the paris library ending explained
Author Mallery has created a delightful story of friendship between three women that also offers a variety of love stories as they fall in love, make mistakes, and figure out how to be the bestalbeit still flawedversions of themselves. Why was it important for the librarians to continue to spread the love of reading during the war? 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. Try not to hold that against them; you never know whats in their heart. Lily often thinks about this quote. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. RELEASE DATE: March 28, 2023. There she meets an American soldier, agrees to marry him, and leaves Paris without ever seeing her family and friends again. Young Odile is independent and headstrong. 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. Once Lily graduates from high school, Odile gives her a generous gift inspired by her own past. Book Summary. One night in search of lost time. Schwab, Q&A with Hannah Richell, Author of The River Home, Book Club Questions for The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle, Book Club Questions for The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Dar, 10 Book Club Books to Read in Summer 2023, Book Club Questions for Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano, Review: Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano, Book Club Questions for The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes, Book Club Questions for Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, (Updated April 2023) Reeses Book Club Picks: Entire List, Book Club Questions for Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, Book Club Questions for Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan. When war breaks out, the Nazis are soon in Paris. Discuss the dual timeline. 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. When Lily's mother becomes ill, Lily grows close to her previously frosty next-door neighbor Odile, who moved to Montana as a bride immediately after the war ended. With his help, Margaret procures food and other items, which she shares with Odile. [I think Paul is an interesting character and he illustrates some of the conflicted feelings Parisians felt about the Occupation. Soon thereafter, Lilys father remarries. Few in Paris recognize the looming threat of war. How did this compare to other WWII novels you have read? Or someone from Lilys timelineEleanor, Lilys mother, Mary Louise? On September 3, 1783, the United States and Great Britain signed the Treaty of Paris, formally ending the Revolutionary War. The novela New York Times, Washington Post, and USA Today bestselleris one of five finalists for the 2021 American Library in Paris Book Award. 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. Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. I do recommend The Paris Library, but the print version, please. Strong and kind women, such as Professor Cohen of the Sorbonne and Library Directress Miss Reeder, are role models for Odile. The synopsis talks about a betrayal in the past and Ill be honest, I thought that twist was strange. Bookseller friend of Hugo. Bree is a friendly but standoffish bookstore owner who keeps everyone she knows at arms length, from guys she meets in bars to her friends. Lily has to deal not only with loss but with learning how she fits into a new family. Lily is a lonely teenager desperate to escape small-town Montana. 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. One character is a link in both, a French woman who emigrates at the wars end and spends the rest of her life in Montana. FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP | You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Enter your email to receive Bookclubs' newsletter with reading recommendations and the most popular book club books each month. Were glad you found a book that interests you! 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. It is 1939, and Odile Souchet has just returned to Paris after completing library school. It is charming and moving, with a perfect balance between history and fiction., Tatiana de Rosnay, New York Times bestselling author of Sarah's Key, A fresh take on WWII France that will appeal to bibliophiles everywhere. 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. This anger alarms Odile though her love for him is undaunted. [Paul is interesting. A story of courage, defiance and betrayal in Occupied Paris, perfect for fans ofAll the Light We Cannot See, The Book Thief andThe Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society. Categories: My novel, The Paris Library, tells the true tale of the international team of librarians who defied the Nazis in order to hand-deliver books to Jewish readers. There is a love story, a mystery, the pattern of history repeating. While the novel is filled with gorgeous settings and a delightful cast of characters some of whom actually existed in real life what I loved the most about The Paris Library is the way it celebrates the power of books, libraries and storytelling. Courtesy of Elizabeth Yoon. I love to read and review various genres with a focus on contemporary fiction, historical fiction with some mysteries/thrillers and also select nonfiction and memoirs. For Lilys high school graduation, Odile gives her a plane ticket to Paris. She learned about the history of the American Library in Paris while working there as the programs manager. Rogers fiance. The author has actually worked there in recent years and learned first-hand about the efforts of librarians and volunteers not only to keep it open during the German occupation of Paris, but to smuggle books to Jews and to allied forces on the front. The Paris Library is superbly researched and has a plot twist at the end that I didn't expect. Meticulously researched,The Paris Libraryis an irresistible, compelling read., Fiona Davis, national bestselling author of The Chelsea Girls, The Paris Libraryis a refreshing novel that celebrates libraries as cradles of community, especially when we need them the most. Both are too quick to blurt out criticisms, jeopardizing their closest friendships out of hurt and jealousy. In defiance of this edict, the Library workers deliver books to the homes of Jewish subscribers. Using her own life experiences, Odile guides Lily to accept her overprotective father and her stepmother, who is struggling with two baby boys. I love to read and review various genres with a focus on contemporary fiction, historical fiction with some mysteries/thrillers and also select nonfiction and memoirs. Margaret, an English woman in a loveless marriage, finds a home at the Library and begins a friendship with Odile. His discontent was seen as he was required to direct traffic and when he was forced to clean up slurs painted on Nazi posters. by Janet Skeslien Charles RELEASE DATE: Feb. 2, 2021. Fans of Lester's own French novels will be delighted with this wartime story. If you'd like me to review your book, contact me! 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. If your book club is reading this one, check out my book club questions here. 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. Fran Hawthorne is an award-winning novelist and nonfiction 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. I think he snapped more out of guilt than anything else. She feels a frisson of pride at violating Nazi edicts, as she packs books to send to British and Jewish colleagues who are banned from the library building. Odile is initially angry but understands Margarets predicament. The two form a bond, which deepens when Lilys mother dies. In some ways, the story is your standard historical fiction story with the dual timelines (takes place both during the WWII era and also in the 80s in Montana). When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Susan Mallery. This thread is archived . For the young Parisian Odile Souchet in the winter of 1939, working in the American Library in Paris sounds like her ideal job. 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. 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! But the rest is certainly worthy. 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. The readers added a drama that was, I thought, wrong. Later, Odile returns to her fathers office twice to steal some of these letters and spare a few people. 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. Drama. Chapter 1 Summary: "OdileParis, February 1939" Entranced by the Dewey Decimal System, Odile Souchet is both excited and nervous for her interview at the American Library in Paris. But I also saw The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles made it on there as well. Fallouts are heart-rending, and are written into the story with tenderness and affection. 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. Did this surprise you? The records they keep inThe Book of Lost Nameswill become even more vital when the resistance cell they work for is betrayed and Rmy disappears. Do you think Margaret and Odile reconcile eventually? It has been called a coming of age book, but in many regards, it is more. In the event of a sale, I will be awarded a small commission (at no extra cost to you or the featured books author). Then, what seems like a small conflict elsewhere, suddenly escalates into war. Sallie wants to support her sister but sympathizes with the bootleggersher neighbors and tenantsand recognizes that the family's finances depend on trading whiskey. Show more Genres Historical FictionFictionHistoricalWorld War IIBooks About BooksAudiobook France Magazine Subscribers (How to Find Your Reader Number), Worth the Wait: New Fiction From 6 Favorites, Hang the Moon Will Be Adapted for TV Series. 841. Related Topics . Both her husband and son have passed away and she doesnt seem to have any connections with her past. There she meets a young woman who is the same age she was during the war and who badly needs a life coach. But as Lily uncovers more about Odiles mysterious past, she discovers a dark secret, closely guarded and long hidden. LITERARY FICTION | A thoroughly enjoyable read, kind-hearted and brimming with delightful bookish allusions." HISTORICAL FICTION | You can read order the book on Amazon here. The girls sounded bratty, the prose almost juvenile. The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles is an interesting work of historical fiction. Why do you think this was? That said, I had a major problem with the audio version. She divides her time between Montana and Paris. In 1939, Odile Souchet is thrilled to secure a job at the American Library in Paris. When Paris is liberated, Paul and another police officer encounter Margaret on the street. (See my struggle to find a recipe for The Nightingale here). Rmy is wounded in the early fighting and then in a prisoner-of-war camp, where he later perishes. There is a comforting element to the expectedness of the plot and odd familiarity of the characters, which is common with historical books. Looming war with Germany? 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. Margaret blames her for divulging the secret and never wants to see her again. When Odile goes to his office to appeal for help finding Professor Cohen, she sees these crow letters, named for the black-hearted people who inform on their neighbors. The story is told via two parallel narratives. A thoroughly enjoyable read, kind-hearted and brimming with delightful bookish allusions., Matthew Sullivan, author of Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore, "Having lived in an apartment just above the current location of the American Library in Paris, I've always felt connected to the institution and wondered about its story, so I'm grateful to Janet Skeslien Charles for penning such a vivid, enjoyable, based-on-a-true-story tale. Located just two blocks from the Eiffel Tower, the private American Library in Paris has welcomed bibliophiles since 1920. It has been called a coming of age book, but in many regards, it is more. GENERAL FICTION, by Required fields are marked *. Fellow employees and clients of the private lending library are her closest confidantes, and she feels a frisson of pride at violating Nazi edicts, as she packs books to send to British and Jewish colleagues who are banned from the library building. Miss Reeder, an American, vows to stay in Paris to direct the Library but must leave when Americas entry into the war becomes imminent. 823. Is there anything new here? This role is especially crucial in the difficult conditions of occupied Paris, where food is increasingly scarce, and the arrest of Jewish citizens and enemy aliens is a constant threat. With a new job and a new love, Odiles future looks bright. Odile describes them to a dying American soldier she tends to: Theres an Englishman imagine a crane wearing a paisley bow tie. When war is declared, the Library is determined to remain open. As I mentioned in the intro, recipes for books about World War II are often a challenge since most countries faced rations, if not starvation. 199301012242 (266980-X). Trouble signing in? The answers unspool in this well-plotted and richly populated novel, primarily through Odiles and Lilys alternating, first-person narrations. 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. I think this story could have been first rate if we had just had ONE chronological timeline instead of the two. Eleven days later, she reappears, just as mysteriously as she disappeared, claiming amnesia and providing no explanations for her time away. Why do you think Odile continued to wear the red belt 40 years later? British literature.). Each day, they light a stinky cheroot and debate. Again, I thought it was fine overall but I kept wanting to go back to the WWII storyline. Its an interesting tactic to connect the past with more of the present. RELEASE DATE: May 31, 2022. Published in 2021, Janet Skeslien Charless The Paris Library: A Novel tells the story of the American Library in Paris during the Nazi occupation. "The Paris Library" marks Janet Skeslien Charles's second novel of her writing career. His discontent was seen as he was required to direct traffic and when he was forced to clean up slurs painted on Nazi posters. In 1939, Odile Souchet, the daughter of the captain of a police precinct, has just finished library school. Book Reading, Writing, and Literature . Margaret is eventually attacked by Paul and when Odile learns the truthshe leaves behind Paris forever to marry an American. The voices just werent right. Categories: influencers in the know since 1933. Based on a true World War II story about the heroic librarians of the American Library in Paris (ALP), this book tells an unforgettable tale of romance, friendship and family in the most unusual of situations. What do you make of her complicated friendship with Margaret? When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. In a moment of anger, Odile reveals Margarets secret to Paul but immediately regrets doing so. But amidst the dazzling creativity of the city's most famous citizens, four regular people are each searching for something they've lost. Odile initially blames Bitsi, Rmys love and her friend, for his decision but later repairs the friendship. I can see where the groundwork was laid for it but I still thought it was an odd story choice. Books connect a middle-aged ex-librarian and a schoolgirl, both of whomlong for similar things (Photo: Atria Books). View my Affiliate Disclosure page here. While her brother Rmy supports her, Odile's Papa is convinced that she needs to focus on marriage. Janet Skeslien Charles has penned an unforgettable novel that spans 60 years and several generations in the midst of historic turning points as dramatic as those we are living through now. So here is another instance in which the narrators of an audiobook can affect the readers experience. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Retrieve credentials. Based on historical events. And the sound of masticating between sentences? As Lily uncovers more about her neighbors mysterious past, she finds that they share a love of language, the same longings, and the same intense jealousy, never suspecting that a dark secret from the past connects them. And, of course, there was All the Light We Cannot See as well. How did you feel about a younger Lily contrasted with a more mature Odile? In 1939, Odile's life is practically perfect. The authors affection for both Paris and the ALP, where she worked as a programme manager in 2010, comes through beautifully as she integrates the stories of many of the real-life employees and patrons of the library into the story with finesse. The novel is a dual timeline story and the second timeline follows Lily, a young girl in 1980s Montana who is now the neighbor of Odile Souchet. After all, she loves to read, speaks fluent English, and has memorized the Dewey Decimal system for cataloguing library books. It was intriguing to read about a different type of heroismkeeping the love of reading alive among the hardships of war. In 1939, Odile Souchet, the daughter of the captain of a police precinct, has just finished library school. Margaret is arrested as an enemy alien, but a sympathetic German releases herand then becomes her lover. 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 After living in Paris, how could she settle for this dull dot on the plains? wonders Lily Jacobsen, the seventh grader who lives next door. 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. Among those who do is Rmy, whoto his familys horrorjoins the French army. You can order the book on Amazon here. Its a community of the intellectually curious as well as English speakers looking for a home in Paris. This time, they did not. Unsurprisingly, Odiles life is much more interesting than Lilys. 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. It shows how literature can be a means of escape, a catalyst for human connection, and a moral center in grim times. Check out my book club questions here. Surprisingly, its not little Froid, Montana, that ends up being a letdown, but rather the Nazi Occupation and the ALPs Resistance work. Were you shocked by what happened to Margaret? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Here are some more recommendations along with links to book club questions. There are many wonderful things about this book, not the least being the settings, which are as well painted and written as the rest. by The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles . As Odile describes some of them to a dying American soldier whom shes tending: Theres an Englishmanimagine a crane wearing a paisley bow tie. While additional detail would have made the horrors wreaked by the Nazis and Odiles dilemmas during this time more vivid, this is a novel after all, and more than earns its place in the pantheon of WWII fiction. Family intrigue plays out against the backdrop of 1920s Claiborne County, where racism is a given, Prohibition is the law, and bootlegging is the main source of income for Blacks and Whites. Hearing her detail what she loved most made me realize that I loved those things, too. I think he anger was always visible, I agree with you that Paul was missing from the wrap up of the book but also Odiles parents. How do you think Odile helps her cope with that? In 1939, idealistic, courageous, and ambitious Odile Souchet works at the American Library in Paris when the Nazis arrive. Surely you know where this is going, by this point? By some bizarre twist of fate, a much older Odile winds up living next door to Lily, and the two form an unlikely but mutually beneficial friendship Lily gains much from Odiles well-stocked bookshelves while Odile finds renewed purpose in guiding the young girl. Loyalty and betrayal? One day in the City of Light. Were you more engaged in one storyline over the other? Even though this was clearly historical fiction based on real events, were you surprised to learn in the afterward that many of the characters were based on real people? A rollicking soap opera that keeps the pages turning with a surfeit of births, deaths, and surprising plot reveals. I get what the author was trying to convey but I didnt think it was executed in the best way. Librarian at the American Library. The Paris setting was vividly imagined and beautifully wrought, especially the library, which is depicted as a warm, happy, safe and enlightened place. 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. I feel like there were so many other ways the author could have taken the story for why Odile ran away from Paris. Did it feel like you were reading a YA novel and a historical novel? Angry, Odile briefly cuts Lily out of her life but eventually forgives her. Your email address will not be published. Jeannette Walls. In fact, many of the characters in the book are based, often by actual name, on real people. I completely agree! While Odile develops a close friendship with Margaret, she also is envious of her lifestyle. So that was a bit of a disappointment to me. Lilys crush on a boy in her junior high school cant compete with the Gestapo arresting one of Odiles best friends. Chapter-by-chapter summaries and multiple sections of expert analysis, The ultimate resource for assignments, engaging lessons, and lively book discussions. Todays topic: Prousts madeleine, should it have been a croissant?, A post shared by Atria Books (@atriabooks). What did you think of this decision by Odile to leave everything behind? His character traits changed so drastically from his introduction. What did you like more and what did you like less about this novel. An awkward luncheon with a would-be suitor? I know the war changes people, but wasn't this a bit extreme? Apartment building concierge. Finding refuge in a small mountain town in the Free Zone, she begins forging identity documents for Jewish children fleeing to neutral Switzerland. Paris between the wars teems with artists, writers, and musicians, a glittering crucible of . I think you see a gradual change in Paul as the war dragged on. Based on the true Second World War story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris who risked their lives during the Nazi's war on words, The Paris Library by award-winning novelist Janet Skeslien Charles is an unforgettable story of romance, friendship, family, and of heroism found in the quietest of places. Acting in anger, Paul beats Margaret and cuts off her hair, branding her as a harlot. In February of 1939, Odile interviews for her dream job at the American Library. Hardcover. First Edition. 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. It includes a letter from me, discussion questions, ideas for enhancing your book club, an author Q&A, delicious French recipes, and some of my favorite French songs. Staunch prohibitionist Mary goes to war against the bootleggers using an enforcer who employs extreme violence. He knew why those apartments were empty. But when the war finally ends, instead of freedom, Odile tastes the bitter sting of unspeakable betrayal. Honestly, at times I wondered if Id stumbled onto a YA novel. WWII. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. I think as the war ended, seeing all that Margaret had, food, money, clothing, He just snapped. It seemed out of character to do what he did to Margaret. FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP | Charles emphasizes the significance of this resistance by highlighting the role that books play in transporting people from their own situations and engaging their empathy and minds. Most often, they add. Meticulously researched, moving and utterly enchanting, The Paris Library is a heart-breaking and uplifting story that is an absolute must-read for book lovers and fans of historical fiction.