Discussion date: August 13, 2007

What we thought:

Our advice to anyone reading this book is to be sure you don’t stop before the appendices! Many people commented that these last pages, explaining how the book came to be written and why it remains unfinished, greatly enhanced their understanding and appreciation of the novel.

The writing, we all agreed, is beautiful, and the translation completely fluent. Some people had a little difficulty keeping the characters straight in Part One, but everyone found Part Two moving and compelling. We only wish history had not robbed Irène Némirovsky of her opportunity to keep on writing.

We are fortunate to have two people of European birth among our group. who shared their memories of World War II and their multi-lingual experences and insights. Their personal accounts led us into some fascinating discussions. Ratings ranged from 3.5 to 5, with an average of 4 stars.

Reading Group Guide