Setting
In 1939, France was on the verge of war with the constant threat from the Nazis. The majority of the Parisians were in denial about this. Amidst this was the American Library, founded in 1920, that kept its doors open throughout the war serving its subscribers selflessly.
Storyline
The Paris Library follows a dual timeline. In 1939, Odile Souchet was a young, aspiring and somewhat impulsive librarian working in The American Library. With the threat of war on the horizon, her twin Remy- a law student, enlists himself in the army, much against the wishes of the family. Odile loved books and with her dream job in American Library, she settled right in. When Paris was declared an open city to avoid destruction, Jews were declared persona non grata by the Nazis. Paris was teeming with Nazis with checkpoints at every street corner. Jews and people from Allied countries deemed as enemy aliens were randomly picked up and thrown into prison or sent to internment camps. Nazis appointed Bibliotheksschutz the library protector who censored the books which didn't agree with Nazi propaganda. In other words, they were the Book-Gestapo. They barred Jews from the library. When war broke out, Odile and her co-workers at the American library sent book care packages to soldiers on the front and also to injured one's in the hospital to lift their spirit and morale. They also hand-delivered books to the subscribers who were no longer allowed in the library.
The second timeline follows Odile, widowed, four decades later, in a small town in America. Her unusual friendship with Lily, a teenage girl who idolizes her. She shares her life experiences with Lily, who is intrigued about Odile’s past. Lily makes her revisit her past and make peace with it.
My Thoughts
It is an extremely well-researched book based on a true story. To me, it gave a different perspective on the war. Common working people contributed in their small ways to raise the morale of people. It showed the resilience of the library staff who in defiance of the Nazis continued serving the library subscribers. Despite the hostile environment, they hand-delivered the books to their Jew patrons. Books kept hope alive in people and provided them respite. It makes you fall in love with books and stories again and believe in their healing power.
“But seriously, why books. Because no other thing possesses that mystical faculty to make people see with other people's eyes. The Library is a bridge of books between cultures.”
The camaraderie between library staff and its patrons was especially entertaining. Also, the reference to the Dewey Decimal System and extracts from books was interesting. The book is a little slow in the middle but keeps you engrossed. It would have been interesting to find out if Odile made her journey to Paris to get closure to all the things she left unfinished behind. If you love historical fiction and books, then this one is for you.
Recommend - Go for it!
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