The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles comes out tomorrow on February 9th and has been named a “Most Anticipated Book of the Year by Library Journal and Goodreads. As a lover of historical fiction this novel, based on a true World War II story of how librarians saved the work of the American Library in Paris as Nazis took over the city, enticed me to request an advance reading copy from Net Galley.
The book opens in February 1939 in Paris with Odile running Dewey Decimal numbers around in her head as she prepares to interview for a job in the library. She will get the job and discover kindred spirits in her fellow librarians and a strong spirit in its American woman head librarian. The patrons who find refuge in the library come to life with humor and human interest, and Dewey Decimal references will reappear throughout the book. Librarians and patrons live under the risk of not knowing whom they can trust.
The second chapter opens with Lily, a teenager in Froid, Montana in 1983 describing her next door neighbor, Mrs. Gustafson who is often called a “War Bride” by the neighbors. Lily’s curiosity is peaked with wondering how an old person without a husband can be called a “bride” and with wonder that a person who speaks two languages fluently rarely talks to anyone.
Chapters fluctuate between the two times but not in every other one fashion. The system is more like getting the reader to the edge of the seat and then switching to the other time period. As Lily’s nosiness discovers Odile Gustafson’s secret story, she finds a kindred spirit as well.
The book is spellbinding with the only weakness in the sections in the obligatory romance seemingly inserted to give it an adult rating.