"Loses some force in its latter half but the key story remains gripping. Unlocks 70-year-old horrors so the present can't shut the door on past complicities and crimes." Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada).
I found this quote very true. The story did in fact lose some force in the latter half. Once Sarah's story ended I became a little upset because I wanted to know more, I liked following her story- I did not find Julia's story as interesting as Sarah's. The story still gave out an important message though, and reminded people of the horrific past that will forever be remembered. Readers got an inside look at what actually went on during this war, it was life changing. I loved this book a lot. I learned so much about the war and what went on. I had no idea that it was this bad in France at this time, I thought it was only in Germany. I would recommend this book to anyone!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Going Back
As I went back to reread some chapters, I found a very interesting/ ironic line.
" Just the sort of thing an American would do. No respect for the past. No idea of what a family secret is. No manners. No sensitivity. Uncouth, uneducated American" (Rosnay 266).
This line is said by Bertrand's sister when the family finds out that Julia has been researching and trying to contact Sarah Dugard's family- the family who lived in their apartment prior to them. The sister felt that it was never a good idea bringing up the past, especially whatever happened during the war. She says "No one wants to be reminded of that, nobody wants to think about that" (Rosnay 266). I found this quote to be very ironic. Bertrand's sister stated that no one wants to remember the past-especially whatever happened during the war, and then she suggested that Julia had no respect for the past because she brought it up.
" Just the sort of thing an American would do. No respect for the past. No idea of what a family secret is. No manners. No sensitivity. Uncouth, uneducated American" (Rosnay 266).
This line is said by Bertrand's sister when the family finds out that Julia has been researching and trying to contact Sarah Dugard's family- the family who lived in their apartment prior to them. The sister felt that it was never a good idea bringing up the past, especially whatever happened during the war. She says "No one wants to be reminded of that, nobody wants to think about that" (Rosnay 266). I found this quote to be very ironic. Bertrand's sister stated that no one wants to remember the past-especially whatever happened during the war, and then she suggested that Julia had no respect for the past because she brought it up.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Thoughts
I am now finished the novel and I was upset with the way the author decided to end the life of Sarah. I was kind of hoping Julia would meet Sarah in person so they could get into more detail about what happened later on in Sarah's life. The fact that we found out that Sarah committed suicide kind of changed the way I feel about Sarah. I used to think she was a very brave, strong girl, but this changed everything. Sarah was weak and could no longer deal with her problems. She killed herself even though she had a son and a loving husband- she made them feel how she had felt when she lost her loved ones. I feel that what Sarah did was very selfish and it slightly ruined the end of the story.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Book Discussion
I discussed my book with my friend Cassie and it went like this...
I described the story line to her and went over the tragic events that had happened to Sarah and her family. We discussed how horrific it must have been to be in her position, as well as all the millions of others families that had faced other similar experiences. We discussed how we were able to connect to the events and the characters. She explained to me how it made her sick to her stomach to think about the types of things that we complain about today, considering the tragedies and events that they faced back then during those times. She then proceeded to tell me about how scary it is that while most people think that the Holocaust was the worst thing to ever happen to this world, and that things are different today, there are things going on right now, that the majority of people have no clue about. These things are very comparable to the Holocaust and even considered worse. There are things going on in places such as Rwanda and Lybia that are entirely unimagineable. Millions of people, including children, are being murdered, skinned, bombed, shot to death, tortured, held hostage, and the list goes on. Most of what is going on as we speak is so unbelievable. The government does not provide any information about these events so everyone is so uneducated about it. It makes me wonder, what if everyone knew what is really going on?
I described the story line to her and went over the tragic events that had happened to Sarah and her family. We discussed how horrific it must have been to be in her position, as well as all the millions of others families that had faced other similar experiences. We discussed how we were able to connect to the events and the characters. She explained to me how it made her sick to her stomach to think about the types of things that we complain about today, considering the tragedies and events that they faced back then during those times. She then proceeded to tell me about how scary it is that while most people think that the Holocaust was the worst thing to ever happen to this world, and that things are different today, there are things going on right now, that the majority of people have no clue about. These things are very comparable to the Holocaust and even considered worse. There are things going on in places such as Rwanda and Lybia that are entirely unimagineable. Millions of people, including children, are being murdered, skinned, bombed, shot to death, tortured, held hostage, and the list goes on. Most of what is going on as we speak is so unbelievable. The government does not provide any information about these events so everyone is so uneducated about it. It makes me wonder, what if everyone knew what is really going on?
Sympathy Towards Sarah's Son
"It was strange, moving, to see him on the threshold of that apartment, the very place that had caused his mother so much pain, so much sorrow, and to think he did not yet know, he did not yet know what had happened here, to his family, his grandparents, and his uncle." (De Rosnay, 254)
When I read this quote, I felt very sympathetic towards Sarah's son because he does not know about the tragic events that his family endured, yet alone the pain they had felt in that very room. I can relate to how Julia is feeling, while she knows the tragedies Sarah's family faced that her son is unaware of. There have been a few instances in my life where I have known information that was about to change someone's life and really hurt them emotionally as soon as they found out. It made me wish that I could protect them but at the same time I knew that there was nothing I could do to protect them from the pain they were about to feel.
When I read this quote, I felt very sympathetic towards Sarah's son because he does not know about the tragic events that his family endured, yet alone the pain they had felt in that very room. I can relate to how Julia is feeling, while she knows the tragedies Sarah's family faced that her son is unaware of. There have been a few instances in my life where I have known information that was about to change someone's life and really hurt them emotionally as soon as they found out. It made me wish that I could protect them but at the same time I knew that there was nothing I could do to protect them from the pain they were about to feel.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Sarah's Strength Brings Julia To Shame
"Sarah was the only person I could bear thinking about right now" (Rosnay 177).
Julia was going through a very rough time prior to stating this line. She has found out she is pregnant again and her husband is not impressed. He gave her two choices; either get an abortion or they are getting a divorce. Julia did not want to give up this baby, she was so happy when she found out she was pregnant again and she thought her husband would be too. Unfortunately this was not the case and there was no making Bertrand change his mind about this baby. Eventually Julia decided it would be best for her marriage if she got an abortion-even though it was not at all what she wanted to do. During this time when she stated this line she was in the clinic awaiting her surgery. I found it very symbolic that Julia could only tolerate thinking about Sarah. I feel that Julia can only think about Sarah because of how guilty she feels about getting this abortion. Sarah did everything in her power to save her little brother. No matter what anyone said or did Sarah never gave up; she hid him in a cupboard away from the police, she escaped from the camp, walked a very long distance, and found a family to bring her back to Paris. Then Julia is just letting her husband tell her what to do even though she wants this baby. She has certainly not done all she could to save this child. She is not fighting for this child's life like she should. Sarah's Strength Brings Julia To Shame.
Julia was going through a very rough time prior to stating this line. She has found out she is pregnant again and her husband is not impressed. He gave her two choices; either get an abortion or they are getting a divorce. Julia did not want to give up this baby, she was so happy when she found out she was pregnant again and she thought her husband would be too. Unfortunately this was not the case and there was no making Bertrand change his mind about this baby. Eventually Julia decided it would be best for her marriage if she got an abortion-even though it was not at all what she wanted to do. During this time when she stated this line she was in the clinic awaiting her surgery. I found it very symbolic that Julia could only tolerate thinking about Sarah. I feel that Julia can only think about Sarah because of how guilty she feels about getting this abortion. Sarah did everything in her power to save her little brother. No matter what anyone said or did Sarah never gave up; she hid him in a cupboard away from the police, she escaped from the camp, walked a very long distance, and found a family to bring her back to Paris. Then Julia is just letting her husband tell her what to do even though she wants this baby. She has certainly not done all she could to save this child. She is not fighting for this child's life like she should. Sarah's Strength Brings Julia To Shame.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Who is Amelie?
"That's where I told him I found out about Amelie. Not tonight. Not now. Amelie was over. Was she, though? Was she really? I had to admit I was not sure. But for now, I did not want to know. I did not want to see. There was going to be a new baby" (Rosnay 101). Julia has brought up this person-Amelie- a few times now. I am beginning to wonder if Amelie is a baby that she had lost in the past. She mentions in the chapter prior to this that she was pregnant five years ago, after two miscarriages. She says it had been a nightmare. The baby was growing outside the womb and then died. She had to undergo an operation and had her one ovary removed. Maybe she named the baby Amelie before she discovered that it had died, maybe thats why Julia is so upset when she mentions Amelie.
A Symbolic Death to Maturing Children
"When the children awoke, the night had fallen. The forest was no longer the peaceful, leafy place they had wandered through that afternoon" (Rosnay 107).
Patterns in Literature
Often in literature, you will notice a lot of morning or spring like imagery when children are mentioned. It symbolizes new beginnings and innocence. In the particular sentences that I found, I noticed that this was not the case. Instead of the time of day be morning and the season being spring, there was night and autumn imagery. I think the word children symbolizes the innocence of the girls, while night symbolizes a symbolic death (perhaps of their innocence), and autumn symbolizes the maturity that these two girls have had to develop. The fact that all three of these imageries were brought up in just a couple sentences could symbolize the disorder these two girls were dealing with at the time.
Patterns in Literature
Often in literature, you will notice a lot of morning or spring like imagery when children are mentioned. It symbolizes new beginnings and innocence. In the particular sentences that I found, I noticed that this was not the case. Instead of the time of day be morning and the season being spring, there was night and autumn imagery. I think the word children symbolizes the innocence of the girls, while night symbolizes a symbolic death (perhaps of their innocence), and autumn symbolizes the maturity that these two girls have had to develop. The fact that all three of these imageries were brought up in just a couple sentences could symbolize the disorder these two girls were dealing with at the time.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Character
1942- Main Characters
Sarah Starzynski: A very brave ten year old girl, who is arrested with her family by the French police in the Vel'd'Hiv roundup. She is very bright for her age and curious. Desperate to protect her little brother Micheal she locks him in a cupboard located in a bedroom. She made a promise to him that she would come back to rescue him as soon as they were released. She was sure that he would be safe in there. So far throughout the story Sarah has been very courageous and strong-much more so then her parents. After a few weeks Sarah- along with a friend named Rachel- escaped from the camp. Sarah is still very determined to go save her little brother, not a day goes by she does not mention him. She has not yet ever given up on trying to save her little brother Micheal from the deep dark cupboard.
Micheal Starzynski: Sarahs four year little brother. He was very scared when he peeped through the door and saw the men arresting his family. When Sarah went to go wake him up to get him ready to leave the house, Micheal refused to move. He insisted on hiding in their secret place- a long deep cupboard that was hidden in the surface of the wall in their bedroom. He was not afraid to hide in the cupboard, he felt safe in there.
Mrs. Starzynski- Sarah and Micheal's mother. The mother turned pale when she realized who was at the door. Her fingers began to tremble, her mouth became dry, she was drained and frozen. She knew exactly why the police were there arresting her and her family and she was terrified. She could no longer stand up straight and she began cowering. She was numb with horror. She is very weak and hopeless.
Mr.Starzynski-Sarah and Micheal's father. Knew before hand that there was going to be trouble approaching for men, so he began hiding in the basement every night. Little did he know that not only men were being arrested but ALL Jewish people including children. He finally came out of hiding when he realized his family was being arrested, he was loyal and protective of his family and did not want them to go through with this on their own. He seems to be a very brave man, who loved his children to death. He is very patient with Sarah and always answers everything she asks- she tends to ask a lot of questions- which would imply that he is a very smart man.
2002- Main Characters
Julia Jarmond- Mother to Zoe, wife to Bertrand. She is a journalist who is asked to write an article about the Vel' d'Hiv. She becomes very involved with the history of the roundup in France and can not seem to get it off her mind. She is determined to figure out all the details about the roundup in 1942 and will not stop till she gets there. Julia is a very loving mother to Zoe, and a very devoted wife to Bertrand-she is very obedient.
Bertrand Jarmond- Father to Zoe, husband to Julia. He is a very selfish man who only thinks about himself. You see very little communication between him and his daughter throughout this book because he is always to 'busy'. He treats his wife more like a child then a wife, always making decisions for her, always bringing her down and just the way he speaks to her in general. He is a very devoted French man, who refuses to believe that French people also helped out with the roundup in 1942.
Zoe Jarmond- Daughter of Julia and Bertrand. Very clever little girl who loves her mother. She seems to be very mature for her age and she is very curious. She is very close to her mother.
Micheal Starzynski: Sarahs four year little brother. He was very scared when he peeped through the door and saw the men arresting his family. When Sarah went to go wake him up to get him ready to leave the house, Micheal refused to move. He insisted on hiding in their secret place- a long deep cupboard that was hidden in the surface of the wall in their bedroom. He was not afraid to hide in the cupboard, he felt safe in there.
Mrs. Starzynski- Sarah and Micheal's mother. The mother turned pale when she realized who was at the door. Her fingers began to tremble, her mouth became dry, she was drained and frozen. She knew exactly why the police were there arresting her and her family and she was terrified. She could no longer stand up straight and she began cowering. She was numb with horror. She is very weak and hopeless.
Mr.Starzynski-Sarah and Micheal's father. Knew before hand that there was going to be trouble approaching for men, so he began hiding in the basement every night. Little did he know that not only men were being arrested but ALL Jewish people including children. He finally came out of hiding when he realized his family was being arrested, he was loyal and protective of his family and did not want them to go through with this on their own. He seems to be a very brave man, who loved his children to death. He is very patient with Sarah and always answers everything she asks- she tends to ask a lot of questions- which would imply that he is a very smart man.
2002- Main Characters
Julia Jarmond- Mother to Zoe, wife to Bertrand. She is a journalist who is asked to write an article about the Vel' d'Hiv. She becomes very involved with the history of the roundup in France and can not seem to get it off her mind. She is determined to figure out all the details about the roundup in 1942 and will not stop till she gets there. Julia is a very loving mother to Zoe, and a very devoted wife to Bertrand-she is very obedient.
Bertrand Jarmond- Father to Zoe, husband to Julia. He is a very selfish man who only thinks about himself. You see very little communication between him and his daughter throughout this book because he is always to 'busy'. He treats his wife more like a child then a wife, always making decisions for her, always bringing her down and just the way he speaks to her in general. He is a very devoted French man, who refuses to believe that French people also helped out with the roundup in 1942.
Zoe Jarmond- Daughter of Julia and Bertrand. Very clever little girl who loves her mother. She seems to be very mature for her age and she is very curious. She is very close to her mother.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Winter Fires
Patterns In Literature and Elements
"Where I remember so many winter fires burning" (Rosnay 10).
In this line I noticed two very symbolic words: winter and fire.
Season: winter
Time of day: night
Stage of life: old
Symbolism: symbolic end or death.
- The word "winter" suggests that someone- perhaps the narrator- is going to have a symbolic end or death. I predict that maybe the narrator is going to leave her selfish husband soon.
Element: Fire
Personality Trait: action oriented
Literary Symbolic Significance: symbol of transformation and regeneration. Purification and destruction of evil.
- The word "fire" proposes that there is going to be a lot of action which could lead to a transformation in the story, probably for the worse.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Secret Place
"In all her ten years, she had never seen her mother cry" (Rosnay 7).
The fact that this little girl had never seen her mother cry before suggests that something terrible is going to happen. The little girl still does not understand what is going on yet and wants to tell her mother to stop crying, she was ashamed to see her mother cry. It is ironic that the mother is the one who is crying while the daughter stands brave without a single tear. Usually the mother is the one comforting their children, not the other way around.
"I'm going to our secret place" (Rosnay 8).
This "secret place" is a long deep cupboard hidden in the surface of the wall of their bedroom. They used to hid there all the time- it was like a little house inside. They had a flashlight, cushions, toys, books, and a flask of water in there. The little boy felt safe in their secret place and he insisted he stayed in there while the rest of his family went to where ever they were going. The little girl finally agreed to let him stay. She locked the door and kept the key in her pocket. He would be safe she thought. She would come back to get him later on in the day when they were aloud to leave. I predict that the girl will not be aloud to leave the camps that day. I believe that this story is going to revolve around this little girl trying to escape and rescue her little brother. I think she is going to do everything and anything to save her brother but by the time she is let out it will be to late. This secret place is going to be where her brother dies.
Unkown words and definitons:
cajoled- To persuade by flattery, gentle pleading, or insincere language.
The fact that this little girl had never seen her mother cry before suggests that something terrible is going to happen. The little girl still does not understand what is going on yet and wants to tell her mother to stop crying, she was ashamed to see her mother cry. It is ironic that the mother is the one who is crying while the daughter stands brave without a single tear. Usually the mother is the one comforting their children, not the other way around.
"I'm going to our secret place" (Rosnay 8).
This "secret place" is a long deep cupboard hidden in the surface of the wall of their bedroom. They used to hid there all the time- it was like a little house inside. They had a flashlight, cushions, toys, books, and a flask of water in there. The little boy felt safe in their secret place and he insisted he stayed in there while the rest of his family went to where ever they were going. The little girl finally agreed to let him stay. She locked the door and kept the key in her pocket. He would be safe she thought. She would come back to get him later on in the day when they were aloud to leave. I predict that the girl will not be aloud to leave the camps that day. I believe that this story is going to revolve around this little girl trying to escape and rescue her little brother. I think she is going to do everything and anything to save her brother but by the time she is let out it will be to late. This secret place is going to be where her brother dies.
Unkown words and definitons:
cajoled- To persuade by flattery, gentle pleading, or insincere language.
Selfish Bertrand
Reader Response Chart
Setting: Paris, May 2002
Unknown word: Marais and definition: A historic district in Paris, France.
This story reminds me of a time when I had to move away from my home into a new house. I was unsure if it was something I really wanted to do but in the end I had no choice.
What happened in this chapter: In this chapter the narrator is moving in to her husband's grandmother's old apartment. The narrator is unsure weither or not she wants to move, she seems to be doing it just for her husband Bertrand. Bertrand was late for the viewing of their new house because he was talking on the phone and insisted he could not get off- his wife and his child Zoe were annoyed. Eventually they just went up to look at the appartment without Bertrand.
An inner conflict: Narrator's husband had not really asked her for her advice about moving, he had just gone ahead with the whole thing by himself.
Thought from protaganist: Was not sure if she was happy about moving.
When did this take place: 2002
Significant qoutation: " We were going to leave the boulevard du Montparnasse, its noisy traffic, incessant ambulances due to three neighbouring hospitals, its cafe and resturants, for this quiet, narrow street on the right bank of the Seine" (Rosnay 4).
Emotions in this piece: annoyed, betrayl, anger, hate
Most important word to describe this piece: Selfishness.
A question I have: Why did Bertrand not ask his wife's advice? Did he not care about her feelings?
A lesson learned: Narrator is not actually from France, she is an English girl from America.
The charaters in this piece: Narrator, Bertrand, Zoe (daughter), Antoine, and Joshua.
Prediction: I predict that sometime during this story the narrator will eventually leave her husband Bertrand because of his selfishness.
Quotation from another character: "Like he can't get that person off the phone" (Rosnay 5).
Unkown word: gusto and definiton: Enthusiasm or energy
Somebody: Bertrand
Wanted: To move into his grandmother's old apartment.
But: He never asked his wife for her advice first. He just made the decision by himself.
So: Now his wife is unsure weither or not she is happy about moving.
A possible social commentary: Bertrand did not ask his wife for her advice about moving, he had gone ahead with the whole affair himself. This is an act of rebellion towards his wife and society.
My advice is you should always consider the feelings and happiness of your partner in a marriage. Do not just make decisions based on what makes you yourself happy.
A power conflict: Bertrand makes decisions without asking his wife for her personal opinion.
Setting: Paris, May 2002
Unknown word: Marais and definition: A historic district in Paris, France.
This story reminds me of a time when I had to move away from my home into a new house. I was unsure if it was something I really wanted to do but in the end I had no choice.
What happened in this chapter: In this chapter the narrator is moving in to her husband's grandmother's old apartment. The narrator is unsure weither or not she wants to move, she seems to be doing it just for her husband Bertrand. Bertrand was late for the viewing of their new house because he was talking on the phone and insisted he could not get off- his wife and his child Zoe were annoyed. Eventually they just went up to look at the appartment without Bertrand.
An inner conflict: Narrator's husband had not really asked her for her advice about moving, he had just gone ahead with the whole thing by himself.
Thought from protaganist: Was not sure if she was happy about moving.
When did this take place: 2002
Significant qoutation: " We were going to leave the boulevard du Montparnasse, its noisy traffic, incessant ambulances due to three neighbouring hospitals, its cafe and resturants, for this quiet, narrow street on the right bank of the Seine" (Rosnay 4).
Emotions in this piece: annoyed, betrayl, anger, hate
Most important word to describe this piece: Selfishness.
A question I have: Why did Bertrand not ask his wife's advice? Did he not care about her feelings?
A lesson learned: Narrator is not actually from France, she is an English girl from America.
The charaters in this piece: Narrator, Bertrand, Zoe (daughter), Antoine, and Joshua.
Prediction: I predict that sometime during this story the narrator will eventually leave her husband Bertrand because of his selfishness.
Quotation from another character: "Like he can't get that person off the phone" (Rosnay 5).
Unkown word: gusto and definiton: Enthusiasm or energy
Somebody: Bertrand
Wanted: To move into his grandmother's old apartment.
But: He never asked his wife for her advice first. He just made the decision by himself.
So: Now his wife is unsure weither or not she is happy about moving.
A possible social commentary: Bertrand did not ask his wife for her advice about moving, he had gone ahead with the whole affair himself. This is an act of rebellion towards his wife and society.
My advice is you should always consider the feelings and happiness of your partner in a marriage. Do not just make decisions based on what makes you yourself happy.
A power conflict: Bertrand makes decisions without asking his wife for her personal opinion.
Le Marais in Paris, France
Monday, October 3, 2011
Vel' d'Hiv Roundup
While reading this book I have noticed that the author brings up The Vel' d'Hiv Roundup a lot. I was not quite sure what that was exactly, so I researched it. I found out that the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup took place in July, 1942. There was about 13,152 Jewish men, women, and children forced out of their homes. The French police wanted this roundup to be done quietly so that they did not attract attention from the rest of the French population. This however was not the case. Many French people knew exactly what was going on because the word leaked out, and they tried to warn the Jews to flee or hide. The French Jews had no idea what was in store for them. They followed the law by registering for the census and made themselves available to deportation. For 70,00 Jews from France, their unknown stopover destination in the East was at Drancy. There is evidence of the brutality of the French guards in Drancy and the brutal conditions imposed on the people including small children. Parents and children were quickly separated upon arrival. Once the children were deported to Auschwitz, they were all killed because the Nazi's believed they were all unable to work. Thousands of adults were killed upon arrival as well if they were unhealthy and incapable of working.
Sites Used:
http://www.history.ucsb.edu/faculty/marcuse/classes/33d/projects/france/JewsInFrance.htm
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/Drancy.html
Sites Used:
http://www.history.ucsb.edu/faculty/marcuse/classes/33d/projects/france/JewsInFrance.htm
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/Drancy.html
Thursday, September 29, 2011
The Night That Changed Everything
The first line of the story is "The girl was the first to hear the loud pounding on the door" (Rosnay 1). I found it very interesting that the author decided to get right to the point.We have no idea who this 'girl' is, where she lives, how old she is, we don't know whos knocking at the door, we simply know nothing except for the fact that there is someone pounding on this girls door. So immediatly after reading this line, I predicted that there was a problem.
It was the police pounding on the door."She remembered the recent, hushed conversations she had overheard, late at night, when her parents thought she was asleep" (Rosnay 1). The author added the word 'night' in there which symbolizes a symbloic end. The girl had said that her parents were saying things like; camps, roundup, early morning arrests. Instantly I knew what was going on, they were Jewish and the police were there to arrest the family. Her father was going to stay in the celler until things got safe. The girl- just like myself- questioned what he meant by "safe". Would they ever be safe again?
" He spoke perfect French. Then we are safe, thought the girl. If they are French and not German, we are not in danger. If they are French, they will not harm us" (Rosnay 3). This qoute seemed very ironic to me. This girl felt that she was safe with these people because they were of the same culture. She implies that the Germans were the evil ones, the French were innocent, they would not harm them. This line just shows you how nieve and young this little girl is. She does not understand what is going on. Another line that I found very ironic was "She wanted her mother to stand up straight and look at the men boldly, to stop cowering, to prevent her heart from beating like that, like a frightened animal. She wanted her mother to be brave" (Rosnay 3). This is a sign a irony because parents are usually the ones who need to brave and take care of their children in bad situations, not the other way around.
The fact that the French police went around arresting Jewish families during World War 2, goes to prove the conflict theory- "participants in an organization or society, function to maximize their own benefits" (dictonary.com). These Policemen were arresting these innocent families because thats what Hitler had ordered. Instead going against Hitler and doing the right thing, they obeyed them just to benefit themselves.
It was the police pounding on the door."She remembered the recent, hushed conversations she had overheard, late at night, when her parents thought she was asleep" (Rosnay 1). The author added the word 'night' in there which symbolizes a symbloic end. The girl had said that her parents were saying things like; camps, roundup, early morning arrests. Instantly I knew what was going on, they were Jewish and the police were there to arrest the family. Her father was going to stay in the celler until things got safe. The girl- just like myself- questioned what he meant by "safe". Would they ever be safe again?
" He spoke perfect French. Then we are safe, thought the girl. If they are French and not German, we are not in danger. If they are French, they will not harm us" (Rosnay 3). This qoute seemed very ironic to me. This girl felt that she was safe with these people because they were of the same culture. She implies that the Germans were the evil ones, the French were innocent, they would not harm them. This line just shows you how nieve and young this little girl is. She does not understand what is going on. Another line that I found very ironic was "She wanted her mother to stand up straight and look at the men boldly, to stop cowering, to prevent her heart from beating like that, like a frightened animal. She wanted her mother to be brave" (Rosnay 3). This is a sign a irony because parents are usually the ones who need to brave and take care of their children in bad situations, not the other way around.
The fact that the French police went around arresting Jewish families during World War 2, goes to prove the conflict theory- "participants in an organization or society, function to maximize their own benefits" (dictonary.com). These Policemen were arresting these innocent families because thats what Hitler had ordered. Instead going against Hitler and doing the right thing, they obeyed them just to benefit themselves.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Power Over Love
In the first chapter we are quickly introduced to the conflict in the novel. Sarah a ten year old girl woke up in the middle of the night to loud pounding on her apartment door. It was the police. The mother then woke up and walked frighteningly straight to the door. The police were there to arrest the family because they were Jewish.
"He spoke perfect French.Then we are safe, thought the girl. If they are French, and not German, we are not in danger. If they are French, they will not harm us." (Rosnay, 3) I found this line to be very ironic. The girl did not expect the French police to harm them since they are from the same country. Little did she know the complete opposite would occur. This quote speaks to me because it just shows you that you can not trust anyone when it comes down to power. Reading that line made me realize that when power is involved, some people will do anything and everything to reach the top- even if it means killing innocent people just because of their religion. I sense a power struggle approaching.
"He spoke perfect French.Then we are safe, thought the girl. If they are French, and not German, we are not in danger. If they are French, they will not harm us." (Rosnay, 3) I found this line to be very ironic. The girl did not expect the French police to harm them since they are from the same country. Little did she know the complete opposite would occur. This quote speaks to me because it just shows you that you can not trust anyone when it comes down to power. Reading that line made me realize that when power is involved, some people will do anything and everything to reach the top- even if it means killing innocent people just because of their religion. I sense a power struggle approaching.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
My Book Choice
The book that I have decided to do my independent study on is Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay.The story is about a girl named Sarah who is ten years old. Her and her parents were arrested in the middle of the night by French police just because they were Jewish. Sarah was desperate to protect her little brother so she locks him in a bedroom cupboard and promises to come back to him as soon as they returned. Sarah's story intertwines with a girl named Julia who was doing research on the roundup sixty years later. Julia finds secrets that lead her to Sarah.
“This is a remarkable historical novel, a book which brings to light a disturbing and deliberately hidden aspect of French behavior towards Jews during World War II. Like Sophie's Choice, it's a book that impresses itself upon one's heart and soul forever.”
-Naomi Ragen, author of The Saturday Wife and The Covenant
I found this quote and it really brought my attention towards this book. The reason that I have chosen to read this novel is because I am very interested in what happened back in the 1940s while World War II was going on. I would love to learn more about the war and what the Jewish families had to go through during that time. Judging from many reviews- such as this one- this story will be the perfect way for me to find out more.
After reading the reviews about the book I decided to research on the author herself. Rosnay was born on September. 28th, 1961. She was born in Paris, France and she is of the French, English and Russian descent . By 1992 she had already written 12 books in French and three in English. She has also written two episodes of the television show Family Affairs. In 2006 Rosnay's most popular novel Sarah's Key was published. The book has sold almost two million copies in English and over three million copies in french. In January of 2010, a number of French magazines issued a ranking of the top ten French novelists. Rosnay was ranked eighth. In January 2011 she was ranked fifth of the top ten most read French authors.
Since I did not enjoy the book that I had read last year for my independent study, I made sure that this time I was going to love the book I read. After doing a lot of reach on this novel and the on the author Tatiana Di Rosnay, I finally came to the conclusion that this was the book for me. According to reviews Rosnay is said to have a lot of talent, and I hope to see it in this story.
“This is a remarkable historical novel, a book which brings to light a disturbing and deliberately hidden aspect of French behavior towards Jews during World War II. Like Sophie's Choice, it's a book that impresses itself upon one's heart and soul forever.”
-Naomi Ragen, author of The Saturday Wife and The Covenant
I found this quote and it really brought my attention towards this book. The reason that I have chosen to read this novel is because I am very interested in what happened back in the 1940s while World War II was going on. I would love to learn more about the war and what the Jewish families had to go through during that time. Judging from many reviews- such as this one- this story will be the perfect way for me to find out more.
After reading the reviews about the book I decided to research on the author herself. Rosnay was born on September. 28th, 1961. She was born in Paris, France and she is of the French, English and Russian descent . By 1992 she had already written 12 books in French and three in English. She has also written two episodes of the television show Family Affairs. In 2006 Rosnay's most popular novel Sarah's Key was published. The book has sold almost two million copies in English and over three million copies in french. In January of 2010, a number of French magazines issued a ranking of the top ten French novelists. Rosnay was ranked eighth. In January 2011 she was ranked fifth of the top ten most read French authors.
Since I did not enjoy the book that I had read last year for my independent study, I made sure that this time I was going to love the book I read. After doing a lot of reach on this novel and the on the author Tatiana Di Rosnay, I finally came to the conclusion that this was the book for me. According to reviews Rosnay is said to have a lot of talent, and I hope to see it in this story.
Title: Sarah's Key
Author: Tatiana Di Rosnay
Date of publication: 2007
Number of pages: 316
I am going to try and read at least 10 pages per day.
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