You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

I'm reading this book for my real life book club in March. Would anyone like to read this with me from March 1 - 15th?

If I can get a copy of it some where or get it as an ebook I will read it with you : )

Sounds good Robin. :)

: ) I am marking it on my calendar in my challenges/monthly reads binder lol If I don't I am liable to forget when I get all my books lined up for March lol

And me :-)

Because it's not tomorrow, I can do this one!

I got my book today Janice!!! So I will be ready to go on March 1 : ) You are "penciled" in on my March calendar lol

I think I can do this!

OHHHHH YAYYYYY Kimberly!!!! I think you can do it too lol : )

You can do it Kimberly!

I'm determined :)

I picked up the audio book today from my library. I'll have to renew it before 1st. I should have left it sitting on the shelf. Durrr

Snoozie Suzie wrote: "I picked up the audio book today from my library. I'll have to renew it before 1st. I should have left it sitting on the shelf. Durrr"

LOL Suzie...if you're luck is like mine you would have left it and then when you needed it, it would have been gone : )

We start reading in a few days! March 1st is just around the corner.

Have I got everyone? I have:

Janice
Robin
Suzie
Kat
Kimberly
Amber

Yep...looks like you did a fine job Janice : ) I am ready!!!!

By the way, was this book made into a movie?

Robin wrote: "Yep...looks like you did a fine job Janice : ) I am ready!!!!

By the way, was this book made into a movie?"

Yes it was!

Thanks Kimberly : ) I thought I remembered seeing the movie somewhere but couldn't remember where or if maybe I was just dreaming it up lol

I looked at so many books yesterday on my shopping spree lol I am liable to make up my own books and titles : D

It's March 1st... crack open your copy of Sarah's Key and get reading.

I'll be starting tonight when I get home from work. I'm looking forward to it!

I'll try to find my copy this afternoon and read 50 pages or so to make a dent in it.

As usual, I had no idea this thread existed. However, I just noticed it in time, I have this book and I'm ready to start reading. Bring it on! :)

I will be starting this book some time later today or this evening!!!!

One thing we should do is mark any spoilers because we all read at different speeds. I started reading this morning before I headed for work. I couldn't wait!

Initial thoughts, anyone?

I've read a lot of books that switch back and forth between two times and story lines. I don't like that this book is so choppy. The paragraphs are short, so you're constantly switching back and forth. I would prefer to stay in each story line a little longer.

So far, I'm intrigued with Sarah's story. I'm not sure about the modern story. I'll have to wait to see how it connects with Sarah's story.

First let me say forgive me for any spelling errors etc as I am trying to type this on a little bitty computer and wi-fi that is super slow lol.

I started reading but not very far into it yet. So far I like both story lines and I tend to like the switching back and forth with the very short chapters. I am sure it is a psychological factor, but I feel like with the shorter chapters I am getting through the book quicker and can remember more.With the shorter chapters and the switching between stories, I am not getting bored and it is keeping my interest. I am not overly fond of Bertrand and am already trying to figure out how Sarah's story is going to connect to Julia's story : )

I'm only about 25 pages in... I haven't been able to focus on it much.

I haven't read anything in this book (or others) for the last two evenings. I've been swamped. I'll pick it back up today.

How is everyone getting on with this. I have it on audio cd but haven't even started it. I'm wondering if audio would help with the flitting that has been mentioned...

I've read a little better than half and am enjoying it. I've gotten used to the flitting back and forth between 1942 and present day.

Where is everyone else? Does anyone have any thoughts, comments, etc on what they've read so far?

I didn't know about the Vel' d'Hiv' roundup before this book. I don't think I can even fathom the horror of the way the Jews were dehumanized and led to the slaughter like cattle. The thing that really is horrible about this particular roundup was the way the children were treated. It's almost like the children were specifically targetted in the campaign. Any thoughts on this?

Hello? Anyone out there? I have finished the book. I couldn't stop reading it or talking about it. Where is everyone else in their progress?

I'm making very little progress but I'm determined to finish it! I do like the author's writing more as I go :)

I'm hoping to finish wind up bird chronicle tomorrow and then start this. Full day of ironing so it should happen :-)

I won't be able to read it tomorrow, I'm going to the dentist and will be put under deep sedation (thank goodness!) and won't be in any shape for that tomoorow but I'm going to read a bit tonight and tackle more on Saturday.

I am half way through the book. I am hoping to finish it today. I am really enjoying this book and am learning a lot.

I didn't know anything about the Vel' d'Hiv' roundup either. I knew the Jews were treated badly but I guess it just didn't sink in how badly they were treated unitl I started reading this book. It does seem that the children were targeted in this campaign, but I am wondering if it appears that way because the story is being told from a child's perspective.

(view spoiler)[The other thing that really amazed me was how the non-Jews just stood back and watched. The women were more concerned than the men and at least tried to offer food. In the present day, I was shocked at how Julia was told to just leave her research alone. Noone was going to read her story nor did anyone care because noone rememebered that time in history. Was this just a way for the French to save face? Not remembering/talking about the roundup a way for the French to not get chastised for a wrong/crime that they knew they were guilty of commiting? (hide spoiler)]

I have just started. Hope to finish over the next few days.

I have finished and give this book 5 stars. Phenomenal!!!! Thanks Janice for the Buddy Read : )

Re your spoiler, Robin....

Now that you've finished the book, do you have another perspective to your query? (view spoiler)[I think the book zeroed in on the denial by the French people. As long as they could say that they were occupied by the Nazi's, and their participation in the genocide was ordered by the Nazi's, they could absolve themselves of any wrong-doing. (hide spoiler)]

What did you think of Sarah's son's reaction to the truth of his mother's past?

Good question Janice.

(view spoiler)[I guess I have mixed emotions about this. I understand that the French were occupied by the Nazi's but yet it is hard for me to fathom how badly the Jews were treated. Even 60 years later, they didn't want to talk about it and wanted to forget it. Was France that weak of a country that they just submitted to the Nazi's? No fight for what was right? I guess being American and coming from such a strong country it is hard to accept.

When Julia went to Tuscany to talk to William I was not surprised by his reaction. That would be a hard pill to swallow to think you knew someone, especially your mother, only to find out that you didn't know her or anything about her. I am glad that he came back to find out everything he could about his mother and put all the missing pieces into place. However painful it was, I think it would be well worth the price to know your true heritage. I guess I will have to just sit and wonder or make my analysis that Julia and William eventually got together and lived happily ever after? lol (hide spoiler)]

I'm thinking that it's part of the human condition to try to absolve ones' self of wrong doing (not that I condone it). I don't think France was alone in playing ostrich. I think every country has taken part in something they reluctantly own up to. For the States and Canada, it was the treatment of the Native Americans and the appropriation of their lands and culture.

As for Sarah's son... (view spoiler)[I can't say how I would react if a stranger came up to me and told me of my mother's secret life. It would be horrible and would have me thinking that everything in my life was a lie. So his reaction was likely appropriate. I think the story left it open that Julia and William could end up in a relationship. I hope not. It's too trite. (hide spoiler)]

...I hate to say it but I won't have this done for the 15, I've been sick and I have another book I have to finish tomorrow so I won't have time...maybe I should stay away from buddy reads for awhile if I can't finish them in time... I keep over comitting myself. I do like the book though and I plan on finishing it by the 17th.

Kimberly wrote: "...I hate to say it but I won't have this done for the 15, I've been sick and I have another book I have to finish tomorrow so I won't have time...maybe I should stay away from buddy reads for awhi..."

How far did you get? We can keep discussing it when you're done. I just put the 15th down because my book club meets on the 16th. I should have some interesting view points and comments to share from the meeting.

I'm 60 pages in, Not as far as I would like.

Janice wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "...I hate to say it but I won't have this done for the 15, I've been sick and I have another book I have to finish tomorrow so I won't have time...maybe I should stay away from bud..."

I can't wait to hear what your fellow members have to say : )

(view spoiler)[What are your feelings toward Bertrand and the baby's name? (hide spoiler)]

I'm confused about dates - today is the 14th. Book club meets tomorrow which is the 15th, not the 16th. I guess I'm okay as long as I know the year, right? LOL!

(view spoiler)[I thought Bertrand was extremely self-centered. I'm glad that Julia didn't go ahead with the abortion. The end result of her marriage would not have changed, and she'd have that regret the rest of her life. I thought the baby's name was a given. If it had been a boy, I think she would have named him Michael. (hide spoiler)]

Janice wrote: "I'm confused about dates - today is the 14th. Book club meets tomorrow which is the 15th, not the 16th. I guess I'm okay as long as I know the year, right? LOL!

[spoilers removed]"

LOL Janice. Yes at least you do have the year right. Unlike me, we had a guy doing a survey at our house for the census bureau and I was giving him info for 2010 and not 2011 because I couldn't keep it in my head that this is 2012 LOL

(view spoiler)[I didn't like Bertrand from the very beginning and my dislike for him only worsened throughout the book. Although it wasn't clarified till closer to the end, I had a gut feeling that he was still having an affair.I am glad that she didn't have the abortion but even though it was a given I was hoping the baby's name was going to be something besides Sarah. (hide spoiler)]

I have to agree about your assessment of Bertrand. I felt the same way (view spoiler)[about the possible affair. (hide spoiler)]

What did you think was the author's strong points in telling this story, and her weak points?

Book club meeting last night was very good. The book makes for a great discussion if people are looking for good Book Club reads.

We talked about that many countries deny or cover-up their involvement in wrongful treatment of other people. (Robin and I talked about that in our Buddy Read discussion too.) One example that was identified for Canada was the residential schools where Indian children were uprooted from their homes and sent to residential school where many endured horrific treatment.

We talked about why people buy into genocide - the "By-stander's Syndrome". Fear is a huge part of it.

Another discussion was on the discrimination against the Jews for centuries. Germany wasn't the first country to participate in atrocities against the Jews. Another example was Spain, during the Spanish Inquisition. People of the Book is an excellent sotry that tells of the Jewish history.

Let's see.... oh, we also talked about the motivation of the old couple who were the only ones willing to help Sarah. Why them?

It was a great discussion and I appreciate the book even more.

Janice wrote: "I have to agree about your assessment of Bertrand. I felt the same way [spoilers removed]

What did you think was the author's strong points in telling this story, and her weak points?"

HMMMMMMMM.....I will have to think about this one and get back to you on it.

I am 2 hours in to the audiobook so 8 hours to go. Ironing day tomorrow too so should get most of it done. Thoughts so far:

I don't like Bertrand and want to know why Julia puts up with him and his nasty comments that he believes are humorous but are really snidy and kinda bitchy. Hmmm, I have been subject to this type of 'humour' and it is not pleasant. Anyways...

I am liking the way the story is unravelling and the way it is going back and forth, although I presently don't know how and why the two interlink.

As for the story line I was unaware of this specific atrocity, and am in disbelief of the French Police. And that it was planned. Those poor, poor people.

How are you liking the audiobook version, Suzie? I read paperback.

I'm really enjoying both the story and the audio. I am just at the part where the girl escapes under the fence, and can't wait to start ironing tomorrow so I can continue! Sad!! I'm finding it easy to follow, and interesting.

It has made me think a lot, in that how can people hate others just for their beliefs; stopping talking to people who(m?), the day before, were their friends. That most of the children were French, actually, no that they could do it to children full stop, especially them being French, but also splitting them from their mothers even the youngsters. I cannot begin to imagine how I would feel if small was taken from me. I cried when he went on holiday with his dad for a week.

Amazing how people can behave when following orders, etc. amazing but not a good amazing.