TODAY’S Friday Firstliner is from a book I have just finished, The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles.
Based on true events, featuring real people, this novel caught my attention when I saw it reviewed on two blogging friends’ reviews. I purchased it from Amazon. One of those bloggers said the parts set during WW II were excellent, but the parts set in 1983 detracted from the novel. I concur, for the story of Odile and the Paris Library made an wonderful stand-alone novel. Here is it’s first line:
“Odile/ Paris, February 1939/ Numbers floated round my head like stars. 823. The numbers were the key to a new life. 822. Constellations of hope. 841. In my bedroom late at night, in the morning on the way to get croissants, series after series–810, 840, 890–formed in front of my eyes. They represented freedom, the future. Along with the numbers, I’d studied the history of libraries…”
On this first page, the reader meets the heroine, Odile, preparing for her job interview with the Directress of the Paris Library. She has no idea what she will be asked, but knows she really wants the job.
I enjoyed this book a great deal, especially marveling at the wonderful job the employees of the Paris Library did to keep the library open and functioning, even in occupied Paris.
powerfulwomenreaders 
This sounds good but it is always a little disappointing when you don’t care for one of the timelines in a book.
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True.
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I also loved the historical parts of this book, and I also found the 1980s bits to be… well… unnecessary, to be honest.
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You were the blogger I was referring to who said the 1983 part was not as good. I wish I had used YOUR word instead–unnecessary!
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Ah… and yes, unnecessary was the best way to describe it. It was nicely written, but…
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I agree, Rae. The historical part of the story was wonderful, the 1983 was meh.
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