I read this, literally, alongside Sebastian Faulks' "Paris Echo", and reviewed the pair of them for a local magazine here in Dorset. Of the two, I thought Paris Library was the better. Anyway, this is what I wrote about the two books ~

Two easy reads to lighten up the lockdown, and both of them centred on the City of Light. Even better, both of them highlight the parts of Paris and a period of its history that few tourists ever explore.

“Paris Echo” features the Paris of today, the banlieue and the inner suburbs, and an unlikely pairing of characters. Tariq is a self-conscious, discontented teenager from Algeria, who smuggles his way to Paris in the vain hope of finding the French mother who had abandoned him. Hannah is a post-graduate American completing a thesis on “Work, Family and Gender – Women in Occupied Paris, 1940-44”. In ways that stretch the imagination, Tariq finds himself lodging in Hannah's spare room (an improvement on the criminal suburban tower blocks) and finds himself intrigued by Hannah's research, a huge discovery for a boy who knows not a single thing about his birthplace.

The chapter heads are almost all named after Metro stations, and while the storyline is contemporary, it flashes back to the time of Hannah's researches at the American Library of Paris and the daily lives of the city's women during the Occupation. Past and present sometimes seem to be muddled together in Tariq's mind, such is his ignorance of the city and its history. Paris being Paris, the romance is never far away, but not in the way you might expect, as both Hannah and Tariq sort out their demons before, separately, facing the futures they had both turned down.

“The Paris Library” by contrast, is mainly set during the Occupation period studied by Hannah and discovered by Tariq. There really was – and still is – an American Library in Paris. Its story is told as fiction by Odile, an impulsive Parisian teenager so obsessed by books that she makes a hobby of mastering the Dewey Decimal system of organising libraries. She finds her ideal job as a junior assistant in the American Library just in time to deal with the hazards of the Occupation. Throughout those four years, the Library (and that is history) found ways to keep providing books to its thousands of readers – train-loads to the French army, and secret deliveries to hidden citizens sought by the Gestapo. Odile found herself surviving not just the ominous threats of Nazi culture, but the dangers facing her Jewish and Russian colleagues, the conscription of her twin brother, the fatal attractions of collaboration, and the growth of mutual suspicion.

Just as “Paris Echo” swings back and forward in time, so does this book: we meet Odile as an elderly American citizen, nicknamed the “war bride” by her neighbours and an object of curiosity to Lily, the teenager next door, to whom she is a mystery. Gradually, Odile's story emerges and with it her influence on Lily who is as difficult a teenager as was the young Odile.

I absolutely loved this book! I enjoy reading books set during World War 2 but I rarely find a book in this genre, that I have encountered a book similiar to it before. However, The Paris Library, celebrated a little known part of history that loved learning about. I would highly recommend this book to anybody that enjoys books from this time period,

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC

Odile goes to work at American library in Paris, she meets and grows to love the staff, all fascinating and outlandish characters. With her knowledge of Dewey, she attaches the classification system to her life. She meets Paul, a policeman one of many perspective husband's that her father introduces to her, he is different and his understanding of her situation leads to a romance. When France is invaded the library has to find ways to help subscribers receive their books, especially Jews, foreigners and anyone regarded as unsuitable by Nazis. Conditions are very harsh for everyone, at a very dangerous time. When Odile moves to Montana, she uses her experiences to help Lily overcome obstacles and difficulties in her life.
Details of invasion and effects on people's lives are well written and detailed. There are acts of kindness and cruelty both with far reaching consequences.
As a former librarian, I loved this book, anyone who loves books, reading and libraries will be transported by atmosphere of library and discovery of must read books.
Beautiful, revealing and fascinating read.

Wonderfully emotional story of the life of one young woman during the occupation of Paris during the 2nd World War and the small part that she was able to play to save the lives of Jewish people.
It is a story of courage in the face of adversity and also a love story.
Based on actual people and actual events it is a brilliant way of bringing social history of that time to the wider public
A brilliant read.

A really enjoyable WWII novel. I enjoyed the main character's journey. Very sweet.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is my first book by this author but as I love WW2 era novels I was keen to read this book. Although I struggled to get into the first few chapters once I did I really enjoyed this book. Following Odile from a teenager to an adult and from Paris to USA gave me a lot to think about, particularly about what it was like living during nazi invasion in Paris. Thanks to the author and NetGalley

Incredibly moving love letter to the importance of stories. I felt like I was walking the streets of Paris!

The Paris Library by Janey Skeslien Charles is another WW2 novel but with a difference. I have heard good things about this book so I thought I would give it a go.
Paris 1939 Odile Souchet is obsessed with books. And has even been to Library School where she learnt the Dewey Decimal system which use ten classes to organise Library books on shelves based on subjects. She is offered a job as a Librarian in the American Library. Where she meets all type of people of subscribers, book lovers and library staff. When war breaks out the Library decided to send books out to soldiers fighting in the war. She has a twin brother that one day decides to enlist and go off to war.
It is 1983 Montana Lily is on a school project about all things French when she befriends loner Odile Gustafson. Who tells her about her life in France and her time in Paris in 1939? What she did with the Library and the kinds of people she met.
Thank you, John Murray Press, and NetGalley for a copy of this book. I found the premise of this story interesting as I know this is based on actual events. And I like the story set in Paris. But I did not see the point of the timeline in 1983. Some of it did not go with the previous timeline. I also found this story to be really slow that made me not want to go one. 3 stars from me.

I read a lot of books set around WW2, this time it was lovely to read a book based in France and seen from a resident of Paris's perspective. The story is set in the American library and tells the story based on real people and situations. I felt the book was atmospheric and you could feel the tension that the Parisians had to deal with while they were occupied. The relationships of the different characters wove a lovely story and you were able to see how the war affected different parts of society and how they dealt with the complex situations that the occupation created. These relationships could also be reflected in the "now" with Odiles' life in the States in the 1980's.

I loved this book, could not put it down. The attention to detail with regard to classic books is so thorough and loved the war storyline. The main character Odile was very likeable and engaging. If you like your books and libraries as I do you will get emersed into this very intriguing piece of literature.

I got about a third of the way through Them Paris Library ‘ by Janet Skeslien Charles but just had to give up. Nothing wrong with the story but I was bored Sorry but this is not my type of novel.

The Paris Library. Janet Skeslien Charles.

Beginning just before the Second World War, The Paris Library is a fictionalised account of true events at the American Library in Paris and of the people who worked there. Interspersed with the story of Lily a teenage girl in 1980s Montana we see a gradual unravelling of the story of Odile, an aspiring teenage librarian who worked at the ALP during the occupation. Starting at a slow burn, as Lily and Odile - now an old lady - become close the story gathers momentum.

Lily is a troubled teen, struggling to come to terms with the fact that her mother died and her father re-married. A complex character, she is well drawn. While her problems are not always what every teen experiences the reader can totally empathise with her. Odile, who lives next door becomes her friend and confidant; sharing her angst, guiding her through the torturous path of adolescence and teaching her French.

Skeslien Charles expertly weaves their stories, giving us insight into quiet, rural Montana and bustling, traumatised Paris during the occupation. The novel tracks the courage and dedication of those who worked at the Library and shows the harshness and duality of life in war time. Not only the lives people had to live but the often devastating choices they had to make and the things people were driven to do in their desperate struggle for survival. We see how both the best and the worst of human nature emerges.

To Lily, Odile is a hero but convinced she has a secret past, her curiosity gets the better of her. Will this cement or shatter their relationship?

This is a great read in which we run the gamut of emotions. The two worlds are perfectly executed and all the characters brought to life expertly. Highly recommended.

I have always loved books, libraries and bookshops. I also enjoy reading about books and libraries. When I saw this book was being offered for review on Netgalley I absolutely had to read it.
I enjoy books which have a historical theme, especially ones set around wartime. I find them fascinating to read. I had never heard of The American Library in Paris. When I read about it in this book, I had to go and do my own research on it. If I ever had the opportunity to, I would love to visit it.
This book was very well researched and absorbing to read. I highly recommend reading it.

I can highly recommend The Paris Library, I was hooked from the first page. For many of us, libraries are a refuge and a place to escape from the everyday humdrum. The American Library in Paris has a vibrant community of subscribers, many of whom are far from home. This book centers on Odile a young librarian, growing up in the most tumultuous of times. But the story is about more than Odile, the library and her family. It is about roots, challenge and adversity and the indominitable human spirit.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read more of Janet Skelslien Charles's work.

Found on Google from simonandschuster.com

A wonderful story about a love of books and reading that transcended the terrible times of the occupation in Paris. A fantastic bunch of interesting characters that made the library come alive, each with their own stories. Our hero grows and thrives amidst all of this, but stumbles with the death of her brother and then lets petty jealousies destroy her friendships. The contrasting story of her friendship later in life in America with a young girl, lets her share the wisdom she gained from making these mistakes.

In the early 1980s in the small country town of Froid, Montana, teenager Lily meets the mysterious Mrs Gustafson. War bride Odile Gustafson was a librarian at the American Library in Paris during WWII. Her story starts in 1939, just before the outbreak of war between France and Germany and spans the German occupation of Paris and Odile's time with Lily.

Based on real people and real events, this is a magical story rooted in a love of books and libraries. It spans intense friendships, love, loyalty, betrayal and privation. Strongly recommended.

The book starts with Odile, the main character who has a degree as a lubrarian, applying for a job at the Paris Library. Her father opposes to it as he opposes to any woman wanting to work. Paul approves, so does her twin, Rèmy.

This book is set during the times of the WWII. Based on true story, it is well written and it describes Odlie’s life, who has lived during the and faced the difficulties of everyday life, as well as the consequences of it. Odile has memorised the Dewey decimal system and books are what she eats and breaths. Despite the war, the Paris Library, where Odile gets a job, stays open.

Odile is a French citizen and a submissive daughter, but also a fighter and a one who cares for people. Led by her jealousy, she says things that she doesn’t mean and she suffers the consequences of her actions and loss of friendship by fleeing to the USA and spending her life on her own. Luckily, she meets Lilly, a young girl next door.

Janet Skeslien Charles runs to two stories as parallel to each other. One during the war, the other one in the 80s.

We learn that people are not who we think they are and the consequences of a war could indeed be detrimental.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters drew me in very quickly and I enjoyed learning about this aspect of the occupation of Paris that I hadn’t know about before. This is definitely a book for book lovers and it made me want to go and look up some of the books that were mentioned that I hadn’t read before.

I’m very grateful to have had a free copy in return for my review. I would strongly recommend this to anyone who is looking for an enjoyable, interesting and thought provoking read.

I enjoyed this a lot. A historical tale with heart. Love and books really do change everything. Have already recommended this one to some friends.

Odile lives and breathes books. Its 1939 and she has just landed a job at the American Library in Paris. its her dream come true to be amongst like minded people. The staff soon become her other family. However, when the Nazi's arrive their lives are torn apart and will friendships survive?

In 1983 Odile is living in Montana when she is befriended by a lonely teenager called Lily. gradually Odile tells her the story of what really happened in Paris, all the hardships and secrets and friendships and love lost.
This is a story based on what happened at the Library during those dark days.