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!

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?

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?

Let the Discussions on Persuasion Begin!

Question 1:
The start of the story talks about Sir Elliot taking up the Baronetage to find "occupation in an idle hour" and "consolation in a distressed one." Do you have a book or hobby that you can turn to and it unfailingly uplifts you?

While he turns to his family history for vanity's sake - don't you think there are good things to be found in family history?? I certainly think so! It can't be so bad to find comfort in a good history!

Now starting ...Persuasion! (For Real)

Persuasion by Jane Austen!

Most people have read Austen's Pride and Prejudice and/or Sense and Sensibility, but many have not had the pleasue if reading some of her less-hollywoodized books such as Persuasion (though it has been made into a movie). Those who have read it won't mind reading it again - if you haven't read it and you love Austen at all, you'll not regret adding this to your library.

Here's a synopsis....
Persuasion begins seven years after the heroine, Anne Elliot, has jilted her lover, Fredrick Wentworth, upon the request of a most beloved mother figure. Although at the time of the refusal the man seems an inadequate match, the tables are now turned: as in most Austen novels--the girl is poor, the boy is rich. To add insult to injury, Anne’s father is going bankrupt and must rent his house to none other than Fredrick’s sister and brother-in-law, bringing Anne and Fredrick in contact again. Through twists and turns of jealousy, romance, poetry, rumors and a serious head injury, Anne and Fredrick always find themselves in uncomfortable situations that brew up old feelings (that were probably never lost). As Jane Austen’s last completed novel, some critics dismiss it as her darkest; however, others see it as her most honest and universal. Whatever your opinion, the whole novel is worth reading just for the letter (correspondence) in chapter twenty-three: it will make you melt.

We will begin discussions on August 28th!