The Paris Library: A Novel

Coming of age in Froid, a small Montana town, during the 1980s, Lily is the novel’s secondary narrator. Lily is intellectually curious and has one good friend but is bullied by a popular girl, Tiffany. The author uses Lily to engage with Odile later in her life. Seeing herself in Lily, Odile fills a mentoring role, especially after Lily’s mother dies and Lily’s father remarries Eleanor.

Lily commits or almost commits—though in a much more forgiving context—the same mistakes that Odile made earlier in her life. Although Lily is fundamentally decent, she’s prone to jealousy and can be petulant at times. Via her own story, Odile helps Lily understand the value of friendship and the importance of empathizing with others. Lily’s insatiable curiosity nearly destroys her relationship with Odile, as she not only snoops in her personal effects but assumes the worst possible interpretation of a letter she finds. Odile, dealing with her own guilt, forgives Lily soon thereafter, demonstrating the power of unconditional love, something that Odile doubted in her youth.

An English woman who feels isolated in Paris, Margaret finds a true friend in Odile and comfort at the American Library. Margaret and her husband, Lawrence, have a loveless marriage, and he cheats on her. Because Margaret is wealthy, Odile is sometimes jealous of her. She becomes more resentful when Margaret reveals a German lover. However, Margaret is consistently kind to Odile, sharing food when it’s scarce and inviting her to an event. Like the other characters, Margaret isn’t perfect. She exhibits jealousy when questioning Bitsi’s love of Rémy and disregard for Odile’s feelings when she insults the French army. She is nonetheless a true friend to Odile. Indeed, Odile considers her such a good friend that she wants Margaret as her matron of honor. Through Odile’s relationship with Margaret, the author explores the meaning of friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness.

A subscriber, Professor Cohen encourages Odile after she interviews for the Library job. She always has a kind word to say about others, and Odile admires her academic accomplishments. When the Nazis occupy Paris, Professor Cohen, who is Jewish, is no longer allowed at the Library. Through her character, the author hints at the fate of Jewish citizens. No one will publish her book; her books are stolen. Ultimately, she’s arrested and loses her apartment. When Odile brings Professor Cohen books before her arrest, she’s appreciative. Odile’s relationship with Professor Cohen highlights the importance of small acts of kindness in a hostile world.

Initially kind and supportive of Odile’s decision to work, Paul changes during the Nazi occupation. Through Paul’s character, the author demonstrates the corrosive effect that self-loathing and resentment can have. Consigned to demeaning and de-humanizing duties, including the arrest of Jewish citizens, Paul ultimately takes his anger out on women who consorted with German soldiers—specifically Margaret. In a heartbeat, Paul transforms from Odile’s true love, her new husband, to a monster from whom she must run.

Odile’s twin brother, Rémy, challenges the stereotype of French soldiers who surrendered without a fight. Unlike many in Paris, he anticipates the war and joins the army to defend France. In his letters, he gives perspective to Odile and encourages her to love. Odile and Rémy are close, and his death devastates her. It’s in the throes of that grief that Odile betrays Margaret over a negative comment about Rémy’s fiancé, Bitsi.

Rémy’s fiancé, Bitsi, works in the children’s section of the Library. She and Odile become instant friends, as they have similar tastes in books. Bitsi’s character exposes Odile’s jealousy and petulance when Rémy joins the army. Miffed that Bitsi knew and condoned this decision, Odile stops speaking to her. Only when Miss Reeder sends her to the American Hospital to volunteer does Odile gain perspective and recognize that she needs to make up with Bitsi.

Through this character, the author highlights the role of the French police in assisting in the roundup of Jewish citizens and others deemed “enemy aliens.” Odile’s father is a police captain who follows up on informants’ tips. When Odile steals some of these letters to protect potential victims, he reveals his fears and the reasons for his cooperation. If he doesn’t follow up these tips, his treason will lead to his execution. While he’s a traditional conservative who wants his daughter to marry, he loves Odile. He comes to the Library to pick her up after her first day. Once again, the author exposes the complexity of the human character. Odile’s experience with her father later causes her to advise Lily to accept people for who they are.

Based on the real person who directed the American Library during the occupation’s early years, Miss Reeder’s character provides the narrative with historical grounding. A strong female role model, she demonstrates the courage of the Library staff and plays an instrumental role in shaping Odile. It’s she who insists that Odile end her churlishness with Bitsi.

Via this character, the author shows the pain of losing a son in wartime. In addition, her mother’s rejection of Aunt Caro, her own sister, after the divorce powerfully impacts Odile. It causes her to seek financial independence and to question the reality of unconditional love.

Lily’s best friend, Mary Louise, allows the author to construct a scenario of potential betrayal like the one Odile faces earlier in life. Just like Margaret, Mary Louise has attained things of which Lily is jealous. Consumed by that jealousy, Lily would have ruined her friendship unless Odile had stopped her.

A man of few words who works many hours at a bank, Lily’s father is somewhat overprotective and loses sight of the importance of Lily’s dreams of college. Because Odile had once hoped that her father would be more progressive, she learned the importance of accepting and treasuring people as they are. Odile successfully counsels Lily to accept her father’s love and meet him on his terms.