Tag: Power of words

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The Paris Library, by Janet Skeslien Charles, 2021, Simon & Schuster Canada

Authentic History Portrayed in a Dual Timeline Novel

The Paris Library

The Paris Library is based on the actual American Library in Paris. The author worked there as Programs Manager in 2010. She now divides her time between Paris and Montana, the other setting in the book.

The story is effectively written as a dual timeline novel. Young Lily, growing up in smalltown Montana, is fascinated by the mysterious Odile, the widow next door. They become fast friends, and Odile’s story of working in the Paris library during WWII emerges. Amazingly, the dedicated staff and volunteers kept the library open throughout the war. The Author’s Note at the end of the book fills in more details about the real people she based the characters on, plus other facts about the library that she didn’t include in the story.

The Personal WWII Within Each of Us

The Paris Library is about so much more than history, though. It’s about relationships–family, friends, lovers. Coworkers and community. Betrayal and forgiveness. The power of the tongue, for good and for evil. Most of us reading The Paris Library have not lived in the centre of a major war. Although the blatant evils of war are obvious, we often fail to see the evil in ourselves, caused by just a few words of betrayal that slip out of our mouths unintentionally. The war opened Odile’s eyes to her own guilt, and she is able to pass on the awareness to Lily before she ruins her own relationships.

I was lucky to find The Paris Library in a little free library on the roadside. Thank you to whoever left it there. Such a worthwhile read.

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Learn more about the author at JSkeslienCharles.com.

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The Last Juror, by John Grisham, 2004, Doubleday (Random House, Inc.)

A Slice of 1970s Mississippi

A slice of 1970s Mississippi, cover photoA slice of 1970s Mississippi. A decade of change. Hypocracy exposed. Appearances and loyalties questioned.
Using first person, Grisham makes the writing very personal, as if he were reflecting back on his own story. It’s quite believable.
The main character, as a young adult, almost by chance acquires ownership of a local newspaper in a small town. He puts his all into researching and writing what will be interesting to readers, Guided by his convictions, he boldly exposes dangerous characters and political agendas in spite of personal risk. The newspaper effects real changes in the community, even radiating out to surrounding communities.

The Power of the Written Word


The power of the word. So powerful in fact, that it inspired me to do some of my own powerful writing to authorities in my own community, hoping to effect certain changes here.
People want to read about what really matters. About members of their own community. About values and truth–exposing hypocracy. Especially in USA of the 1970s. Young people questioned everything and turned society upside down. Because in those days appearances seemed to be more important than truth–even, in fact especially, in churches.

Churches


Willie has jumped into his newspaper with both feet, cares to the wind. He exposes the hypocritical attitudes of the white Christians, who preach love, kindness and acceptance, yet are against integration. In this town of protestant churchgoers, himself an agnostic, he befriends an older black woman named Callie.
Callie is the last juror chosen in a murder trial, and the first black woman to be on a local jury.
Callie becomes Willie’s best friend. She makes him a wonderful meal every Thursday. Her warm-hearted family is closer than his own. She cares about his soul, and inspires him to research all the eighty-some churches in the county. I especially liked chapter 32, in which he compares many of them from his point of view. Although the basic beliefs are the same, the devil is in the details, and it seems so very important not to cross the boundaries that make them distinct.
Willie doesn’t officially convert, but at the end he feels God’s presence when holding hands and praying with Callie’s family.
Suspense, mystery, and a slice of 1970s Mississipi. Change effected by the written word and brave authenticity. Exposure of hypocracy. A bit of history to learn from.

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