Cover to Cover Book Club

Join the Cover to Cover Book Club where Sharon Ballard, a PSPL Librarian, leads a book club meeting on Zoom.

The group meets the 2nd Thursday of the month (including June-August) on Zoom from 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. (PST). To receive meeting information and join the email list for the Cover to Cover Book Club, please email Sharon Ballard in advance of the meeting at sharon.ballard@palmspringsca.gov

Click here to see other selections from the Cover to Cover Book Club.

July 8, 2021

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

—Based on the true World War II story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris, this is an unforgettable story of romance, friendship, family, and the power of literature to bring us together, perfect for fans of The Lilac Girls and The Paris Wife.

It's 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. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Together with her fellow librarians, Odile joins the Resistance with the best weapons she has: books. But when the war finally ends, instead of freedom, Odile tastes the bitter sting of unspeakable betrayal.

Montana, 1983: Lily is a lonely teenager looking for adventure in small-town Montana. Her interest is piqued by her solitary, elderly neighbor. 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.

A powerful novel that explores the consequences of our choices and the relationships that make us who we are—family, friends, and favorite authors—The Paris Library shows that extraordinary heroism can sometimes be found in the quietest of places.