Comments on The Boston Bibliophile: REVIEW: Sarah's Key, by Tatiana de Rosnay

I found this book very disappointing. I found that...

2011-03-23T10:58:45.640-04:00

I found this book very disappointing. I found that it was hard to really care about any of the characters-they just didn't ring true. Trust me, those parents would have at least tried to save their son. With such a story, it could have been so much better. As you said, it has the seed of a good book, but that's about all.

I think characterizing any section of this book as...

2011-03-03T14:01:34.489-05:00

I think characterizing any section of this book as "chick lit" is highly complimentary. I describe it as The Holocaust meets Harlequin Romance!

Carolyn, yes :-) I am interested to see the movie ...

2010-10-11T12:03:06.891-04:00

Carolyn, yes :-) I am interested to see the movie though and I'm cautiously optimistic since Kristen Scott Thomas was cast as Julia and I'm hopeful that she can make her a little more interesting, sympathetic and multi-dimensional.

Marie, I couldn't agree more. a disappointing...

2010-10-10T15:05:10.549-04:00

Marie, I couldn't agree more. a disappointing read, especially since I began wanting to like the book. The Julia story and the way it alternates, then overtakes the Sarah story indeed made for Hollywood and intended for Americans. As the French say, dommage.

Joan, what an interesting take on the novel. thank...

2010-08-18T07:48:19.284-04:00

Joan, what an interesting take on the novel. thank you for commenting!

Contrary to many opinions, I think Julia was total...

2010-08-18T00:17:57.191-04:00

Contrary to many opinions, I think Julia was totally necessary to the story - She was a character who decided to "not close her eyes" to a horrific piece of French History. If you remembered many of the incidental characters in the book, ie. those who saw the plaques commemorating Vel d'hiv, remained indifferent. Julia was the antithesis of indifference who chose to open her eyes and mind to what many chose to ignore. Her character worked well - and her "normal" life in a French town - worrying about her daughter's school, or her husband's infidelity, or her graying hair, sagging skin made Sarah's life even more tragic. It was the nuances of everyday life vs. the sheer terror of families and children of the holocaust. Julia grabbing her daughter when she needed her is in stark contrast to Sarah being ripped out of the arms of her mother.

Just finished this book last night and I loved it....

2010-01-30T15:10:37.656-05:00

Just finished this book last night and I loved it. I enjoyed the way it was written and I loved the way it depicted the French as the introverts that they are. I loved the character of Edouard and how he was developed at the end of the novel.
I tend to enjoy dual-told stories, especially ones about the holocaust and other historical events.
I could not put this book down until it was finished. The author has managed to create two fabulous stories and wrap them up in one breathtaking book.

Care, I'm glad to hear that. :-) I love it whe...

2009-12-22T21:04:15.477-05:00

Care, I'm glad to hear that. :-) I love it when we validate each other, especially in minority opinions! I look forward to reading your review.

Thank you for this review. You have eloquently a...

2009-12-22T20:51:48.307-05:00

Thank you for this review. You have eloquently addressed the same issues I had with the book and appreciate that I can point to your review when I get around to writing mine.

I am glad to have found your review! I'm read...

2009-09-05T21:05:13.554-04:00

I am glad to have found your review! I'm reading the book right now, but my interest is waning because Sarah's story just stopped and Julia is taking over. :( I had heard so many good things about the book, so I wondered if anyone was as annoyed with Julia as I am! I'll still finish, I suppose though. Thanks.

Caroline, thanks for visiting! I hope you come bac...

2009-08-08T16:41:57.766-04:00

Caroline, thanks for visiting! I hope you come back again! :-)

I'm leading a book discussion on Sarah's K...

2009-08-07T17:41:58.787-04:00

I'm leading a book discussion on Sarah's Key tonight. I think I liked the story (am still not sure), but I found it hard to emotionally believe Julia and her choices. Structure-wise, Julia's breezy passages served as a break from the pain of Sarah's though weren't half as interesting. I agree that Sarah fades once the story is only told from Julia's perspective, which is a shame, as it's the story we really want to hear. Thanks for the insight!

Marie...my comment wasn't meant to sound negative ...

2008-10-29T11:50:00.000-04:00

Marie...my comment wasn't meant to sound negative in any aspect, and I hope it wasn't/isn't received that way by your readers.

We all have our own opinions, and can even agree to disagree on them, at times.

In this particular case, I guess I feel that Tatiana de Rosnay had an easier time in writing from the two perspectives that she did, infusing the two main characters in alternate fashion.

I often read reviews before buying a book, and read several regarding Sarah's Key, before purchasing the hard copy.

I did state in my own review that I thought that the Sarah's story could have been a novel all its own, and I still feel that way.

Thanks for stopping by.

Take care...Lorri

Well-written and articulated review! We all have ...

2008-10-29T11:35:00.000-04:00

Well-written and articulated review! We all have our perspectives, and for me, the historical aspect of that particular event was something I knew nothing about, and now I do.

Some of your readers might better understand Tatiana de Rosnay's reasons for writing the way she did.

Here is a link to an interview I had with her. http://jewwishes.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/jew-wishes-on/

I felt similarly to you about the Sarah vs. Julia ...

2008-10-27T12:56:00.000-04:00

I felt similarly to you about the Sarah vs. Julia storylines. Julia's voice was just not as compelling to me. Once Sarah's voice was gone the book was missing something. I did enjoy the book overall, though and appreciated learning about this incident (the round up) since I wasn't aware of it.

Interesting review, Marie. I'm still interested in...

2008-10-26T00:39:00.000-04:00

Interesting review, Marie. I'm still interested in this book, although I'm sorry to hear you didn't like the way it was framed (as I have the feeling I will feel the same way as you did).

I'm glad you were able to get a copy of *Sarah's K...

2008-10-25T22:07:00.000-04:00

I'm glad you were able to get a copy of *Sarah's Key*, and am sorry to see that it didn't meet your expectations.

I see your point, that Julia was written for the American audience and perhaps Tatiana de Rosnay could have had more confidence in us appreciating the story of Sarah by itself.

I do think the book is very accessible/approachable to the general reader and that the history of the Vel' d'Hiv event will be known to many more people because of this novel (I'm sure Vel' d'Hiv is not the proper French, but it's late and I'm tired :) )

Anna, my opinion is that Julia is a point-of-view ...

2008-10-25T10:10:00.000-04:00

Anna, my opinion is that Julia is a point-of-view character for the intended audience- Americans. I think she's supposed to be someone we can relate to and someone through whose eyes we can understand the story. I believe she is unnecessary and that readers would do just fine without her.

Thanks for the review. I've been looking forward ...

2008-10-25T10:06:00.000-04:00

Thanks for the review. I've been looking forward to reading this one. I've always been interested in books about the Holocaust. I wonder why the book isn't only about Sarah, why the character of Julia was necessary. Guess I'll just have to read it. ;)

--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric

Thanks for the recommendation!

2008-10-25T09:35:00.000-04:00

Thanks for the recommendation!

Marie, I'll be back to this review when I've finis...

2008-10-25T08:26:00.000-04:00

Marie, I'll be back to this review when I've finished the book. It was so tempting too peek but I'd better not til I've read my copy.

Shana
Literarily