Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay | LibraryThing
Rosnay, T. . (2010). Sarah’s key. New York: St. Martin’s Griffin. 9781250004345
Reasons for Reading : I recalled my mom reading this book a few years before the movie hit American theaters. Also, working on my library’s contribution to the Holocaust Museum Houston’s Butterfly Project led me to Sarah’s Key. I checked out the book from HCPL.
Summary: Beginning in Nazi-occupied Paris in 1942, the French police arrest a ten year-old girl and her family in the Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup. The girl manages to lock her younger brother in a secret cupboard in the family’s apartment. She promises to return in a few hours.
The girl’s story alternates with that Julia Jarmond, an American journalist living in 2002 Paris with her French husband and daughter. Her editor asks her to write an article commemorating the sixtieth anniversary of the Vel d’Hiv Roundup. As Julia investigates, she stumbles upon a fateful connection to Sarah, that little girl who stowed her brother in the secret cupboard. This link may lead to better living for Julia or the undoing of her marriage.
What I Liked : Author de Rosnay created rich characters in Sarah and Julia. The latter narrated her of the novel and de Rosnay conveyed the thoughts of an American outcast quite authentically. Sarah’s point of view was related in third person.
I adored Jules and Genevieve. These people offer hope for humanity. They’re the sort that deserve Nobel Peace Prizes.
Also, I found it sobering to learn the French police’s involvement in the Holocaust. It just shows how far brainwashing can go.
What I Disliked : This story made me very sad. Obviously, the key issues weren’t the happiest. I promise that I went into reading this book with my eyes open.
The first part of the book alternated between Sarah’s 1942 and Julia’s 2002. Then, the second part of the book didn’t. Without revealing the end, I wasn’t too keen on losing one of those points of view.
Before I forget, Julia’s husband was horrendous!
Four Out of Five Pearls
Song: Linkin Park – In The End – YouTube
Setting : Paris, France, Germany, Poland, New York City, Boston, Italy
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For more on Tatiana de Rosnay’s Sarah’s Key, check out the following sites:
- S. Krishna’s Books: Book Review: Sarah’s Key – Tatiana de Rosnay
- By the By Books: Book Review: Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
- Book Review: Tatiana de Rosnay’s Sarah’s Key « BIRTH OF A NOVEL
