Historical

The Paris Library

The Paris Library

  • Downloads：7379
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-12-31 09:51:56
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Janet Skeslien Charles
  • ISBN：1529335469
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

Paris， 1939。 Odile Souchet is obsessed with books and the Dewey Decimal System， which makes order out of chaos。 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。 Yet when war is declared， there's also a war on words。

Montana， 1983。 Widowed and alone， Odile suffers the solitary confinement of small-town life。 Though most adults are cowed by her， the neighbor girl will not let her be。 Lily， a lonely teenager yearning to break free of Froid is obsessed by the older French woman who lives next door and wants to know her secrets。

As the two become friends， Odile sees herself in Lily – the same love of language， the same longings， the same lethal jealousy。 The Paris Library’s dual narratives explore the relationships that make us who we are – family and friends， first loves and favorite authors – in the fairy tale setting of the City of Light。 It also explores the geography of resentment， the consequences of unspeakable betrayal， and what happens when the people we count on for understanding and protection fail us。

The wit， empathy， and deep research that brings The Paris Library to life also brings to light a cast of lively historical characters and a little-known chapter of World War II history: the story of the American librarian， Miss Reeder， who created the Soldiers’ Service to deliver books to servicemen， and who later faced the Nazi ‘Book Protector’ in order to keep her library open。 She and her colleagues defied the Bibliotheksschutz by delivering books to Jewish readers after they were forbidden from entering the library。

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Reviews

Mary Bennett ，

With my love of books and my library， it's hard not to like a book about a library。 What made this one special is that it is based on a true story about protecting the library and books during World War II。 It is another historical fiction novel that is set during two time periods。 The first is just before the war and moves into the war period while the other period is set in the 1980s。 Even though both periods were necessary for the telling of the story， I enjoyed the one during the war the bes With my love of books and my library， it's hard not to like a book about a library。 What made this one special is that it is based on a true story about protecting the library and books during World War II。 It is another historical fiction novel that is set during two time periods。 The first is just before the war and moves into the war period while the other period is set in the 1980s。 Even though both periods were necessary for the telling of the story， I enjoyed the one during the war the best。 I think that was because there was always that element of suspense as to how they were going to manage and make it through a terrifying period。 A friend of mine made a comment in her review that I often feel。 The trend in books these days is to switch either between time periods or characters。 They often are done well， but sometimes I just long for a chronological story with one narrator。 This is one that I feel might have been better if that had been these case。 I did enjoy the book and would recommend it lovers of historical fiction， WWII fiction and have a love of books。 。。。more

Jennifer Thompson ，

Beautifully written， well researched but not dry。 Kept my interest and liked the integration of Lily’s story。 Bringing a part of history to light and reinforcing how important the role of books and libraries have and always s will be。

Janet Garber ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 THE PARIS LIBRARYPlusesWarm， easy-to-read， interesting characters。 Captured young adults minds and concernsMinusesConfusing: 2 OdilesEnding！tWhy did Odile never track down Paul？ For annulment？ Why never contact her family？ How terrible for them！ She must have lied to her Buck。 This is an example for a young girl， Lily， to follow？How did Marc， her son， die？ Or Buck？ Why as she shunned by town？Jealousy is not enough of an answer。Why no mention of birth control？ I though she would tomber enceinte。D THE PARIS LIBRARYPlusesWarm， easy-to-read， interesting characters。 Captured young adults minds and concernsMinusesConfusing: 2 OdilesEnding！tWhy did Odile never track down Paul？ For annulment？ Why never contact her family？ How terrible for them！ She must have lied to her Buck。 This is an example for a young girl， Lily， to follow？How did Marc， her son， die？ Or Buck？ Why as she shunned by town？Jealousy is not enough of an answer。Why no mention of birth control？ I though she would tomber enceinte。Didn’t Buck think it weird that she had no family？ 。。。more

Barbara H ，

I again find that I am among the minority in appreciation of a novel。 I have read numerous books about wars， particularly WWII， both fiction and non-fiction。 By comparison I found this unremarkable and slow-going。 After plodding through at least 3/4 of the book， I decided that it was time to abandon it。

Elizabeth ，

A love song to books combined with a moving story of World War II， set in Paris， equates to a winning combination for readers。 The horrors of the past year and more of living with Covid fade when one considers the horrors and uncertainty of WW II， particularly for those bombed in Britain and those occupied in France。 Having to live side by side with one's enemy， going about daily business while living in fear and deprivation is a terrible fate。 I had to look up Marshall Petain after I finished A love song to books combined with a moving story of World War II， set in Paris， equates to a winning combination for readers。 The horrors of the past year and more of living with Covid fade when one considers the horrors and uncertainty of WW II， particularly for those bombed in Britain and those occupied in France。 Having to live side by side with one's enemy， going about daily business while living in fear and deprivation is a terrible fate。 I had to look up Marshall Petain after I finished reading to make sure he was punished-he was-not executed， but imprisoned at least。 Moving back and forth between the past life of Odile and her present one， seeing her history， regrets and choices unfold was well done。 An enjoyable book。 。。。more

Anne ，

Amazing！ Good story telling。 Good story！

❦Galadriel❦ ，

This book made me both happy and sad， made me cry in the best and worst ways， and I'm SO happy I decided to read it after all！ This book made me both happy and sad， made me cry in the best and worst ways， and I'm SO happy I decided to read it after all！ 。。。more

Lucia Cayuela ，

Novela romántica para nada empalagosa （algo que valoro mucho）。 Vidas cruzadas en épocas distintas。 El peso de las cosas。

Julie ，

Really enjoyed this book and the style。 Would look for more by the author。 Also managed to read it ‘fast’

Melissa Vader ，

This book is special。 I think I have read every major WW2 historical fiction novel but this one is in a category of its own。 The story felt comfortable in a way that kept me turning pages without needing constant plot twists or suspense。 If you had handed me the plot points in list form I probably would have called it simple or boring but the writing was so engaging that I stayed up all night with this book and I can’t really explain why。 It was just magic。 Books， man 😭

TheQueensBooksII ，

I thought this would be another ho-hum rehash of another （hopefully） now familiar WWII story lines， but after a bit of a slow start， the characters drew me in and Ms。 Charles’s weaving of the plot worked。 If you love books， the ideas of books， heroism and redemption， you will probably like this。

Emily ，

Here is another story about WWII that introduces us to a little known piece of history。 I wish I had known before I read this book that many of the characters are based on actual people and events are based on actual events， all surrounding the American Library in Paris。 The character development was somewhat shallow and left me wanting more。 However， the story was well developed and well told and well worth the read。

Mags ，

❤ beautiful story。 I'll miss Odile and lily ❤ ❤ beautiful story。 I'll miss Odile and lily ❤ 。。。more

Sherry ，

Loved this story。 4。5

Marilyn ，

Might have been the wrong time to settle into a slow book。 Sags at times。 Best friend Margaret not polished enough as a character， though she has a punchy finale。 Hidden in this story connecting two women in 1949 and 1983 is a burgeoning real life drama， with actual people associated with the American Library in Paris。 So， the final fourth part of the novel is 3 stars。

Hayley ，

What an amazing read。 You truly feel like you are living through the characters。 Only cried 5 times… It’s fine！

Crystal ，

It's a very good story。 It takes place in two different times （WWII Paris and 1980's Montana）。 The ending had a surprising twist。 The growth and maturity in the young woman in Montana is done well。 It's a very good story。 It takes place in two different times （WWII Paris and 1980's Montana）。 The ending had a surprising twist。 The growth and maturity in the young woman in Montana is done well。 。。。more

Amber ，

Brilliant and MovingThis book was a well-spun tale。 The characters came alive and tugged at my heart。 I would recommend this to anyone who thinks books are like friends。

Jennifer Petrie ，

I loved this book！ One of my favs by far。 Great writing！

Joyce Rapoport Habalow ，

I'm a fan of historical fiction and of libraries， so I thought this would be a perfect fit for me。 And for most of the time， it was。 I liked the account of how the workers at American Library in Paris were able to continue to provide reading material to patrons even during the Nazi occupation of France。 Initially， I was distracted by the alternating jumps between two different characters in two different time periods。 Of course， by the end， the author reveals the significance of having Odile and I'm a fan of historical fiction and of libraries， so I thought this would be a perfect fit for me。 And for most of the time， it was。 I liked the account of how the workers at American Library in Paris were able to continue to provide reading material to patrons even during the Nazi occupation of France。 Initially， I was distracted by the alternating jumps between two different characters in two different time periods。 Of course， by the end， the author reveals the significance of having Odile and Lily meet， which ties up all the loose ends of the story。 I particularly liked how the author used references from favorite books as guideposts。 It inspired me to add quite a few titles to my TBR list。 。。。more

Ashley Lewis ，

This book was good。 I can always appreciate historical fiction in this setting， but the problem I have is that there is so much of it out there and I cannot help but compare it all to each other。 While this book was good， it was not one of the BEST written in this timeframe。 It is hard to compare when you are standing next to novels such as The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah （which by the way is my current favorite WWII historical novel）。 I adored that this story took place in a library and that This book was good。 I can always appreciate historical fiction in this setting， but the problem I have is that there is so much of it out there and I cannot help but compare it all to each other。 While this book was good， it was not one of the BEST written in this timeframe。 It is hard to compare when you are standing next to novels such as The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah （which by the way is my current favorite WWII historical novel）。 I adored that this story took place in a library and that the main character was a librarian， that certainly gave the story a little something extra。 。。。more

Carol Jewell ，

My actual rating of this book is 4。5。 This is a book for lovers of reading woven into the experiences of an interesting cast of characters。 Repeated throughout the story is the importance of the library as a place to learn， research， experience other cultures and lives or just plain escape from one's own life for a time。 I enjoyed the themes of Odile seeking independence as a young women in the late 1930's and the development of unexpected friendships throughout the book。 The author masterfully My actual rating of this book is 4。5。 This is a book for lovers of reading woven into the experiences of an interesting cast of characters。 Repeated throughout the story is the importance of the library as a place to learn， research， experience other cultures and lives or just plain escape from one's own life for a time。 I enjoyed the themes of Odile seeking independence as a young women in the late 1930's and the development of unexpected friendships throughout the book。 The author masterfully alternated the story of Odile's life in the 1930's with her life later in the 1980's。 I enjoyed the thread of how the choices we make every step along the way in our lives have consequences that affect our relationships and future。 This theme was effectively woven into the stories of the various characters。 All this character development occurs within the setting of Paris before， during and after the German occupation which describes the many changes and heartaches ensued during this time。 So this book had it all for me -- historical fiction with great character development and themes of striving for independence， courage， friendship which creates family， jealousy and the consequences of our choices。 。。。more

Jacob Munson ，

Beautifully written， a love letter to libraries and the quirky characters that inhabit them， through the lens of occupied Paris during WW2。 I choked back tears multiple times， from the sheer magic and beauty of this novel， to the heart-wrenching trials and impossible decisions of wartime。 A wonderful read。

Rosana Rodriguez ，

Me ha encantado。 Otro libro de la segunda guerra mundial， con biblioteca de por medio y con mucho de realidad detrás。

Taty P ，

3，8

Louise ，

My latest favorite book。

Erin ，

This book turned out to be my favorite read of the year。 So rich with history。 And yet so deep in bringing to life what it was like to live through Nazi occupation in Paris。 I love the fight for keeping books in the hands of subscribers。 But the book was really so much more…morality， human tendencies， regrets， the effects of war on humanity and so many more things to ponder！

Mona Losier ，

As a lover of books， this novel about the American Library in Paris was a must for me。Based on true facts during the WWII， it gives us a glimpse of humanity at his worst。How can we discriminate for being born in one country over another？ How can you kill your neighbour or friend？ Whenever I read about books being burned， paintings being destroyed， I feel sad for what was lost。This was my last book of 2021 and I finished the year with a great book。Cannot wait to see what books will catch my atten As a lover of books， this novel about the American Library in Paris was a must for me。Based on true facts during the WWII， it gives us a glimpse of humanity at his worst。How can we discriminate for being born in one country over another？ How can you kill your neighbour or friend？ Whenever I read about books being burned， paintings being destroyed， I feel sad for what was lost。This was my last book of 2021 and I finished the year with a great book。Cannot wait to see what books will catch my attention in 2022！On to the next story… 。。。more

Thiefriver Minnesota ，

Good read。

Silvia Díaz ，

Recomendable。 Una novela que te cuenta una parte de la historia desde otra perspectiva。 Y que incide en la importancia de creer en algo para seguir adelante， para tener esperanza。 El cómo cosas que pueden parecer pequeñas pueden convertirse en los pilares sobre los que sustentar tu vida。 Es un libro bonito que deja buen sabor de boca。

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Paris Library

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Paris Library&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Paris Library&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0