Questions About Suite Française

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Answered Questions (7)

Is this book ok for teenagers to read and does it have any bad content because I know it's a romance novel?

Denise This is NOT a "romance" novel. It is a part of an unfinished 5-part novel. It is presented as connected vignettes about a group of people and what hap…moreThis is NOT a "romance" novel. It is a part of an unfinished 5-part novel. It is presented as connected vignettes about a group of people and what happens to them when France is invaded during WW2. Written in realistic terms about people who are experiencing the most unsettling events in their lives, many of whom act in ways which in calmer, more normal times would be bizzare and unthinkable. It is an interesting study of human nature when exposed to extremes and under dire threat. Meant to be a 5-part novel , the author died in Auschwitz 1942 with only 2 parts completed. Her daughters kept the manuscript while in hiding and later had it published in this form.

Romance? Hardly. For young teenagers? Hard to say - certainly not for the immature and that would be only because of the complex emotional content expressed. Lack of life experience may make that content difficult to understand. From a historical perspective, it is most interesting to read about how some people coped with the nightmarish circumstances of their country being invaded - not the most dramatic parts of such but in the day-to-day terms of such living. (less)

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Is it a conversion novel?

Tiffany This book is not Christian literature. This book is more centred on what was happening in France during the German Occupation in the Second World War.…moreThis book is not Christian literature. This book is more centred on what was happening in France during the German Occupation in the Second World War. There are characters that are Catholic that are present throughout this novel, but other than knowing they are Catholic (one of the characters is a priest) there's no mention of Christian themes. Nemirovsky wrote her book as a statement on what was going on in France during the war. So the characters represent the troubles that many of the French had to suffer through during those years.(less)

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How different is the novel compared to the 2014 film?

Rosemary Bolton I just watched the film last evening.
I read the book several years ago, perhaps when it first came out.
The film is different, not so detailed.
I beli…moreI just watched the film last evening.
I read the book several years ago, perhaps when it first came out.
The film is different, not so detailed.
I believe the book is better. (less)

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Was anyone else surprised to hear the German invaders being housed by the French in this small town were depicted as somewhat refined compared to the farmers? Generally we hear about their brutality to the townspeople; as if they don't even have a soul.