"The Paris Library" by Janet Skeslien Charles

The Paris Library is focused on the American Library in Paris during WWII. The book is written from several points of view and follows two different timelines: one set during WWII in Paris and the other in mid-1980s in Froid, Montana. What I like the most about the book is the atmosphere of a library and the multitude of literary references and quotes. In a way, it is a book about and for readers and library lovers. I also really appreciated the nuanced way the novel talks about what people living in France during WWII knew and did not know about the Nazis and their activities, and how the Nazi occupation slowly permeated every facet of Parisians' lives. The book also does a great job examining how the war affects the characters whose life in one way or another revolved around the library: someone is forced to flee just because of their nationality, someone else is openly targeted by the new regime because of their religion, ethnicity or possible connections. Others - shockingly - use the new circumstances to channel their pent up hatred and jealousy into writing anonymous reports to the Gestapo.

The thing that did not work very well for me is the second timeline based in the 80s in Froid, MN. I was not sure why the author had that parallel story. Yes, we see Odile, the librarian who worked at the ALP during WWII, now as an old woman living in the US. However, that storyline was not really connected thematically with the overall message of the book, at least for me, and I kept wondering why we even needed it. 

In terms of characters, there are many of them in the book. We don't really get to know any of them very closely. Most of them are just sketches, we get the outlines of their stories. We learn the most about Odile, and I have to say, she is a very frustrating character. For someone who is a voracious reader, she is awfully naïve and impulsive.  She also unexpectedly freezes in some situations, but acts completely rashly in others. I can't say I liked her. 

Overall, it was an interesting, albeit slow at times, novel but I am not sure it presents anything unique about the time-period or perspective. I would say that as a reader, I enjoyed the setting and the literary references. Also, as someone who studied French, I appreciated the peppering of French phrases throughout. Overall, an ok read. 3 out of 5 stars.

An e-ARC was provided by NetGalley.com