My heart was heavy and my thoughts troubled when I finished reading Sarah’s Key a few weeks ago. Like most readers, I love a happy ending; a sigh as I tread softly on the words in the epilogue, a smile and a hop to my step. Sarah’s Key, however, left me with a sad heart and with an interest in learning more about Nazi occupied Paris and the French Resistance. As I rumbled about finding the next book to read, there on the very bottom of the pile was a book I managed to retrieve for $1 from a library bin, thinking it was Midnight in Paris, and discovering it was something quite different.
Quite different, indeed.
Roth is a German soldier stationed at a translator’s desk in a back office of Paris in 1943 where he transcribes innocuous papers. When it is discovered that he not only speaks fluent French, but that he speaks it without an accent, he is abruptly reassigned to SS headquarters where he translates for the Nazis during brutal interrogations of French Resistance fighters.
In his free time, Roth takes to donning civilian clothes, against military regulations, and wandering the streets of Paris, pretending to be a French citizen, Antoine. He sees a beautiful French woman outside of an antiquarian book store and becomes obsessed with meeting her. Chantal is not all she seems to be, however, and the story takes on dangerous multiple identities, putting Roth in compromising situations as he realizes Chantal is involved with the French Resistance – and she realizes he is a German soldier.
Michael Wallner’s book was at times pleasant as Roth wandered the street of Paris, and it was a quick read. It was also a troubling account of the Nazi interrogations and brutality, the fear and suspicion of the French citizens living under Nazi domination, and a glimpse into the seedier side of the salons and back streets of Paris nightlife.
While I would not say that this is the best written novel, it is a page turner that I suspect will be made into a movie. Wallner is a German actor and screenwriter. It is, however, a compelling and suspenseful read. I found the descriptions of Paris in 1943 engaging, especially as Wallner took us along with Roth down the side streets and the hidden spaces of the French Resistance.
There was also a brief scene where Roth, beaten and fighting for his life – for the Nazis do discover his duplicitous behavior and suspect him of collaborating with the Resistance – reflects on how he has spent his time riding between the two sides of wartime Paris, witnessing horrific interrogations as he sits and translates from one language to another, never expressing emotions, then pretending to be a Frenchman a short time later. I gave me time to pause and reflect on how we often straddle the fence on issues both large and small. How easy it is to tilt one’s head to the side and pretend to not see what is really there. How it is often easier to just let someone else worry or take care of “it”. A good book, if not a great book, should give the reader a chance to pause and reflect and to endeavor to be a better person for reading it, don’t you agree?
Clarification: In saying that this is not the best written novel, I mean that some of the subplots I think could have been better developed and I had the feeling this was written with a movie in mind. Having said that, I must also say that this is a translation of a book originally written in German. I find it to be a very good translation, but, translations can sometimes miss certain meanings and such from the original. It is, at the end of the day, er read, a very good book. I hope you will read it.
There is a reference in the book to Maurice Chevalier singing a song about April in Paris (not the Doris Day song). I did a little hunting, and found this early recording that you might enjoy.
Sarah’s Key made me realize what a weight surviving the Holocaust must’ve been for people like Sarah, who lost everyone in her family. It was sad, but a thought-provoking book for me.
This one sounds like it has a twisting narrative, and adding Paris to the mix, I’d probably love to read it. Thanks for mentioning it here, Penny.
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I agree, Andra. I thought about it long after I closed the book.
I do think you would enjoy this book, Andra, and hope you give it a try.
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What a find. I love those bargain bins. This sounds like something that I would like. It is hard to believe sometimes the horror that was behind WWII. We sometimes watch movies about the era with the Andrews Sisters singing away and forget about what a difficult time it was. The Americans were so much behind our American effort with rationing and Victory gardens, etc. I wonder how our current times will be written about in the future.
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I know. It is such a thrill to find these wonderful bargains when we least expect it. Of course, I’m always rummaging the bins FOR a bargain.
There is a certain romanticism about the war years brought about by time and the movies when, in fact, it was difficult times for all. I wonder the same thing, Janet.
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Dear Penny, I’ve been dipping into “The Midwife” now for a couple of weeks. It’s absorbing. And now you suggest two other books that sound equally riveting. How am I going to get all these read when I already have a stack of twenty mysteries to read!!!!!
But among those is a book that was mentioned in “The War” series by Ken Burns that I watched over Memorial Day weekend. I’m going to start it next. It’s about war in the South Pacific written by a marine who experienced it–E. B. Sledge. It’s entitled “With the Old Breed” and from its cover I gather that it was also part of the HBO miniseries “The Pacific.” Since I have only basic cable, I’ve never seen “The Pacific.” I do read about WW I and WW II, but keeping up with all that’s written while reading the mysteries I so enjoy is difficult. I truly admire your dedication to reading literary novels and memoirs.
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If you figure out a way, let me know Dee. There is never enough time, is there? I have two of the Maisie Dobbs series from the library, so what do I pick up today? “The Wind in the Willows”. I think I just need a bit of children’s literature at the moment, so please don’t be too impressed with my literary adventures.
“With the Old Breed” certainly sounds informative, Dee, especially if it was mentioned in “The War”. I haven’t see “The Pacific” as we don’t get HBO, but I will be on the lookout for both the book and the series. Sometimes libraries do carry these films.
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Dear Penny, I started “With the Old Breed” last night. The blurbs tell us that the book is consider a classic–the best book written about the war in the Pacific. As to the film–I went to the library website and ordered it. So perhaps I’ll be able to watch the 530 minutes this weekend.
Peace.
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It sounds like you will be quite busy with the book and movie, Dee. I’ve added “With the Old Breed” to my ever-expanding list. It’s interesting that the older I get, the longer my book list gets. I’m glad your library had the film. Our libraries are such wonderful institutions.
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“April in Paris” sounds like a very interesting book – but by it not being “the best written novel”, I hope you are not saying it is as horribly written as the much hyped “Fifty Shades of Grey”, which was the worst book I’ve ever read! But the story you’ve described here sounds well worth having a look at!
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No, Janet. I haven’t read “Fifty Shades of Grey”, which sounds like a great marketing ploy is there ever was one. I thought about what I had written and did a clarification onto the post. “April in Paris” won’t become a classic, but, it is a very good book about an arena of WWII that I did not know much about. A bit of a mystery, thriller, suspenseful, love story, wrapped around the horrors of war. I actually think you would like it. Kindle?
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Well, here’s food for thought, Penny. Death stalked so many of us in that part of the world at that time. It took people without warning and subjected them to the very worst one can suffer without being dead. I often think of Anne Frank, those clear bright eyes, that beautiful open writing talent. Eerily, when I was the age she wrote the diary I looked exactly like her, and would, in the wrong place and time, have suffered her fate.
It sounds as if this book deals with the business of making oneself aware; of daring to empathise; and paying the price for ceasing to maintain a careful facade between ourselves and the suffering of others.
This is one book I feel I shall have to read. Thank you, Penny, for the recommendation.
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Jennifer and I saw a photo exhibit of Anne Frank a few years ago. They were pictures Otto Frank had done before they went in hiding and were of Anne and her sister as babies, toddlers, children playing, loving life. In seeing them, I felt so incredibly sad and thought about my own two daughters in much the same way you thought of her.
It is so, Kate, and this is a book I think you would enjoy reading and would be interested in your thoughts on it. You are so very welcome.
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It sounds like a powerful book, full of very human themes about allegiance. Thanks for the Maurice Chevalier song – he always gives me a thrill!
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It is powerful, Juliet, and so troubling as well.
You’re welcome. He is so young in the picture and always maintained his good looks and boyish charm in life.
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Maurice Chevalier! And so young! That was a treat…I hadn’t thought of him in a very long time. The subject matter of the book is so strong that I would imagine it’s informative on top of whatever entertainment comes with a good plot! Sometimes I get onto a topic or period of history, too, and just want to know more! If you stay with this time period and perhaps more to do with the Resistance, can you imagine how many different questions will arise that all need answers. It’s like going back to school! I enjoy your book reviews, Penny. I know I would enjoy both books! Debra
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I hadn’t either, Debra, until his name came up in the book. Funny how one thing triggers another. Isn’t he dashing and young in the picture? It is like going back to school, isn’t it? only we get to choose the subject. This was a reminder that not every soldier is immersed in the politics and ideas of his or her time. Many are just soldiers, drafted or conscripted, biding their time until war’s end. I must admit that I didn’t like the ending, which I won’t spoil, but that the more I have thought about, the more questions it brings to mind. I think you would appreciate both books, Debra.
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I had internet problems yesterday so just got to this post.
I will look for the books as your selections have never sent me astray.
You can not go wrong with Wind in the Willows after such a striking reading experience. I hope you get to Windspear and have the first book that sets the stage for the series.It is my personal favorite as it is about her experiences as a nurse during WW1.
Fingers crossed for a Triple Crown winner!
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Mine has been a little “sluggish” Marilyn, but still available. Glad you are back in business. We really do rely on technology, don’t we?
I’ve started a Windspear while holding the pages of Wind in the Willows. I think it will be a Wind in the Willows weekend. I’ve been needing a bit of whimsy for a time. I know I will like Maisie, though I couldn’t find the first book.
Just heard the news that I’ll Have Another won’t be running. My fingers were crossed, to, Marilyn. I’m disappointed, but, it is for the best.
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