Pros, Cons, what would make this book better/ more enjoyable? & final thoughts

Pros: It was well written, it is a piece of history.
- it had two volumes which made the book more interesting.
-the apendix was really interesting.
-it's unique and the story behind the novel itself makes the book even more intersting.
cons:
-not very captivating.
-The plot line is very slow paced
-hard to keep reading.


What would make this book better:
The book would have been better if it was able to be finished. the apendix itself which was only about 50 pages was just as interesting, if ot more interesting than the whole rest of the book.
This book also would have been better if there was not so many characters, as they were hard to keep up with since there were so many.

Final thoughts:
Overall i enjoyed the historical aspects of the book but it was not able to draw me in untill the end of the book where i was then left with an unfinished ending. I also preffered the second volume of the book Dolce rather than the first volume Storm in June, because it wasnt as slow and was able to catch my attention more easily.

Was the world of your book realistic or easy to relate to?

I found the events and the way people acted extremely realistic. Nemirovsky did a really good job of showing the reader how the chracters true colours really shine in the act of desperate times. Which made the book a bit easier to get into. I think it is also easy to relate to, when i was in downtown Vacouver in the middle of a riot after the Vancouver Canucks lost the Stanley Cup, i saw how the people that did not want to be involved were acting. People just wanted to leave the area and some of them didnt care if they left their friends behind. I can see how people would act selfish in times of war that Nermirovsky wrote about.

authors perspective & how the story was told.

I find it extremely interesting being able to see the authors perspective on war considdering she wrote in the midst of a war. But i wonder if maybe her perspectrive on the things that she worte about would have changed if she was able to write it after the war instead of during.

While on the topic of the authors perspective i would also like to express how I'm not to keen on the idea of not having a lot of options on the point of view of the story since it is only told by one person. I personally do not like how the story was told, i feel as if there are way to many characters to keep up with and the plot line was way too slow. Although the book didn't drag along as much in the second volume of the book Dolce.

I would also like to say that i really do respect this novel and it's historical value. It is a reality to see how people acted during the war and how betrayl, and other bad things start to shine in people as they continue to fear death and try to survive. This story shows that in times of survival it really is every man for himself. I think this is just a natural survival instinct.

My first opinion of the book itself.

Although i find the idea of this book beautiful and historical, it just could not pull me in. As hard as I tried I could not get into this book, the plot line moves very slow, for me at least. It got more interesting little by little and after about 100 pages or so it was really starting to grab my attention. I really like this book, despite the fact that i find it a bit hard to keep up with all of these characters and the plot line is slow. The fact that it is about war and how people coped, kept me interested in this book as well.

what would i do?

At the very beginning of this novel Irene Nemirovsky writes how people are in denial about the air raid/ war, rather than scared. I guess It is because they are scared, that they are in denial. page 2 "Im staying in bed." and "I am not scared" are both examples of their denial. If i was in their situation Im not really sure how my reaction to such news would be. I do know how ever that i would not say that i wasn't scared and i would most definitely not be able to sleep and go back to bed though. I just don't understand how people could act so calmly about such thing in such a time and just try to sleep it off. If the chapter was written about how i was acting it would probably mention something like how people were acting childish and crying, with no hope.

My Final Thoughts On Suite Francaise

     Although "Suite Francaise" gives us a glimpse into a whole other time period and is completely different from any other novel I have read, I had an extremely hard time finishing it. I found that the story was slow paced and I had to force myself to become interested in the plot. I'm not surprised at how rough around the edges the book was since it was a found as a work in progress, but I wish there was a real ending. We are left with only Nemirovsky's notes in the appendix; the closest any of us will ever get to reading the other volumes she intended to write if not for her untimely death.

     Despite my grievances, I appreciate Irene Nemirovksy's work. I think she had a strong voice as a writer and talent that still had room for growth. If only Nemirovsky hadn't been arrested and detained simply for being Jewish. For all we know, she would have somehow revealed even more about the unjust era she had lived in through her work.

Rediscovery

      According to my research, Nemirovsky's eldest daughter Denise possessed the notebook that contained Suite Francaise for fifty years and she never read it because she thought it was her mother's journal, which would be too hurtful to read. Fortunately by the 1990's, the eldest of the Nemirovsky children finally went through the notebook and had it published after she discovered what it was.

     The novel's interesting back story makes me wonder what other works have been lost and whether or not the possibility of them being found is likely. Luckily for Irene Nemirovsky her story made it to the public, became a best seller and has received positive feedback from reviewers such as the National Post and The Globe and Mail. In conclusion, it amazes me how the novel "Suite Francaise" ended up seeing the light of day after being hidden away for so long. The fact that it was successful is also incredible and I'm sure Nemirovsky would be proud if she were around to see her work become published.

How do you feel about the way the story was told? Is there anything you enjoyed or were irritated with about the way the book is written?

     I dislike the way Suite Francaise was told. In my opinion, the book would've been more effective if the stories varied in point of view. I think the third person view made the novel lack detail and imagery, which also made it difficult for me to read. Despite everything I found irritating I enjoyed the historical aspects of the book. I like how Nemirovsky was able to give us an inside look into what life was like during the Second World War and what effect it had on the world. As a reader, I could sense the brutality and seriousness of the time the characters (and the author herself) were forced to live in. There is no doubt that Nemirovsky's ideas came from witnessing tragedy first hand and I admire her will to capture it all.
   

What idea was the author trying to explore in this work? How important is that idea?

      Irene Nemirovsky was trying to explore the idea of survival. Although each of the characters experienced different things throughout the book, the common struggle they all faced was attempting to remain alive. In the story, the chances of being struck by a bomb or a car with a panic-stricken driver were extremely high due to the war. It becomes apparent that it is not only soldiers in the battle fields who are fighting for their lives, but innocent civilians caught in the cross fire as well. I think the concept of survival is important because the threat of death is always around. Particularly in Nemirovsky's novel, loss is expected by the characters who have already gone through tough times. The wealthy characters, however, automatically assume that they will live simply because of their position in society. This obviously isn't the case yet this didn't stop the high class characters from acting as if they were above everyone else.

      Generally, the struggle for survival is what makes Suite Francaise interesting. This is because as readers we are always questioning whether or not the people in the novel will make it out alive. In the end, it becomes obvious that not all of them do, but the lessons we take from their attempts to escape death are what stick with us.

Storm of June Vs. Dolce

After finishing the novel, one finds that Storm in June and Dolce are two independant volumes of work. The first, Storm in June, follows the lives of citizens as they evacuate the city of Paris in the days following the German advance. The second, Dolce, paints the lives of the French in the small country town of Bussy during the first few months of German occupation. While after first reading these two volumes they seem to lie independant to one another, links between the two can be found. For example, a handful of characters from the first section are brought up in the second, notably Jean-Marie Michaud and the Sabaries. It is, however, the history of the Second World War and its chronology that ultimately unites Storm in June and Dolce. As the reader moves through the novel, they learn of the series of events that composed the war, as well as the acheivement of peace that followed.

Though Storm in June and Dolce can be connected, they are also contrasting in nature. The two finished volumes, in particular, have entirely different moods. Storm in June juggles a large cast of characters in a thrilling, pacey, and action-filled assortment, as the German invasion forces crowds of Parisans out of their city. In Dolce, the pace begins to slow, the tone softens, but the emotions, instead, become deeper as Nemirovsky concentrates on the lives of two main families in the peaceful town of Bussy. This section is no longer driven by the burlesque rhythms which led the first. The point-of-view- one that explores the thoughts and emotions of all characters, minor or major -also stays the same.

Following these two volumes of work, it was expected that Nemirovsky was planning to continue with three additional volumes: Captivity, Battles, and Peace. Where we are now left without any conclusive ending to the novel, I believe we would have then instead received that ending that was expected. This, in my opinion, would have made the novel a better, much more satisfying read. All in all, however, I found this novel captivating at parts, much lagging in others. I preferred the storyline of the second volume, Dolce, as it was much more interesting, as well as less confusing. Which did you prefer?

Friend or Foe?

I am now immersed mid-way through the second part of this book: Dolce. Irene Nemirovsky, this time, takes us into the small town of occupied Bussy and its neighbouring farms, where the townspeople are forced to live and work alongside the German conquerors. Coexisting awkwardly alongside the foreign troops, the villagers- ranging from stuck-up aristocrats to hard-working farmers -cope the best they can. As the polite and nervous German soldiers settle into the town, Nemirovsky portrays the scrambled feelings and raw emotions that run through the town. Torn between the duties to their nation and duties to their customs and culture, some choose defiance, while others choose to accept the men into their town. Largely, we see the young women of the town as the ones to first fall out of loathing and lust to a position of wait-and-see adoration. With the Angellier family centre stage to the storyline, along with a lesser story line concerning the Sabaries, Lucille Angellier and Madeleine Sabarie become the first to demonstrate this concept.

Lucille Angellier, an unhappy wife whose husband is taken prisoner-of-war, lives with her disproving, extremely patriotic mother-in-law in the best house in the village. When German Commander Bruno von Falk is billeted to their home, Lucile finds herself unable to decide how to accept this stranger into her life. With her mother-in-law- like many of the older women of the town -already having marked Bruno as an enemy, Lucile unwillingly finds herself falling in love with him. As we see on page 225, Lucile lays tirelessly awake in bed listening to the sounds of the German soldier in the adjacent room, unable to untangle her scrambled feelings. "It's such a shame!" she thinks. "A shame that the silence was so complete? A shame that the boy had stopped playing? A shame that he was here, he, the invader, the enemy, he and not someone else?" Lucile Angellier, the author shows us, is the first of many to explore the differences between friend and foe.

Another character we see undergo such a change is Madeleine Sabarie. Married to Benoit Sabarie, a prisoner-of-war who escaped from German captivity, Madeleine seems to still be in love with Jean-Marie Michaud, the French soldier she nursed back to health throughout Storm in June. However, at the arrival of German interpreter, Bonnet, there is a spark of possibility that her heart may be lost to the gentleman. The reader, throughout this period, watches her struggle with her emotions towards the man. At times, Madeleine finds herself attracted to Bonnet; at others, it is not so. "She didn't like this young man, he frightened her a bit, yet despite herself she was attracted by a certain resemblance to Jean-Marie- not to Jean-Marie as a man, but as a member of a higher social class, a gentleman." (229) Friend or foe? The reader follows as she searches for an answer.

While we see some characters, including the above, go through a period of indecision, there are also those that remain strong and resilient in their opinion. This disproving attitude is often held by the older women of France- notably those who had been alive for the war of 1914 as well. As Nemirovsky writes: "The mothers of prisoners or soldiers killed in the war looked at them and begged God to curse them, but the young women just looked at them." (239) However, whether it be the disproving view of some or the mix of indecision of others, the emotions of Nemirovsky's characters pour out of the pages, making them seem as real as can be, giving the reader an opportunity to step into their shoes and decide for themselves: friend or foe?

Coming to an End of Storm in June

As I complete the first volume of Suite Francaise, many of the loose strings of 'Storm in June' come together to bring a sense of completion to the novel. This, however, is not done through a series of chapters which make up the falling action and denoument, but instead stuffed into a single chapter: Chapter 31. While Chapter 31, the last of 'Storm in June,' may be only a few pages in length, a lot is accomplished by the author. The lives of the characters, which the reader has been following throughout the novel, are gradually brought to a close in these pages. The atmosphere, which was one of a desperation and a struggle to survive, now changes to an atmosphere of surrendered tranquility that follows the German victory. The fighting and violence of war, as we learn, has seized, but the war still remains at large, effecting each character in a different manner. Most of the characters have managed to survive the war, but an unfortunate few do not. One of these characters who stuck out to me was Charles Langelet.

Charles Langelet managed to survive the horrors of the war, but he was killed while he settled back into his life in Paris. He was not, however, killed by the German enemy, but by a woman he had befriended earlier that day. His death was very odd as he was run over by a car. I found this very random. I also found it odd that the woman, Arlette Corail, who had run him over felt no lingering feeling of sympathy or remorse for taking a life, even after she discovered she had known the man. She was shaken, but "Nevertheless, she remembered that her insurance, licence, pass, were al in order, and she knew someone influential who would fix everything for her. Somewhat reassured..." (188). This self-centered nature, however, is not uncommmon for this novel.

While the characters we have met thus far settle down, a new character is introduced. While this character remains nameless, she ultimately brings a change in atmosphere and mood. A mother of three young children and a wife to a husband captured as a prisoner of war, she must alone bear all the burdens and work on the farm. While we see the other characters finish their battle against the war, this woman's battle remains ongoing. Exhausted, all she wants to do is give up. However, after a long moment of realization, her despair changes to hope and optimism. As a result, so does the tone of the novel. While the reader spent the most part of the novel absorbed in terror and a desperate need for survival, they end the novel with a silent hope for the future; a light at the end of the tunnel.

Do any of the characters come face to face with death?

Throughout the novel many characters are forced to face death in some way. Whether they’re pinning themselves to the ground to avoid enemy planes or fleeing from their homes, death is a common element that gives us an inside look into the reality of life during wartime. The elder Monsieur Pericand’s experience stands out to me the most:

"Then he was certain he could feel death approaching. He made a startled little gesture (as if he was trying to get through a door that was too narrow for him, saying, "No, please, after you") and a look of surprise appeared on his face. "Is this what it is?" he seemed to say. "So this is death, then?" The surprise on his face faded and he looked stern, solemn."  Ch, 23, Pg. 128.

This part of the novel is a reminder of my own mortality. It shows us that wealth and success doesn’t matter because in the end we are all doomed to the same unfortunate fate. In my opinion, coming to terms with the death of others is difficult enough so I can only imagine what it’d be like to have to accept your own. I’m not sure what I’d do if I were in the elder Pericand’s position, however, I would probably be just as oblivious as he was. Generally speaking, death can occur at anytime and at any place. We may not see it coming, but it’ll happen and there’s no real way to be prepared. The best any of us can do is choose to live as much as we can and find our place in the world before we are forced to leave it.

Character

Suite Francaise is a story narrated from the point of view of a revolving set of defined characters. The characters in this novel, up until now, have been presented as multi-dimensional and complex. Nearing the midpoint of Suite Francaise, the characters have more or less been introduced as well as developed to a point where a general assumption of them can be made. And while these characters may seem a general cast of personalities, it is notable that Irene Nemirovsky has, for the most part, used stereotypes to play out and strengthen her theme. The first volume, 'Storm of June,' shadows the lives of five families in particular, some of whom encounter one another throughout the course of the novel.

There is the pious and rich Pericand family of Monsieur Pericand, a wealthy businessman, and his wife, Charlotte. The Pericands, blind to practical matters, initially refuse to listen to warnings from friends that the German's are closing in on Paris. When they finally decide to leave, however, their attitude is one of irritation and annoyance. Filling their cars with expensive paintings, family heirlooms, and china they consider to be "essential items," Charlotte, her five children, and her father-in-law travel to her mother's home out in the country. While introduced as an arrogant, haughty sort, the Pericand family soon spirals towards a realization that their accumulated wealth would give them no more advantage over this war than the next man. Their oldest son is murdered, and the second oldest, Hubert, runs away to join the unpromising French defenses. The reality of war, in time, sets in.

The other main characters include the shockingly pompous Gabriel Corte, a well-known French writer, and his mistress, Florence. Spoiled by wealth, Corte is outraged that the war would dare encroach on his home. He holds a hatred for the war, not because of its inhumanity and destruction, but for the sole reason that it would destroy his career. Similarly egotistical in nature, Charles Langelet, another of the characters in this novel, goes through the war with one concern: to protect his collection of porcelain and art. There is also the banker Monsieur Corbin and his mistress, Arlette, who insists that he drive her out of Paris in his car. With the train stations being mobbed and no other way for his mistress to leave Paris, Corbin has no choice but to take Arlette and her heaps of luggage. This means that Corbin no longer has space for his two loyal employees, Jeanne and Maurice Michaud, who must, as a result, leave Paris on foot. Jeanne and Maurice are the novel's more humble and compassionate characters, a contrast that brings a brief relief from the pompous upper-class attitude that overrules this novel.

Through these variety of odd characterizations, Nemirovsky portrays a mental and emotional side to her characters. While many may find these characters unlikeable, I found them very believable. The way that one often finds themselves reacting in the "wrong" way during a traumatic experience and thinking odd or disconnected thoughts all seemed to be brought to life in this novel. Nemirovsky truly did a wonderful job connecting the reader with the characters of this novel.

Theme: We Cannot Know People Truly Until They Are Put to the Test

Through the novel, "Suite Francaise," Irene Nemirovsky portrays a theme of war, which revolves around the basic idea that the true personality of humanity can be seen in desperate times trauma or disaster. It is during these periods of time that our true colours come out. We see this recurrent theme many times through the actions of the various characters. The novel, tracing the lives men, women, and children as they evacuate Paris during the Nazi invasion of the Second World War, throws the characters of this book into the midst of disaster, danger, and death. Each character, at some point, is faced with something that pushes them past their own limits. We see many examples of this throughout the first part of the book.



The first example of this is Madame Pericand. Madame Pericand, who is first introduced as a generous individual, gets angry at her daughters for sharing chocolate with hungry strangers when she realizes there may be a food shortage. Also, when they are bombed in Chapter 21, Madame Pericand forgets to save her father-in-law in her hurry to save her own life and her children.


Another example of this is Charles Langelet. Langelet, who is introduced as a respected, high-ranking man, devises a plan to steal the petrol of a gullible young couple in Chapter 22. Where this man was once seen as extremely moral and uncapable of steeping to such lows, his true colors now flourish.

As it is, Suite Francaise is skillful in its display of the many faucets of human nature that reveal themselves in times of danger and crisis. The above examples are only a few of the many that compose this novel. While many authors would have chosen a satirical approach to such instances, Nemirovsky, through her writing, shows sympathy towards these natural human responses, regardless of how far they stray from moral values and honorable guidelines. It is this unique manner which defines the lines of the theme of this novel: We cannot know people truly until they are put to the test.

My First Thoughts

Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky is a novel that paints a picture of French life during the early 1940's. While only at the quarter-way mark, I find Suite Francaise a difficult novel to review. On one hand, I would like to give the novel high reviews considering the appreciation I hold for the novel because of its historical importance. It provides an intimate look into the German invasion of Paris during the Second World War and is very well written. Creating just the right atmosphere through her work, Nemirovsky connects the reader with the emotions and fear felt by the innocent civilians of France. I, personally, learned a lot in such a short period of time about life in France during the early 1940's.

My appreciation for Suite Francaise also stems from the story behind the compilation of the novel. It is the story of the author and the tale behind how the novel came to be published so many years after her death that seems more compelling to me than the actual plot itself. However, I believe if Nemirovsky had a chance to complete the book to the extent she hoped to, I would think otherwise.

On the other hand, the plot line of this novel is slow and and seems to crawl along sluggishly. When I first began to read the book, I had trouble reading it more than a chapter or two at a time. While it was written with great style and beauty, it did not grab my attention or engross me in a way that kept me reading. I soon learned that each chapter was an episode into the lives of certain characters, who fluctuated from chapter to chapter. While many of these episodes were interesting and amusing, there was no push to keep on reading.

However, only 100 pages in, it is possible the coming chapters of the novel may change this.

How is the character like anyone you know or even like you?

Hubert, the second eldest of the Pericand family, reminds me of myself. This is because I can identify with his need to leave his family and go his own way. In my opinion, I think it’s normal to feel confined the way Hubert does in the story. We are born, raised and expected to grow up, but when we try to stand as individuals we’re told that we’re children, “barely seventeen, and [our] duty is to save [ourselves] for the future.” As anxious as I am about becoming more independent and dealing with even more responsibilities, I am eager to gain freedom after being tethered to my parents and siblings for years as well. I don’t know if I’d ever attempt to join the army like Hubert, however, I strongly admire his determination and longing to bring about change.

I hope that by the end of the novel Hubert realizes that it is possible to become great, but it may not happen in a day. I also hope that Hubert understands that his failure to become a second rate version of Philippe will allow him to become a first rate version of himself.

Introductory Post

Author: Irene Nemirovsky

Publisher: Gallimard Jeunesse

Copyright Date: 31 October 2004

Number of Pages: 367 (plus Appendices: 419)

Synopsis: Suite Francaise is a historical fiction divided into two volumes. The first, Storm in June, follows the lives of Parisians scramble out of France upon hearing of the advance of the German army. In particular, the author depicts the journeys of five families. The second, Dolce, illustrates life in the small town of Bussy in the first peaceful months following the beginning of German occupation. Unfortunately, Nemirovsky was unable to complete the remaining three volumes of the Suite Francaise as she was arrested and detained at Pithiviers and Auschwitz.

Link to Book Review: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/09/books/review/09gray.html