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Title: Sarah's Key
Author: Tatiana De Rosnay
Publisher: St.Martin's Griffin
Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: Own Copy
ISBN: 978-0-312-37084-8
Price/Pages: $13.95/293
My Description:
2 storylines set in Paris. One starts in 1942 with a little girl named Sarah. Her home is invaided late one night by French Soliders. They are told to grab what they can and come with them. Her mother, trying to remain strong, does what she is told. Sarah runs to her 4 year old brother, urging him to wake up. He doesn't want to go. So she makes a deal with him. She hides him in their secret hiding place in the wall and locks the door. She tells him she will be back for him. He will be safe there.
What little 11 year old Sarah does not know is that she is being led to a round up. A round up of Jews, on her way to a Concentration Camp. She doesn't know she is never coming back.
Second story is in present day Paris. Julia is an American journalist married to a French man and mother to 11 year old Zoe. Her assignment is to do a story on the 60th Anniversary of this round up, called Vel' d'Hiv (short for Velodrome d'Hiver, the indoor stadium where 1000s of Jews where held).
What she discovers is not only the horrific details of this particular event but the story of Sarah and how their families are connected.
My Review:
I felt so much blooming emotion while reading this book that I don't even know where to start. It's one of those books you have to experience yourself. Saying that the events of the Holocaust were bad is like a drop in an ocean. There are no words. You don't have to know someone who was lost. You feel it as a humanitarian, a mother, a daughter, a wife.
I cried openly in public while reading this. I have images that are forever etched in my mind. I have not read a lot of novels or books in general on the Holocaust. I find it all so incredibly sad. But I am glad I read this one. It's important to remember and to honor those lives that were cruelly taken from the world.
Rating:
6 stars/6 stars
This one will stay on my shelf to pass out to others. It packs quite a punch and if you are not in the mood for reading about that part of history, then I would suggest holding off on this one. But if you are in the mood for a powerful story of humans and how we are all interconnected, please pick this one up.
Thank you for stopping by.
red headed book child
12 comments:
Michelle, I've heard such good things about this book. It's one of a selection of 4 picks for my book group for July. I'm going to try to get it read for that meeting. Thanks for sharing!
I really enjoyed this book too. It's on my list to encourage our book group to read. Amazing truths, and a beautiful read as well.
Good review! I have had this sitting on my shelf for months. I'll get it it...someday.
Great review! I read this book recently and couldn't get over how horrific this book is, and how emotional it got me while still keeping me hooked into the mystery of it all. I was sad to let the characters go.
Ahhh this sounds good. My sister has it and has said I need to read it. I need to borrow it from her!!
I have to say that sounds brilliant. In my heart I really want to read it, but like you, I know I will cry openly. I get so involved in books I feel all the pain and sorrow of the characters,a nd even from the brief description you gave I know it will hurt. Saying that, you are right, we can't always shy away from these things - and 6/6 is quite a score. Thanks v much, K x
Chelle what a great review! I will read this book even though I know it will kill me!
This book is on my wishlist. I see it there every so often and click on it. But I think I am one of those people you mention at the bottom of the post. I am not really sticking my head in the sand with this, but I I don't think I could emotionally get through this book. Reading about American slavery is hard enough. The holocaust through a child's eyes would do me in.
Your review was great and it confirms what I always knew about this book..... sad but wonderful. Maybe when my kids are older.
I thought this was such a beautiful story. I'm glad you appreciated it as well.
'blooming emotion' is a wonderful way to describe the tenor of this book. i agree. it was marvelous.
Sounds powerful!
I keep seeing this book in the bookstore and library and really want to read it. I'm glad to know you liked it so much. I'll still keep it on my radar.
Thanks for your thoughts :)
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