as they help each other, offering support, hard truths, and loving backup. Lily is a lonely teenager desperate to escape small-town Montana. 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. Staunch prohibitionist Mary goes to war against the bootleggers using an enforcer who employs extreme violence. Its a city I truly love and reading this was a balm for my travel-deprived senses, reliving the City of Lights, even if it was in the pre-war years of the 1940s. I was more interested in the WWII eraIll get into that more below. What did you think of this decision by Odile to leave everything behind? RELEASE DATE: May 31, 2022. Very distracting. Odiles father, a police captain, must investigate the thousands of tips from informants. Miss Reeder, an American, vows to stay in Paris to direct the Library but must leave when Americas entry into the war becomes imminent. When Paris is liberated, Paul and another police officer encounter Margaret on the street. Hard Times. Her interest is piqued by her solitary, elderly neighbor. I think he snapped more out of guilt than anything else. by Margaret is eventually attacked by Paul and when Odile learns the truthshe leaves behind Paris forever to marry an American. In any event, there is plenty to discuss about The Paris Library and who doesnt love a WWII novel? Author Mallery has created a delightful story of friendship between three women that also offers a variety of love stories as they fall in love, make mistakes, and figure out how to be the bestalbeit still flawedversions of themselves. The story is told via two parallel narratives. Review: The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles Jeannette Walls. As a result, Margarets husband leaves her and takes their daughter. The records they keep inThe Book of Lost Nameswill become even more vital when the resistance cell they work for is betrayed and Rmy disappears. The WWII parts are very strong and I was engaged with learning more about the American Library in Parissomething I didnt know anything about going into this story. 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. Why do you think Odile continued to wear the red belt 40 years later? When the Nazis march into the city, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. While the chapters featuring Lily are snappy and often amusing, especially as she begins to adopt Parisian airs, they play a distinctly secondary role to those concerning Odile's life during the war. What other books about libraries have you read and loved? In some ways, the story is your standard historical fiction story with the dual timelines (takes place both during the WWII era and also in the 80s in Montana). Still, Odile harbors jealousy toward Margaret for her wealthand resents her criticisms of the French army. But the author has a clear affection for both Paris and the American Library, where she worked as a programs manager in 2010, and she integrates the stories of many of the real-life employees and patrons of the library into the story with finesse, earning the novel its own place in the pantheon of World War II fiction. If you are looking for food ideas for The Paris Library, Im sure your book club will be happy to try any of the foods on this list!The Paris Library Book Club Questions and Food Ideas. Who was your favorite secondary character? An impromptu celebration on the beach at sunset with champagne becomes a weekly touchpoint to their lives as they learn more about each other and themselves. Trouble signing in? Do you think that Odile knew that there would be consequences to telling Paul or not? In many ways, this story really is a love letter to bookworms. For the young Parisian Odile Souchet in the winter of 1939, working in the American Library in Paris sounds like her ideal job. The Paris Library combines a love of literature with an inspirational tale of ordinary people standing up to fight injustice. The Paris Library is superbly researched and has a plot twist at the end that I didn't expect. In 1939, Odile Souchet is thrilled to secure a job at the American Library in Paris. I think he anger was always visible, I agree with you that Paul was missing from the wrap up of the book but also Odiles parents. This time, they did not. What role did her unfaithful husband play, and what was he not telling investigators? Heartbreaking and Uplifting: Read our review of The Paris Library by Well, in terms of the American Library in Paris (The Paris Library of the title), there is. 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 I literally shook my head at it. The Paris Library is yet another one. 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. She loves to read, has memorised the Dewey Decimal system for cataloguing library books, and has developed a clever way of coping with strong emotions, which is to immediately relate her feelings to a book and its number. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. While the characters deal with their fair share of conflict, the violence and mentions of hunger are kept to a minimum given the subject. *If you are new here, WELCOME! The tough test of time involves readers. Again, I thought it was fine overall but I kept wanting to go back to the WWII storyline. It follows Odile Souchet, who secures a position at the circulation desk of the American Library in Paris just as the war breaks out.
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