For Fiction Lovers

Told for the first half of the book in alternate chapters in Paris in 1942 and 2002. In 2002 Julia who has lived in France for 25 years, but has never heard of Vel’ d’Hiv until assigned a story on it by her editor. Sarah is 10 when her family (and all Jews living in Paris and the nearby areas) is rounded up by French policemen and out into an arena without food or water and six days later sent to one of four French concentration camps, before being sent on to Auschwitz.  The Germans had very little to do with this: the secret plans to round up the Jews were developed by the French, it was French policemen who guarded the Jews, French trains took them to Auschwitz. Sarah escapes from one of the French camps, to rescue her little brother who hid in a cupboard. But she gets there too late. Julia’s husband’s family moved into Sarah’s family’s apartment. “She closed the door on the little white face, turned the key in the lock. Then she slipped the key into her pocket. The lock was hidden by a pivoting device shaped like a light switch. It was impossible to see the outline of the cupboard in the paneling of the wall. Yes, he’d be safe there. She was sure of it. The girl murmured his name and laid her palm flat on the wooden panel. ‘I’ll come back for you later. I promise’.”

1. Did you know anything about France's role in WWII? Vel' d'Hiv'?

I did not.

2. Did you like the format of switching back and forth in time with alternating narrators? Did you find that you liked one story more than the other?

I liked it.

3. What do you think happens at the end?

I hope William and Julia get together as they seem really connected.

4. How would you rate this book? Any additional comments?

4/5. I too prefer Mary Doria Russell's A Thread of Grace. I did like Sarah's Key way better than Skeleton's at the Feast. The only thing I didn't like about Sarah's Key was the author thinking she was keeping the baby's name a secret, like yeah, I knew if she had a girl she would name her Sarah. I understand the impact on William, but still, it was annoying to me to read her baby referred to as 'the baby' or 'Zoe's sister'.

Hi, I'm about 3 months behind, but just started this book.

I have to admit I've "fallen off" the book wagon, I haven't read since June!  Just so caught up in other things, then my DH got let go from his job, so we've been in a house of craziness.

But there's  nothing like a good book (even better than facebook and farmville!)