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lovely treez · Last edited by lovely treez on Fri Mar 07, 2008 1:48 pm; edited 6 times in total

Synopsis of Sarah's Key

Julia Jarmond, an American journalist based in Paris, is about to move into an ancient apartment in the Marais that housed her husband's parents, a bourgeois Parisian family. Commissioned by her magazine to research the great "Vel d'Hiv" round-up that took place in occupied Paris during the war, Julia accidentally stumbles upon a family secret. A secret concernng her future apartment, her in-laws, and a Jewish child deported in July 1942. Julia travels from Drancy to Tuscany to New york on the trail of a little girl wearing a yellow star. In her ardent quest for the truth, she opens Pandora's box. As a mother, as a wife, and as a woman, nothing willl be the same for Julia again.

Sarah's Key is a story of loss, family secrets and silence that spanned sixty years, France's darkest days and the scars still left today are keenly examined in a tale of two families, linked by silence and sorrow.

Tatiana de Rosnay is of English, French and Russian descent, IK Brunel's great-great-grandaughter and the niece of historian Hugh Thomas. Raised in Paris and then in Boston, when her father taught at MIT, she moved to England in the early 1980s before returning to Paris in 1984 to become press attache for Christies. Tatiana was then Paris Editor for Vanity Fair magazine until 1993.

Since 1992, Tatiana has published eight novels in French (Fayard and Plon). Sarah's Key is her first novel written in her mother tongue, English, It has been sold to 18 countries, is a best seller in France and film rights have been sold to a major French producer. Tatiana lives in Paris and now works as a journalist for French ELLE as well as bieng literary critic for Psychologies Magazine.

"Writing Sarah's Key has been a powerful experience, Researching those dark times of Fran#ce's past, the Occupation, the Vichy7 years, was ytremendously enriching. But sobering, too."

Tatiana, whose novel Sarah's Key has recently been pubished in paperback, has agreed to do an Author Chat with us. I suggested April as that would give me time to circulate my copy of the book. I read Sarah's Key in Autumn last year, having been lucky enough to get a proof copy to review from Waterstones. I'm hoping to get a further couple of copies from Tatiana to circulate amongst any interested BB members. It's her first novel written in English as she is a Franglaise and has published other novels in French. Sarah's Key has been translated into a multitude of languages and is going to be made into a film so Tatiana is naturally very pleased. She's really looking forward to chatting with us. I reviewed Sarah's Key for Waterstones and on Amazon and e mailed Tatiana to let her know how much I enjoyed the novel. I find her intriguing as she has French, English and Russian heritage and writes beautifully in both French and English. I will do a new post when I get my copies of Sarah's Key organised but just wanted to let you know this was in the offing.

LIST OF THOSE READING/WANTING TO READ SARAH'S KEY

DANI (READING COPY 2)
ANNE (TO READ COPY 1 SOON)
LISA
JOSIE
HEATHERA

Glynis and Sparky have already got copies.

PS - got an e mail this morning from John Murray and they want to send me another copy so if any other regulars wish to sign up to this mini book chain please pm me.

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Currently reading - The Italian Boy - Murder and Grave Robbery in 1830s London - Sarah Wise

Daniela-26 · Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 9:44 pm Post subject:

That sounds really great Treez

I'd love to read a copy as it comes so highly recommended! I look forward to it

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Reading: The Devil and Miss Prym by Paulo Coelho
2009 '1001 Challenge':

Tigerlily · Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 10:23 pm Post subject:

Thank you for organising this Treez. I look forward to reading Tatiana's book too - we could maybe have it as a book choice in March?
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Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

annecater · Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 10:26 pm Post subject:

Thank you so much for arranging this Treez, I'm really looking forward to reading this one. Let us know if you get copies, I think it's a great idea to have it as March's book choice.
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Currently reading: The Tent The Bucket and Me by Emma Kennedy and Granny The Pag by Nina Bawden

1001 Challenge Books read in 2009 - 3
1001 Challenge Books read in 2008 - 8
1001 Challenge Books read in 2007 - 13

Tigerlily · Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 10:30 pm Post subject:

Just looked it up on Amazon - it looks good and aha I spy your review there Treez

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Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

lisa2062 · Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 4:39 pm Post subject:

Many thanks for organising this Treez! Have just checked out your review on amazon, and I shall definitely be reading this at some stage. Lisa x
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Currently Reading - Want to Play? By P.J Tracy (again)

http://www.we7.com/user/view-playlist?playlistId=537463&m=0

jobar · Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 7:33 pm Post subject:

This sounds like such a good story, and it would be lovely if we could speak to her.

lovely treez · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 11:04 am Post subject:

Tatiana is sending me a copy and I've ordered a copy from Amazon so I hope to be able to circulate these two soon. I'll set up a "proper" thread in the Author Chat section when I get hold of one or both copies. I'm still veering towards mid April as a suitable time if that suits Tatiana. Was the last author chat lunchtime? I guess that suits folk better than an evening time??
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Currently reading - The Italian Boy - Murder and Grave Robbery in 1830s London - Sarah Wise

annecater · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 11:08 am Post subject:

Thanks so much Treez, you are a star. I think the last chat was at lunchtime because of the time difference - Ami McKay is based in Canada.
Evening is probably better for me, lets see what everyone else thinks.
_________________
Currently reading: The Tent The Bucket and Me by Emma Kennedy and Granny The Pag by Nina Bawden

1001 Challenge Books read in 2009 - 3
1001 Challenge Books read in 2008 - 8
1001 Challenge Books read in 2007 - 13

Daniela-26 · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 12:20 pm Post subject:

Either time should be good for me! I'm really looking forward to this!!

_________________
Reading: The Devil and Miss Prym by Paulo Coelho
2009 '1001 Challenge':

Tigerlily · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 12:24 pm Post subject:

Last time we all posted questions, then Ami popped in to answer them at her leisure - don't think anyone was online at the same time, as Anne said owing to the time difference. It would be nice to be online at the same time - so evening would be best for me too

_________________
Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

heathera · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 1:02 pm Post subject:

This sounds really interesting. I'd definitely like to read the book and take part in a discussion. Evening times are best for me, but I could probably be online for a lunchtime discussion as well.
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Currently Reading:

The Moonlit Cage - Linda Holeman

1001 Book Challenge:
2009 - 4
2008 - 14
Books Available for Swapping on RISI

lovely treez · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 4:04 pm Post subject:

I bought an extra copy and gave it to Anne last weekend and I have another copy from Tatiana to circulate as well. There seem to have been 5 or so others interested in reading the book according to feedback on this thread. I've pmed Daniela in order to send on my copy to her and when Anne is finished with hers she can send her copy onto the next person on the list. If I've missed out anyone who has already posted wishing to read it, do shout out and let me know..

Those interested were -
Daniela
Glynis
Lisa2062
Jobar
Heathera

That gives us enough time, I think, to have the book read before the author chat. Tatiana is away at the moment until March 3rd but I'll contact her then to finalise a date, preferably mid April and preferably evening time, at 7.00pm perhaps as that seems to be handier for everyone.
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Currently reading - The Italian Boy - Murder and Grave Robbery in 1830s London - Sarah Wise

Tigerlily · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 6:18 pm Post subject:

Treez, no worries sending a copy to me - I'm going to buy one from Amazon

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Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

lovely treez · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 6:52 pm Post subject:

lisa2062 · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 6:55 pm Post subject:

I'm really looking forward to this as well, and like most of the others evening would be best for me. Lisa x
_________________
Currently Reading - Want to Play? By P.J Tracy (again)

http://www.we7.com/user/view-playlist?playlistId=537463&m=0

sparkymarky · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 10:05 pm Post subject:

this could be interesting-was inspired by your post treez to look up SARAHS KEY and have bought an uncorrected proof off ebay for me to read

am really looking forward to reading this after i finish the liveship trader trilogy by robin hobb in the next couple of weeks....

thanx for reccommending this tree in an sideways kind of way-this looks like could be a really good book!!

lovely treez · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 11:03 pm Post subject:

Tigerlily · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 11:18 pm Post subject:

sparkymarky · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 11:26 pm Post subject:

nnaah treez only cost couple of quid so wasn't expensive.....it will be interesting to know what i think won't it?

im reading some really different stuff to that which i read a year ago- never would've imagined i'd have liked 13th tale as much as i did

thank goodness for sites like this n RISI that can introduce you to new reading experiences-even if i hate sarahs key at least i will have tried something new

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