Humbled Again

When I began this blog, I thought that it would be a simple, fun, mindless kind of diversion.  I think that I am going to have to change the format (I will be introducing "Recipe Sunday" tomorrow). But being a thinking kind of gal, and given the fact that I read more than I probably should, I had to talk about this book that I finished four hours ago and can't get off of my mind. I don't know that I ever will get it out of my mind.

I just spent the last thirty hours reading Sarah's Key.  I started the book around 3pm yesterday, and have read it every chance that I have had.  My mom loaned me her Kindle, but I have had a large aversion to non-print.  It makes me feel like I am in Fahrenheit 451.   But I was without a book, and she had the one that I have been itching to read, so I took it.  I am now considering buying one because it is much easier on the hands, and I can download at will, which will make my husband nervous, I can assure you. I took H to a party this afternoon and took the Kindle along with me. I cooked dinner with the big print on. I let H watch more cartoons than I have ever before because I could not put this thing down.

Sarah's Key  is about a ten year old girl in France who is rounded up during the Vel' d' Hiv' (never heard of it?  Me, neither.  Please Google it, as it is fascinating).  Her four year old brother is too scared to go with the police, so she locks him in a cupboard with a promise that she will come back for him.  I won't give the rest away, but you can probably see where this is going.  The novel follows Sarah and another family who took over the apartment after she and her family were taken to the deportment camps in France.

I spent most of the night last night reading the book.  I think that I finally turned off the light at 2:30.  Between chapters, though, I found myself going upstairs to look in on H and Little T.  They were fast asleep, looking so innocent, so lovely, so...untouched that it took my breath away. They are fortunate enough to not know hunger, pain, loneliness, or apprehension. These children are so lucky to be able to live without fear.

I am aghast at my cowardice when I honestly confront myself with the situations that the protagonist faces in Sarah's Key.  I am a strong woman.  I would do anything to guarantee my children's safety and happiness, but what if that happiness and safety is not ensured?  I believe we live in the greatest country in the world with the greatest minds and the greatest freedom. I always have that fear that I may become too complacent, too reticent to really question the decisions that our leaders make.  I choose to believe that our leaders have our best interests in mind when they are elected.  I also choose to believe that none of the things that occur in these books will ever happen in our country.  But what if I am wrong?  What would I do then?

Have any of you read this book?  What is your take on it?  I want to go back and read Sarah's Key again; I want the story to change and have a happy ending because as I question my actions in the face of adversity, I want to think that I would do something akin to the protagonist's actions.  I don't think that I am that big of a person, though.