The Paris Library

I have been on a Historical Fiction kick lately because there are so many amazing books that will publish this winter! I have read a lot of books in this genre set during WWII, but The Paris Library stood out for me due to its different perspective of the war. This is a story about the heroism of a group of librarians working in the American Library in Paris (ALP) during WWII who surreptitiously smuggled books to their Jewish patrons, despite the constant threat of the Third Reich.

The story is told using two timelines and POVs. The first is set during WWII and follows Odile Souchet, a young librarian who has just started working at the American Library in Paris. This story line was my favourite of the two, particularly because I'm a Library Assistant and book lover myself. The strength of this book is in its characters. Instead of focusing on the front lines of the war, we witness its devastation through Odile's experiences of love, loss, betrayal, and perseverance. I especially enjoyed seeing the connections she forged with the diverse group of library patrons who become Odile's support system.

The second timeline occurs in the mid 1980's and focuses on Lily, a lonely high school student who lives next door the elderly Odile. The two create an unlikely friendship and its through Lily's POV that we get more of a personal look at family dysfunction, loss, friendship, and the lasting effects of the war on Odile.

This story is a great combination of history and heart. I strongly encourage readers to not miss the author's note at the end where she explains how she wove her story around real events during the German occupation of Paris. I loved that Skeslien Charles included the lives of real people, in particular, Dorothy Reeder (the perfect librarian name if ever there was one!), who was the director of the ALP from 1936 to 1941.

This well-researched story blends fact and fiction into an impressive and engaging story that focuses on the impact of the war on the lives of regular people and the heroism of a group of librarians who were determined to keep the library accessible to their Jewish patrons despite the strict Nazi ban. These librarians also instigated the Soldiers Service which shipped over 100,000 books to English, French and Czech soldiers on the front lines. The book has a lull or two, but overall, this is an engaging story that focuses on the power of community and how books and libraries bring people together, making them an integral part of society even in the darkest of times. 

‘No other thing possesses that mystical faculty to 

make people see with other people’s eyes. 

The Library is a bridge of books between cultures.’ 

- Dorothy Reeder -

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the publisher for providing me a complimentary digital copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Author: Janet Skeslien Charles

Genre: Historical Fiction (WWII)

Type and Source: eBook from publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: Atria Books

First Published: February 9, 2021

Opening Line: Paris, February 1939 - Numbers floated round my head 

like stars. 823. The numbers were the key to a new life.

Book Description from GoodReads: Based on the true World War II story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris, this is an unforgettable story of romance, friendship, family, and the power of literature to bring us together, perfect for fans of The Lilac Girls and The Paris Wife.

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.