A Book Review | The Paris Library

I almost didn’t make it through. The times we’re living in have put a little fear in me, so reading such an intimate experience of WWII in Paris was encouraging my imagination to run wild. And I almost couldn’t take it. But on this occasion I’m so glad that I pushed through!

The Paris Library is a novel that tells the story of two women – Odile and Lily – from their own perspectives and how their lives intertwine. Odile’s story takes place first in the late 1930’s and spans the book. The focus of her story is her life as a young woman, a native Parisian, who gets a job at her favorite place in the world: the American Library in Paris. She sets the scene of a dreamy life in Paris. A woman choosing to build a career in something she loves when she could have comfortably stayed home with her mother was a pretty novel thing to do at the time. Odile is headstrong and passionate. As war looms, life starts to change. She tells of the hardships and traumas of living in occupied Paris through WWII. The library is threatened and not only must they remove a long list of books from circulation, but certain subscribers are no longer allowed to enter based on their heritage. In their form of resistance, the librarians continued to deliver books to those banned from the library.

Odile greatly admires a few women she works with, and one in particular, Miss Reeder, the directress of the library, imparts a lot of wisdom onto her. But like many of us, Odile has to learn the hard way. We watch her impetuousness get her into trouble, her passionate emotions bubble over. Sometimes over and over. She builds great friendships along the way. Friendships that see her through the hardest times of her life and teach her the painful lessons she couldn’t absorb by simply being told.

Lily’s story takes place in the 80’s in Froid, Montana. She’s living through her own trauma of losing her mother as a young teen and an increasingly distant father who pretty quickly remarries. We learn that an aging Odile lives next door to Lily, and we watch their relationship unfold throughout the book. Lily is sort of effortlessly book smart, gets picked on a bit at school, and silently pines after a boy in her classes. She longs for things to be different. Her neighbor Odile begins to give her french lessons and Lily’s horizons begin to expand. Lily sees Odile as chic and polished and composed. It’s contrasted with the sort of chaos going on inside of Lily and her own story.

Odile and Lily’s friendship is a genuine one. They grow to truly love each other despite Lily knowing hardly anything about Odile’s past. I saw elements of Odile echoed in Lily. We see the past linked with the near-present storyline. It seems Odile also sees herself in Lily, and she tries to impart wisdom onto her the same way Miss Reeder did for her. She doesn’t want Lily to make the same mistakes she made. But in the end, Lily cannot understand them until Odile is truly vulnerable with her and opens up about her past, the things she saw and did, and the truth about the things people around her did. Lily learns why Odile told her that “love is accepting someone, all parts of them, even the ones you don’t like or understand.”

I absorbed this lesson from the lens of a mother and mentor. It reminded me why it’s so important for us to tell our stories truthfully, vulnerably. Whether it be intimately to just my own daughter or on a larger platform with many people, sharing our experiences is powerful. This book also served as a poignant reminder to not judge others, but to regard them with care.

Something I truly enjoyed about this book was the element of female friendships. Conventional and unconventional. We see women lifting each other up and tearing each other down. There are heartwarming vignettes of the intimate female huddle and how that can bolster us through the toughest of times. We learn how having a hard conversation with a dear friend is better than letting things fester inside of us. We see the power of just one word and how it can ruin someone’s life.

In the end, Odile also learns her own lessons reflected back at her through Lily. They are both better for knowing each other and for speaking the truth in love. We see Lily blossom and getting ready for take off. Her lessons at home are complete thanks to her neighbor, and she’s ready to see the world – poised and self-assured – just like Odile.

I’m putting this book onto my bookshelf tonight thinking about loving my husband for who he is, not who I want him to be; I’m thinking of how I cherish all the friendships I share with women; I’m remembering to give people more grace; I’m desperately telling myself to focus on how much I have versus being blinded by the things I don’t; I’m moved by the reminder that we can learn such beautiful lessons from books; I’m branding into my brain the insight that vulnerability is powerful. I want to remember these things when my daughter needs advice, when I see her struggling, when it’s time to guide her. Goodbye, dear Odile. Bon voyage, sweet Lily. Thank you for the lessons.

“After the darkness of war, the light of books.”

-The ALP motto

A Travel Guide | Santa Ynez

About: Santa Ynez Valley is nestled in Central California, a part of Santa Barbara Country known for its wineries and charming small towns. With plenty of shops and restaurants, there’s tons to do and see. I recommend visiting during the spring when the surroundings are green and the temperature is more moderate.

Stay: Hotel Ynez. A cozy and chic hotel with tons of outdoor space and a small but fabulous pool. The rooms are simple but stylish and very clean. Each room has a hammock on the front porch. Upgrade for a room with a fire pit, or even one with a kitchenette and private hot tub, too! Enjoy the large, shared outdoor space at the center of the property with plenty of cozy sitting areas, fire pits, and twinkle lights.

Eat & Drink: Five to ten minutes from Solvang, I’d start the day putting your name in at Paula’s Pancake House in downtown Solvang. During the inevitable wait, head to Good Seed Coffee Boutique for a quality coffee to pass the time. After breakfast, enjoy the quaint, European-esque town of Solvang. When it’s time for lunch, grab a casual beer and sausage at the Copenhagen Sausage Garden. Stop by the window outside of Solvang Restaurant for some aebleskivers to-go, and enjoy a sweet treat as an afternoon pick-me-up. Freshen up at the hotel and head into downtown Santa Ynez for dinner at SY Kitchen. I’m crossing my fingers that they’ll have grilled artichoke for you, but the roasted olives sound delicious, too! Enjoy mouth-watering homemade pasta, pizza, or a handful of other entrees along with a signature cocktail. Be sure to check out the specials!

Do: Rise with the sun, wrap yourself in a luscious robe, and bask in a hammock outside your room. Spend a day or an afternoon wandering around downtown Solvang, enjoying the ambiance, shopping, and eating. After a day of eating in Solvang, you could visit one of the many wineries close by, like Gainey or Sunstone for a tasting and buy some bottles to take home and enjoy during your stay in the hotel (pool day, anyone?). Visit Old Mission Santa Ines for a dose of California history. Downtown Santa Ynez is also a gem and will have you feeling like you’re on the set of an old western film. Check out the local shops and restaurants. A short 20 minute drive will bring you to another charming, western-inspired town: Los Alamos. Visit Bodega Los Alamos for a glass of wine and relaxing ambiance outside. You could bring a picnic lunch or snacks to enjoy with your drinks. Go horseback riding or hike through the glorious hills of Central California. Personally, I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to spend hours lounging by the pool, and I’d finish each night with a dip in the room’s hot tub or gathering around the fire pit with a local bottle of wine for a night cap.

*Inspired by an impromptu trip my sister took me on to Santa Ynez last year