What a pleasant surprise! The Paris Library is an endearing story that will capture the hearts and minds of bibliophiles! This book is part of the Simon and Schuster book club pick for March 2022. Check out Simon & Schuster’s page to join the FB and YouTube live discussion/author interview on April 4 @ 1 PM ET (https://www.simonandschuster.com/p/book-club-favorites-rsvp)

This and next week’s post (The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Hamel) are both historical fictions set against the backdrop of World War II.

Home. Heartwarming. Honoring the heroes found in the least expected places.

We follow the beautiful historical fiction tale of love, loss and lessons from the perspectives of the mysterious, private neighbor, Mrs. Gustafson, and lonely, small-town teenage girl, Lily. Rumors have circulated around Froid, Montana about who Odile really is, where she came from and why she ended up in the small town. When Lily decides to interview Odile for her school project, the two ladies find an unlikely friendship with each other, sharing life lessons, a love for books and culture and come to find that their lives parallel each other’s more than they ever expected.

The Paris Library, written in alternating point of views, is about present-day Odile recounting her young adult years in a challenging and fearful time of history to Lily, who has never seen life beyond the town she grew up in but is curious discover more about the world. It is a drama. Don’t expect too much action scenes. It’s more dramatic suspense and a little mystery.

And this whole book is to honor the American Library in Paris, whose courageous staff experienced and survived the Nazi occupation in Paris.

I loved how the author wanted to highlight this little bit of WWII history seldom talked about. The American Library in Paris was a sanctuary for various people of Paris, opening its doors to patrons of young, old, French, American, men, women, etc. Plus the role the library’s employees and patrons served in preserving literature, history, culture and life during a time of Nazi occupancy in Paris. The staff’s ongoing efforts to deliver library services helped several soldiers and civilians hold onto hope and a piece of normalcy during difficult and disheartening times.

This is certainly a bibliophile’s kind of book to read! The American Library in Paris is a real thing (I know, it seems like such a beautiful, magical, non-existent place for booknerds but it’s real)! We get an inside look into the institution’s operations and its people, some of which were real people who lived through the WWII event. I loved the thoughtfully conducted research that went behind crafting this story as it certainly opened my eyes and caught my intrigue to the American Library in Paris.

I liked that this book didn’t rehash the same frontline war story that most WWII books do. Instead illustrating the far-reach effects of the war, to places like Paris. How, even though the soldiers and officers weren’t actively fighting, attacking the civilians, a blanket of panic, fear was thrown over the city because the occupation restricted the civilians. From food, entertainment, freedom, careers, speech. Not to mention the insidious behavior of neighbors ratting out British, American, Jewish residents in Paris to the German officers to be deported or moved to internment camps. Prejudice rose in a city that used to be so welcoming and slowly leaked its way into the beloved library. It showcased how outside of the actual battlefield, life was as much a living hell. It was heartbreaking to read the drastic shift from this lively French city to a dull, dead, paranoid city during the German occupation.

Okay…now that I’ve depressed you, let’s get to some brighter parts of the book. All the characters in The Paris Library were so fun to read! Their personalities really shined through the pages! You grow to love the kooky and unique personalities of the patrons and employees of the American Library in Paris and you feel like one big family.

I love Odile, she’s so cool! She’s independent, confident, sassy, smart and has her own dark secrets. However I couldn’t really relate to Lily that much…I found her character seemed too stereotypical teenager and I guess I was hoping for Lily to have more dimension. Granted, the story is focused on Odile’s story more than Lily’s. Both ladies go through a lot in the life – especially with family and relationships. It was beautiful to read Odile provide insight and mentorship to Lily and to see the two find friendship, inspiration and understanding in each other. Two lonely people come together and have a beautiful friendship. Who would have thought right?

I was thrilled with how they wrapped up the story with an unexpected reveal – ending was really good! However I really wished they explained more thoroughly about what happened to the beloved people in Odile’s life. We kind of get a brief explanation but nothing more on how some people moved forward after the war.

Loved the symbolism of the Dewey Decimal System sprinkled throughout the book – lots of great quotes! They also quote several iconic literary works – again bibliophiles will eat this book up! I greatly appreciated the French lessons as it helped me practiced my French (which I have not spoken since high school like over a decade ago). So you may get to learn a few French words from this!

Heartwarming. Realistic. Captures a piece of history that is rarely talked about. It makes me want to visit the actual American Library in Paris – one day, a girl can dream! A book to read that makes you feel at home with and connected to other book lovers. Perfect pick for this month’s book club!