The Paris Library
Janet Skeslien Charles
Reviewed by Helen
This is a duel time story, set in Paris during WW2 and Montana 1983 that was fascinating and moving as I found out about The American Library in Paris based on true events that happened during World War 2, we meet Odile Souchet a young woman who really loves her books and the dewy decimal system used in libraries, she is thrilled to get a job at the library and here starts a journey that will see Odile change in so many ways. Both timelines are I enjoyed very much.
Odile and her twin brother Remy are very close and when war breaks out Remy joins up Odile worries but she has her job at the library and the people she works with as well as the subscribers whom she has become really close to. Odile and her fellow workers do what they can to keep the library open and the precious books safe even delivering books to banned subscribers. She meets a police officer Paul and loses her heart to him life is hard but Odile shows strength and courage. War ends and Odile is looking to the future but nothing turns out the way she had planned and she leaves her beloved Paris for Montana America.
It is 1983 and Odile is widowed and living in a very small country town, pretty much a loner now until her young neighbour Lily decides to ask questions about her life in Paris. Lily and Odile grow close and Odile finally opens up to Lily about her life and secrets are told that Odile had kept close, but even their friendship has its ups and downs, Lily was good for Odile they shared many emotions, I enjoyed seeing Lily grow up as well with all of the things she went through her and Odile were very similar in personalities.
This is a story of courage and relationships with friends and the feelings, jealousies, love and fear make people do things that they would not normally do. I also loved learning about the library that is still open in Paris and kept open throughout the war no matter the struggle to do so. The author has bought to life the different characters and showed their personalities, this was a page turner for me, I thoroughly enjoyed this one and would highly recommend it.
My thanks to Hachette AUS for my copy to read and review
Odile and her twin brother Remy are very close and when war breaks out Remy joins up Odile worries but she has her job at the library and the people she works with as well as the subscribers whom she has become really close to. Odile and her fellow workers do what they can to keep the library open and the precious books safe even delivering books to banned subscribers. She meets a police officer Paul and loses her heart to him life is hard but Odile shows strength and courage. War ends and Odile is looking to the future but nothing turns out the way she had planned and she leaves her beloved Paris for Montana America.
It is 1983 and Odile is widowed and living in a very small country town, pretty much a loner now until her young neighbour Lily decides to ask questions about her life in Paris. Lily and Odile grow close and Odile finally opens up to Lily about her life and secrets are told that Odile had kept close, but even their friendship has its ups and downs, Lily was good for Odile they shared many emotions, I enjoyed seeing Lily grow up as well with all of the things she went through her and Odile were very similar in personalities.
This is a story of courage and relationships with friends and the feelings, jealousies, love and fear make people do things that they would not normally do. I also loved learning about the library that is still open in Paris and kept open throughout the war no matter the struggle to do so. The author has bought to life the different characters and showed their personalities, this was a page turner for me, I thoroughly enjoyed this one and would highly recommend it.
My thanks to Hachette AUS for my copy to read and review
4 stars
Published February 9th 2021 by Hachette AU
