We are kicking off this year’s Mother’s Day Author Blog series with Janet Skeslien Charles, the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of THE PARIS LIBRARY. Her latest novel, MISS MORGAN’S BOOK BRIGADE, is based on the true story of Jessie Carson --- the American librarian who changed the literary landscape of France. Janet credits her mother and grandmother for her love of reading at an early age and her desire to write. She and her mom, along with her sister, bonded over countless books, which also helped them cope with some of the most difficult times of their lives. As Janet says, “[r]eading was both a connection and an escape.”
My mother is in every word that I write. From a very young age, I loved books, thanks to her and my grandmother, who were both avid readers. My grandmother had never learned to drive a car, so once a week, my mother drove her to the grocery store and then to the library. From this, I understood that books were as nourishing as food. From an early age, all I ever wanted to do was read and write.
When I was a kid, Mom and I chuckled over the antics of Fudge in TALES OF A FOURTH GRADE NOTHING by Judy Blume. Later, we bonded over cozy mysteries. One of her favorites was Kelly Harms’ THE GOOD LUCK GIRLS OF SHIPWRECK LANE. It is full of humor, heart and wisdom, including: “Walking a mile in another person’s shoes is nothing compared to cooking a meal in someone else’s kitchen.” Mom, my sister and I did a buddy read of the novel, which made us laugh and cry. And we all needed a good cry. For the third time in her life, Mom was fighting cancer.
Books gave us something to talk about, something else to think about. Reading was both a connection and an escape. When Mom entered hospice care, we turned to L.M. Montgomery’s ANNE OF GREEN GABLES and also watched the series “Anne with an E.” I loved cheerful quotes from the book, such as “I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” But in our family’s case, these words hit home: “Anne always remembered the silvery, peaceful beauty and fragrant calm of that night. It was the last night before sorrow touched her life; and no life is ever quite the same again when once that cold, sanctifying touch has been laid upon it.”
My latest novel, MISS MORGAN’S BOOK BRIGADE, is about a NYPL librarian who worked in the war zone during World War I. Jessie Carson was the first person to create children’s libraries in France. A big part of her job was consoling children who’d lost their parents. It is not a coincidence that my novel contains several mentions of ANNE OF GREEN GABLES. Reading the book brought me consolation and comfort.
My sister and I miss our mom every day. But when we read, it feels like we are holding tight to a piece of her.
