The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien CharlesMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
February 2, 2021
NetGalley
(June 2020)
Atria Books
Simon&Schuster
409 pages
Historical fiction, based on real events, digital arc
ISBN: 9781982134198
June 2020 Canada
2/27-3/7/21
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from Atria Books and NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
An absolute treasure!
This story is told in alternating time times to draw the history of the past into the present. In 1939 Paris, Odile Souchet fulfills her ambition to work at the American Library in Paris. She always wanted to follow in the foot steps of her Aunt Caroline who was a librarian. The only thing more important than the library to Odile is her twin brother Rémy.
In 1983, Lily lives in a small town of Montana dreaming of lands far away. She is curious about her elder neighbor from Paris. Mrs Gustafson always keeps to herself and seems lonely since the death of her husband Buck. The neighbors only referred to her as the “war bride” since she moved to Montana with Buck after his recuperation from the war. He has been promised to his high school sweetheart before the war. Lily becomes interested in why this elegant woman would move to Montana from Paris. She decides to interview Mrs Gustafson for a school paper.
Lily is pleasantly surprised when the woman agrees to come over for tea. Lily gradually learns that Odile Gustafson lived in Paris during a dangerous period of war. When Odile agrees to give Lily French lessons the two gradually build a bond. The once lonely Odile becomes an important part of her life as well as her family. The stories of the past begin to help heal Odile of guilt and remorse and teach Lily valuable life lessons to take with her as she graduates high school. They both learn that life has more meaning when shared with others, both the good and the bad.
This is a beautiful story based on true WWII stories of the heroic librarians at the time. In particular, the American Library in Paris where Odile and her fellow librarians work with the Resistance to move books from the library that might otherwise be destroyed. They contrive a way to send books to the soldiers and bring books to Jewish people no longer allowed in the library. In the midst of war, they find love and friendship but also secrets and betrayal.
The themes of the past continue to the present as does the human condition’s tendency to fall prey to jealousy and loyalty. A wonderful story about the tribulations of family loyalty, betrayal and forgiveness, fear and courage, friendship and commitment.
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