The Paris Library book review

I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
on February 9, 2021
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: ARC
Source: Netgalley
Goodreads

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.

I am a huge fan of historical fiction and anything WWII related is a win for me. The Paris Library seemed like the perfect book, combining books and WWII couldn’t get any better. For the most part, it was, I think I enjoyed learning about this library that I had never heard of and the impact the Nazis had on them. However, there were a few parts that rubbed me up the wrong way and ended a little oddly for me. I would have loved for there to have been a little more explanation and development at some parts and for the ending to have been a little less abrupt.

Characters in The Paris Library

I actually really enjoyed the characters in The Paris Library, Odile’s story was well told. Although she was naive through some situations it was never irritating. One of the best things about all of the characters is the fact that they are all flawed in some way. There were moments where you could scream at them but it all made sense. I also loved the two timelines, the contrast between the two lives made the whole thing way more interesting. I adore watching as Odile started to learn how to live with her past and the choices she had made. Plus seeing her interactions with Lily was just heartwarming. I love their relationship especially with the ups and downs that came with it. This was another part that wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows and it made all the difference.

When I think about the relationships happening in the actual Library they make me smile. I adored how natural they all were. Plus, regardless of the desperate situation they were in, they were already friends. I just loved the way it all ended up working with them all. It was interesting to see how the dynamics changed as the Germans gained more power and a greater foothold within the country. One thing I’m not a massive fan of was the romance, although it had a bigger part to play it just wasn’t for me. There was no chemistry and I wasn’t exactly sure what drew them together in the end.

Good and Bad

The good parts of this book were definitely the history that was built into every aspect of the story. Watching the characters and the world around them change made such an impact. It’s not a subject matter I’ve read a lot about and a lot of it took me by surprise. It also made my heart swell to read about these people and the way they worked tirelessly towards keeping the library open. I just enjoyed learning about the different things that happened and it was a different perspective. I have read a lot of books from different countries within the war but not many have been based in Paris. It was a nice change and interesting.

For me the bad was what ruined a five-star read for me. It was the fact that there was so much detail in some parts and then others completely dropped off the map. I didn’t enjoy how abrupt some of the story changed. I wish there was more to the ending. It was kind of a cop out and it annoyed me more than anything. It was almost like there was going to be a happy ending and it was snatched away at the last minute. I wish there had been a little more thought put into the ending.

Recommendation

I would recommend this one. The concept of the book was interesting, and I really enjoyed learning about a new part of WWII. It was interesting and it was an easy read! So if you’re looking for a book about WWII from a different perspective, this one would be for you!

Have you read any good historical books recently? What are some of your favourites? I would love some recommendations!