A common theme, in both Paris and Montana, is jealousy and the horrible toll it can take. Apartment building concierge. With his help, Margaret procures food and other items, which she shares with Odile. What do you make of her complicated friendship with Margaret? Despite the fact that Nazis often destroyed art and literature, they seemed to recognize that learning and reading were still important enough to keep the library open. RELEASE DATE: Feb. 2, 2021. Susan Mallery. What role did her unfaithful husband play, and what was he not telling investigators? So how does Odile end up in the tiny town of Froid, Montana, some four decades later, a widow and near-recluse? influencers in the know since 1933. Odile begins a romance with Paul and thinks she has it all. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. A book begging to be read on the beach, with the sun warming the sand and salt in the air: pure escapism. British literature. Your email address will not be published. You can order the book on Amazon here. Charles herself actually lived in Paris for over a decade and even worked at The American Library in Paris, which is certainly evident when you follow her detailed descriptions of this building and the different kinds of people who occupied it. I think as the war ended, seeing all that Margaret had, food, money, clothing, He just snapped. For more on this award-winning author, visit https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Janet-Skeslien-Charles/164282829. Fellow employees and clients of the private lending library are her closest confidants. Fallouts are heart-rending, and are written into the story with tenderness and affection. The WWII parts are very strong and I was engaged with learning more about the American Library in Parissomething I didnt know anything about going into this story. Rivalry and secrets? Her World War I veteran husband and her daughter have no knowledge of her whereabouts, and England unleashes an unprecedented manhunt to find the up-and-coming mystery author. Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet has it all: her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. As a Parisian, an ardent bookworm, and a longtime fan of the American Library in Paris, I devouredThe Paris Libraryin one hungry gulp. Only Eva holds the answerbut will she have the strength to revisit old memories and help reunite those lost during the war? A Season in Hell by Rimbaud. It is 1939, and Odile Souchet has just returned to Paris after completing library school. As Lily learns more about Odile and they begin to share a love of language and books, she faces her own trials, but Odile is careful to guide Lily away from the same mistakes that have haunted her since the war. The story is told via two parallel narratives. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Both Odiles father and Paul are working under the Nazis direction. As Odiles family, home, and eventually coworkers are all affected by the Nazi occupation of France, she fights the war with the best weapons she hasbooks. Given her love of books and enchantment with the Dewey Decimal System, Odile seeks and secures a job at the American Library in Paris in the months before World War II. Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet has it all: her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet has it all: her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. 823. While that might not be historically accurate, this is a novel, after all. Their friendship blossoms as they help each other, offering support, hard truths, and loving backup. The two form a bond, which deepens when Lilys mother dies. While the chapters featuring Lily are snappy and often amusing, especially as she begins to adopt Parisian airs, they play a distinctly secondary role to those concerning Odile's life during the war. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Janet Skeslien Charles is an award-winning author with over a decade's worth of roaming the streets of Paris and researching in its libraries. There are many wonderful things about this book, not the least being the settings, which are as well painted and written as the rest. In a moment of anger, Odile reveals Margarets secret to Paul but immediately regrets doing so. by What do you like best about reading WWII historical fiction? Based upon her own experiences working at the American Library in Paris and growing up in rural Montana, Charles tells the story of "The Paris Library" with two distinct threads. Did it feel like you were reading a YA novel and a historical novel? Her interest is piqued by her solitary, elderly neighbor. [I think Paul is an interesting character and he illustrates some of the conflicted feelings Parisians felt about the Occupation. Book Reading, Writing, and Literature . Book Club Questions for Undaunted by Kara Goldin, Book Club Questions for The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles. Published in 2021, Janet Skeslien Charless The Paris Library: A Novel tells the story of the American Library in Paris during the Nazi occupation. WWII. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. I hope that you will download the book club reading guide. Most often, they add. by Janet Skeslien Charles RELEASE DATE: Feb. 2, 2021. Did you know about the American Library in Paris prior to reading this novel? The friendship between the two has grown so strong that Odile wants Margaret to be her matron of honor when she marries Paul, who has proposed to her. He felt guilty about what he'd done and took it out on Margaret. Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet seems to have the perfect life with her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. You can read order the book on Amazon here. Lily helps Odile overcome her guilt and regain a sense of belonging with others. Show more Genres Historical FictionFictionHistoricalWorld War IIBooks About BooksAudiobook France My sister, who is an avid reader, read the print version at the same time that I listened to the audiobook, and she loved it. The Paris Library. And when Margaret begins a relationship with a Nazi solider, shes horrified. The Paris Library: A Novel Hardcover - February 9, 2021 by Janet Skeslien Charles (Author) 20,410 ratings Editors' pick Best Literature & Fiction See all formats and editions Kindle $13.99 Read with Our Free App Audiobook $0.00 Free with your Audible trial Hardcover $25.46 90 Used from $1.80 15 New from $16.90 3 Collectible from $37.67 Paperback Eleven days later, she reappears, just as mysteriously as she disappeared, claiming amnesia and providing no explanations for her time away. He knew arresting those people was wrong. Professor Cohen, Margaret, Ms. Reeder, etc? In many ways, this story really is a love letter to bookworms. For example, The Nightingale dealt with female Resistance couriers and the French occupation. In what ways were they similar? Related Topics . Courtesy of Janet Skeslien Charles Paul and the other three policemen were collaborators themselves, having done the Nazis' dirty work, no matter how much they disliked it, and then having enjoyed the spoils of the belongings of the Jews they arrested. Lily has to deal not only with loss but with learning how she fits into a new family. So does defining family. Drama. History buffs will enjoy the many hints Walls sprinkles to show that Tudor England is her novels template (the Dukes marriage to his brothers widow; his banished daughter, Mary, and short-lived heir, Edward; the Kincaids counselor Cecil, etc.). Few in Paris recognize the looming threat of war. Its an interesting tactic to connect the past with more of the present. I hope that these elements will enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of The Paris Library. Young Odile is independent and headstrong. Why do you think its hard for us not to hold what people do or dont say against them and instead see them with compassion in light of our own fallibility? For those of you who arent aware, Im an avid reader of historical fiction, and as such, Ive read plenty of WWII historical novels, particularly those set in Occupied Paris. Intellectually curious and socially awkward at times, Lily reminds Odile of her younger self. Retrieve credentials. A powerful novel that explores the consequences of our choices and the relationships that make us who we arefamily, friends, and favorite authorsThe Paris Library shows that extraordinary heroism can sometimes be found in the quietest of places. Hugo's close lady friend. Her debut novel. Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet seems to have the perfect life with her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. 199301012242 (266980-X). In her second novel, The Paris Library, Janet Skeslien Charles ( Moonlight in Odessa) weaves Odile's story together with that of 14-year-old Lily Jacobsen, growing up in Montana in the mid-1980s. While Odile develops a close friendship with Margaret, she also is envious of her lifestyle. Copyright 2023 Barbara Delinsky. Together with her fellow librarians . Hardcover. But when the war finally ends, instead of freedom, Odile tastes the bitter sting of unspeakable betrayal. Book club questions for The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles examines both timelines in this historical fiction story. Duke Kincaid owns most of Claiborne County, both financially and politically. Again, I thought it was fine overall but I kept wanting to go back to the WWII storyline. Unsurprisingly, Odiles life is much more interesting than Lilys. The book in the photograph, an eighteenth-century religious text thought to have been taken from France in the waning days of the war, is one of the most fascinating cases. The novela New York Times, Washington Post, and USA Today bestselleris one of five finalists for the 2021 American Library in Paris Book Award. Told over the course of a single day in 1927, The Paris Hours takes four ordinary people whose stories, told together, are as extraordinary as the glorious city they inhabit. On that note, Ive provided book club questions and a delicious food ideas for The Paris Library, so if you are looking for book club ideas and more, keep reading! She recovers from her fit of jealousy with Bitsi and repairs that relationship. Malaysian fantasy writer Zen Cho lands multiple awards by breaking frontiers, Poojitha Menons first solo sculptural exhibition Talking Heads chronicles her journey into clay, Sneakertopia at Singapores ArtScience Museum shows how street art drives interest in sneakers, Malachi Edwin Vethamani keeps poetry alive by giving voice to things others may not care about, HSBC Malaysias mosaic lions find new home at Tun Razak Exchange KL. As the war proceeds and the Nazis take over the city, she fears for her twin brother, who has been captured by the Germans, places herself in danger by transporting books to Jewish patrons who are forbidden to visit the library, and begins to question some of her boyfriend's actions. Looming war with Germany? Lily is a lonely teenager desperate to escape small-town Montana. But as Lily uncovers more about Odiles mysterious past, she discovers a dark secret, closely guarded and long hidden. In fact, her way of coping with strong emotions is to immediately relate her feelings to a book and its Dewey Decimal number. Her story is juxtaposed with that of a teenager named Lily who, in 1983, lives in a small rural town in Montana. The main character, Odile, narrates the time in Paris, while a secondary narratora young girl named Lily, who is coming of age in a small Montana town in the 1980sallows the author to revisit Odile later in life and emphasize the timelessness of friendship. Its free and takes less than 10 seconds! Even beyond the wartime drama, her ALP communitymany of them true historical figuresare a wonderfully colorful lot. All Rights Reserved. This post contains links to products that I may receive compensation from at no additional cost to you. Stephanie I think you see a gradual change in Paul as the war dragged on. His discontent was seen as he was required to direct traffic and when he was forced to clean up slurs painted on Nazi posters. Investigators find her empty car on the edge of a deep, gloomy pond, the only clues some tire tracks nearby and a fur coat left in the carstrange for a frigid night. Why do you think Odile continued to wear the red belt 40 years later? Lilys crush on a boy in her junior high school cant compete with the Gestapo arresting one of Odiles best friends. One day in the City of Light. Required fields are marked *. Todays topic: Prousts madeleine, should it have been a croissant?, A post shared by Atria Books (@atriabooks). I know historical fiction genre loves the dual timeline style but it really isn't always necessary. You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with His character traits changed so drastically from his introduction. When Charles worked there in 2010, she was captivated by the story of. When the Nazis march into the city, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. British literature.). Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet has it all: her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. Over the next five years, through the Nazi Occupation of France, the ALP founded in 1920, it still stands today also becomes the main source of Odiles small joys. 823. Odile loves her job at the Library, where she finds belonging among kindred spirits. Carrying the guilt of betraying Margaret, Odile wears Margarets parting gift, the belt, until Lilys high school graduation. The story is told via two parallel narratives. Charles once worked at the American Library in Paris as a programs manager and now divides her time between Paris and Montana. Her shorter work has appeared in revues such as Slice and Montana Noir. But the author has a clear affection for both Paris and the American Library, where she worked as a programs manager in 2010, and she integrates the stories of many of the real-life employees and patrons of the library into the story with finesse, earning the novel its own place in the pantheon of World War II fiction. Bhd. For dessert you could serve Professor Cohens Russian cigarettes! Will Odile ever reconnect with Margaret again. Oftentimes, its not surprisingfor instance, Kristin Hannahs The Four Winds is currently number one. 841. In THE PARIS LIBRARY, the beloved library, its staff, and its subscribers come to life and remind us of both the horrors of World War II and the vital role books play in keeping us afloat in difficult times. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. PARIS, 1939 Odile Souchet is obsessed with books, and her new job at the American Library in Paris - with its thriving community of students, writers and book lovers - is a dream come true. Why was it important for the librarians to continue to spread the love of reading during the war? I do think there are stronger WWII historical fiction out there. [Paul is interesting. Hard Times. As a result, Margarets husband leaves her and takes their daughter. As the older Odile and Lily become friends we learn more about Odiles regrets from wartime and the vibrant cast of readers and librarians she knew at the American Library in Paris. The Paris Library is another novel about WWII France from a unique perspective. The book also made it clear in the beginning, his disgust with women who snuggled up to Nazis. Catching her the second time, Odiles father explains that he could be executed for failing to investigate tips and tells Odile not to return. For Lilys high school graduation, Odile gives her a plane ticket to Paris. Acting in anger, Paul beats Margaret and cuts off her hair, branding her as a harlot. The American Library in Paris was able to stay open throughout the war. How did you feel about a younger Lily contrasted with a more mature Odile? Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. In the first, book-obsessed teenager Odile Souchet tackles her new job at the ALP amid a thriving community of students, writers and avid readers. Her conservative parents, especially her father, would rather Odile married than worked. I do recommend The Paris Library, but the print version, please. Margaret is arrested as an enemy alien, but a sympathetic German releases herand then becomes her lover. Odile Souchet is obsessed with books, and her new job at the American Library in Paris with its thriving community of students, writers and book lovers is a dream come true. Fans of Lester's own French novels will be delighted with this wartime story. Profoundly influenced by her mothers disowning of beloved Aunt Carowho divorced for good reasonOdile is determined to not depend on men for financial security. Although Odiles family and the library staff suffer from hunger and worry, they dont really undergo tremendous hardship. As different as Odile and Lily are, the two are drawn to each other by their similarities outside of a love for books and reading, their heads are full of dreams and they possess a quick wit and instinctive understanding of their surroundings, but they also tend to jeopardise friendships because of their inability to hold their tongues. Janet Skeslien Charles While her brother Rmy supports her, Odile's Papa is convinced that she needs to focus on marriage. Margaret, an English woman in a loveless marriage, finds a home at the Library and begins a friendship with Odile. 2023 Bookclubz, Inc. All rights reserved. Still, though, I did enjoy learning about the real-life American Library in Paris and the push to keep reading alive during the horrors of war. If you love reading about WWII or the time period, but have trouble getting through some of the violence and starvation that was rampant during the war, then I think you will like The Paris Library. While the characters deal with their fair share of conflict, the violence and mentions of hunger are kept to a minimum given the subject. When the women meet drooling over a boardwalk storefront that none of them can afford on her own, a plan is hatched to divide the space in three, and a friendshipand business partnershipis born. Eva Traube Abrams, a semi-retired librarian in Florida, is shelving books one morning when her eyes lock on a photograph in a magazine lying open nearby. Did it satisfy you or were you left wishing for more? I think the Montana one could have been fleshed out a bit better. If you are looking for food ideas for The Paris Library, Im sure your book club will be happy to try any of the foods on this list!The Paris Library Book Club Questions and Food Ideas. Theyre all here, and theyre universal, nest-ce pas? Did this surprise you? The Synopsis Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet has it all: her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. One follows Odile Souchet, a new librarian . Charming and Unforgettable: Read an Extract of The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles, 5 Quick Questions with Janet Skeslien Charles, Author of The Paris Library, Podcast: Janet Skeslien Charles on the Unusual Woman Who Sparked Her Love of France, Your email address will not be published. In 1939, Odile Souchet is thrilled to secure a job at the American Library in Paris. A Season in Hell by Rimbaud. Margaret, an English woman in a loveless marriage, finds a home at the Library and begins a friendship with Odile. Trouble signing in? And Ashley is a young, very-much-in-love bakery owner specializing in muffins who devotes herself to giving back to the community through a nonprofit that helps community members develop skills and find jobs. Susan Mallery In 1939, Odile Souchet, the daughter of the captain of a police precinct, has just finished library school. An impromptu celebration on the beach at sunset with champagne becomes a weekly touchpoint to their lives as they learn more about each other and themselves. But amidst the dazzling creativity of the city's most famous citizens, four regular people are each searching for something they've lost. Paris between the wars teems with artists, writers, and musicians, a glittering crucible of genius. Still, Odile harbors jealousy toward Margaret for her wealthand resents her criticisms of the French army. Reeling from the loss of her mother and her father's remarriage, Lily finds herself adrift: overlooked at school, out of place at home. All rights reserved. Three woman who join together to rent a large space along the beach in Los Angeles for their storesa gift shop, a bakery, and a bookstorebecome fast friends as they each experience the highs, and lows, of love. A powerful novel that explores the consequences of our choices and the relationships that make us who we arefamily, friends, and favorite authorsThe Paris Libraryshows that extraordinary heroism can sometimes be found in the quietest of places. If you love libraries and are interested in how a library stayed open during the entire war in the center of conflict, The Paris Library is a great book club choice. Very distracting. The synopsis talks about a betrayal in the past and Ill be honest, I thought that twist was strange. One night in search of lost time. As a graduate student in 1942, Eva was forced to flee Paris after the arrest of her father, a Polish Jew. Fran Hawthorne is an award-winning novelist and nonfiction author. Her newest novel,I Meant to Tell You, was published in November 2022 by Stephen F. Austin State University Press. There she meets an American soldier, agrees to marry him, and leaves Paris without ever seeing her family and friends again. This anger alarms Odile though her love for him is undaunted. Having learned the French language from Odile, Lily has become a Francophile and decides that she will head to the American Library upon her arrival. But erasing people comes with a price, and along with a mysterious, handsome forger named Rmy, Eva decides she must find a way to preserve the real names of the children who are too young to remember who they really are. 2021. Based on the true World War II story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris Janet Skeslien Charles's The Paris Library is an unforgettable.
Schönes für Kinder