Okay! We'll be starting discussions on Sarah's Key next week, but in the meantime, we wanted to request the titles you want read in the book club! We'll create a list - one book per month - and publish it soon!
Looking forward to hearing your requests!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Shall we move forward?? Sarah's Key
Let us now begin Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay.
July 1942 marked a dark period in the history of France where thousands of Jewish families were rounded up and forcibly kept in the Velodrome d'Hiver. They were then sent off to transit camps in France such as Drancy, before being packed off to Auschwitz, a Nazi death camp. What is so unnerving about this whole incident is that the rounding up and mobilisation of Jews for deportation was done by the French authorities.
Based upon this seldom mentioned, little known piece of French history, author Tatiana de Rosnay has crafted a well-written novel that alternates between the past in 1942, and the present. The past centers around a 10 year old Jewish girl Sarah Strazynski who is forced to go to the Velodrome d'Hiver with her mother and father, innocently leaving behind a 4 year old brother Michel locked in a secret cupboard with the assurance that she would return to let him out when it was safe.
The present revolves around writer Julia Jarmond, a transplanted American who is married to a frenchman and finds herself being consumed by the story of the Vel d'Hiv incident. As she digs deeper, she uncovers dark secrets surrounding her husband's family which are connected to the deportations of Jews from France. As the truth emerges, the author deftly handles the question of guilt caused by supressed secrets and how the truth can sometimes not only bring about pain and disrupt the regularity of life, yet also have the ability to heal and move forwards into the future.
Find the book soon! We'll give 1 month for reading and we'll discuss starting October 10!
July 1942 marked a dark period in the history of France where thousands of Jewish families were rounded up and forcibly kept in the Velodrome d'Hiver. They were then sent off to transit camps in France such as Drancy, before being packed off to Auschwitz, a Nazi death camp. What is so unnerving about this whole incident is that the rounding up and mobilisation of Jews for deportation was done by the French authorities.
Based upon this seldom mentioned, little known piece of French history, author Tatiana de Rosnay has crafted a well-written novel that alternates between the past in 1942, and the present. The past centers around a 10 year old Jewish girl Sarah Strazynski who is forced to go to the Velodrome d'Hiver with her mother and father, innocently leaving behind a 4 year old brother Michel locked in a secret cupboard with the assurance that she would return to let him out when it was safe.
The present revolves around writer Julia Jarmond, a transplanted American who is married to a frenchman and finds herself being consumed by the story of the Vel d'Hiv incident. As she digs deeper, she uncovers dark secrets surrounding her husband's family which are connected to the deportations of Jews from France. As the truth emerges, the author deftly handles the question of guilt caused by supressed secrets and how the truth can sometimes not only bring about pain and disrupt the regularity of life, yet also have the ability to heal and move forwards into the future.
Find the book soon! We'll give 1 month for reading and we'll discuss starting October 10!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Anne
In a letter, Austen described Anne Elliot as "almost too good for me." Do you find Anne "too good" to be true? Is her goodness cloying and sentimental? Or is her goodness something different—an integrity combined with strength and acceptance? How do you see the heroine of this novel?
Mary
Do you find Mary's hypochondria funny...or irritating...or what? Consider, also, the scene where Mary manipulates Anne into looking after young Charles so that she, Mary, can go dinner at the Musgrove's and meet Captain Wentworth!
What's the Point?
Okay - so what's the point that Austen is trying to make with this novel? It has something to do with persuasion and the use of it. But what do you think she wants us to take from this book?
Friday, September 2, 2011
Lady Russell: Right or Wrong?
So Anne is very civil in her review of Lady Russell's "persuasion" - even after she realizes that it was the wrong advice for her! She says that she doesn't hold a grudge against Lady Russell and the advice she gave, but if ever she finds herself in the same position she would give different advice. I mean...really?? I blame Lady Russell and her snobbery a bit for Anne and Frederick's delay in perfect happiness! Am I alone in this?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)