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Sarah's Key

by Tatiana de Rosnay (Goodreads Author)

4.08 of 5 stars 4.08 · rating details · 175,404 ratings · 20,156 reviews

Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year-old girl, is brutally arrested with her family by the French police in the Vel’ d’Hiv’ roundup, but not before she locks her younger brother in a cupboard in the family's apartment, thinking that she will be back within a few hours.

Paris, May 2002: On Vel’ d’Hiv’s 60th anniversary, journalist Julia Jarmond is asked to write an article ab...more

Paperback, 293 pages

Published 2008 by John Murray (first published June 12th 2007)

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Apr 01, 2013 Dan Schwent rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: homework-from-the-ladies, 2013

Reporter Julia Jarmond is investigating the events of 1942, when French authorities rounded up the Jews of the cities and put them in concentration camps, an investigation that uncovers links to her husband's family. But how will her tale intersect with that of the title character, a 10 year old girl separated from her family during the 1942 roundup?

First off, this is not something I would pick for myself. However, in the aftermath of a dinner featuring the best biscuits and gravy I've ever had,...more

37 likes · like · see review

Jan 14, 2012 Joy H. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: suggested-by-goodreads-member, historical-fiction, adapted-to-film, watched-film-too

Added 11/8/09.

In _Sarah's Key_ the chapters alternate between the war era and the time sixty years later. We watch as a reporter tries to find out more about what happened during the 1942 round-up of Jewish people in France (known as the "Vel' d’Hiv’ Roundup") (Vélodrome d'Hiver). We also watch the actual round-up as it is happening. The alternating views keep you reading as the suspense builds up.

This is a heartbreaking piece of fiction. It brings home the horror of those Holocaust days and war...more

46 likes · like · see review

Dec 06, 2008 Sol rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It should never be forgotten

By Sol Tetelbaum

Review: Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

Almost a hundred readers published their reviews on Tatiana de Rosnay’s novel Sarah’s Key. Most of them rated the book in four or five stars, but some of them calling the novel “mediocre” showed a lower rating – three stars. It is necessary to admit that their opinions weren’t unfounded and most critical comments were fair. However, from my standpoint, despite the fair critical comments (I don’t think it is nec...more It should never be forgotten

By Sol Tetelbaum

Review: Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

Almost a hundred readers published their reviews on Tatiana de Rosnay’s novel Sarah’s Key. Most of them rated the book in four or five stars, but some of them calling the novel “mediocre” showed a lower rating – three stars. It is necessary to admit that their opinions weren’t unfounded and most critical comments were fair. However, from my standpoint, despite the fair critical comments (I don’t think it is necessary to list them), the novel deserves a rather high rating, and I will try to explain why.
The book is devoted to the Holocaust. The author describes two stories. One story is about the tragedy of a Jewish girl named Sarah. The story is based on historical fact. In 1942, on the orders of German military authorities, French police brutally arrested all Jewish families in Paris. Almost all of them perished in concentration camps.
The second parallel story is about an American journalist, Julia Jermond, who, writing an article about Vel’ d’Hiv’s roundup, found out many horrible details of this crime committed by French police. France wanted to forget about its anti-human past and thoroughly concealed it. The author reminds us of those tragic facts. I am not going to retell the stories. They are already well known, but the book gave birth to some of my thoughts.
In her novel, the author writes with anxiety and great concern that people want to forget about the Holocaust. One character of the book says: “Bringing back the past is never a good idea, especially whatever happened during the war. No one wants to be reminded of that, nobody wants to think about that.” The book demonstrates that such amnesia can be deadly.
For a long time naïve people believed that the world moves in the direction of higher level of humanization. In their naivety, they missed the point when one of the most horrible and bloodthirsty variety of anthropoids (resembling humans) became active. Russian anthropoids captured power in the Soviet Russia, invented concentration camps and, killing over a million innocent people yearly. Over a period of 20 years they killed at least 20 million, maybe more. Then World War II broke out and the world forgot about the 20 million innocent victims.
Humanlike anthropoids appeared in other countries, and people continued to believe that they were ordinary criminals. People’s beliefs melted like a piece of paper in acid when the terrifying truth about fascist factories of deaths became known. People couldn’t believe what they learned. Using modern technology, fascist anthropoids made the killing of humans a branch of industry. For human beings, the Holocaust is impossible to understand, it is just unexplainable. And the only way to prevent it from happening again is to never forget it.
The reviewed book is multidimensional, emotionally written but unfortunately, as it has been mentioned in some reviews, it has weak points as well. Nevertheless, I was impressed with the book, its main message makes the readers think, and this is a sign of good literature. The advantage of the book is in the strong civic position of the author that, I think, has made the book a bestseller.
This book is about events which were not wide-known; it reminds people about the necessity to be alert. Otherwise, the modern anthropoids will commit a new Holocaust, and now all people can become their victims. They already are trying to convince us that there is nothing to remember; there wasn’t a Holocaust at all.
In general, the book is well written, and author’s voice is strong. In my opinion, the book deserves not less than four stars.
Everybody who cares about human life, who reads books not just for entertainment, will read this book with interest and will continue to return to it in his/her mind.

Sol Tetelbaum.
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Dec 13, 2011 Annalisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: book-club, historical-fiction

3.5 stars. A little predictable and melodramatic for a subject that doesn't need anyone playing with your emotions, but still a solid read. It was interesting learning about the French police involvement in the round up of Jews in what was the first deportation of women and children. I was left with not only a sadness for all those families torn from their lives and torn apart, but also for the lost culture and religion for the survivors. Children hidden and raised as Christian children, childre...more 3.5 stars. A little predictable and melodramatic for a subject that doesn't need anyone playing with your emotions, but still a solid read. It was interesting learning about the French police involvement in the round up of Jews in what was the first deportation of women and children. I was left with not only a sadness for all those families torn from their lives and torn apart, but also for the lost culture and religion for the survivors. Children hidden and raised as Christian children, children who never knew they were of Jewish descent, children who lost the connection to their family line and heritage.

The beginning of Julia's story alternating with the girl's was strong. I had to find out what happened to Michel and who exactly Sarah would turn out to be. I also enjoyed Julie's own family drama and the mystery she uncovered that connected her to Sarah and her sad story, not only through geography but emotion as well.

But then Sarah's point of view ends and Julia's story flounders. I think some of the later points in the story would have been better told from Sarah's point of view, even if Julie never discovered them (driving home the point of these lost stories and people). It would have made the story drag less. Also, I could have used a little more selling on why discovering Sarah's story was so important to Julia. As it is, it felt like it was important only because the reader wanted to know, and urgent only because Rosnay didn't want to languish through an unrelated vacation. Once Julia met with William the story kind of fizzles and dies.

(view spoiler)

I don't think Rosnay knew how to end her story. After the big dramatic meeting, she fizzles through a bunch of pointless half scenes that feel more like notes that never make it into a final manuscript until she could make it to the final scene that would have worked better as an epilogue anyway. (view spoiler)

It's a heart-wrenching story and I'd recommend it for anyone interested in the Holocaust.(less)

33 likes · like · see review

Mar 16, 2009 Jeanette rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone

Recommended to Jeanette by: Tyra

Shelves: all-fiction, europe-and-british-isles, world-war-two-fiction

3 1/2 stars

This author grew up in France and was never taught at school about the French complicity in rounding up Jews for the Nazis. When she discovered information about the Vel' D'Hiv' roundup, she knew she had to write about it. The book is her tribute to the 4,000 children who were victims of that roundup.
I cried for these little people. They were robbed of their chance at life before it ever really got started. Bad enough that they were killed, but before that, they were left in the Fren...more

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Oct 22, 2009 Carol rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

October 2009: re-reading this book again for another book club. I hope I like it better than the 1st time but so far I'm not seeing it. Why would she use a word like "ingurgitating" when you can say "ate"?? That kind of writing irritates me a lot. The true story is heartbreaking, and very interesting, but her writing just doesn't impress me as expressing the true horrors experienced by the deported Jews, or any real feeling for Julia's anger at her husband disdainful treatment of her.

Spring 200...more

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Sep 30, 2009 Molly rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was intrigued by the plot for this book. A young girl locks her brother in a cupboard at their apartment in Paris before the Police, at the behest of the Nazi's, take away her and her family. They wait for several days in a detention center, in conditions like the Superdome, before being sent to camps in Southern France, and we wonder if she will retrieve her little brother before he dies or starves or hopefully, is rescued. Unfortunately, another storyline involving a two dimensional American...more

119 likes · like · see review

Aug 06, 2012 Hayes rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Hayes by: "Over 35s" Listopia List

Shelves: over-35s-listopia, ebook, tbr-challenge-2012, read-in-2012

This book is one of the "Top 5 Reads" on my Listopia List: What the Over 35s Have Read This Year (2011), otherwise I would never have discovered it. Thank you for the recommendation, everyone.

~~Might be 4*... have to think for a bit.~~ No, I'll leave it at 3.5*

Not really in the mood to write a review, so I'll be brief and telegraphic.

The Good News:
**The story moves along at a wonderful pace.
**I liked the parallel storylines: over-used, but here it worked perfectly, and I liked the way that the par...more

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Mar 04, 2009 Teri rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I might have given this book higher marks if I hadn't just finished the infinitely superior The Book Thief. But as it is I'm feeling pretty generous with my 2 stars. The subject matter was intriguing. I didn't realize what had happened with the Jews in France. But the author spent too little time with Sarah and her experience there and too much time with boring, self-absorbed, present day Julia and her sex life. Snore!

92 likes · like · see review

Dec 28, 2011 smetchie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: book-club, depressing, hippies-or-hate-or-lurking

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Fuck you Sarah's Key, you manipulative sonofabitching asshole. How dare you make me feel like this at Christmas?! Dead baby brother in a cupboard?! Really?! Gassing the parents at Auschwitz wasn't enough? I don’t give a goddamn what you throw at me for the rest of the story. I WILL NOT CRY AFTER THAT BULLSHIT. I know that’s all you want and you’re not going to get it!* Not from me.

None of the miserable crap in this story would even happen! Here's Sarah and her little brother as the police are ba...more

38 likes · like · see review

Jun 28, 2008 Hara rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Two horrible situations form the premise of this novel. The first is the factual story of the French roundup of the Jews during World War II, which took place in Paris under the auspices of the French Police. It was the French Police, not the Nazis, who dragged French Jews from their homes, separated parents from children, and sent them on to their deaths, all of which was witnessed by French citizens who did little to stop these horrific events. Because so few people are aware of this chapter o...more

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Aug 26, 2008 Sandi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Sandi by: First Reads

Shelves: first-reads, 2008, historical-fiction

I finished "Sarah's Key" this morning and I have so many thoughts going through my head about it. I loved the pacing of the story, how it switched between Sarah's story and Julia's story up until the point where the two merged. I loved how the style of Sarah's story was completely different than the style of Julia's story. I loved how both stories made me cry, even though I knew what was coming. I loved how realistically the characters were portrayed. Nobody was all good or all bad, just human w...more

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Aug 25, 2008 Lisa Vegan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: all who enjoy holocaust literature, historical fiction novels, well crafted novels

Shelves: fiction, gr-author, won-at-gr, advance-copy, reviewed, novel, historical-fiction, holocaust, orphaned-and-quasi-orphaned-kids, altta

I wasn’t sure how the back and forth chapters between one girl in 1942 and a different woman in 2002 were going to work for me, but this story is so well told.

I thought I’d be interested in the 1942 story but wasn’t sure how much I’d become involved with the 2002 story, but much to my relief I enjoyed both stories, although I did think Sarah’s 1942 story was slightly stronger than Julia’s 2002 story. However, I do think my favorite character might be Zoe from the 2002 story.

Reading this was chil...more I wasn’t sure how the back and forth chapters between one girl in 1942 and a different woman in 2002 were going to work for me, but this story is so well told.

I thought I’d be interested in the 1942 story but wasn’t sure how much I’d become involved with the 2002 story, but much to my relief I enjoyed both stories, although I did think Sarah’s 1942 story was slightly stronger than Julia’s 2002 story. However, I do think my favorite character might be Zoe from the 2002 story.

Reading this was chilling, suspenseful, devastating, heartbreaking, and heartwarming. It’s about loss and the destructive power of secrets, both of which are subjects close to my heart, so it was very emotionally powerful for me.

I thought that the author created perfect cadence in her writing style; I loved it. I read it in two days as I was loathe to put it down.

The tale seemed mostly authentic, occasionally something rang slightly off but I didn’t take note and those moments were ones I forgot because the story as a whole rang true. It’s one of those tales made as vivid by fiction as by a non-fiction account, not diluted at all by the parallel story lines.

There were a couple of plot points that I think were meant to be subtle mysteries and that were glaringly obvious to me ahead of the reveal but, even though I noticed them and could tell the author was not being as clever as she meant to be, they did not really diminish my enjoyment of the book, but they did almost cause me to deduct a star from my rating.

I was ignorant of the specific event that took place in Paris in Nazi occupied France that’s the center of this story and I’ve read a lot of non-fiction and fiction holocaust books; I really appreciated this one because I do always enjoy learning new things, however disturbing.

The back of this paperback (advance readers’) edition has an author interview, historical perspective notes, recommended reading (many of the listed books will now go on my to-read shelf) and reading group questions.

This is now one of my treasured books. I am so grateful that I won it at Goodreads’ First Reads program. As soon as I saw it listed there, it went on my to-read list, but given the length of that list I’m not sure when I’d have actually read it; I am so glad that I did.
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Sep 18, 2012 Grace rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: wwii

This is one of those books with an interesting idea that was executed very poorly. It's always disappointing to read books like this because I can't help but think with every wrong turn, every cringe worthy sentence that this could have been so much better in a capable writer's hands.

First off, as I said, it's a very interesting idea. The basic story of Sarah is intriguing and the story of the Vel' d'Hiv' children should be read. However, de Rosnay just doesn't pull it off. She simply is not a...more This is one of those books with an interesting idea that was executed very poorly. It's always disappointing to read books like this because I can't help but think with every wrong turn, every cringe worthy sentence that this could have been so much better in a capable writer's hands.

First off, as I said, it's a very interesting idea. The basic story of Sarah is intriguing and the story of the Vel' d'Hiv' children should be read. However, de Rosnay just doesn't pull it off. She simply is not a good enough author. She uses so many cheap tactics throughout the entire novel. First, the awkward beginning without any sort of set up or characterization. She jumps straight into the roundup without introducing any of the characters. We hardly get to know them, even Sarah, during the entire novel. Second, the modern, parallel story that every single WWII book published in the last few years seems to have. This is an overused tactic that has been run into the ground and beaten down. It's difficult to find a recent book about the Holocaust that doesn't use a parallel story line. Thirdly, the short chapters were very jarring. It felt as if she was using the short chapters to avoid ever having to delve too deep. If the point of view was changing every few pages than maybe no one would notice how much she glossed over.

Now the writing. Frankly, let's face it, the writing was terrible. The best I can say is that it did seem to get a little better as the book went on (or maybe I just got used to it). While reading it, I had to stop at times to read parts out loud to my friends because there were passages that were so awkward. The sentences were short and simple. Too often it felt as though she had looked up words in a thesaurus. Also, she failed to ever completely draw me in. I'm a total sucker when it comes to sad books and cry very easily while reading, however, I never once cried during Sarah's Key, despite the subject matter which I think speaks greatly to the poor quality of the writing.

Next, Sarah's story seemed to be end way too quickly. Taking all the chapters, there was very little time with Sarah. It would have been nice had de Rosnay actually spent more time developing Sarah's character. As I mentioned before, it was frustrating that the book starts with the roundup because we get absolutely no chance to get to know Sarah and it doesn't get any better later. It also would have added a lot to have more from Sarah's perspective instead of those chapters simply ending so soon. Julia's story really isn't that interesting and I would much rather have heard more about Sarah. It just felt like lazy writing.

It gets two stars mostly because I reserve one star for books that I actively hate which is not the case with Sarah's Key. It is, however, a very disappointing and underwhelming book. (less)

13 likes · like · see review

Feb 03, 2010 Kim rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I agree with Katie on this one. I did not enjoy this book. It tells two stories -- one, about a young French girl whose family is rounded up and taken away during the Holocaust, and the other about a modern-day journalist who is tracking down her story. Julia, the contemporary narrator, was self-obsessed, clueless and downright annoying. I couldn't stand her husband, or even her perfect little kid, for that matter. It made it hard to root for them because they were just so unlikeable. The premis...more

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Sep 02, 2008 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone

Shelves: fiction, history, highly-recommended-must-reads, own, first-reads-giveaway

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. First Reads Giveaway book...expected in mail any time now...Will post review when I get thru reading it.

Received today, 26 August 2008...will start reading today! The only thing I think I am dreading about the book is the fate of the brother left in the locked closet. The rest I can steel myself against, LOL.

This is, I believe, the one of the BEST book I have read in a very long time!!! And I normally avoid books with the Holocaust as even a remote topic. Just because I get disgusted with how de...more

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Feb 09, 2008 Angie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I struggled whether to give this a two-star rating rather than a three. I enjoyed reading it, but I didn't read it very thoroughly. I would find myself really blazing through some sentences so that I could discover where the plot was headed (what happened to the boy locked in the cupboard when the rest of his family was dragged off?). The book needed better characterization---I didn't really CARE about the main character (an American journalist who lives in Paris in the current day). The idea of...more

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Aug 26, 2012 Cathy rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: drama, general-fiction, 2012, world-war-ii

I am so disappointed with this book. It had been on my list for awhile, and judging by the cover, summary, and the fact that this has gotten pretty high ratings and deals with WWII, I figured I'd really like this.

Alas. I had far less objections concerning the actual story than I had with regard to the writing style. Especially the chapters written from Sarah's POV were something of a torture. Instead of reading a fictional story, I felt as if I kept being submitted to the author's opinion and j...more

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Feb 08, 2008 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Susan by: Nancy Burke

The book concerns a part of French history that I didn't know about (i'm embarrassed to say). On July 16, 1942 more than 10,000 French Jews were arrested by the French police, kept for about a week in horrid conditions in the Velodrome d'Hiver in Paris, then sent first to internment camps in France, and then on to Auschwitz. The story is a fictional account of one young girl who, with her family, is arrested, and then the parallel story of an American woman married to a Frenchman who discovers...more

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Nov 10, 2012 April rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, own

I felt the idea behind this book was excellent, but the execution left something to be desired. I enjoyed the parts which pertained to Sarah, her story was fascinating. The parts which dealt with Julia seemed to come from a different book. Certain parts definately seemed forced, like when the author introduced a character,Amelie, out of the blue. Really, this character had little purpose, I felt she could have been cut from the story and it probably would have made the book better.
Read the rest ...more

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Sep 21, 2012 Sara rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is breaking my heart, but I can't put it down. It is definitely one that will stick with me for a very long time.

10 likes · like · see review

Mar 04, 2009 Corinne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: advance-reader-s-copy

Let me start off by saying I could not put this book down. I must also say, that this book ripped my heart into tiny pieces and I'm not sure I'll ever be the same. Really. Maybe it's because I'm a mom or maybe I'm just an incredibly sensitive person. But I now have images in my brain that will never leave.

Sarah's Key takes place in France - switching between the modern day and the early days of World War II. I really like books like this, and I think the author did a fine job of transitioning us...more

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Nov 05, 2011 Aubrey Tate rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult-fiction, books-made-into-movies

History was always my least favorite subject in school. I couldn't relate to it because it was already in the past. Yet the parts of history that I was drawn to were the struggles, the suffering, the wars. The Holocaust, in particular, has had my attention from the get go. I have read books on it, visited museums dedicated to it, and listened to survivors tell their story. So when I found out that Sarah's Key had the Holocaust as a primary focus I felt I had to read it.

What I loved about the boo...more History was always my least favorite subject in school. I couldn't relate to it because it was already in the past. Yet the parts of history that I was drawn to were the struggles, the suffering, the wars. The Holocaust, in particular, has had my attention from the get go. I have read books on it, visited museums dedicated to it, and listened to survivors tell their story. So when I found out that Sarah's Key had the Holocaust as a primary focus I felt I had to read it.

What I loved about the book was that de Rosnay taught me more. She focused the book on a particular, often overlooked, event during the Holocaust which was the "The great roundup at the Velodrome d'Hiver." In addition, she shed light on the role that the French played in killing many of those people, particularly the children. She took my troubles relating to history and allowed me to relate with the use of her characters and historical times mixed with current times.

Yet she did it all with such a tender story of a little girl, Sarah, who was taken along with her parents from her home because they were Jewish. Before the police could search the house Sarah hid her brother in a cupboard to save him and locked it. She told him that she would come back for him. The story is not only of her journey to get back to her brother but her journey in life. It flips from her story, set back during the Holocaust, to current times with a journalist who is investigating more into what happened.

I almost gave this book four stars because of Julia's (the journalist) need for validation. I couldn't stand that her validation became such a priority over those that had done the suffering. In other words, it shouldn't have been about her but about them. However, I went with a five because I had trouble putting down this book. Generally, I can't read when there is TV or anything with words playing around me. Yet my husband was listening to a podcast and I was too engrossed in the story to drift away. It was a page turner for me and it wasn't fast pace, per say. I just became intrigued with these characters, with Sarah, her brother, and Julia, and the story as a whole.

A great read from Tatiana De Rosnay!(less)

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Jan 21, 2012 Carolyn rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, history

This book consists of two stories intertwined: a fictional account of Sarah, a young Jewish girl who escaped a French internment camp for Jews rounded up on July 16, 1942 in Paris, and the story of Julia Jarmond, an American journalist living in Paris, who uncovers the mysterious and tragic story of Sarah.

The story of Sarah is compelling and powerful. The shameful Velodrome d'Hiver round-up, conducted by the French police of the Vichy government, was denied and hidden by the French for decades....more

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Nov 30, 2011 Melissa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Sarah’s Key by Tatiana De Rosnay is a book of fiction that reads like a true story . I felt the author Tatiana De Rosnay did a superb job at writing this book. She took a not so well know history of France and made it relevant in a very tasteful way. This event was used for the book’s base but the characters where fiction. I had a hard time at the beginning ( I know very little about France) of this book but I am thankful that I completed this book. I would have missed out on a great story that...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 24, 2013 Fischwife rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

**Possible spoilers.**

Meh.

The author did an excellent job of creating and sustaining suspense in the first part of the novel, when the reader wonders if Sarah will get back to free her brother in time.

The story of what happened to Sarah and her family during the Nazi occupation of Paris is compelling and heart-wrenching.

However, the story of Julia is a big yawn, in spite of all the melodrama the author throws into her life. It reads like a soap opera, or like chick lit (which I loathe), and is...more **Possible spoilers.**

Meh.

The author did an excellent job of creating and sustaining suspense in the first part of the novel, when the reader wonders if Sarah will get back to free her brother in time.

The story of what happened to Sarah and her family during the Nazi occupation of Paris is compelling and heart-wrenching.

However, the story of Julia is a big yawn, in spite of all the melodrama the author throws into her life. It reads like a soap opera, or like chick lit (which I loathe), and is in jarring contrast to Sarah's story. Julia is a thoroughly unlikeable character whom I just wanted to shake; and I couldn't bring myself to care about her, her daughter, her husband, her in-laws, her sister, or her unborn child. I wanted to shake the author, too, and say, "Tell me more about Sarah. Tell me more about something interesting and meaningful."

Some elements that, I think, the author meant to be fraught with meaning, such as the name of Julia's second child, are eye-rollingly predictable. Others are mystifying and beyond belief, such as when a pregnant Julia abruptly ends a family visit in America to haul her daughter off to Italy in search of Sarah's son. WTF? She lives in Paris, for cripes' sake, which is far closer to Italy than America, so this made no sense whatsoever to me. Nor could I understand why Julia felt compelled to travel halfway across the world apologize to the son for something her husband's family didn't actually do, but sort of witnessed. Huh? She seemed unbalanced to me. Equally strange was her puzzlement over pains in her abdomen while in Italy, even though she had had previous miscarriages. Ummm. Wouldn't her first thought be to suspect a problem with her pregnancy?

The writing is clumsy at times. For instance, I actually laughed out loud when I read these lines: "Then his mobile rang. He answered it. I could tell by his expression it was a woman. I wondered who. His wife? One of his daughters?"(p. 287) So, Julia can tell the gender of a person on the other end of a phone connection, just by looking at the expression on someone's face? Really? That's quite the skill. I mean, I could perhaps buy the idea that someone's expression might reveal that they are speaking with a romantic partner. But even a daughter? Amazing.

Anyway, I think I'll have to stop ranting now, before I move my cursor back up to remove another star.(less)

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Nov 07, 2009 Susan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This Holocaust related novel explores France's Vichey's government's not-so-often spoken-of-complicity with the Nazis in 1942 and the French people's reactions to this slice of history, ranging from accepting resignation to denial to shame. At the core of the story is the Vel d'Hiv roundup of Jews by the French police; the Jews were then deported to Nazi work and death camps. Sarah's Key is a compelling, thought-provoking read.

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May 31, 2009 Sylvie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Based on the historical part of the novel, I would certainly give a 4.5 if not a 5 ... As a Canadian not Jewish, I feel ignorant about the Holocaust or any war facts (our country went to war but its people never lived a war). I was actually listening to the book (commuting to work) in the weeks that followed my return from Germany where I had visited Dachau. Tears came up while listening...
Unfortunately, the parallel story was SO bad that it took away from the emotion. Specially the second part...more

9 likes · like · see review

Dec 11, 2011 Toki rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved the idea of this book and Sarah's chapters were great but I pretty much skimmed over Julia's chapters after about 4 of them. Once Sarah's chapters were over (which happened much too soon) I skipped whole pages because I just didn't care. Julia's chapters ruined what could have been a great story. Maybe if I were a middle aged woman, I would have loved this book...?

8 likes · like · see review

Jul 23, 2011 Cheryl rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Four hundred and fifty French policemen in Occupied France, obeying the demands of the Nazis, arrested 10,000 Jewish men, women, and children on July 16, 1942 and brought them to the Velodrome d'Hiver stadium. This would begin the process of their extermination.

Who can unlock the soul of Frenchmen who facilitated the emptying of Jewish homes, denied them food, water and sanitation in the Velodrome for days, drove the buses and trains that delivered them to a nearby internment camp, separated mot...more

8 likes · like · see review

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About Tatiana de Rosnay

My new book The House I loved (Rose in French) will be published in the USA by Saint Martin's Press on Februaary 14th 2012.

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TATIANA DE ROSNAY was born in the suburbs of Paris and is of English, French and Russian descent. She is the author of 8...more

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“When would he realize that it wasn't his infidelity I couldn't bear, but his cowardice?” — 55 people liked it

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