Janet Skeslien CharlesAnmeldelser
Forfatter af The Paris Library
Anmeldelser
Miss Morgan's Book Brigade: A Novel af Janet Skeslien Charles
The second story line is set in a small Montana town where the mature widow Odile has settled after marrying an American soldier. It is the story of the young neighbour Lily who is mentored by Odile teaching her French and helping her to mature and navigate the loss of her mother and the emotions of adolescence.
Although I found the first pre-occupation part of the book slow, it picked up later and I finished it. I found it a bit naive and some parts of plot development heavy handed and obvious. However, all told it was a heart warming book with insight into human emotions and relaitonships.
One of the ways the women helped the people was by re-establishing the local library that had sustained damage to most of the building. Kit Carson was one of the women from America that came to help. Her vision improved the library and became a model for other libraries in France.
Kit and the other women also began a book brigade by driving out to the more rural areas with books for people to check out. The citizens looked forward to the days the book mobile was to arrive.
All of the characters had a unique story and were very different but they made a great team by staying focused on their goal of being there to help with food, medical care and support wherever it was needed.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to give my honest review and recommend this book to other readers who enjoy historical fiction.
The narrative is shared through dual timelines set in 1918 France and 1987 New York City. The 1918 timeline is shared from the perspective of Jessie, as she travels to CARD Headquarters in the village of Blérancourt, France, where she joins fellow volunteers. Miss Morgan and CARD president Dr. Anne Murray Dike. Hoping to begin her work as a librarian immediately upon arrival and share her love for favorite books and reading with the children in the village providing them with moments of much needed respite, she is unprepared for the sounds of shelling coming from the front, the hazards of the Red Zone and the destruction in the wake of the retreating German forces. The narrative follows Jessie and her friends as they go above and beyond in their efforts to offer support to the communities who are struggling to rebuild their lives after experiencing unimaginable losses.
The 1987 timeline follows aspiring writer and NYPL employee Wendy Peterson, who finds several old CARD bulletins published in 1918 that describe the work of CARD volunteers in Northern France. When she comes across a brief reference about Jessie, she is inspired to find out as much as she can about the NYPL librarian and her work – not an easy task because of limited source material and the fact that there is not much mention of Jessie in existing records. Wendy’s quest inspires her to reevaluate her own life and priorities.
Compelling characters, a strong historical backdrop and vivid prose make for a rewarding reading experience. The author deftly weaves past and present timelines into an engaging narrative that flows well. I enjoyed the 1918 timeline more and though I enjoyed following Wendy’s research in 1987, I wish the narrative had followed Jessie a little longer in her timeline. However, I did like how the author brings everything together in the end.
I loved the author’s The Paris Library and was eagerly looking forward to reading her latest offering, and I’m happy to say that I was not disappointed. Well-researched and informative, this is an exceptional work of historical fiction that I would not hesitate to recommend. I always enjoy historical fiction from which I can learn something new. I appreciate the author’s effort to highlight the contribution of this group of women in WWI. I loved Jessie’s story and was inspired to read more about her and the other real characters featured in this story. Do read the Author’s Note wherein she shares details of the people, places and events that inspired this work of historical fiction.
Many thanks to Atria Books for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Very compelling story about brave women from around the world, brough together by CARD founders, Anne Morgan and Dr. Anne Murray Dike. They left their families and homes to provide help and relief to people in the war zone. They faced danger, but books united them. CARD women achieved more than they expected.
This is the book that highlights the importance of books and libraries. A beautifully written story that kept me engaged the entire time. Very well researched. As I read, I had to use Google to find out more about the CARD program. Sufficient information about Jessie Carson, Anne Morgan and CARDs has been provided by the author at the end of the book.
There are many things I loved about this book:
* dedicated and brave characters
* interesting plot
* all about books and library
* dual timelines and POVs
* interesting historical events
Another great book that every fan of historical fiction should read.
This was a beautiful tale of the staff, volunteers and patrons of the American Committee for Devastated France during World War I, headed up by Anne Morgan, J.P.'s daughter. Juxtaposed against that is the later tale of a young New York writer looking for material to write a captivating story for her writing class. Her friend stumbles across some clippings about a former New York Public Library, Jessie Carson, who receives a commission to serve French villages devastated by the German occupation earlier on in the Great War. Specifically, Ms. Carson plans on introducing children's libraries to alleviate the angst of young children and offer them worlds into which they can disappear and cope when reality is more horrifying than one should have to bear.
This is also a story of love, hope, and anticipation. There are several relationships woven throughout the story: parents and their children, siblings, young couples, friends, and colleagues. Ms. Charles' writing is highly descriptive and exquisitely delivered. The mise en scène is spot on. One hears the roar of Big Bertha at the not so distant battlefield, smells the acrid odor of spent munitions and tastes the unsatisfying cup of coffee with its added chicory. Ms. Charles' extensive historical research was obvious in the story's delivery. This is a lovely book for fans of historical fiction and the written word.
I am grateful to Atria Books for having provided a complimentary e-book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication Date: April 30, 2024
No. of pages: 336
ISBN: 978-1668008980
I’m an avid historical fiction reader, and even more when they’re based on true stories and people and thoroughly researched. So, as soon as I saw Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles up for review, I requested it. How fortunate am I to have received it! Honestly, this has been such an amazing read—it sure didn’t disappoint, and it checked all my boxes for a great historical read.
The Positive Points
I love that it starts with a reminiscence of a CARD woman of something very meaningful to her while she’s going through her closet: her brigade uniform. It’s beautiful, like a dance with the past—like Anastasia and her song Once Upon a December! The reminiscence with her uniform (the unknown CARD) makes for perfect time travel in the following (first) chapter. The best part of this is that we come to learn who the CARD woman from the first chapter (who’s unknown to us then) is at the end. This was a delightful surprise, and much realistic, too.
The first chapter introduced a bit of thrill and fear, which was very promising. And the book kept on delivering on this promise!
Kit Carson’s exchanges with kids are lovely. Her kindness with children to help is obvious. Very sweet. Also, I love how she talks about “double standard” that we, women, experience. The MC is quite intelligent, it’s so pleasant!
Plus, it’s so cute that she fitted as many books as she could in her trunk. Ain’t that true! It’s cute, and the reader’s life is on display. I think the “library of her mind” (Kit Carson) is so cute. It’s adorable to read about a mind library so detailed and loved, because not enough people have them nor think about this; which is even rarer in books, I find. I speak from experience—I’ve got one such mind library.
Moreover, I am fond of how Jessie Carson reaches out to help those in need (in many different ways, some more dire than others). Sometimes a shared tragedy can open people up, or help them, when they’re unreachable. It was both beautiful and tragic, poignant and hopeful.
As they checked out books, Madame said, “A town needs a library in the same way that a home needs a hearth.”
p.503 of 669 from the digital copy of Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade.
This quote describes the whole ambiance of this story. It is warm like an embrace, bookish, familial, and much inclusive of found family. It speaks of a deep need and unity too, something that all families and all towns revolve around: the hearth, a.k.a the library.
Surprisingly, it also tells the tale of Wendy Peterson in the 80s. When it switches to modern times with that specific character, I find the humour is priceless! It’s still bookish, just modern.
As for romance, I shipped Kit and her lover so much! They’re so cute and he’s so lovely with her. Two readers, awww! But I won’t tell you more about him, or it might ruin a few surprises ;). In addition to that, I think the sex scenes were done with gusto. It was full of feelings and emotions, yet suggestive but not vulgar. I was just surprised that there were sex scenes in my historical read. A special shout-out the sapphic love (between two women): the way sapphic love is tackled is gentle and beautiful. Genuine. Thank you, it touched me.
While this story isn’t built on action, a few moments are quite fearful and exciting. During a high-voltage chapter (what I call it since there was, let’s say, an urgency to it), I had goosebumps all over my body during this thrilling chapter. There is a place where the character mentions that “always courage”. And I agree. Always courage, indeed. And that’s why I love humans, and such stories that are inspiring.
On top of all this, I noticed the research was thorough, because the CARDs a Peugeot car and it fits the time period and setting since it’s in and from France, and it needed to be imported in America and Canada back then.
As for the book itself, the chapters’ layout is interesting, with the title cards of the characters, location and dates being on the right. It makes it easy to read and discover we’re with which character for this chapter. Our eyes usually go instantly to the right of the next page, so this layout is great and intuitive!
An admirable thing was that I could feel the author’s love and respect for CARDs through Wendy Peterson. Thank you for bringing them forth into the light; they deserve this literary spotlight. Lastly, the fact that the author included some of her research with photos, and resources about the CARDs, makes me so thrilled! I love when authors do that—as if this book couldn’t get any more perfect!
The Negative Points
Sometimes, the rhythm of the read would slow down—a bit too much to my taste. But it’s also quite normal considering how CARDs were there to help rebuild and not directly at war, though quite close, it was still very dangerous. Despite this, I acknowledge these slow parts were necessary for this tale. I’m not taking any points for this, but I just wanted to let you folks know this read can slow down here and there, and that if you’re looking for a completely high-tension historical book, this is not for you. But if you like your historical fictions realistic, emotional, and character-building, this is your book!
In Conclusion
I had such a fantastic time reading this book. I can remember tracking my reading time (yes, I love doing that!), and when I was not reading, I just longed to track my time again and discover more of Jessie “Kit” Carson and the CARDs’ story! For all these beautiful positive points, I give Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles a lovely rating of 5 out of 5 stars! It was a beautiful, sometimes thrilling read, but always touching and engrossing.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC DETAILS:
(Print: February 9, 2021; Atria Books; ISBN 978-1982134198; 368 pages.)
(Digital: Yes)
*Audio: 2/09/2021; Simon and Schuster Audio Publishing Group; Duration 11:57:35; 11 parts; Unabridged
(Feature Film or tv: I think it would make a great movie. But it isn’t one yet.)
SERIES: No
Major characters:
Odile Souchet—Newly hired Librarian
Margaret – Margaret’s British friend
Miss Reeder – Library Director
Bitsy – Children’s Librarian
Remy – Odile’s brother
Paul – Odile’s beau
Lily — Student
Mary Louise – Lily’s friend
SUMMARY/ EVALUATION:
Odile has recently gotten her library science degree and interviews for a position at the American Library. Tensions build with the war against Germany and life becomes a struggle. Friendships are tested. Citizens turn on one another.
Meanwhile, decades later, young Lily yearns to meet and know her reclusive elderly neighbor, Odile. A school assignment provides the perfect opportunity and Lily’s curiosity serves her well, until coupled with a streak of judgmentalism and a compulsion to speak before she thinks, it drives her to the brink of the destruction of more than one relationship. In fact, the impulsiveness of youth spurred by jealousy and pride is a recurring theme throughout the pages.
I loved this book!
AUTHOR:
Janet Skeslien Charles. From her website:
“Janet Skeslien Charles is the award-winning author of Moonlight in Odessa and The Paris Library. Her shorter work has appeared in revues such as Slice and Montana Noir. She learned about the history of the American Library in Paris while working there as the programs manager. She divides her time between Montana and Paris.”
NARRATORS:
Nicky Diss. Nicky has other narrations to her credit. I don’t see a bio for her.
Sarah Feathers. Sarah has other narrations to her credit. I don’t see a bio for her.
Esther Wane. A paragraph from Esther’s webpage:
“Warm, elegant and reassuring British RP voice actor with a keen ear for other accents, especially my native West Midlands. I am a professionally trained actor with a love of breathing language into life.”
Janet Skeslien Charles. Janet reads the informative epilog.
All of the narration was done well. There may have been the usual occasional thought, “I might have emphasized different words there” Or, “is she sure that’s how that’s pronounced?”
GENRE:
Historical Fiction
LOCATIONS:
Montana; Paris
TIME FRAME:
1939 ; 1983
SUBJECTS:
WWII; Paris, France; The American Library; Jews; Foreigners; Germans; Nazis; Romance; Family; Ethics; Morality; Psychology
DEDICATION:
"For my parents”
SAMPLE QUOTATION:
From Chapter 1: Odile Paris, February, 1939
““Who’s your favorite author?” Miss Reeder asked.
Who’s your favorite author? An impossible question. How could a person choose only one? In fact, my aunt Caro and I had created categories—dead authors, alive ones, foreign, French, etc.—to avoid having to decide. I considered the books in the reading room I’d touched just a moment ago, books that had touched me. I admired Ralph Waldo Emerson’s way of thinking: I am not solitary whilst I read and write, though nobody is with me, as well as Jane Austen’s. Though the authoress wrote in the nineteenth century, the situation for many of today’s women remained the same: futures determined by whom they married. Three months ago, when I’d informed my parents that I didn’t need a husband, Papa snorted and began bringing a different work subordinate to every Sunday lunch. Like the turkey Maman trussed and sprinkled with parsley, Papa presented each one on a platter: “Marc has never missed a day of work, not even when he had the flu!”
“You do read, don’t you?”
Papa often complained that my mouth worked faster than my mind. In a flash of frustration, I responded to Miss Reeder’s first question.
“My favorite dead author is Dostoevsky, because I like his character Raskolnikov. He’s not the only one who wants to hit someone over the head.”
Silence.
Why hadn’t I given a normal answer—for example, Zora Neale Hurston, my favorite living author?
“It was an honor to meet you.” I moved to the door, knowing the interview was over.
As my fingers reached for the porcelain knob, I heard Miss Reeder say, “ ‘Fling yourself straight into life, without deliberation; don’t be afraid—the flood will bear you to the bank and set you safe on your feet again.’ ”
My favorite line from Crime and Punishment. 891.73. I turned around.
“Most candidates say their favorite is Shakespeare,” she said.
“The only author with his own Dewey Decimal call number.”
“A few mention Jane Eyre.”
That would have been a normal response. Why hadn’t I said Charlotte Brontë, or any Brontë for that matter? “I love Jane, too. The Brontë sisters share the same call number—823.8.”
“But I liked your answer.”
“You did?”
“You said what you felt, not what you thought I wanted to hear.”
That was true.
“Don’t be afraid to be different.” Miss Reeder leaned forward. Her gaze—intelligent, steady—met mine. “Why do you want to work here?”
I couldn’t give her the real reason. It would sound terrible. “I memorized the Dewey Decimal system and got straight As at library school.”
She glanced at my application. “You have an impressive transcript. But you haven’t answered my question.”
“I’m a subscriber here. I love English—”
“I can see that,” she said, a dab of disappointment in her tone. “Thank you for your time. We’ll let you know either way in a few weeks. I’ll see you out.”
Back in the courtyard, I sighed in frustration. Perhaps I should have admitted why I wanted the job.
“What’s wrong, Odile?” asked Professor Cohen. I loved her standing-room-only lecture series, English Literature at the American Library. In her signature purple shawl, she made daunting books like Beowulf accessible, and her lectures were lively, with a soupçon of sly humor. Clouds of a scandalous past wafted in her wake like the lilac notes of her parfum. They said Madame le professeur was originally from Milan. A prima ballerina who gave up star status (and her stodgy husband) in order to follow a lover to Brazzaville. When she returned to Paris—alone—she studied at the Sorbonne, where, like Simone de Beauvoir, she’d passed l’agrégation, the nearly impossible state exam, to be able to teach at the highest level.
“Odile?”
“I made a fool of myself at my job interview.”
“A smart young woman like you? Did you tell Miss Reeder that you don’t miss a single one of my lectures? I wish my students were as faithful!”
“I didn’t think to mention it.”
“Include everything you want to tell her in a thank-you note.”
“She won’t choose me.”
“Life’s a brawl. You must fight for what you want.””
RATING:
5 stars. Yes, I want to read more from this author too.
STARTED READING – FINISHED READING
3-7-2022 to 3-25-2022
In 1987, by day, Wendy Peterson worked in the Remembrance Department (basement microfiche center) of the NYPL, and by night, an aspiring author taking a weekly writing class in grad school. Wendy was at work preparing to photograph a bulletin titled "Under Two Flags," but reading an article about a place called Blérancourt changed the course of her life.
As a booklover, children's librarian (retired), and visitor through the years to the NYPL, I found this beautifully written novel in dual timelines to be exceptional reading with pleasure beyond words. It was a journey that took me from the comfort of my own world to the heart of the extraordinary women who worked tirelessly together, innovating, contributing, and selflessly giving time, knowledge, and talents to help others. The story of Jessie "Kit" Carson, holding story hours, delivering books to frightened children in the Red Zone, her inspiration that led to bookmobiles and ultimately changed the landscape of children's libraries in France, left me in awe of all the accomplishments of the CARDs during the war and beyond.
Thank you, Janet Skeslien Charles, for your unwavering commitment, your meticulous research, your devotion, and exemplary writing that blends history with your creativity in developing a page-turning story shining a light on the contributions of women. A past residing in archives. History not acknowledged in textbooks. Your dedication to bringing these stories to life is felt in every word. Thank you from the depths of my heart and soul. Much of this novel was read through tears, sometimes heart-wrenching, but in others with transparent joy, particularly for the characters of Kit, Marcelle, and Sidonie, their wisdom through grief and moving forward.
The novel is a love letter to the joy of books, reading books, sharing books, discussing books, and remembering quotes from books to lift spirits, inspire, comfort, and express thoughts in the moments when it is hard to find your own words. It is a love letter to women of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and ages from different countries, working together with courage, bravery, and resilience. So many times, we have read of men running toward the "flames of destruction." This is not to say that we are not grateful for those sacrifices but to ask for acknowledgment so that the coming generations may read and understand that women have, too. I share my review with you with my highest recommendation for your reading pleasure and say that I'd give it more than 5 stars if possible.
The Author's Note shares biographical information for Jessie "Kit" Carson, Mary Breckinridge, Anne Morgan, Anne Murray Dike, Marian Bartol, Kate Lewis, Marcelle Monod, Victorine Verine, Phyllis Puckle, and Lucile Atcherson Curtis, and the inspiration of discovery and timing of research that led to this meaningful novel. Also included is a bibliography of A Few Films and Websites About CARD Members.
Thank you to Janet Skeslien Charles, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book.
Although I thought the World War I story was much more compelling than the one set in the 1980’s, the two did work together to make an enjoyable novel. One of my favorites of the year so far!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is based on the life story of Jessie Carson and her mentor, Anne Morgan, during the War To End All Wars. It is the story of children's books, children's librarians, a terrible time in France. Here we learn about self discovery, the rescue of children's minds from the world of those days, and the way that adaptation for now and the future can be effected. The story is moving and the author relentless.
I requested and received a temporary EARC from Atria Books via NetGalley. Thank you, I have preordered a copy for my local public library.
“After the darkness of war, the light of books.” (ALP’s motto)
This is the story of bringing food and some joy, through books, to these survivors in Northern France. We are there as there is constant shelling, along with mine fields, and loss of life.
Heiress Anne Morgan is there along with Dr M. D, actually another Anne, and others brought to life by the author, along with Jessie "Kit" Carson, sponsored by Ms Morgan. I loved the character of Kit, and then the you have Marcella, and loved the gift she gives to Wendy at the end.
We are gifted some sweet romance, the CARDS, and bringing joy back into the lives of this devastated area, books!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Atria Books, and was not required to give a positive review.
It goes back and forth between present-day and past telling the story of a Paris librarian who now lives in America telling her backstory and how she helps and becomes friends with a teenage girl going through rough times with her family in the present day.
It's a great, magical read that you get lost easily in and it surprised me with how much I loved it and how great it was and now I have a big book hangover - go read it!
1 
Kiaya40 | 101 andre anmeldelser | Jun 19, 2023 |
Kiaya40 | 101 andre anmeldelser | Jun 19, 2023 | It kept my interest and at times I had a hard time putting it down. I liked that one storyline was set in the 1980's. I liked the character of Lily and I found her to be very realistic. I really liked that despite how she felt about her step-mom at times that she still really loved her brothers.
I loved that the storyline set in the 30's-40's took place in a library and that they discussed other books although I would have liked a bit more of that.
I liked that the book kept you guessing and wondering why Odile ended up married to someone else. I thought it portrayed well how people were just trying to get through each day during the war and sometimes people felt like they had no choice about the things they had to do and also how some people just didn't think about what was happening. For example, Odile didn't think about who had lived in the places they were visiting. Whether this was right or wrong I think it was something that people during that time period would have struggled with.
Now for the things I didn't love. I felt like the open door sex scenes, though brief were completely unnecessary and I don't know that I could recommend this book because of them. I also felt like the book was a bit heavy with all the grief. Lily's story was so sad and I had a hard time reading through that at the beginning. Of course any book dealing with WW2 and Jews being taken away is hard to read, but this one felt more weighty than some of the others I've read.
Overall I wanted to know what happened in the story and I read through it quite quickly but I wouldn't read it again.
This book was reviewed on the Literary Club Podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/1984185/episodes/12864876
Odile was introduced to the American Library in Paris by her aunt who took her there for story hour when she was young. After that exposure it is no surprise that she wanted to become a librarian. In 1939 when a job opening at the American Library was posted she hardly dared hope she could work there but she landed the job managing the periodical section and doing other odd jobs. Her twin brother, Remy, is studying law but he really wants to be a politician so he can effect changes in France. Odile's father is a policeman and he thinks Odile should be getting married instead of working. He brings home a different young police officer for lunch every Sunday hoping that one of them will appeal to Odile. Finally one does; Paul dares to stand up to Papa to support both Odile and Remy. When war with Germany is declared Remy decides to join the army. Paul and the other policemen are exempt from serving. Odile is happy that Paul remains in Paris but she is sick with worry about her brother. For weeks after the Germans take over France they don't hear anything from him but finally they get a notice that he is in a prisoner of war camp. At the Library the staff have been told that they can't allow Jewish subscribers to enter so they decide to deliver books to them instead. Paul and Odile chafe under the constant scrutiny of her parents so Odile asks Paul to find them some place they can be alone. One day he tells her to meet him for lunch and he takes her to a lovely big apartment where they finally make love. Odile never questions why this apartment is empty but readers will be able to guess why.
Interspersed in the chapters of Paris during the war is another time line from Montana in 1983. A young girl named Lily wonders about Mrs. Gustafson who lives next door who keeps to herself. One day for a school assignment she decides to interview her starting a friendship which becomes increasingly important to Lily after her mother dies and her father remarries. Mrs. Gustafson, who, of course, is Odile, introduces Lily to wonderful books. Odile also gets benefits from her friendship; in particular, she can finally uncover her past to someone.
Friendship is a major theme in the book. Odile befriends an English diplomat's wife who starts volunteering at the library. She also has a friend her own age named Bitsy who works in the children's section. When Remy meets Bitsy he falls in love and the feeling is reciprocated. Some times Odile resents Bitsy's involvement with Remy because, as twins often are, she used to be Remy's closest confidant. All of the friendships go through rough patches but in time the friendship blossoms again. This is so true to life.
LibraryThing-forfatter
Janet Skeslien Charles er LibraryThing-forfatter, en forfatter som har sit personlige bibliotek opført på LibraryThing.
Tidlige Anmeldere
Past Offerings
- Moonlight in Odessa (September 2010)
- Moonlight in Odessa (August 2009)
- Moonlight in Odessa (June 2009)
Links
Officiel hjemmeside (English)
Worldcat author listing (LCCN) (English)
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