My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A World War II novel, with true lives, stories, sorrows and death. The author, Irene Nemirovsky was a Jew, who converted to Catholicism, and was living in Paris. As a well known author during these years, she was arrested by the Germans, taken to Auschwitz and she died there. Her husband searched desperately for her, even petitioning the Germans to take her place. Eventually he was also arrested and died at Auschwitz. Her two daughters were kept in hiding by their nanny and as they moved from place to place they carried along with them a suitcase filled with their mothers' writings. Years later, the suitcase was opened and this book was found.
The book does have an unfinished feel to it. And upon reading her notes in the pages following the novel, the author obviously had more plans upon which she was unable to act. She describes what Paris was like as the Germans were approaching. She follows 5 different characters as they leave Paris, some return while others find refuge in small villages. Not all of the stories are complete as she was arrested during the writing of this book. She and her family were among those who left Paris seeking safety in the countryside. For me though, just knowing all of the history of her personal life, made me want to read it. I think I will also look for other translations of her earlier novels.
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2 comments:
I'm glad you read this, Molly! I keep trying but have had a hard time getting into it. Now maybe I will be a little more motivated.
I loved this book. I found it to be one of the most insightful and thoughtful glimpses into a citizen's life during early World War II. It's really one of my favorites. I can't even imagine how good the finished draft would have been.
and, yes, her own personal story no doubt adds to my own admiration.
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