Customer Reviews

Sarah's Key

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Five stars are not nearly sufficient to describe this most compelling read. By times, the story is so heart-rendering that one simply must put the book down and take a break. It is the story of a young girl, Sarah, and her family during the "French Roundup" of the Jewish people living in France during World War II. As the chapters unfold, a modern-day couple enter the scene and there is a second story to be told.

Apart from the plot and well-developed characters, an additional plus to the book is the short chapters. Written as a reflection on Sarah's childhood trials and tribulations, the chapters alternate from war time years of the early 40's to modern day. The alternate modern day chapters give a pleasant break to the attrocities committed during war time. Sarah's childhood and imprisonment in a concentration camp, the brother she left behind, and the loss of her parents are very painful parts of the book to read. The author has a unique writing style; the reader cannot help but feel all the emotion and chaos as if one was "living the reality" of this horrendous period in time.

The knowledge gained from "Sarah's Key" is that no matter how challenging our world is today, (yes, war still goes on and it is not a perfect world,) we should appreciate the freedom we do have and cherish each day. May there never be another holocaust, and may we learn to respect each other's values, religions, cultures and lifestyles so the world may live in peace and harmony. This book is most highly recommended. Also recommended is "Those Who Save Us" by Jenna Blum.

I found Sara's side of the story to be very much a page-turner, gripping, sad, and I enjoyed reading this part of the book for the most part. I didn't know much about what had happened in Paris so some of it was very new for me which I appreciated. I was not at all interested in Julia as a character, honestly found her to be quite pathetic, did not sympathize with her. I thought it was very weak character development, if that's what you call it, kind of predictable and seemed almost phony. I agree with a previous review that it was something like Danielle Steel. Didn't love the writing style. I would give it three stars because it wasn't terrible, but I certainly wouldn't go rushing out to recommend it to friends...and I know there are better books out there on this topic area...
Overall an easy read though and some women in my book club really enjoyed it.

The book's historical story line was very interesting of the treatment of French Jews during the Holocaust. I enjoyed this part very much and often had a hard time reading how horrible the French police were at rounding up victims. As someone who has studied the Holocaust extensively I was shocked to discover that I knew nothing of Veladrome in France and what happened during the Holocaust. This part of the novel was well researched and constructed and it was interesting to see it through the eyes of a child. However, the "modern" story line of the main character was rather dull, predicable and cliche. It was step above a Danielle Steel novel. This part was rather disappointing and held little interest to me.

I was so disappointed in this book, I saw an advertisment for the movie coming out and since I prefer books to film I purchased it for my Kindle, I did not read the more negative reviews,I won't make that mistake again. I felt this was just too simplified reading. It only kept me reading as I wanted to find out what happened to Sarah, the idea was a good one. I felt I was dragging myself through the book a paragraph at a time. Very repetitive and writing over and over again the facts which had already been covered. It reminded me of several books I have read over the years. If I know I'm reading page by page the writing is very poor. I just kept hoping it would ge better it didn't. It seems like a writer once they become known need to turn out a book every year rather than one good book every few years or they are a poor writer and just fill pages. Another reviewer said it reminded her of Danielle Steele, I haven't read her books in years for the very same reason. I found The Kite Runner to be the same. Great reviews but a poor read. I keep hearing 'what a great book' and I'm thinking am I the only one who doesn't feel that way.
I can't say much more without being repetitive myself.
Annette Code

"Sarah's Key" centers on the shameful Vel' d'Hiv roundup of Jewish families in Paris by their compatriots, the memory of which has been collectively suppressed by the French people. Unfortunately the fictional part of this story fails to live up to the strength of the historical elements and is instead filled uninteresting, unbelievable, or unlikeable characters in contrived situations.

The historical facts in this story deserve telling, and I would suggest that you take a pass on this book and find a work of non-fiction on this topic instead except there don't seem to be any. For that reason alone this book may be worth your time.

I'm sorry, I know a lot of people really liked this book, I did not. Very predictable, and to avoid spoilers, will not get into details. Plot was predictable, although story centred on a not very well known event in French history during the horrible takeover by the Nazis in WW2.

In 1942 in Paris a ten year old girl, Sarah is rounded up with her parents by the French police and taken to Vel' d'Hiv'. Before she leaves she locks her little brother in a cupboard thinking she will be back soon to release him.

In a parallel story Julia Jarmond is asked to write a story about the Vel' d'Hiv' roundup for the 60th anniversary. She is determined to follow Sarah's footsteps.

Switching between the two stories the book tells us of Sarah's trials and ordeals and the horror of being a Jew in occupied France. Julia meanwhile, feels Sarah's anguish as she pursues her story and finds out how closely intertwined it is with her in-laws' story. Julia starts to question her own marriage and life. I did not really empathize with Julia and found while Zoe her daughter seemed to be so mature it was almost unreal.

I did not know about the Vel' d'Hiv' roundup but I did know about how the French do not want to discuss any of their 'ugly' part in WWII. Interestingly, I recently picked up A Thread of Grace By Mary Doria Russell which is about Jews in occupied Italy and how they were hidden. Two authors, similiar subjects and completely different treatments. As much as the French were shown to be brutal the Italians are shown to have some sympathy.

*****SPOILER*****

I would never have continued living in an apartment where the body of a little boy had been found. I may not have had the courage to stand up to the brutality and even might have overlooked how I got the apartment but to continue to live there. UGH!!!
One never knows until one is in that situation how one will react. I could always hope I would stand up and be counted.

This book arrived very quickly, it was in great condition! I couldn't put it down, it was so good. Very haunting, I couldn't stop thinking about it, in fact I still cant!

Amazon has never steered me wrong when it comes to great books... and Sarah's key is no exception. I have been moved to tears on numerous occasions while reading this book. It is unbeliveably powerful, haunting, and at the same time has such joyful moments they also bring a tear to your eyes. You feel so strongly for Sarah and her poor unfortunate little brother. These characters come alive with each page. I had not known of the Vel d'hiv previously and now that I do I want to go to Paris and find the plaques. This awful tradgey should be talked about and remembered so something like this doesn't happen again. I know Sarah and her family is fictious, however what they endured is accurately portrayed in this novel. It is coming up to the 70th anniversary of the Vel d'hiv roundup. Everyone should read this book and remember.

Sarah's Key, by Tatiana de Rosnay, is a book that I was to read for my January book club, though I hadn't intended on reading it when I did, or finishing it in such a short time. You see, my husband plays hockey Sunday mornings and, on occasion, I'll go with him if we're planning to go somewhere else afterwards. Let me just say that without my morning coffee, I'm not quite all 'there' in the morning, so when we went to leave I must have grabbed the first book on my nightstand without paying much attention. I was reading Secret Daughter at this time and had intended on continuing to read it at hockey, so when I whipped out Sarah's Key, I was confused for about 5 minutes, until I realized that my bookmark wasn't missing: I had grabbed the wrong book.

Oops.

After giving myself heck for not taking the correct book, I settled into what I brought and was then kicking myself for owning this book for such a long time and not reading it until now.

Sarah's Key tells two stories: one is the story of Sarah, a Jewish girl, during the days of the Holocaust, who made the decision to lock her brother in a cupboard when the French police came to take her family away, telling herself that she'll come back to get him. The other is the story of Julia, an American in Paris, a journalist who is writing a story about this particular time in history. The story is told, at first, from each perspective, ultimately merging partway through the book.

I thought it was a fantastic read and found myself hooked from the first chapter. I have read books on the Holocaust in the past and whenever I do, I find myself wanting to read more. I was entranced by Sarah's story and wanted to hear more from her, long after her part of the story came to an end. I appreciated Julia's point of view, but it was nothing compared to Sarah's. de Rosnay paints a picture of the wartime and it was hard not to get completely absorbed by both stories with their well-painted characters and landscapes.

While I appreciated Julia's story, I found myself intrigued mostly when she was relaying information about Sarah's story, though, as a character, I didn't really like her character. I thought she acted like a doormat in her relationship and I couldn't find myself relating to her. She didn't have the strength that Sarah had during her story and I had hoped she would find the strength by the end of the novel, but she never did.

I also thought that, at times, things came a little too easy to Julia with her research. People, places, and events needed little to no research and some of her acquaintances seemed too coincidental. Though, I did find myself guessing what would happen throughout the novel, only to find that my original instincts were constantly being thwarted. The writing is simple and the prose easy to read, and the message about never forgetting is a powerful one.

If you enjoy reading books about history (though de Rosnay is clear to say that this is not an intentional book about the history of the Vel d'Hiv), or want a quick, engrossing read, give Sarah's Key a try. I found myself wanting to read more about the events, as well as learning more about the history of my own country.