Janet Skeslien Charles' Novel, "The Paris Library": An Intriguing Tale of Love, Loss, and Friendship

Crazy Quilter: We discussed this book in our book club. Most people enjoyed it.

United States on Oct 09, 2023

C.J. Brashear: Easy read. I often questioned myself if I could have been brave as those who did their best to help and protect the Jews. I recommend this book. Especially if you are a fan of historical fiction.

United States on Sep 30, 2023

Jennifer: This book gives so many details and draws in the reader quickly. It’s filled with happiness, grief, and trauma. The unlikely friendship show there are trials we all face no matter the continent or decade. It represents aspects of life well!

United States on Sep 28, 2023

Terri Borkgren: A beautiful memoir of some remarkable people who kept the library opened in Paris while the German Nazis took control. The story is written by two main characters Odile and Lily her nextdoor neighbor in Montana, where Odile ends up a widow after the war. The reader will enjoy the journey and story line the two women share

United States on Sep 23, 2023

HK: A wonderful, moving, book. At times I felt I too was living through the privations of war in occupied France.

United Kingdom on Aug 08, 2023

Amazon カスタマー: 裏表紙に書かれている推薦の言葉通りです。
Kindleでなく紙の本にしてよかったです。寝る前に読むようにしています。
読み終わるのが惜しいような(今80％ぐらい読了)朝まで読みたいような小説です。

第二次世界大戦中のパリで実際にあった出来事を基に書かれています。
多言語に翻訳されているようですが、原書を選んでよかったです。映画のように情景が浮かびます。
巻末にBOOK CLUBのためのDISCUSSION QUESTIONSやENHANCE YOUR BOOK CLUB等の付録があります。私の町にはBOOK CLUBはないですが、本好きの誰かと一緒に読めたらもっといいのにと思います。

Japan on May 19, 2023

Nathalie Roy: I loved this book, I read all books about libraries or bookstores and this one was a beautiful read. The narrators vary in times, one in WWII Paris and the other in Montana during the 80’s. Both of their stories very touching and both narrators very endearing. I already miss them.

Canada on Apr 02, 2023

Mrs Kelly Collins: This book follows a timeline of World War II and Odile’s life in a occupied Paris, and the 1980’s timeline from the viewpoint of Lily who is a young girl who pushes her way into Odile’s life and saves her life emotionally and physically.

This book is so beautifully written. Despite being a thriller lover, I have a fondness for World War novels, and this is no exception. I am also not a romance fan, but I was truly swept up in Odile & Paul’s love, although I think it was swept up with Odile being in love, I wasn’t only keen on Paul, (I’ve always been a good judge of character!). Odile’s voice is so strong in this novel, and you can’t help but love her. I wanted her to experience all the wonderful things that young people do, I wanted her to have a future within the library and become a strong independent woman. She’s learned from her surroundings and wanted more and I wanted her to have it all.

The way the library is described made me want to hand in my resignation, and go find a library to work in. I dreamt of working in a library, I could smell the books and was so jealous of the characters who were able to work there.

This book is a...

United Kingdom on Apr 27, 2022

Mab: El planteamiento de la historia está bien aunq los personajes no acaban de estar bien definidos, desgraciadamente la trama no queda bien cerrada.

Spain on Feb 08, 2022

Stephanie McCall: I rarely read secular fiction. This isn't because I'm a prude, although some examples certainly do go heavy on the content I don't think I should read. No, it is simply that I'm picky about what I read, Christian and secular, and the latter tends to disappoint. But The Paris Library did the exact opposite. As noted, it's perfect for book lovers, of which I am one. It's also a well-written, rich, and unique book, period.

First off, the portrayal of the American Library in Paris (ALP) is spot-on. From the front doors to the Afterlife, the Library is every bookworm's dream encapsulated in the written word. The books are a big part of that, but more, it's because the Library provides a home and community for Odile and her fellow librarians and subscribers. A great workplace will provide both, and those are rare today. I had one once, in a writing/tutoring center, and so visiting the ALP felt like coming home in more ways than one. This also helped me root even harder for Odile and the others as they worked to save books and bring literature, and hope, to subscribers who couldn't come any longer.

As with any great book, the characters pop off the page. Odile is my...

United States on Apr 02, 2021