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Suite Francaise | 
 enlarge | Author: Irene Nemirovsky
Publisher: Vintage
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
Buy Used: $2.00
You Save: $12.95 (87%)
New (96) Collectible (4) from $4.37
Avg. Customer Rating:  355 reviews
Sales Rank: 354
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 448
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.2 x 1
ISBN: 1400096278
Dewey Decimal Number: 843.912
EAN: 9781400096275
ASIN: 1400096278
Publication Date: April 10, 2007
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Product Description
Beginning in Paris on the eve of the Nazi occupation in 1940. Suite Francaise tells the remarkable story of men and women thrown together in circumstances beyond their control. As Parisians flee the city, human folly surfaces in every imaginable way: a wealthy mother searches for sweets in a town without food; a couple is terrified at the thought of losing their jobs, even as their world begins to fall apart. Moving on to a provincial village now occupied by German soldiers, the locals must learn to coexist with the enemy—in their town, their homes, even in their hearts.
When Irene Nemirovsky began working on Suite Francaise, she was already a highly successful writer living in Paris. But she was also a Jew, and in 1942 she was arrested and deported to Auschwitz, where she died. For sixty-four years, this novel remained hidden and unknown.
Download Description
Irene Nemirovsky was born in Kiev in 1903 into a wealthy banking family and emigrated to France during the Russian Revolution. After attending the Sorbonne, she began to write and swiftly achieved success with her first novel, David Golder, which was followed by The Ball, The Flies of Autumn, Dogs and Wolves and The Courilof Affair. She died in 1942.
From the Hardcover edition.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 350 more reviews...
 Thought I'd Love It... Couldn't Finish It June 29, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I recommended this book to my book club after reading about the author and her story (as well as the book's fabulous reviews). Only two of us finished it (and not because they liked it - they wanted to honor the author). Maybe it's the translation, but I'm very sorry to say I found the writing and the characters absolutely horrid. Please note: I stopped at page 70. Maybe it got better from there, but I just couldn't take it anymore.
 Suite Francaise June 23, 2008
Suite Francaise captures the weakness of humanity during WW2 rather than the horrors of war - a unique approach which engenders great admiration for the author. The publication could be improved by placing the preface and appendices at the front - this would add greatly to appreciation of the work.
 Painfully slow. June 20, 2008
I'm not quite sure what the hoopla is about with this book. I dragged myself through to the end, just so I could say I finished it, but it was a chore. I do commend the author for her ability to help the reader transcend the mood of the war and what it must have been like for people fleeing the city during chaos and uncertainty. Other than that, I really felt like this book was disjointed and aimless.
 Moving and poignant reflection on the persistence of humanity June 20, 2008
When I started "Suite Francaise," I thought it would take a lot of time and effort to complete. Happily, I was wrong. Once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. The novel is actually composed of two novellas, "Storm in June" and "Dolce", which Nemirovsky had intended to be the first of a five-part epic.
"Storm in June" was a strong opener and conveyed the proverbial horrors of war for the invaded civilians, but on a personalized level. This story lacked the fully developed emotions and characters of the second story, "Dolce", but it was nonetheless excellent. A number of the characters in "Storm in June" were rather despicable, but I think that actually enhanced the story by adding nuance, as opposed to a simple "pity them for their circumstances" approach.
"Dolce", in turn, was one of the more moving stories I've ever read. The sheer range of emotions Nemirovsky conveys through the characters is nothing less than magical and beautiful. The added poignancy of knowing Nemirovsky's ultimate fate makes the story even more remarkable. Lucile's torment at having to choose between love for her country and her desperate need for the human connection of romantic love nearly brought me to tears.
"Suite Francaise" is deserving of all the praise it has received, and would be even if Nemirovsky's own story had not been so tragic. The way she captures the persistence of the more mundane aspects of life in the middle of such horrible circumstances is unparalled. I especially recommend this book for fans of Daphne du Maurier. "Suite Francaise" will stay with me for a long time.
 Patience June 20, 2008
Patience is key with this book. I found the first part, Storm in June, rather boring as it focuses so narrowly on so many different people, many of which are so similarly characterized. Makes you want to say "I get it, move on with the story." The second part, dolche, finally finds a focus on one person--Lucille, and tells the story around her. At this point the book finally gets interesting and makes you feel like reading the first part was worth it. The fact the author didn't get the chance to finish the other 3 parts the story was meant to be composed of is intensely disappointing. The book ends right as its about to reach the climax and the story is about to become a page turner. The plans for the third book in the appendix, are a tease. Its too bad it was never written.
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