Her conservative parents, especially her father, would rather Odile married than worked. Todays topic: Prousts madeleine, should it have been a croissant?, A post shared by Atria Books (@atriabooks). Although Lily doesnt know it, Odile is about to kill herself when Lily knocks on her door the first time. Book Club Questions for The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles Defining what is moral becomes complicated for Sallie. Reeling from the loss of her mother and her father's remarriage, Lily finds herself adrift: overlooked at school, out of place at home. Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. This guide provides access to digital materials at the Library of Congress, links to external websites, and a print bibliography. In fact, her way of coping with strong emotions is to immediately relate her feelings to a book and its Dewey Decimal number. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Odile, who recently eloped with Paul at his urgent request, has no idea what happened and worries when Margaret doesnt attend a party for her and Paul at the Library. 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. A common theme, in both Paris and Montana, is jealousy and the horrible toll it can take. When Paris is liberated, Paul and another police officer encounter Margaret on the street. I hope that you will download the book club reading guide. World War II Paris during the German occupation forms the setting for an intelligent and sensuously rich novel of a young woman's coming-of-age. I think he snapped more out of guilt than anything else. Hope you enjoyed book club questions for The Paris Library! 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. GENERAL FICTION, by Bottom line? by Television buffs will smile at the Kincaids resemblance to the Roys of Succession. The Paris Library is a dual-timeline story of family, friendship, resistance, romance, betrayal, heroism, bravery, and books. The Paris Librarian Character List - BookCompanion It is 1939, and Odile Souchet has just returned to Paris after completing library school. The main character, Odile, narrates the time in Paris, while a secondary narratora young girl named Lily, who is coming of age in a small Montana town in the 1980sallows the author to revisit Odile later in life and emphasize the timelessness of friendship. Book Review: Reading is a rebellious act in Janet Skeslien Charles's Nazi book inspector Dr. Fuchs, initially feared, turns out to be sympathetic to the Library. I fell in love with Odile and Lily, with their struggles and triumphs, from the very first page. What did you like more and what did you like less about this novel. 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. Giving her a belt, Margaret tells Odile to remember the meaning of friendship when she wears it. Eleven days later, she reappears, just as mysteriously as she disappeared, claiming amnesia and providing no explanations for her time away. Odiles husband and son are deceased. GENERAL FICTION, by As Odiles family, home, and eventually coworkers are all affected by the Nazi occupation of France, she fights the war with the best weapons she hasbooks. Following Odile in her new job at the American Library in Paris, the novel offers a unique and refreshing take on the events of WWII, as seen through the lens of the library, its staff and subscribers. Through her, we see how the war affected citizens of Paris and those who stayed through the Nazi occupation of France.The Paris Library, (Also, can we just stop and appreciate how beautiful the cover of this book is?). WWII during the German occupation and 1980s Montana are the setting for this intelligent and rich novel of two young womens coming of age. Or someone from Lilys timelineEleanor, Lilys mother, Mary Louise? She lands her dream job assisting patrons of the American Library, which serves both foreigners and Parisians, and falls in love with one of the police officers her father brings home for dinner. But amidst the dazzling creativity of the city's most famous citizens, four regular people are each searching for something they've lost. But erasing people comes with a price, and along with a mysterious, handsome forger named Rmy, Eva decides she must find a way to preserve the real names of the children who are too young to remember who they really are. Did it satisfy you or were you left wishing for more? April Book Review: 'The Paris Library' - KPCW Movie star in the 40's. Bouquiniste - booksellers along the Seine River in Paris. 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. In 1939, Odile's life is practically perfect. His discontent was seen as he was required to direct traffic and when he was forced to clean up slurs painted on Nazi posters. The Book of Lost Names revolved around a female document forger. A powerful novel that explores the consequences of our choices and the relationships that make us who we arefamily, friends, and favorite authorsThe Paris Library shows that extraordinary heroism can sometimes be found in the quietest of places. Her father refuses to help the Professor. 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. One night in search of lost time. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Your email address will not be published. Treaty of Paris: Primary Documents in American History Hugo's friend. The men are similarly flawed and human. Strong and kind women, such as Professor Cohen of the Sorbonne and Library Directress Miss Reeder, are role models for Odile. Montana, 1983: Lily is a lonely teenager looking for adventure in small-town Montana. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. And Ashley is a young, very-much-in-love bakery owner specializing in muffins who devotes herself to giving back to the community through a nonprofit that helps community members develop skills and find jobs. The Paris setting was vividly imagined and beautifully wrought, especially the library, which is depicted as a warm, happy, safe and enlightened place. I think the Montana one could have been fleshed out a bit better.