Book Review: Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

Some stories entertain, some enlighten, some make us laugh out loud, some teach, some make us cry, some tug at our emotional heart strings at all levels, they might keep us up all night, on the edge of our seat, some are forgettable and some leave us truly touched with a memory seared on our heart forever.

Sarah's Key will haunt me for the rest of my days and I add it to a couple of other memorable reads about The Holocaust that I've pored over my life time.

The first book, back in 1984, about the Holocaust was by Nobel Peace Prize writer Elie Wiesel called, Night, and it changed me — forever. It taught me so much about humanity. The words and story were seared to my heart and caused it to ache. It left me sad and, resolute that I never wanted something like this to happen in world again. A few years later I felt ready to read The Forgotten, also by Elie Wiesel and this time I not only learnt more about the Holocaust, but a little about Alzheimer's. I would forever be compassionate to this degenerative condition and something I had to face later on in life with my own mother.

A couple of other memorable reads about the topic include: The Diary of Anne Frank and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne (visiting author attending 2012 Brisbane Writers Festival) and Irene Nemirovsky's, Suite Francais.

Sarah's Key meets all expectations of a novel foundational upon the Holocaust. The difference to this novel from the others is that whilst it is a work of fiction, it looks more specifically at the great Velodrome d'Hiver roundup, which took place on July 16, 1942 in the heart of Paris.

The author, Tatiana de Rosnay states: 'It is not a historical work and has no intention of being one. It is my tribute to the children of the Vel' d'Hiv'. The children who never came back. And the ones who survived to tell."

Sarah's Key begins with tight tension as the great Vel' d'Hiv' roundup begins and suddenly impacts the life of ten year old Sarah and her family. The reader is suddenly plunged into Sarah's nightmare and it's a nightmare that no one can wake up from. The reader's heart races along with Sarah's as the panic builds and desperation sets in. Is there no end?

During the first section of the book, de Rosnay flicks backwards and forwards from 1916 to 2002, seamlessly. Sometimes this technique can get a little annoying, however, not in this case. Each chapter is over within a couple of pages and this actually helps build tension and anxiety and, forces the reader to turn the page. The pace is quick, yet devastating. The author writes simplistically and the text flows effortlessly, urging the reader on.

Sarah has a dilemma that no ten year old child should ever have to face and the devastating consequences - no child should ever have to endure. But yet, how many children are born into circumstances that require them to endure heartache, heart break and mountains to climb?

What happens in Sarah's life becomes a fabric of the past and is interwoven into the future of others, including Julia, an American journalist living in Paris with her French husband, Bertrand and daughter, Zoe. But the life of this young girl leaves a much larger impact on many others and really brings to light how one person's life can influence many.

Guaranteed to stir the heart, mind and generate tears, this is quite simply, a beautiful strong and determined story of adversity faced by a people, how they survived, if they survived and the repercussions of history.

A highly recommended read.

Book Review: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Snow flower and the Secret Fan is a beautifully written story that depicts the life, times and culture of two extraordinary women in an ancient and feuding China. 

From a very young age, Lily and Snow Flower's lives entwine when the local matchmaker, Madame Wang, sees something special in Lily and decides she should have a laotong , a lifelong female confidante. After Madame Wang examines Lilly thoroughly, she becomes very excited for Lily, her family and of course, herself. Lily has perfectly shaped feet, a prize of great magnitude for a Chinese family and she shares this news with the family. "The girl is indeed very lovely, but golden lilies are far more important than a pretty face. A lovely face is a gift from Heaven, but tiny feet can improve social standing. On this we can all agree. What happens beyond that is really for Father to decide." She looked directly at Baba, but the words that traveled into the air were meant for my mother. "It is not such a bad thing to make a good alliance for a daughter. A high family will bring you better connections, a better bride-price, and long-term political and economic protection. Though I appreciate the hospitality and generosity that you have shown today," she said, emphasising the meagreness of our home with a languid movement with her hand, "fate--in the form of your daughter--has brought you an opportunity. If Mother does her job properly, this insignificant girl could marry into a family in Tongkou."

And so the cruel practice of foot binding is revealed to the reader and the fate of two women are set in motion. Boy children have a much higher standing within Chinese families and their worth is highly regarded and so, for a girl to be elevated to high stature within a family because of her feet is quite remarkable. Lily's family is very humble and this news means much to them. Madame Wang matches Lily to Snow Flower as her laotong. Snow Flower's family is of high standing from the village of Tongkou. 

The the women's friendship and journey is beautifully told through the eyes of Lily. There is an edge to the tale depicting the harshness of the times and how families cope. Lisa See reveals to the reader the art of secret language between men and the adaptation of this language into the secret writings between the women.

This novel is insightful to the ways of Asian culture. It unveils some of the mysteries of hardworking people's lives and customs in remote villages scattered throughout China during feudal times. The author successfully marries fiction with historical facts to create an enlightening story magnifying the intricate relationship between two lifelong friends.

This novel is highly recommended if you enjoy reading about other cultures. If you enjoyed Memoirs of a Geisha, Fallen Leaves or Wild Swans, then you'll love Lisa See's work, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.