The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
Reviewed by: Melissa Friedlund, Reference Assistant
Genre: Historical Fiction
Suggested Age: Adult
What is this book about? In 1939, a young woman in Paris, Odile Souchet, applies for her dream job at the English-speaking, American Library in Paris while political tensions mount across Europe. In 1983, a young girl, Lily, lives in Montana next door to the widowed “war bride,” Odile Gustafson. Alternating between these two settings, we follow Odile’s journey through the German occupation of Paris during WWII while also seeing who she has become as a result of her life choices. Forty years after WWII, Odile keeps to herself in the small town of Froid, Montana until 12-year-old Lily makes an unexpected overture of friendship. Lily wants to know everything about her elusive foreign neighbor, but Odile is good and keeping secrets, especially her own. What happened to Odile during the war? Is she scarred by trauma, or racked with guilt? Can Odile overcome her past to save Lily from repeating the same mistakes?
My Review: I enjoyed listening to this book, not only for the historical insight, but also because much of it was written from the point of view of a librarian during a worldwide hardship. I realize that war is not the same thing as a pandemic, but the desire to keep patrons engaged and informed even while is still something that is very strong in the “library world” even today. The reader is able to see the lengths librarians went through to keep patrons reading, to send books to soldiers, to keep culture alive despite overwhelming pressure to suppress it. The life lessons that were learned during hard times by Odile are passed on to Lily in ways that are subtle and charming. Over the course of their friendship, Odile seems to find a way to redeem and forgive herself by guiding Lily into adulthood.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Insightful, Validating, Redeeming
Give This a Try if You Like…The Rose Code by Kate Quinn, The Library Book by Susan Orlean, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
Rating: 5/5
About FDL Reads
FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.
