Chapter 1 begins with Odile noting that “numbers floated round my head like stars” (3) as she runs through the Dewey Decimal system in her head. As Lily uncovers more about her neighbor’s past, she finds that they share a love of language, the same longings, and the same intense jealousy, never suspecting that a dark secret from the past connects them.ġ. Her interest is piqued by an air of mystery about her solitary, elderly neighbor. Montana, 1983: Lily is a lonely teenager looking for adventure in small-town Montana.

But when the war finally ends, instead of freedom, Odile tastes the bitter sting of unspeakable betrayal. Together with her fellow librarians, Odile joins the Resistance with the best weapons she has: books. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved Library. Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet has it all: her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. In The Paris Library, inspired by the true story of librarians at the American Library in Paris during World War II, two young women come of age under very difference circumstances-one in occupied Paris and one in rural Montana some forty years later. We hope that these ideas will enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of the book.

This reading group guide for The Paris Library includes an introduction, discussion questions, ideas for enhancing your book club, and a conversation with the author. “A love letter to Paris, the power of books, and the beauty of intergenerational friendship” ( Booklist), The Paris Library shows that extraordinary heroism can sometimes be found in the quietest places. As Lily uncovers more about her neighbor’s mysterious past, she finds that they share a love of language, the same longings, and the same intense jealousy, never suspecting that a dark secret from the past connects them. Her interest is piqued by her solitary, elderly neighbor.

When the Nazis march into the city, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet seems to have the perfect life with her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. An instant New York Times, Washington Post, and USA TODAY bestseller-based on the true story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris during World War II- The Paris Library is a moving and unforgettable “ ode to the importance of libraries, books, and the human connections we find within both” (Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author).

The paris library by janet charles