"THE PARIS LIBRARY"--from author Janet Skeslien Charles--based on the true World War II story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris, this is an unforgettable story of romance, friendship, family, and the power of literature to bring us together, perfect for fans of "The Lilac Girls" and "The Paris Wife"

 The Paris Library

Paris, 1939. Odile Souchet is obsessed with books and the Dewey Decimal System, which makes order out of chaos. She soon has it all – a handsome police officer beau, an English best friend, a beloved twin, and a job at the American Library in Paris, a thriving community of students, writers, diplomats, and book lovers. Yet when war is declared, there's also a war on words.

Montana, 1983. Widowed and alone, Odile suffers the solitary confinement of small-town life. Though most adults are cowed by her, the neighbor girl will not let her be. Lily, a lonely teenager yearning to break free of Froid is obsessed by the older French woman who lives next door and wants to know her secrets.

As the two become friends, Odile sees herself in Lily – the same love of language, the same longings, the same lethal jealousy. The Paris Library’s dual narratives explore the relationships that make us who we are – family and friends, first loves and favorite authors – in the fairy tale setting of the City of Light. It also explores the geography of resentment, the consequences of unspeakable betrayal, and what happens when the people we count on for understanding and protection fail us.

The wit, empathy, and deep research that brings The Paris Library to life also brings to light a cast of lively historical characters and a little-known chapter of World War II history: the story of the American librarian, Miss Reeder, who created the Soldiers’ Service to deliver books to servicemen, and who later faced the Nazi ‘Book Protector’ in order to keep her library open. She and her colleagues defied the Bibliotheksschutz by delivering books to Jewish readers after they were forbidden from entering the library.

A powerful novel that explores the consequences of our choices and the relationships that make us who we are—family, friends, and favorite authors—The Paris Library shows that extraordinary heroism can sometimes be found in the quietest of places.


REVIEWS


“As a Parisian,  an ardent bookworm , and a longtime fan of the American Library in Paris, I devoured The Paris Library in one hungry gulp. 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. I fell in love with Odile and Lily, with their struggles and triumphs, from the very first page. Meticulously researched, The Paris Library is an irresistible, compelling read.”(Fiona Davis, national bestselling author of "The Chelsea Girls")

“The Paris Library is a refreshing novel that celebrates libraries as cradles of community, especially when we need them the most. It shows how literature can be a means of escape, a catalyst for human connection, and a moral center in grim times. A thoroughly enjoyable read, kind-hearted and brimming with delightful bookish allusions.”--(Matthew Sullivan, author of Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore)


Janet Skeslien Charles

 

Janet Skeslien Charles has lived in Paris since 1999. She enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family in Montana and South Carolina. She is working on her second novel as well as a collection of essays about life in Paris.

The backdrop of her debut novel Moonlight in Odessa is the booming business of e-mail order brides, an industry where love and marriage meet sex and commerce. While at the University of Montana, Janet Skeslien Charles translated letters from desperate Russian women to lonely American men. She also interpreted for Russian women married to Americans. After finishing her degree in English literature, she spent two years in Odessa, Ukraine, where she taught English and French at a high school and trained teachers of English as a Soros Fellow. During this time, she spoke with Western men who went to socials. She also met women who found husbands through international matchmaking organizations. The interviews with these men and women before and after the wedding make up the framework of her novel.

http://www.jskesliencharles.com