The Paris Library

New Release Book Review: The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

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The book ‘The Paris Library’ written by Janet Skeslien Charles is a fascinating novel that tells about the war years, the time when World War II broke out in Paris. This historical fiction is based on the real-life Ordeal of the brave librarians at the American Library in Paris.

More about the book

Title: The Paris Library

Written By: Janet Skeslien Charles

Publisher: Hachette Australia

Published: February 9th 2021

Pages: 336

Genres: World War II,  Fiction, Historical

Rating: 3 stars

RRP: $32.99

Plot

We are introduced to Odile Souchet, a young woman who is eager to pursue her ambition, working at the American Library in Paris1. However, her life transforms drastically when the Nazis march into paris1. 

Odile and other librarians enlists on the side of the Resistance, and books are their arsenal1. But the end of the war does not liberate Odile. Instead, it strikes him with a bitter taste of such unutterable betrayal.

In Montana, 1983, we are introduced to Lily, a rebellious child who is on the hunt for some fun. The only weird thing that starts to interest Lily is the solitary, old neighbour who turns out to be a very mysterious woman. 

However, with every clue Lily reveals about her neighbour’s past, she discovers they both love the language, have the same desires, and, above all, they both feel the same consuming jealousy.

Review

“The Paris Library” is a book we will not soon forget; it is a book rich with romance, friendship, family, and the power of books to connect us. It is a powerful novel, that probes the consequences of our actions and the bonds that shape who we are.

The book is a thought-provoking reading about life in Paris after the German invasion during World War II. The love for the written word is soon evident in Odile, and she becomes an integral and highly esteemed member of the staff at the American Library in Paris.

Janet Skeslien Charles lives in Paris and Montana. Her second novel, The Paris Library, is an account of the truth about the brave librarians in the American Library in Paris during World War II1. She learned about the story while working in the Library.

The novel The Paris Library is a piece of fiction, though the story is as real as it can get. It is painful and sensuous at the same time, perfectly capturing the atmosphere of World War II Paris during the German occupation3. The writer’s ability to tell a story with amazing detail and research is fully displayed here.

In last, we can say that “The Paris Library” is a beautifully written, heartbreaking, meticulously researched novel that will be attractive to lovers of historical fiction and those interested in the power of literature. 

It is the proof of the heroism of the librarians who were ready to sacrifice their lives to the Nazi’s attempts to wage war on words. This is not simply a story of conflict and survival but also a celebration of friendship, love, and the magic of literature.

other books written by Janet Skeslien Charles written

Janet Skeslien Charles has written the following books:

  • The Paris Library
  • Moonlight in Odessa