A treat was waiting for me at the hotel’s breakfast buffet this morning.
Cinnamon raisin bread!
Right when I spotted the bread, I threw two slices in the toaster before topping them with peanut butter and jelly.
Along with the toast, breakfast included some scrambled eggs and a banana.
I also poured myself a hot mug of my new favorite pomegranate green tea, which I am currently enjoying as I blog. Mmm.
Moving right along… It’s time for a PBF Book Review!
Sarah’s Key
Two days.
That’s how long it took me to read Sarah’s Key, a moving and emotion-filled historical fiction novel.
I couldn’t put it down and spent the majority of my evening the past two nights thoroughly entranced in the book.
The first half of the book flip flops between 1942 and 2002.
Sarah is an 11-year-old Jewish girl living in Paris in July 1942. The book follows her life, beginning on the night that her family is taken by French police to a large stadium, the Vélodrome d’Hiver, with thousands of other Jewish families who were then transported to concentration camps.
When the French police come for Sarah’s family, she tells her four-year-old brother to hide deep in the secret cabinet in his room. She locks him in the hidden cabinet, assuming her father will let him out or that her family will return to let him out soon. The book chronicles Sarah’s journey and her obsession with getting back to her brother.
In 2002, the book follows journalist Julia Jarmond, who, though researching more about the Vélodrome d’Hiver for a story, becomes engrossed in the events that occurred in Paris in the summer of 1942. Her life intertwines with Sarah’s and the book jumps back and forth between the two characters before solely following Julia as she connects the pieces between their two lives in the second half of the novel.
While the characters are fictional, the events that happened in July 1942 in Paris at the Vélodrome d’Hiver are very, very real.
Knowing that thousands of Jewish families were killed and others emotionally scarred forever because of the events that occurred only 69 years ago is what makes this book so hard to read, so gut-wrenching and so moving.
I have been deeply interested in the Holocaust since I read Number the Stars in fourth grade and struggle to wrap my head around the evil and cruelty that occurred in this world not that long ago. Sarah’s Key discusses the round up at the Vélodrome d’Hiver, an event where French policemen rounded up Jewish families, not German soldiers. I had never heard of the events surrounding the Vélodrome d’Hiver until this book and the author clearly communicates that the Vélodrome d’Hiver round up is an event that shames France and is commonly forgotten by not only the French but by people worldwide.
It is clear that the author feels that this event is one that should be remembered and I couldn’t agree more. The families affected by the Vélodrome d’Hiver round ups deserve our thoughts and our prayers and I am so grateful to have read Sarah’s Key, not only for the tremendous writing and storytelling, but for the education about such a tremendous and horrific event in history.
Additional PBF Book Reviews:
- The Art of Racing in the Rain
- Divergent
- The Help (<—My favorite!)
- The Hunger Games Series
- Water for Elephants
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I am deeply interested in the holocaust as well. The survivor’s stories move me so much, as well as the diaries kept during. I definitely think I will pick this one up! Thanks for the review!
I feel like I’m the only person (or at least blogger) who hated this book! I love Holocaust literature – if I had pursued my English masters I would have focused my thesis on Holocaust fiction – but Sarah’s Key felt too fiction-y for me. And I hated all of the modern scenes. I like the idea of weaving the two settings together, I just didn’t care for the telling of either setting. Anyone else??
To match you, I need to read Water For Elephants, Sarah’s Key, and Divergent!! 🙂 Same taste it seems….I LOVE reading!!!
Lovin’ the egg b-fast theme lately!!
I’m trying this again, because I think my last comment didn’t go through. 😉 Cinnamon raisin bread is awesome to make grilled cheese with! Add a few green apple slices in there … yum! Not sure if that’s possible to do in your hotel, but it was the first thing that came to my mind! 🙂
I picked up Sarah’s Key before I went on holidays…the first day of my holidays I was wrapped up in that book. It was very good!
i loved the first half of this book but didn’t like it as much when it switched to being all about Julia (I guess I just didn’t really like her character nearly as much as Sarah’s). If you feel like picking up another WWII book (although you’ll probably want a break in between!), I just started reading Unbroken, which is a true story about an Olympic runner who joined the Air Force and fought in WWII. It is really really good, and there’s actually a lot about running/training in there too, which I enjoy.
Will have to read this one too!
i agree with you whole-heartedly. i REALLY missed sarah’s voice in the second half of the book.
I loved unbroken! I wasn’t interested at all when I heard the synopsis, but when I finally gave in and read I was so glad that I did. I was glued to it!
I have heard wonderful things about the book Sarah’s Key, I really want to read it now!
Thank you for the book review – I’ve always been an avid reader of books regarding the Holocaust. Started with Anne Frank. Another favorite is Night by Elie Wiesel which was mandatory reading in high school. Highly recommend that one.
I will be picking up Sarah’s Key for sure!
that book has been on to-read list for a year now! i really need to go buy it. Number the Stars is one of my favorite books ever, and it truly changed my life when i read it in 4th grade too. I still have a copy of the book on my bookshelf:)
After reading ‘Sarah’s Key’, I couldn’t believe I never heard about these events in any of my history classes back in HS or even when we covered a major Holocaust unit in 9th grade. We had amazing English teachers in 9th grade who got together to create a Holocaust unit for a few weeks at our school. We read ‘Night’ by Elie Weisel and were divided up into two groups- ‘squares’ and those who weren’t (can’t remember what they were called). We ‘squares’ got ‘passports’ made and had to wear a badge with a square on it everyday. We had to eat together and weren’t allowed to do certain things. We would get points taken off in our passport if we did things like talk to a non-square or chew gum, etc. The non-squares were supposed to represent the Germans and Nazis while the squares were representing the Jews. There were many activities we had to do that put us in a better
understanding of how Jews were treated and what they had to deal with during WWII. It was a real mind-opener and great lesson in tolerance….wish they still did this activity for the students now.
(Wow I wrote alot! Sorry!)
i love long comments! 🙂 that’s such an interesting way to learn about the holocaust in school.
So glad you loved this book! I could not put it down when I was reading it.
I, too, am a big fan of all things Holocaust and WWII related. I’m reading The Nazi Officer’s Wife right now. Its a memoir from a Jewish woman who married a Nazi Party member during WWII. Super interesting read!
I read Number the Stars for Battle of the Books (anyone remember that?) in 5th grade. I didn’t think I’d like it but volunteered to read it for my group. Turned out to be one of my favorite books.
ahhhh! i remember battle of the books!
I’m glad you enjoyed this book. I heard it’s wonderful!! I’ll have to add it to the list of books I want to read after I finish grad school.
You can download the movie from icefilms.info, it stars Kristen Scott Thomas as Julia. I haven’t read the book but did watch the movie – I thought it was amazing.
Have you read Those Who Save Us?
http://www.amazon.com/Those-Who-Save-Jenna-Blum/dp/0156031663
It is a book about the same time period – and my mom, sister and I couldn’t put it down when we read it.
I’ll have to read this one as well!
no! i’ll check it out!
JULIE! Did you see A Cup of Jo today?! You and Ryan are on it. I almost freaked out when I saw it…I was like oh my god I know them! (of course I don’t, really)
so, so neat!! it made my day!
Sarah’s Key is one of my favorites. I’m glad that you liked it!
I love pomegranate green tea!! It’s one of my favorite kinds (and I drink about 4 cups of tea per day, haha)
Love the book reviews and discussion, I got a Kindle at the beginning of this summer and it’s one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. You should consider it! It makes it so easy to read when you’re traveling or just doing errands.
That sounds like a great read. I also find family stories during the Holocause fascinating. Its hard to imagine that it was real and recent.
If you’re interested in other books like this, I would recommend you read Night by Elie Wiesel (true), A Lucky Child – Thomas Buergenthal (True) and The Book Theif by Markus Zusak (fiction)
i really need to check out the book theif! everyone is saying i would love it!! thanks for the recommendations.
I really want to read that now, I’m intrigued! A book that you might like is “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak. I loved it!
I read Number of stars in the 5th grade and it was such a gripping novel. Such a sad period in history needs to be recognised and I am defo going to get my hands on Sarah’s Key!
Cinnamon raisin bread is so so yum!! I just finished the first hunger games book and LOVED it.. I need to get the other too
I was really obsessed with all holucaust books back in grade school so I will have to get this one
I adore cinnamon raisin bread.. It reminds me of breakfast with my dad growing up. 🙂
This book is definitely a winner.. I too have always been interested in the history of the holocaust and this time period as a whole.. I took a number of literature classes in college on the subject which were super interesting.
Did you see yourself on Cup O Jo?? I’m getting married in September and we’re def doing using your wonderful idea!! I remember reading that post thinking…i must remember that someday. I don’t even think I was engaged yet…
http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/2011/08/genius-wedding-idea-photos-before.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FbboSV+%28A+CUP+OF+JO%29
it was one of the best moments of our entire wedding day! you and your fiance will remember it forever! congrats on your upcoming wedding, caitlin!
i was just about the say the same thing as Caitlin! i always read Cup of Jo and saw the post just now, and thought.. that kinda looks like Julie! and it was! how exciting 🙂
Sounds like a great and engaging read! Definitely will put it on my list of books to check out!
I read that book on my last trip and had the same reaction. I couldn’t put it down. And after I had finished it, I couldn’t stop telling people about it. I had never heard of what happened in France and found it so haunting. Wonderful book. Have you read The Help? That was the other one I read on my trip and it was just as good.
the help is one of my all-time favorites!
I read “Number The Stars” in 4th grade and was fascinated by it. I almost bought “Sarah’s Key” last night but decided I need to stop purchasing impulse items and I should probably finish “The Girl Who Played with Fire” first!
I, too, loved Sarah’s Key. I plowed through it as quickly as you did. I’m hoping to see the movie – I’m lucky it’s actually playing here in Chicago.
I’ve never read Number The Stars before. . . I might have to check it out for me and my daughter! Thanks!
it was one of my all-time favorite books as a little girl. hope you both love it if you decide to give it a go!
I must read then! I have been reading, “Maine.” Partially because I am from Maine but it’s also been on the best sellers list. I definitely recommend it!
I have already placed this book in my Amazon cart. Sounds so good! 🙂
I read Number the Stars when I was little too!! That was such a good book – I agree, I often can’t even wrap my mind around the horrific things that happen in the world. I even close my eyes during the bad parts of movies… my bf said I’m like Michael Or on the Blindside lol.
I will absolutely be checking this book out soon! Have you read True Colors by Kristin Hannah? It’s WONDERFUL…
Number the Stars was one of my favorites growing up and I’ve since been really interested in Holocaust stories. A few months ago, I read “A Child al Confino: The True Story of a Jewish Boy and His Mother in Mussolini’s Italy” by Eric Lamet. I couldn’t put it down. It’s a great true story about a Jewish boy, his mother, and their experience confined in Italy during the war. I loved it! Also, The Hangman’s Daughter by Oliver Potzsch is a historic fiction mystery about a hangman in Bavarian Germany. The characters are beautifully written and it’s not at all somber. I couldn’t put that down, either!
I recently went to the Holocaust Museum in D.C. – wow. It is absolutely heart-breaking and unfathomable, but I think everyone should see it if they have a chance. Looking at real bunks, shoes, clothing, and pictures of those poor people is gut-wrenching and makes it all the more real.
Thank you so much for doing these book reviews! I love to read and since I got a Kindle in June I’ve been plowing through books faster than ever so I’m always on the look-out for a new read. This is definitely on my Wish List to purchase soon!
I, like you, have always been fascinated by the events surrounding WWII. I even took a class in college on the Holocaust and also studied American Jewish literature. One of the books I read in that class was “Survival in Auschwitz” by Primo Levi. It is non-fiction and I highly recommend it. I also recommend a short story called “The Shawl” by Cyntia Ozick. It is devastating and incredibly profound.
Thanks for your book review and rec! I can’t wait to read it.
On a unrelated note, I saw your “door” wedding picture on a Cup of Jo!! That’s awesome (considering how much volume that blog gets!). LOVE it.
i was thrilled!!
I’m sure you already have tons of people telling you that the adorable door shot of you + Ryan is on Cup of Jo today.. I was so happy to see that!!!
i was so excited!
I love your book reviews! Being quite the reader myself I’m always eager to find new great books to add to my list! And it sounds like this was a great one so I will certainly be reading it! I’m currently reading The Help and can see why it’s your favorite! It’s so good!
Great review! I am posting mine this weekend!
I’ll have to get that, it sounds great! I love historical novels.
You should try Suite Francaise 🙂
I suggest you pick up Anya by Susan Fromberg. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0393325210/ref=aw_d_detail?pd=1
Great book, I cried a lot! It’s about abyoung Jewish girl and her life in concentration camps, living in the ghetto, losing her family.
Thanks for the book review! I needed a good one to download on my Kindle.
Thanks for the recommendation! Downloading it to my ipad now – can’t wait to start reading! xoxo from Trinidad
Thanks for the review, Julie! Adding it to my list:)
This was an awesome book and really affected me as I read it. I took have always been interested in reading about the events of this time after first reading Anne Frank’s Diary of a Young Girl as a kid. This book made me cry while I read it and still gets me teary eyed when I think about what the children went through.
I’m tackling The Help next, then the Hunger Games.
What are you going to choose next? Have you tried “The Girl Who…” series?
i just bought the glass castle today! hoping it’s as good as people say!
Number the Stars stuck with me the same way it has stuck with you – such a powerful book. Since then, I’ve ALWAYS wanted to go to Copenhagen and I always feel kind of silly explaining my extremely specific reason why – I mean, I read the book in lower school! Haha. PS I tried yogurt mousse today – SO GOOD! I mixed chocolate pudding mix with pomegranate chobani and fresh blueberries. I would def recommend that
I loved Sarah’s Key too and it was so funny to see you mention Number the Stars, because it had the same affect on me as a child. I have been fascinated with the holocaust since then. What are you reading next? I started reading The Snowman last week and it’s pretty good!