The Paris Library

WWII historical fiction. Focuses on American Library in Paris, it's employees and patrons. Story about Odile, young new employee from 1939 - 1983. Pivots between the 2 eras, but mostly on war. Fascinating story. By 1983 Odile is a widow living in Montana, pretty much a recluse until a young girl, next door neighbor Lily, forces her friendship on her. Odile teaches her important life lessons through reliving her life in Paris and the reason she left and the pain it left her with.

Amazing to think this was based on a true story. The risks the librarians took to deliver books and keep the library open during the war! I read this in two parts. First of all I read the 1940s chapters through to the end and then went back and read Lily's story in the 1980s.

This historical fiction book is set in Paris with a library at the center of its story. What's not to love?

Odile lands her dream job at the American Library in Paris, where she forms bonds with her coworkers that are just as strong as those with her family, especially her bond with Margaret. Not long after her career as a librarian begins, Germany invades and occupies France, changing the lives of everyone in Paris. Germany demands that the library no longer all Jews to enter or check out books, so the librarians decide to risk their own safety to deliver books to their Jewish subscribers. During the course of the occupation, Odile falls in love, loses her brother to a German prison camp, gains and loses friends, and resists the Germans in what little ways she can.

Odile is a character who experiences a believable character arc, beginning as a naïve policeman's daughter who does not recognize much of the evil occurring around her. After tragedy touches her friends and family, she opens her eyes to the reality of the situation and decides to fight against the injustices. Her fight does not go as she plans, though. The version of Odile presented later in her life is much stronger and wise, but there is still some unresolved emotions she is dealing with.

The secondary characters add a lot to this story. The other library workers are a sort of “found family” for Odile. They have different nationalities and backgrounds that bring some context and depth to the historical aspects of this book. Margaret, Odile's British friend, becomes an important part of Odile's development, making her an essential character.

The pacing of the story is a bit slow at the beginning, but it picks up in the second half when more conflict is introduced. The transitions from the past to the present time in the 1980s is fairly smooth. Some of the details of Lily's story in that present timeline seem unnecessary and slow the pace, but the importance of Lily's and Odile's storyline becomes apparent in the end.

I would definitely recommend this historical fiction novel to any fan of the genre, especially fans of the WWII era. The unique setting of the library makes it feel a bit different from other WWII fiction books. The many literary quotes in the book and the obvious love of books and reading make this book especially appealing to bookworms like myself.