The Paris Library: the bestselling novel of courage and betrayal in Occupied Paris

Couldn't decide which was the more poignant the war years or the later years. Both Odile and Lily had struggles along the way. Growing up in different times and countries they supported each other.

As this is a book it will be used for reading, which, as it has been highly recommended, we are looking forward to enjoying it.

This book follows a timeline of World War II and Odile’s life in a occupied Paris, and the 1980’s timeline from the viewpoint of Lily who is a young girl who pushes her way into Odile’s life and saves her life emotionally and physically.This book is so beautifully written. Despite being a thriller lover, I have a fondness for World War novels, and this is no exception. I am also not a romance fan, but I was truly swept up in Odile & Paul’s love, although I think it was swept up with Odile being in love, I wasn’t only keen on Paul, (I’ve always been a good judge of character!). Odile’s voice is so strong in this novel, and you can’t help but love her. I wanted her to experience all the wonderful things that young people do, I wanted her to have a future within the library and become a strong independent woman. She’s learned from her surroundings and wanted more and I wanted her to have it all.The way the library is described made me want to hand in my resignation, and go find a library to work in. I dreamt of working in a library, I could smell the books and was so jealous of the characters who were able to work there.This book is a wonderful mix of the trauma of the war, relationships being tested by grief and fear. Women being strong and independent, but also fallible. As well as the importance of forgiveness and not holding on to anger and resentment. There are so many lessons to learn in the novel without forcing it down your throat.Simply ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars, no deliberation. But with a caveat for other, some people might find this book slow or boring. If you are looking for a edge of your seat read, this might not be your thing. But for me this was such an atmospheric read and transported me right there, and I didn’t want to leave.

I liked this book and it introduced me to something that I'd never even thought about before. Really glad that I read it. I don't think it went deep enough into some aspects though and, some aspects, if they were really based on fact seemed a bit unrealistic.

I think anything that involves a Paris library set in the 1940s is a instant purchase for me, and I’m glad that this book lived up to the expectation.At first I found it a little hard to get into but after the first third of the book I couldn’t stop reading, quite literally as I was up into the early hours after reading 200 pages in one go!I was unsure to start with of the two timelines, one set in Paris in the 1940s at the library and the second of the main character Odile’ new life in Montana, America. As I continued to read I loved them both equally as they really added to the setting of the story and the background of the characters.It explored some tough themes of the WW2 and the Jewish subscribers of the library and how they were handled, how books were the saviour for lots of people especially those at war that had little else and how families coped with so much pain during the war.The only thing I would have liked is a little bit more conclusion at the end as I felt there were still a few unanswered questions into how certain characters felt after a certain departure (no spoilers)! Overall though it was a really lovely book and written very well and explored a side to France during WW2 in a different way.

Initially slow and boring, but as you read on the book draws you in. I’m not sure that the story from two eras works here though, personally I found that the constant jumps from wartime Paris to modern America irritating, it breaks the spell, I have read other books where the character looks back and enjoyed them.Had the book just told the story of the library staff and Odile in wartime Paris and Lily and Odile in America rather than padding it out with Lilli’s family and friends I would have enjoyed the book more.

The American Library in Paris, books and book readers are the real stars of this novel. It is based on the true story of the brave librarians who kept the Library open during WW2 in Paris. In 1939 Odile Souchet is delighted to be offered a job at the Library and loves her work there, forming a close bond with her colleagues. The author describes this diverse group of people so well that you feel you know them and the same applies to Odile's family. Some employees are French but the others are foreigners, whose lives are threatened by the arrival of the Nazis. They are all determined to keep the Library open. As you would expect, not all the characters in the novel survive the war. We meet Odile again in Montana in 1983, living as a recluse since the death of her American husband and still being labelled by the inhabitants of the small town as 'the war bride'. Lily, a lonely teenager living next door, manages to break down the barrier Odile has erected around herself and they become close. Odile is hiding some dark secret about her past, which Lily eventually discovers. The novel is very well written and I found the frequent, apt quotations from other novels fascinating.

Just a nice book, uplifting and held my interest throughout. A nice story that was well written, didn’t demand too much from the reader and was pleasant to read. It made its point without labouring and does give some reason for reflection in our own lives. This is really not the type of book I would normally go for but made a very nice change.

I so enjoyed reading this book. Based on life in Paris during the war. Such believable characters and wonderful examples of how honest conversation makes a difference. A powerful and rich story.

This is the low quality equivalent of the series Emily in Paris .This novel is supposed to describe life in Paris during WW2 but it is full of inconsistencies and the style is very poor. Full of clichés like the smell of croissants which is supposed to pervade Paris.What a disappointment !

Product with good quality and packing, duration of delivery was very short and am really happy for the product.The paris library is one of the most recommended books in my list and its worth the time i have spend on it.

裏表紙に書かれている推薦の言葉通りです。Kindleでなく紙の本にしてよかったです。寝る前に読むようにしています。読み終わるのが惜しいような(今80％ぐらい読了)朝まで読みたいような小説です。第二次世界大戦中のパリで実際にあった出来事を基に書かれています。多言語に翻訳されているようですが、原書を選んでよかったです。映画のように情景が浮かびます。巻末にBOOK CLUBのためのDISCUSSION QUESTIONSやENHANCE YOUR BOOK CLUB等の付録があります。私の町にはBOOK CLUBはないですが、本好きの誰かと一緒に読めたらもっといいのにと思います。

I feel like I've been in Paris today. Beautifully written, wonderful characters and a deeply relatable story about how we can all learn from our mistakes and rebuild ourselves into someone better.