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A review by duskk_novels
While Paris Slept by Ruth Druart
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
'There’s more to a book than just the words on the page.. '
1944, and the bleeding streets of France have become a place where even the angels cry. Man’s inhumanity against man has left a wounded country, picked open its scars and left its people piling up on the roadside. Railway worker Jean-Luc is torn between working under the Nazis and saving his country from them. So when the day comes where he silently sabotages the train tracks heading to Auschwitz, he sees for the first time the tormented emaciated souls of the last remaining Jews of France, pouring out from the cattle wagons. As Sarah Lafitte stumbles out of the bursting wagon, she holds her new-born baby close like an anchor against the endless sea of prisoners. A month old and already the love she bears him could split the skies open. So it guts her to her core because she loves him too much to hold on, and she pushes her baby into the arms of the railway worker standing in the middle of the sea like a lighthouse. ‘Take my baby!’ she screams. She knows so fragile a life could never survive the hell-ravaged grounds of Auschwitz
1944, and the bleeding streets of France have become a place where even the angels cry. Man’s inhumanity against man has left a wounded country, picked open its scars and left its people piling up on the roadside. Railway worker Jean-Luc is torn between working under the Nazis and saving his country from them. So when the day comes where he silently sabotages the train tracks heading to Auschwitz, he sees for the first time the tormented emaciated souls of the last remaining Jews of France, pouring out from the cattle wagons. As Sarah Lafitte stumbles out of the bursting wagon, she holds her new-born baby close like an anchor against the endless sea of prisoners. A month old and already the love she bears him could split the skies open. So it guts her to her core because she loves him too much to hold on, and she pushes her baby into the arms of the railway worker standing in the middle of the sea like a lighthouse. ‘Take my baby!’ she screams. She knows so fragile a life could never survive the hell-ravaged grounds of Auschwitz
Through a heart-wrenching series of events, we watch how Jean-Luc and his wife Charlotte scale forbidden territories and walk through oceans to save the little miracle of life nested in their hands. Through multiple narratives, we unearth the deep, painful reality of human sacrifice and the moral and ethical dilemmas that come with surviving war. We focus on cultural identities, where they stop and start, and unravel the layers to the meaning of ‘home’ – who or what is ‘home?’
Jean-Luc and Sarah were outstanding, admirable characters who embodied different versions of love and sacrifice. It was fascinating and achingly beautiful reading the opposing POVS and understanding the undying love they had for the child, one who carried him and one who raised him. However, the prose was unbearably poor and at times, triggering. The wording and narrative style was underwhelming with a depressing lack of depth, emotion and rushed tones especially for such a tragic plotline. Charlotte’s POV was the ABSOLUTE WORST! I didn’t pick a deeply moving novel to read the POV of a vain, shallow, overgrown child who did not seem to change as the character aged. Additionally, the chapters centring on Jean-Luc and Charlotte’s relationship were cringing with an annoying lack of action at the start. The book wasted so much potential and I only recommend solely for its series of events and nothing more. Unfortunately I was let down by this one
I'm sorry Ruth Druart xx
PS : I want to see how Jennifer Saint would write this. Now there's a writer who knows how to build emotion and imagery using words
I'm sorry Ruth Druart xx
PS : I want to see how Jennifer Saint would write this. Now there's a writer who knows how to build emotion and imagery using words