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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was absolutely SPECTACULAR! I've read a lot of good books in my time, and there have been a lot of them I liked, but very few make it to my list of all-time favorites. This would be one of those rare occasions! I can honestly say that I don't remember the last book I read that was this good and that I literally couldn't put down. Seriously. Read it.
Besides the fact that it has such a compelling story (two stories actually that merge into one so seamlessly), the author does a brilliant job of connecting so passionately the past, present, and future. While we read about a present-day journalist living in France and working on a piece about an underrated aspect of World War II, we are also given powerful pieces of a story about a little girl and her family being taken to camps by the French police. And, well, I won't give it away, but by the end, the two stories are brought together so beautifully.
It's hard to remember parts of human history, especially when it involves horrible suffering, pain, and loss. But this novel profoundly demonstrates the importance of allowing even the most painful times to be a part of us, today and tomorrow.
Magnificent read!
Besides the fact that it has such a compelling story (two stories actually that merge into one so seamlessly), the author does a brilliant job of connecting so passionately the past, present, and future. While we read about a present-day journalist living in France and working on a piece about an underrated aspect of World War II, we are also given powerful pieces of a story about a little girl and her family being taken to camps by the French police. And, well, I won't give it away, but by the end, the two stories are brought together so beautifully.
It's hard to remember parts of human history, especially when it involves horrible suffering, pain, and loss. But this novel profoundly demonstrates the importance of allowing even the most painful times to be a part of us, today and tomorrow.
Magnificent read!
medium-paced
I enjoyed this book and the way the author weaved history and modern day life together so beautifully. Sarah's story was heartbreaking and brought up all of the questions that arise everytime I read about WWII. What would I have done, knowing I couldn't change everything, but hoping I could have changed something for someone? Would I have turned away from the men, women, and children as they were rounded up? Or would I have tried to pass them a piece of bread, a smile, a chance at escape, a glimpse at the beauty of humanity in the face of the very ugliest of humanity? I thought the story of Bertrand and Julia dragged on a bit and that it all wrapped up a little too nicely, but overall I really enjoyed the book and was at times moved and disturbed by the best and the worst of people.
I learned about the Vil d'Hiv - a mass roundup of Jews in German-occupied France - in this book that alternates tales of a modern American-French journalist researching the Vil d'Hiv for an article and a little girl who was rounded up in the Vil d'Hiv. The stories come together at the end with some surprising twists along the way. This is a fascinating, but disturbing story and shows how destructive secrets can be in family relationships. Rated PG-13 for language, violence, and sexual innuendo.
Best book I've read this year, hands down. Intertwining two tales of discovery, a young Jewish girl from 1942 and an American journalist from 2002. The Jewish past, the un-forgiving present, the French involvement and Nazi Germany are brought to life in a sad tale that you just need to read. Seriously. Do it. Now.
This book was awesome. You become very attached to the main characters and its hard to remember they are only fiction. But the events are real. Beautiful book
emotional
sad
medium-paced
I LOVED this book. It was an easy read, but it also taught me something about a particular Jewish round up that I knew nothing about. It kept me turning the pages very quickly.
I think it is an interesting storyline but the author's way of telling it was lacking emotional depth. I didn't tear up at all. And the ending was sort of blah.