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 Read this! Nov 06, 2009
I read this in one day! It is a heart-wrenching story, but is also a super read. It reads like a mystery. Excellent choice in historic fiction!!!
 Comes up short as a novel - but good history Nov 06, 2009
Two sides of sixty years - The 1942 Vel'd'Hiv' roundup of the Jews in France with 10-year-old Sarah locking her brother in the cupboard thinking she'll return, and the 2002 story of Julia, an expat journalist assigned to write about the tragedy - a woman going through life issues brought to a head, in part, by the tragedy she covers. The author allows these characters to alternate chapters until Sarah's story is mostly silent.
I missed Sarah - and wasn't sufficiently interested in the life of Julia. I was horrified by the cruelties of a segment of history of which I was unaware, touched by the kindnesses shown to Sarah (particularly by the good couple), compelled by the efforts to rescue her brother (best part of the book, in my opinion), and disappointed by the predictabilities of the present-day story's characters, esp. Bertrand (Julia's husband). I didn't cry or cheer, unlike other reviewers. The last quarter of the book felt hollow and didn't work for me. It seemed that the author was writing for a younger audience who wouldn't see things coming (yet matters of adultery, abortion - these probably wouldn't be covered in a book for pre-teens, though possibly for teens). Maybe this was written for and would suit a mother/daughter reading group? I can't fault the author for simplifying matters if she was genuinely trying to get wider appeal to spread awareness of this slice of history, but I like my books a little more sophisticated - not so flat. I almost wished Julia HAD lived in the home that had been Sarah's - that might have been more interesting than the neat little package the author left.
I also felt that the continual questions in Sarah's segment grew tiresome and tried too hard to lead us without letting us ask the questions ("Why was this happening to her? Why so much pain, so much suffering, thought the girl. Why such hate? Who had decided this and what for?") - they felt like a crutch. I think Sarah's reactions in all cases were authentic, and I was very glad the points were made - just that the writing device didn't serve as well as it might have.
I liked Julia's daughter Zoe (seemed like a real and spirited person) and honestly, I did like Julia - perhaps I just didn't care enough about the modern story when compared to Sarah's story. Just a lot of family squabbles, people finding things out or situations unfolding in a way that the reader could see from a mile away. Even Zoe's behavior was more or less stereotypical for a "unique" girl of her age, come to think of it. The reactions of the family and others were so predictable. You knew the love interest (who, by the way, you KNEW would be the love interest) would come to terms with things - you knew so many other things. Unfortunate, because the book could have been so much more.
It was clear that the author did much research - it would have been nice to have included at least a brief afterword discussing resources used, reading recommendations, etc. - great for book groups as well, who gravitate to books like this and love more info. Did she interview survivors? By-standers? I think many readers of historical fiction have come to expect this feature - it was crying for something like this.
Bottom line: Sarah's Key was worth reading, I kept turning the pages, but once Sarah was more or less out of the picture, I was less engaged and more frustrated. The predictabilities cancelled out the strengths. I was glad to learn of the true story behind this novel, however, in which the fictional Sarah, according to the author, serves to inform or remind us.
Page Turner and heart breaker... Nov 05, 2009
This book touched my heart. it was about world War II and how lives were destroyed and how a young girl tried to help her brother and for the rest of her life she had to endure her decision...The author did a good job of telling the historical tale you felt as if you were right there.
One Book - Two Stories Nov 02, 2009
This book is written in a simple language, maybe too simple but that's OK since I've read books which tested my knowledge of the English language with every sentence and weren't enjoyable the least.
This is an enjoyable book nonetheless. The story revolves around the French roundup of Jews during WWII. A little girl, named Sarah, which escaped death and the search for her little brother whom she locked in a cupboard before the French police took their family away.
Very sad even if it is a fictional account (I hope).
The second story takes place much later and revolves around an American woman living in Paris, married to a French man, who discovers Sarah's story and researches it while discovering, of course, a connection to her husband's family.
The first story, the one about Sarah, is engaging, flows and is very touching.
The second story - not so much.
However, I did enjoy the book very much even though I think story number two could have been more engaging with more dimensional characters.
highly recommeded despite some flaws.... Nov 01, 2009
I could not put this book down and I read the book in one weekend. I alway enjoy reading a book and learing somthing new. In this I book learned of the French round up of Jews and the horrors of living in Paris during the war. My husbands Jewish grandparents hid in the countryside around Paris during this time and I with they were still alive to talk about this event. The character in the title 'Sarah' has a wonderful clear voice in the book. Another important character Julie does not quite fit the story. This character Julie in another story would spoil the book but here I tolerated her in order for the author to bring the story into current times. Easily contrived but worked for me.
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