The Parisian Chapter: A Novel($17.99Value)

Description

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Library and Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade , a charming and “richly populated” ( New York Journal of Books ) novel about two small-town girls with big dreams who move to Paris to become artists. But dreams don’t just come true. They require nurturing, as do friendships. Paris, 1995: It’s been five years since Lily Jacobsen and her best friend Mary Louise arrived in Paris from their small town of Froid, Montana. Determined to establish themselves as artists, they shared a tiny walkup and survived on brie and baguettes. But when Mary Louise abruptly moves out, Lily feels alone in the city of light for the first time and needs a new way to support herself. She lands a job as a programs manager at the American Library in Paris, following in the footsteps of Odile, her beloved French neighbor in Montana who told her stories of heroic World War II librarians when Lily was growing up. At work, Lily meets an extraordinary cast of characters—including her favorite writer, struggling students, haughty trustees, and devoted volunteers—each with their own stories...and agendas. In the library’s attic, Lily discovers a box of archives that may be a link to Odile’s own Parisian chapter. This “stirring and rich with detail” (Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author) story is a love letter to the power of literature, the life of the artist, the importance of friendship, and leaving home only to find it again. “A delightful love letter to the glorious American Library in Paris. If you love Paris, don't hesitate to say 'Oui oui!' to this sparkling, heartfelt ode to libraries—and to the people who make them magical.” —Kristen Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of Meet Me in Paris “A colorful tapestry shot through with themes of friendship, the power of books, the importance of history, and the joys and trials of an artist’s life. It’s told with charm and flair and filled with genuine joie de vivre. Francophiles, bibliophiles, and anyone who enjoys an engaging story with memorable characters will be delighted.” — Library Journal Janet Skeslien Charles is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of The Paris Library . Her work has been translated into thirty-seven languages. She has spent a decade researching Jessie Carson ( Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade ) at The Morgan Library, the NYPL, and archives across France. Her shorter work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune , The Sydney Morning Herald , LitHub , and the anthology Montana Noir . To connect, visit her website JSkeslienCharles.com, @JSkeslienCharles on Instagram, or @SkeslienCharles on X. Chapter 1: January 1995: Lorenzo Bruni—Head Librarian Chapter 1 JANUARY 1995 Lorenzo Bruni—head librarian I’m on the Front Line, the first librarian that people encounter when they enter the American Library in Paris. And let me tell you, people are pains. My colleagues and boss, Quentin Hayes III, have no idea what it’s like to deal with the public. Day after day, year after year, I stand at attention behind the circ desk, waiting for patrons to ambush me. Like today. Katie Hunt slinks over to return a pile of torn magazines. Her kid ripped the Family Circle to shreds, and she wants all to be forgiven. I want to shout that we’re in a foreign country—we can’t just go to the store to pick up another copy. But Hayes gave strict orders not to yell. While I’m taping pages, old Mike Roth saunters in with a baguette sandwich sticking out of his book bag. Hayes won’t let me kick him out because he paid for his membership like everyone else . Before I can inform the loudmouth that the library isn’t a picnic area, Jennifer de Narp storms over. Using her Louis Vuitton clutch as a pointer, she calls my attention to a burned-out lightbulb in the reading room and orders me to change it. I want to say that our handyman will handle it, but Hayes won’t let me refuse her. She’s one of the Select Few, insanely rich donors. While I dig the ladder out of the broom closet, Mazie Chester sneaks past in her neon-green greatcoat. It’s been a decade since she paid for a membership, but Hayes won’t let me confront her. His logic: if we’re nice to her, she’ll leave her fortune to the library instead of to Morris Templeman, her cat. This place is a revolving door of loons. And speaking of revolving doors, another program manager left without a goodbye. Lizzy cleared off her desk and spelled out “I QUIT” with Saul Bellow paperbacks. We weren’t surprised by the resignation—not many can hack the job, or Hayes—but the choice of Bellow puzzled us. She only lasted six months before she huffed home to Auckland. Contrary to what you might think, some people don’t want to be in Paris. Perhaps their spouse got transferred here for work, and they trailed behind. Countless writers have followed in the soused footsteps of F. Scott Fitzgerald, and they stick around because they have more pride than brains.