I posted my review of this page-turner yesterday, the day the paperback edition was released.
There’s so much to talk about with this book; it’s a perfect pick for book groups. You could get deep into the atrocities of the 1942 Vel’ d’Hiv’ event and its aftermath, talk about why parts of history are considered “taboo” by some people who turn their heads … is it akin to condoning an event if we do nothing to stop it?
There’s the contemporary angle: The protagonist in the 2002 thread of the novel faces not only her own reaction to the secret she has discovered, but condemnation from others who feel she is meddling. Other personal issues are raised – how does one handle infidelity (similar question to “how does she handle the secret?”; do we ignore it or confront it? How does a marriage survive when spouses do not agree on major decisions such as whether or not to bear a child? Does weathering an emotional storm together bring people together or tear them apart?
Would you like to win a copy of Sarah’s Key, perhaps to preview it before presenting it to your book group as a selection? Would you like to read it on your own, to tackle these questions in your own mind only? Here’s you chance! The generous folks at St. Martins Press have offered up to five copies of Sarah’s Key to readers of my blog, here’s how you can win one:
Leave a comment on this post with a question/comment about this book or any other I’ve reviewed at She Is Too Fond Of Books (click the Book Reviewstab at the top of the page for a full list with links). I’ll draw one winning name for every fifteen comments left, up to five names total. Giveaway entries will be open until midnight on October 16; winners’ names will be posted on the 17th.
UPDATE: Thanks to all who entered! The giveaway has ended, and this post is now closed to comments.
This book is on my to read list.
Thank you!
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
[...] click here to enter a giveaway for Sarah’s Key; deadline is 10/16/08 [...]
Our book club is reading a variety of books on women this year. Something related to WWII would round out the selection of classic and modern works that we’ve selected so far. This sounds so intriguing, and it would fit perfectly since it traces the stories of two women. Thanks for your review, which I found from Semicolon’s Saturday Review of Books.
[...] She Is Too Fond Of Books … [...]
I’ve always been interested in books about WWII. Sounds like this one raises some thought-provoking questions. I’d love to be entered. Thanks!
I would like to read Sarah’s Key. I am interested in the WWII era books and this one is a winner. Thank you for the giveaway.
I would love to read this one. Hope i win it! Thank you.
Nice cover art.
This sounds like a great book, and it is one that I would love to read and bring to the book clubs (3) that I participate in! Please include me in your drawing – I find that deep books always bring out great conversations during book club meetings, and it is a great way to learn about friends – our perspectives are not always the same.
I’d love to read and review it on my site as well:
http://wendisbookcorner.blogspot.com
Thanks for the great giveaway! ~ Wendi
wbarker (at) hotmail.com
Your review made the book sound really good. I would love the chance to read it. Thank you!
I would love to be entered for this book giveaway
I looked at your reviews and am going to have to pick up Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction
I love reading books that show the difference between social perspective of now and then! Thanks for the chance to win!
This is the first I have heard of the Vel’ d’Hiv’ event. I would love to learn more about it!
Great review. Sounds like a great book. Please enter me.
Just wanted you to know that I linked back to your contest on my blog today. I just love stopping in to see what you have going on everyday!
Please enter me!
I also blogged about this giveaway here.
It sounds good.
I need a new read and have read some good things about this one. Thanks.
do you think this would be a good book for a temple book club? please enter me for the giveaway, i’d love to win a free copy for the temple library. thanks!
Your review put this book straight up my to read list!
Great contest! I am a sucker for Holocaust-era books… I even took a college class on Holocaust literature. They’re always so powerful!
However, I have a question about Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict…. Do you think that someone who hasn’t read a lot of Jane Austen would still enjoy it?
My daughter just finished Anne Frank and I know she would be intrigued by this book also. We must never let anything like this happen again.
Weathering an emotional storm together is tricky. It can pull people together or apart. Many couples do not talk beforehand about serious issues until they happen only to find out that each person is on a different page.
My husband and I have had these talks and it really helped when I was pregnant with a potential defective child. He became a high IQ 18 year old who had an accident and while he was in a coma the talk of quality of life had already been discussed to the degree that my son’s friends came to us to say that my son had told them he wanted to die in his sleep and to donate his organs.
I would love to read how these people handle the serious issues in their life.
I would love to read this book,so sad and with adding in real WW2 history,interesting read. Please enter me in this contest
Oh my, I just made before the cut off
date…
I’m intrigued, would like to read this book…
This sounds like a really great book. Please enter me! Thanks!!
this book sounds intrigueing
It has been awhile since I’ve read a book from this time period. Anita Shreve’s “Resistance” comes to mind. Your review is much appreciated. I would love to win this book.
This book was amazing. The Vel’ d’ Hiv’ round up was something I had never heard of and was horrified to read about. The characters were very real and I wanted to know their fate and found myself skipping the chapters that were set in the future (I did go back and read them) just to see what happened to Sarah. This is a book that will stay with you long after you have finished it.
I’ve heard about this book and I’ve been thinking a lot about it. It’s the type of book I would really enjoy reading. Please enter my name in your draw. Thanks.
UPDATE: Thanks to all who entered! The giveaway has ended, and this post is now closed to comments.