Book Selection Status: READ
Month: November 2010
Month: November 2010
Genre: Fiction Literature:
Book of the Month: Sarah's Key
Author: Tatiana de Rosnay
Question source: http://www.readinggroupguides.com/guides_s/sarahs_key1.asp
Discussion Questions:
1. What did you know about France’s role in World War II --- and the Vél d’Hiv round-up in particular --- before reading Sarah’s Key? How did this book teach you about, or change your impression of, this important chapter in French history?
2. Sarah’s Key is composed of two interweaving story lines: Sarah’s, in the past, and Julia’s quest in the present day. Discuss the structure and prose-style of each narrative. Did you enjoy the alternating stories and time-frames? What are the strengths or drawbacks of this format?
3. Per above: Which “voice” did you prefer: Sarah’s or Julia’s? Why? Is one more or less authentic than the other? If you could meet either of the two characters, which one would you choose?
4. How does the apartment on la rue de Saintonge unite the past and present action --- and all the characters --- in Sarah’s Key? In what ways is the apartment a character all its own in?
5. What are the major themes of Sarah’s Key?
6. de Rosnay’s novel is built around several “key” secrets which Julia will unearth. Discuss the element of mystery in these pages. What types of narrative devices did the author use to keep the keep the reader guessing?
7. Were you surprised by what you learned about Sarah’s history? Take a moment to discuss your individual expectations in reading Sarah’s Key. You may wish to ask the group for a show of hands. Who was satisfied by the end of the book? Who still wants to know --- or read --- more?
8. How do you imagine what happens after the end of the novel? What do you think Julia’s life will be like now that she knows the truth about Sarah? What truths do you think she’ll learn about her self?
9. Among modern Jews, there is a familiar mantra about the Holocaust; they are taught, from a very young age, that they must “remember and never forget” (as the inscription on the Rafle du Vél d’Hiv) Discuss the events of Sarah’s Key in this context. Who are the characters doing the remembering? Who are the ones who choose to forget?
10. What does it take for a novelist to bring a “real” historical event to life? To what extent do you think de Rosnay took artistic liberties with this work?
11. Why do modern readers enjoy novels about the past? How and when can a powerful piece of fiction be a history lesson in itself ?
12. We are taught, as young readers, that every story has a “moral”. Is there a moral to Sarah’s Key? What can we learn about our world --- and our selves --- from Sarah’s story?
2. Sarah’s Key is composed of two interweaving story lines: Sarah’s, in the past, and Julia’s quest in the present day. Discuss the structure and prose-style of each narrative. Did you enjoy the alternating stories and time-frames? What are the strengths or drawbacks of this format?
3. Per above: Which “voice” did you prefer: Sarah’s or Julia’s? Why? Is one more or less authentic than the other? If you could meet either of the two characters, which one would you choose?
4. How does the apartment on la rue de Saintonge unite the past and present action --- and all the characters --- in Sarah’s Key? In what ways is the apartment a character all its own in?
5. What are the major themes of Sarah’s Key?
6. de Rosnay’s novel is built around several “key” secrets which Julia will unearth. Discuss the element of mystery in these pages. What types of narrative devices did the author use to keep the keep the reader guessing?
7. Were you surprised by what you learned about Sarah’s history? Take a moment to discuss your individual expectations in reading Sarah’s Key. You may wish to ask the group for a show of hands. Who was satisfied by the end of the book? Who still wants to know --- or read --- more?
8. How do you imagine what happens after the end of the novel? What do you think Julia’s life will be like now that she knows the truth about Sarah? What truths do you think she’ll learn about her self?
9. Among modern Jews, there is a familiar mantra about the Holocaust; they are taught, from a very young age, that they must “remember and never forget” (as the inscription on the Rafle du Vél d’Hiv) Discuss the events of Sarah’s Key in this context. Who are the characters doing the remembering? Who are the ones who choose to forget?
10. What does it take for a novelist to bring a “real” historical event to life? To what extent do you think de Rosnay took artistic liberties with this work?
11. Why do modern readers enjoy novels about the past? How and when can a powerful piece of fiction be a history lesson in itself ?
12. We are taught, as young readers, that every story has a “moral”. Is there a moral to Sarah’s Key? What can we learn about our world --- and our selves --- from Sarah’s story?
9 comments:
I stopped by your blog today. This book sounds intriguing. I'll suggest it for our book club here in Fort Worth, Texas.
Ann
Cozy In Texas
To Cozy Texas:
Cool Your club is Cozy too! Lol
Well...I haven't read this book, but I've read many good reviews about it. I hope your club enjoys it.
1. I had a limited knowledge of France’s role in WWII before reading this book - I knew they were occupied by Germany and there was a French resistance, but little else really. I had no knowledge of the Vel d’Hiv round-up. I thought the book provided an interesting look at the way the French dealt with this horrific part of their history. Like most societies - I think we all tend to try and hide the ugly truth about ourselves and our past misdeeds. I am interested in learning more about topic.
2. Note: I read this book a few months ago. While reading I enjoyed the interweaving story lines, although I freely admit at times I am challenged by this format. There are moments when I really want to see where one character is going when it switches to the other character. I think the author has to have some skill to pull this off successfully - weaving the stories and having them conclude in such a fashion that the reader is satisfied.
3. I don’t remember having a preference of characters. I think I more easily related to Julia due to age and situation, but I didn’t consider one more authentic than the other. I would probably choose to meet Sarah because I would want to talk to her about her experience.
4. The apartment is a central character because it is the uniting force of the story. It is what connects Sarah and family to Julia’s in-laws and inherently Julia herself.
5. The major themes I felt while reading where loss and change. Both Sarah and Julia experience them in the novel.
6. I think using the format of the book was one narrative device that the author used. By interweaving the story lines the reader never learns too much information at once. Also, Julia’s profession lends itself to her discovering the secrets incrementally.
7. No, I don’t remember being surprised. I remember being satisfied by the end of the book and enjoying it. I did want to read more about the time in history in France...still on my list of things to read. :)
Skipping 8 & 9
10. I think it takes a lot of research to bring a historical time period to life in a novel. I think de Rosnay took some artistic liberties because she didn’t live through it and have the experience to base it from, but I think when you write historical fiction you have some responsibility to the reader to keep some facts straight and to inform your reader where you stray.
11. I know that I enjoy the historical fiction genre because although there are the same problems they are presented in a different way. The boy might like the girl, but there are different social norms and pressures. There might be a murder, but there weren’t guns, so how did it happen? There are wars, but the whole act of warfare is on a different level. It is easy to escape in historical fiction and still feel like maybe you are learning a little something. I think it is easy to think that you are getting a history lesson if the characters are real and the story is based on an actual event, person, or place. Historical fiction has made me want to travel and read more non-fiction. It has opened my eyes - both literally and figuratively.
12. I think the story still shows that life is filled with difficult choices. It reminds me that we never know what we will choose until we are faced with the decision to make.
1. I knew nothing about the Vel d Hiv roundup during World War II (thumbs down to Phila. Public school education). My opinion of WWII hasn’t changed much, just another dimension added to it.
2. Initially, I did not like the alternating back and forth from present to past. I felt like I was starting all over each time the narrator switched. (It may be the ADH part of my brain.) Eventually, I was able to focus and as the story gained more of my attention I adapted
3. I enjoyed Sarah’s voice the best. I felt like her story was the most crucial of the book. I would love to have met Sarah as well. She was such a brave child and such an old soul.
4. The cupboard is how the apartment united the past and present. The hiding of Michael in the cupboard, and then finding him there later. The actions of each person involved shaped their lives as well as generations to come. So many people affected because they choose to keep what happened a secret. The apartment itself seems to call out help. The remodeling of the apartment seems to parallel with the coming out of the secrets and the changes bought to so many lives. The key presence from beginning to the end of the story also connects the apartment; we began the story with the key and ended the story with the finding of the key.
5. The major themes of Sarah’s Key is change.
6. The switching of narratives at pivotal points in the story is how the author kept me guessing.
7. I was not surprised by what I learned of Sarah’s history. The way things were handled while she was a child seemed the best way to handle the situation at the time. I was disappointed that after so many years Sarah ended up taking her own life. It appeared that her life had turned out pretty good, but she couldn’t let go of the past. It seems like such a contradiction to her younger self.
8. I imagine that Julia will end up dating William. It may turn out to be a good connection since their secrets have been unearthed. Not certain what truths she will find out about herself.
9. The Jews that experienced Vel d Hiv never forgot, but the French choose to forget. I think the French forgot mostly because of guilt. Their part in the death of so many isn’t a proud fact in French history. Of course the Jews lost so much, how could the ever forget. Sarah lived through the ordeal and lost everything. Edouard and his father were exceptions; both always remembered but choose to appear that they had forgotten.
10. I think that a novelist can bring any historical event to life with just knowledge of the particular event. An actual witness to the event makes the story more believable. It appears that de Rosnay took liberties in reporting Sarah and her family’s roundup experience.
11. I think readers enjoy reading historical novels because it gives a glimpse into something that really happened. They can be powerful history lessons in that it motivates the reader to actually look up/ research the event to learn “the truth” about the event.
12. 12. I believe the moral of the story is: The world is full of evil, and if we let bad things consume us we can end up losing out. (Sarah ended up killing herself, Edouard and his father were negatively affected, Julia lost a husband as did William.)but letting go of the bad things can help you to heal and move ahead like Edouard, Julia, and William eventually did.
This is my first book with Cozy Slippers. I read this book over the summer and loved it. Questions/answers/comments are below.
1. I thought I knew quite a lot about World War II and this book showed me that I apparently did not. I had never heard of Vel d'Hiv. This revelation has made me think the French were quite awful to their people during the War.
2. I loved the parallel storyline format -- each woman's story complemented the other's. It was well done. This switching back and forth could get dizzying and confusing if not done well.
3. I preferred Sarah's voice because her story was much more fascinating and, obviously, far different than anything I've ever experienced in my life. I would like to meet Sarah for the same reason.
4. The apartment is the one constant in the book and the focal point. The way de Rosnay describes the apartment it seems it has a life of its own.
5. Major theme I felt all through the book was desperation -- from Sarah and Julia.
6. I kept expecting that each character would circle back together somewhere, so I kept seeing mysteries in everything.
7. I was a little surprised. The wrap-up of the storylines was very clever. Yes, I'd like to read a continuation of the story.
8. Julia learned she had her own strength from Sarah.
9. The French who watched the roundup always remembered it, but were always trying to forget. They were ashamed.
10. Research must be very extensive to make an historical event "real." But, in my opinion, literary license with those events, if they do not totally contradict the accepted history, makes these types of stories worth reading. I do not care for non-fiction.
11. I love escaping to different times and fictional stories (past and present). I read newspapers and online news for "real" events. A well-written and well-researched piece of fiction can transport the reader into the time and venue of the story and give the reader a better sense of that time in history.
12. The "moral" I got from Sarah's Key is stand up for yourself.
--Susan
1. Before I read this book I knew nothing of the Vel’ d’Hiv round up and the French’s role in World War II. This book taught me historical facts and gave me a feel, visual and an understanding about what life was like for Jewish adults and children living France during July 1942. This book changed my perception of the soldiers and policemen who participated in this tragedy and most importantly it has educated me about lack of mercy and injustice Jewish people were given in the past.
2. I loved the interweaving story lines between a girl in 1942 and a woman in 2002; because when Sarah’s sad story began to get too overwhelming and heart wrenching; I felt I was given a break when the author alternated to Julia’s story. The structure of Sarah’s story was told in the second person where as Julia’s story was told in the first person. Sarah’s narrative was composed of more simple descriptive prose and Julia’s was similar but the prose in her story seemed to have more personal contexts. The only drawback with writing a story this way is that some readers may develop favoritism for one character and their story and feel overwhelmed by having to read a story about a character that does not interest them.
3. I found both Sarah and Julia’s story to be very compelling but I found myself becoming more attached and fond of Julia’s story and her search for Sarah. I liked Julia’s voice best because her story had more mature and cognitive elements where as Sarah’s voice seemed perceptively solemn whenever she occasionally voiced her protest, needs, circumstances and wishes. I CRIED EVERYDAY ON THE TRAIN WHENEVER I READ SARAH’S STORY. It still pains me to think about the horrific treatment and conditions that those poor, innocent, parentless children lived in. It still pains me to think about what it must have felt like to be torn away from your child, the feeling of being powerless, forsaken, lonely and hopeless. Absolutely dreadful. If I could meet either character I would like to meet Julia.
4. The apart reunites the characters of past and present because it was the location that harbored the Starzinsky family and the Bertrand’s family. This apartment was their home. As the story goes when Sarah finally returns back home she encounters Bertrand’s father Eduard and Eduard’s father and it is then that apartment is forced to reveal Sarah’s 4 year old brother Michel dead with in a cupboard. This was a tragedy that was viewed as a taboo subject that became a burdensome secret. The apartment is a like a character because it witnessed the activities and nature of the lives it harbored, it witnessed the tragedy and it along with the inhabitants kept Michel’s death a secret within itself.
5. Based on both Julia’s and Sarah’s story the common themes seem to be: SECRETS, SEARCHING and SURVIVAL ; Everyone who knew the tragedy of Michel’s death and of Sarah’s unintentional fault choose to keep such occurrence and encountering a SECRET from other loved ones; Sarah diligently SEARCHES for her brother and Julia diligently SEARCHES for Sarah; In order for Sarah must fight and learn how to SURVIVE and live life being a prisoner of her past and regrets and Julia must learn to SURVIVE and follow through after making difficult life changing decisions.
6. De Rosnay uses the element of surprise in this novel. She does this by not revealing all the facts and names all at once; instead she refers to characters as “the girl”. She also keeps the suspense intriguing by ending one story with vague circumstance/secrets and revealing such detailed information in the other character’s story.
7. I was very surprised to know about Sarah’s history. I expected this book to be solely about the horrific events and survival of a Jewish girl named Sarah during the World War II. I was surprised to learn that this book exposed turmoil and inconsolable aftermath of Vel d’Hiv’/WWII. However, I was glad to discover that Julia and William finally reconnected and grieved with one another about a matter that has affected them drastically. I found satisfying closure in this ending and didn’t desire more; for I can imagine how all their lives continue from this point onward.
8. I imagine Julia is content with now having William in her life as a best friend with which to share Sarah’s memory. I can see Julia recalling Sarah’s life and drawing courage, strength and purpose from it and periodically compare her circumstance to Sarah’s. As a journalist she may consider creating fictional novel just as Tatiana de Rosnay has.
9. Jewish decedents, survivors, and inquisitive compassionate non Jewish people like Julia are the ones that choose to remember. Non Jewish descendants such as French police and most French civilians choose to forget.
10. It takes an author in tuned with psychological reasons of the human behavior and a factual understanding of history.
Rosnay wanted her readers to acknowledge that innocent lives off all ages were lost and survivor’s souls were shattered by the French government due to lack of human moral justice. She also wanted her readers to acknowledge that despite the immorality of the French and Germans that there was compassion shown by the brave people who risked losing everything to help survivors.
I read this book and loved it
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