The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
Based on the true World War II story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris, this is a powerful , and as we all agreed an unforgettable story of romance, friendship, jealousy, betrayal, family, and the power of literature. So many themes brought together in one book.
It is 1939, and Odile Souchet has just returned to Paris after completing library school. Odile has a dream job at the American Library in Paris, assisting people from all different countries. Eventually the Nazis invade the City of Light and take it over.
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 is confronted by the consequences of her choices.
Jump ahead to 1983. Montana. Lily is a lonely teenager looking for adventure in small-town Montana. Her interest is piqued by her solitary, elderly neighbour. As Lily uncovers more about her neighbour’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.
The group really enjoyed this novel. Which explores the consequences of our choices and the relationships that make us who we are—family, friends, and favourite authors—The Paris Library shows that extraordinary heroism can sometimes be found in the quietest of places.
The characters in the Paris Library will live on in our memory and all agreed it is a book that we would read again. A definite accolade.
Submitted by Donaghadee Library Reading Group
