I feel like I need to be in the right head space. I live in Texas with my husband, daughter, and my dogs, who are a total mess and generally are my reading buddies. Required fields are marked *. Yes, it was a great book, but I agree. Have you heard of 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. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. It is always a little bit heartbreaking to read novels set in WWII because the heroines are usually so excitable and full of life at the beginning, only to become darker and more jaded by the end. She grows close to her neighbour Odile, discovering they share the same love of language, the same longings. The right head space is important. Synopsis (from publisher's website): 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. I loved the found family aspect of this book as well. 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. But then the Nazis invade Paris and everything changes. In 1939, Odile Souchet, the daughter of the captain of a police precinct, has just finished library school. I spend a huge amount of time reading (way more time than I should, if we are being perfectly honest!) Toggling between France in 1939 and Montana in the 1980s, this novel is a love letter to the power of books. I loved seeing Charlie and Nick’s friendship blossom. 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. From the beginning of their relationship, Robert and Leah shared their separate dreams of Paris. Any fan of historical fiction, or any book lover in general, will love this book! SHREVEPORT – Add The Paris Library to your summer reading list. The PARIS WIFE is a mesmerizing novel about Paris in the 1920’s featuring the bohemian “Lost Generation”. By: Pat Austin. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Although Odile’s family and the library staff suffer from hunger and worry, they don’t really undergo tremendous hardship. PICK OF THE WEEK The Paris Library Janet Skeslien Charles, Two Roads, $32.99. I live in Texas with my husband, daughter, and my dogs, who are a total mess and generally are my reading buddies. Meticulously researched, The Paris Library is an irresistible, compelling read.” (Fiona Davis, national bestselling author of The Chelsea Girls ) “The Paris Library is a refreshing novel that celebrates libraries as cradles of community, especially when we need them the most. Hello!! Based on the true Second World War story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris who risked their lives during the Nazi’s 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. There is the blind chiropodist Che and the claustrophobic pianist Clara Violette, but the biggest nuisance to Jean is Max Jordan, a hip, earmuff-wearing American novelist who is hiding out in Paris to escape the furor over his bestselling first novel. Charming and Unforgettable: Read an Extract of The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles, 5 Quick Questions with Janet Skeslien Charles, Author of The Paris Library, Podcast: Janet Skeslien Charles on the Unusual Woman Who Sparked Her Love of France, Your email address will not be published. Together with her fellow librarians, Odile joins the Resistance with the best weapons she has: books. Let’s chat in the comments! It shows how literature can be a means of escape, a catalyst for human connection, and a moral center in grim times. A succession of American librarians directed the Library through the difficult years of the Depression. ( Log Out / My name is Whitney, and I love books! This is Kirsten Nilsson, historical fiction fanatic, and children’s librarian at the Summit County Library. Another of the countless … Odile Souchet lands her dream job at the American Library in Paris, much to the chagrin of her father, who thinks she should focus on finding a husband. I really enjoyed learning about the real people who kept the American Library in Paris up and running during the war. *I received this book for free from Netgalley and Atria Books in exchange for an honest review. The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles ~ 368 pages ~ to be published February 9, 2021 by Atria Books (Simon & Schuster). ( Log Out / #MiniReview 65: Heartstopper: Volume 2 by Alice Oseman. It shows how literature can be a means of escape, a catalyst for human connection, and a moral center in grim times. It has been quite a while since I read The Hazel Wood, and I think that might have hampered my enjoyment of this book a bit. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Summary: Story number one, World War II. Buy this book. Odile Souchet is obsessed with books and the Dewey Decimal System, which makes order out of chaos. Are you interested in learning more about this book? I liked this story quite a lot. The American Library in Paris. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, Monthly Wrap-Up: February 2021 – Whit Reads Lit, Book Review: The Woman with the Blue Star (Blog Tour). The Paris Library Synopsis Paris, 1939. It shows how literature can be a means of escape, a catalyst for human connection, and a moral center in grim times. It felt like getting a warm hug from a friend. Wow, I am here for Poppy and her bada** self! Now I wish that I had known about this magical place so that I could have visited when I went to Paris a few years ago. 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. ( Log Out / I read The Paris Library, by Janet Skeslien Charles at the request of the publisher, Atria Books, a branch of Simon and Schuster, in exchange for an honest review. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, #MiniReview 64: The Night Country by Melissa Albert. Are you interested in books about libraries, librarians, and books about books? People deal with stress and fear differently – and this novel illustrates this to devastating effect. I am so glad that this book is out there for anyone who is struggling with their sexuality and/or identity. My name is Whitney, and I love books! While this book started out a little bit slow, the latter half of the book more than made up for it! I also love to sing, hike, play The Sims, watch tons of YouTube videos, and drink creamy tea and coffee. In Occupied Paris, choices as black and white as the words on a page become a murky shade of grey – choices that will put many on the wrong side of history, and the consequences of which will echo for decades to come. Great review! They were well written, but I just found myself wanting to speed through those sections to get back to the parts in Paris. The Paris Library A Novel (Book) : Skeslien Charles, Janet : "Paris, 1939. I also love to sing, hike, play The Sims, watch tons of YouTube videos, and drink creamy tea and coffee. Odile Souchet (pronounced Oh-deal) is a young woman who lives and breathes the Dewey Decimal Classification (the library system of organizing books.) A story of courage, defiance and betrayal in Occupied Paris, perfect for fans of All the Light We Cannot See, The Book Thief and The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society. 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. 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. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. I will say that I was not as much of a fan of the sections about Lily. Oh, it made my heart happy. Based on the true story of the American Library in Paris, The Paris Library is a mesmerizing and captivating novel about the people and the books that make us who we are, for good and for bad, and the courage it takes to forgive. by Janet Skeslien Charles ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 2, 2021. I just want to give both of these boys a giant bear hug! The library was organized using American methods that were new to France at the time and was home to the Paris Library School which in turn introduced modern librarianship to France. Change ). Check out the links below! A pointedly literary romance—fueled by two children’s classics—about a Wisconsin woman who moves to Paris with her two daughters after her husband’s disappearance. There is some hard stuff in there. The Paris setting was vividly imagined and beautifully wrought, especially the library, which is depicted as a warm, happy, safe and enlightened place. You give me a WWII historical fiction novel about librarians and you can sign me up right away! The Paris Library Janet Skeslien Charles. As an aspiring librarian myself, I loved getting to learn more about the inner workings of this library during such a trying time in history (something that is being mirrored in certain ways by the trying times we are currently living in). Listening to Odile’s stories, Lily fantasizes about Jews hidden in the library building. ⭐️⭐️⭐️, #MiniReview 63: Heartstopper: Volume One by Alice Oseman. Oh my goodness, this is such a cute 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. Young, ambitious, and tempestuous, Odile Souchet has it all: Paul, her handsome police officer beau; Margaret, her best friend from England; her adored twin brother Remy; and a dream job at the American Library in Paris, working alongside the library's legendary director, Dorothy Reeder. The Paris Library is a testament to the everlasting power of literature and literary places to bring people together and be a home for everyone, even … “The Paris Library is a refreshing novel that celebrates libraries as cradles of community, especially when we need them the most. I am fidgety with anticipation for the next book in the series! This is such a great story of friendship that begins to turn into something more. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. I now know that the people who worked there during the Nazi occupation of Paris were brave beyond measure and incredibly inspiring. 'The Paris Library' - an unforgettable novel about power of books and friendship Janet Skeslien Charles is the award-winning author of "Moonlight in Odessa", which was … The Paris Library will make the book lover in you swell with pride. 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 LILAC GIRLS and THE PARIS WIFE. A thoroughly enjoyable read, kind-hearted and brimming with delightful bookish allusions.” Together with the rest of the staff, Odile joins the resistance, delivering books to Jewish readers banned from entering the library. But it is 1939, and soon she has bigger worries as Nazis occupy the city, and even the inimitable directress, Miss Reeder, cannot guarantee the safety of the library’s books and patrons. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles. She soon has it all – a handsome police officer beau, an English best friend, a beloved twin, and a job at the American Library in Paris, a thriving community of students, writers, diplomats, and book lovers. 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. "The Paris Library is a refreshing novel that celebrates libraries as cradles of community, especially when we need them the most. Lily is a lonely teenager desperate to escape small-town Montana. Odile Souchet is obsessed with books, and her new job at the American Library in Paris – with its thriving community of students, writers and book lovers – is a dream come true. Meticulously researched, moving and utterly enchanting, The Paris Library is a heart-breaking and uplifting story that is an absolute must-read for book lovers and fans of historical fiction. 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. ( Log Out / However, everything changes when the Germans occupy Paris and threaten to destroy everything she holds dear. Squeee!! The fact that they put their own lives at risk in order to continue serving their Jewish and foreign patrons during the occupation is inspiring and beautiful. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY APR 20, 2020. It is the touching and heartbreaking story of the love affair and marriage of literature’s original “bad boy” Ernest Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley Richardson Hemingway. I cannot wait for the next volume!! Charles (Moonlight in Odessa) delivers a delightful chronicle of a woman's life in WWII-era Paris and rural 1980s Montana. 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. The Paris Library was unlike any of these. The comfort and whimsy that young Odile once experienced at the American Library are still very much alive. Kirkus reviews says, this is “a novel tailor-made for those who love books and libraries.” And, appropriately, you can find The Paris Library on the shelves at both the Park City Library and the Summit County Library. I am currently working as a library page at a branch of my local public library.