I love Nemirovsky's writing. She was a Jewish woman born in Russia, fled to France with her family, and ended up dying at Auschwitz. Written in French by a non-native and translated into English, the language is still powerful, poignant, and offers a razor-sharp observation of human nature. Characters show their true colors in crisis. Though Suite Francaise is incomplete, I prefer that novel to this one. All Our Worldly Goods paired with Suite Francaise offer a look into war-time and occupied France. And as you read them, it's hard to forget about the author's demise. This book was easy to read but appeared to be too short for a family saga. It packs in lots of relationships but for me seemed to be skipping over things. It felt like boy meets girl, they fall in love, their patents object, a solution is found and they get married happens in the space of 10 pages. It is quite poignant to know as she describes the onset of the Second World War that the author does not survive it. It also does go to remind us once more of the futility of war but how easy it is to be lulled into the false belief that war won't affect you. Although in this instance those who are about to be engulfed for the second time live it up knowing that misery is on the horizon.I remain very thankful that I have avoided any major conflict in Europe and hope that the stabilisation of national relationships through the formation of the European Union continues to find the support it deserves and needs in order to maintain that cooperation and peaceful coexistence.
What do You think about I Doni Della Vita (1947)?
This author has a wonderful ability to paint a whole picture with just a few carefully chosen words.
—greenzebra
Would have given it 3 1/2 stars, if possible. Probably made better by having read Suite Francaise.
—bendy
Meh. Love story. Skips around from parents to kids to kids' kids. No plot, just lives intertwining.
—gtrrzdnll
The author died at Auschwitz. Her books have been published posthumously.
—THE_MAC
