<p>This is a new old book, recently discovered and more recently translated into English for Knopf. It was written by Irene Nemirovsky, a well-known Russian-French author who died in concentration camps in 1942. This book represents the first two parts of a five part novel. </p>
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The New York Times Book Review</p>
<p>I have just started it but I gave it to my mother who raced through it and loved it.</p>
<p>Anyone else read it? Anyone interested in a book club read-along?</p>
<p>I read it and loved it. It gave a fascinating picture of wartime France, and many of the characters were very compelling.</p>
<p>I could not get into it because I found the translation very stilted.</p>
<p>Maybe I should try again?</p>
<p>I also read it and admired it very much. I’m now reading two of her earlier works… in French so it’ll take a while… A book club read along sounds interesting.</p>
<p>Can you read the French version SB?</p>
<p>It is raw work. She did not have time to edit it. Still, some of the passages are quite memorable. The descriptions of some of the terribly indulgent and materialistic characters strikes a certain note in the affluent times of 2007. One passage talks about the survivors all beleiving they were acting in the proper manner–when they weren’t at all. Very CC.</p>
<p>I am not finished but general moral standards seem to be leaking downward–rather rapidly. </p>
<p>I should finish it by the end of the weekend.</p>