Hachette Reading Group Guides
Welcome to our Reading Group guide for Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay. We invite you to consider and discuss the following questions when reading this book:
1.This book is composed of two interwoven threads: Sarah’s story in 1942 and Julia’s quest in 2002. What are the strengths and drawbacks of this narrative form? Which ‘voice’ did you prefer and why?
2.What different feelings does Sarah experience throughout the trauma of the round-up and its aftermath? How do you think you would have reacted as a ten-year old child?
3.How does Julia Jarmond consider France and the French? Do you agree with her?
4.How would you characterise Julia and Bertrand's marriage and how does Julia's character evolve over the course of the novel?
5.How does Julia’s daughter Zoë help and support her mother? How does she echo the other little girl in the story, Sarah?
6.This novel is built around several family secrets. What are these secrets? Was Julia right to go so far? Is it sometimes better not to know?
7.Julia discovers disturbing events concerning French collaboration with the Nazis during the war. Did you learn of any historical events you previously did not know about? Which ones struck you the most?
8.What do you imagine happens after the end of the novel? What do you think Julia’s life will be like now? What has she learnt?
9.Many readers were moved to tears by certain passages in this book. Discuss whether this was your case, or not, and which were the passages that moved you and why.
10.The rue de Saintonge apartment is a key element to this story, bringing past and present together through a secret tragedy. Discuss how you would feel living in such a place. Do you think walls remember?
Monday, August 16, 2010
Sarah's Key #8-12
8. How do you imagine what happens after the end of the novel? What do you think Julia’s life will be like now that she knows the truth about Sarah? What truths do you think she’ll learn about her self?
9. Among modern Jews, there is a familiar mantra about the Holocaust; they are taught, from a very young age, that they must “remember and never forget” (as the inscription on the Rafle du Vél d’Hiv) Discuss the events of Sarah’s Key in this context. Who are the characters doing the remembering? Who are the ones who choose to forget?
10. What does it take for a novelist to bring a “real” historical event to life? To what extent do you think de Rosnay took artistic liberties with this work?
11. Why do modern readers enjoy novels about the past? How and when can a powerful piece of fiction be a history lesson in itself ?
12. We are taught, as young readers, that every story has a “moral”. Is there a moral to Sarah’s Key? What can we learn about our world --- and our selves --- from Sarah’s story?
9. Among modern Jews, there is a familiar mantra about the Holocaust; they are taught, from a very young age, that they must “remember and never forget” (as the inscription on the Rafle du Vél d’Hiv) Discuss the events of Sarah’s Key in this context. Who are the characters doing the remembering? Who are the ones who choose to forget?
10. What does it take for a novelist to bring a “real” historical event to life? To what extent do you think de Rosnay took artistic liberties with this work?
11. Why do modern readers enjoy novels about the past? How and when can a powerful piece of fiction be a history lesson in itself ?
12. We are taught, as young readers, that every story has a “moral”. Is there a moral to Sarah’s Key? What can we learn about our world --- and our selves --- from Sarah’s story?
Sarah's Key #7
7. Were you surprised by what you learned about Sarah’s history? Take a moment to discuss your individual expectations in reading Sarah’s Key. You may wish to ask the group for a show of hands. Who was satisfied by the end of the book? Who still wants to know --- or read --- more?
Sarah's Key #6
6. de Rosnay’s novel is built around several “key” secrets which Julia will unearth. Discuss the element of mystery in these pages. What types of narrative devices did the author use to keep the keep the reader guessing?
Sarah's Key #4
4. How does the apartment on la rue de Saintonge unite the past and present action --- and all the characters --- in Sarah’s Key? In what ways is the apartment a character all its own in?
Sarah's Key #3
3. Per above: Which “voice” did you prefer: Sarah’s or Julia’s? Why? Is one more or less authentic than the other? If you could meet either of the two characters, which one would you choose?
Sarah's Key #2
2. Sarah’s Key is composed of two interweaving story lines: Sarah’s, in the past, and Julia’s quest in the present day. Discuss the structure and prose-style of each narrative. Did you enjoy the alternating stories and time-frames? What are the strengths or drawbacks of this format?
Discussion Questions for Sarah's Key #1
1. What did you know about France’s role in World War II --- and the Vél d’Hiv round-up in particular --- before reading Sarah’s Key? How did this book teach you about, or change your impression of, this important chapter in French history?
Summer Reading
Hope everyone is reading this summer. I have been reading about Native Americans because I was teaching it. I also reviewed Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus because the title has been so resounding for years and a friend bought it for me for my birthday! It is an easy read geared mainly to females but males would benefit too if they would choose to read it. It is basically about relationships and why a certain sex acts the way it does. But, I am getting very ready to delve into Sarah's Key since I will have some time traveling to New Mexico. I also have the audio book for the car during my last-minute drives before heading back to Stamford High, a great high school where I like to work with students and staff!
Feel free to use this blog in anyway relating to books, especially ones we have or are about to discuss.
Feel free to use this blog in anyway relating to books, especially ones we have or are about to discuss.
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