The book concentrates on life in Paris during WWII, how the Parisians lived, and the affects the war had on them, not realizing at the time how lucky most of them were. The author worked at the American Library in Paris in 2019, and her love to the place shines through. But I found it interesting the author chose to write about it, how the world Odiel thought was coming together, is still falling apart, and how people who loved her, and she loves, will do horrible things out of necessity – and for her sake.
I also thought Odiel’s reaction to the realization of what people close to her did to survive during the war was somewhat disproportionate. I understand this point of the story, which becomes clear later on I could have done without the flowery descriptions of their love making. Odile and her boyfriend / fiancée romp throughout Paris in abandoned, yet fully furnished apartments. The romantic parts were not my cup of tea, and I thought they were out of place. I enjoyed reading about the way the staff worked during the war to continue operations, support Jewish subscribers, sending books to soldiers, and saving valued manuscripts from Nazi hands. Since Odile just started working there, we learn with her about the library, its goals, mechanizations, and the peculiar characters which work and frequent the building. The most interesting part of the book, for me, was the description of the American Library in Paris, where Odile works.
The first is in 1939-1944, where Odile’s sheltered life is being shattered, the second is in 1983, through the eyes of Lilly who is also dealing with big changes in her life, albeit not a world war. The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles is told through the eyes of two young women, living in different times. Even though my kids tell me that at this point, at least for generation Z, dads and WWII is now a meme. I made it no secret that I really enjoy books about books, and, of course, books about World War II. More Books by Janet Skeslien Charles* Thought: Charles in an award-winning author, this is her second novel. The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles is a novel following a young librarian working in the American Library in Paris during World War II.
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