The Book Snobs: December 2010

Saturday, December 4, 2010

January 2011 Selection

Becky has selected Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay as the January selection for the Book Snobs. The genre this month is "hostess choice."

Book Browse says this:

Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year-old girl, is brutally arrested with her family by the French police in the Vel’ d’Hiv’ roundup, but not before she locks her younger brother in a cupboard in the family's apartment, thinking that she will be back within a few hours.

Paris, May 2002: On Vel’ d’Hiv’s 60th anniversary, journalist Julia Jarmond is asked to write an article about this black day in France's past. Through her contemporary investigation, she stumbles onto a trail of long-hidden family secrets that connect her to Sarah. Julia finds herself compelled to retrace the girl's ordeal, from that terrible term in the Vel d'Hiv', to the camps, and beyond. As she probes into Sarah's past, she begins to question her own place in France, and to reevaluate her marriage and her life.

Tatiana de Rosnay offers us a brilliantly subtle, compelling portrait of France under occupation and reveals the taboos and silence that surround this painful episode.

The Book Snobs Gathering

The Book Snobs gathered at Becky's house for drinks, dinner, and discussion on January 31. The hostess served fried chicken with salad and french fries.

Sarah's Key was an excellent book for discussion. All the members reported that they finished it quickly because they couldn't put it down. Discussion centered around the fact that none of us was aware that the ethnic cleansing of the Jews extended to France and was carried out by French citizens under the direction of Nazis. We were touched by the lasting impact on the characters in this book and how the stories from both time periods were woven together.

Sarah's Key is highly recommended reading for anyone, especially for other book clubs.

How Our Club Works

Here are the guidelines that have been agreed upon for our club.

1. You must be invited to join Book Snobs. We have chosen to limit membership to a maximum of 11 members. Prospective new members will be invited to participate as provisional candidates for a period of at least two months.

2. Book Snobs meet the last Monday of each month except December. Dates may be adjusted by consensus.

3. Each Snob must take her turn at hosting. If you can't host when your turn comes up, it's up to you to trade with another Snob.

4. Next month’s hostess should announce her selection at the end of each month’s meeting. She should also send an email announcement of her selection within a few days.

5. The Book Snobs read a wide variety of books. The method of selecting books for each year's reading cycle will be agreed upon in advance by the Snobs. When it's your turn to host you choose the book from the agreed list or genre.

6. The Snobs will not censor their book selections. Any member may elect not to read any selection, but she should not try to influence a hostess to change her selection.

7. Hosting includes providing dinner and adult beverages for the group.

8. The hostess is responsible for finding or creating discussion questions and leading the discussion. Creativity is encouraged. She is also asked to provide some background on the author and/or the book.

9. The hostess should guide the discussion and make an effort to ensure that all members are heard. She is empowered to ask members to stay on topic and to limit side discussions.

10. Each member is expected to read each month's selection. Readers who do not finish any book should decide for themselves whether they will attend discussion. Discussion will not be limited to avoid spoilers.

Rules of Courtesy

1. Snobs are asked to silence their cell phone ringers during discussion. If you must take a phone call, please step out of the room.

2. Children should not be present during discussion. We should not have to limit our discussion to child-appropriate topics. If your children are home, please make sure they stay in another room.

3. All members are asked to limit side discussions and to be courteous by limiting "talking over" other speakers. Members are empowered to raise their hand and/or use a safe word like "chocolate" when needed, to call attention back to the topic.

4. Each Snob is expected to notify the hostess of her attendance plans each month to allow for appropriate food preparation.