I was going to blog about a new book called Suite Francaise (wiggle mark under the c). It is a story written by Irene Nemirovshy, a Jewish Russian, at least 2/5'ths of the story. She wrote this while in France during the beginning of the German occupation. She tells her experience of this using the medium of fiction. It is an incredible story. The say "write what you know" Irene Nemirovsky did. She didn't have the chance to finish it, she was sent to the gas chamber in July of 1942.
But I decided not to.
9 comments:
I think you just did.
I almost bought that book for the Biloxi Library--it was on their wish list, but I didn't know enough about it, so I bought a compilation of Southern Writers instead. (A couple of weeks ago, I blogged about the Dewey Donation System's book drive for the Mississippi Gulf Coast library system.)
Now I'm intrigued. But hearing/reading about the Holocaust just tears me up, so I may never have the guts to pick it up. The magnitude of that example of man's inhumanity to man is just beyond my ability to accept or comprehend. I had to watch the last 30 minutes of Schindler's List to be sure that most of the people survived--that was probably 8 years ago, and I still haven't brought myself to be able to watch it in its entirety.
I still haven't see that movie. The book ends before it gets really bad. I think you could read it. I have a hard time with Holcaust stuff as well. Give it try there is no camp stuff.
...interesting... i may have to check check check it out when I am done Mapping Human History.
While I do not enjoy the Holocaust, I do enjoy the irony of your this blog post.
First, this reminds me of a non-fic book, Narrating the Past, by Herzberger, in which he tells about the ways in which fiction took the place, and provided a counter-balence, to the approved history of the regeme of Franco in Spain. I'm sure that I'd love it, if only I had more time (and money) to spend on it.
B. Gina, didn't one of your professors want you to publish a hist-fic work that you wrote on the holocaust?
3. I too enjoy the fact that the act of writing that you didn't write about a certain thing, means that you wrote about it (speech-act theory BTW).
Ty the library is a God- given gift to us monetaraly challanged readers. It will still be around when you have time.
I had no idea there was actually a name the way I wrote that. I am so glad I can learn something new everyday :)
Ty, yeah, as part of our Philosophy class project (while in Vienna) we had to read a book called Conscience and Courage: Rescuers of Jews During the Holocaust--it was a new take on those events, both moving and insightful, and I definitely recommend it, even if I don't have the fortitude to read it again. After reading the book we were supposed to write a story, poem, or play from the point of view of a rescuer. Dr. Baird suggested that I expand and publish my fictional diary of a rescuer during the Holocaust. But that's never going to happen, because:
A. I'm wary of treading the thin line between respectful and inappropriate when it comes to such a serious matter--besides, aren't there enough factual accounts out there? Do I really need to make something up to address the horrors of those times? I feel like fictionalizing those events would be grossly disrespectful to those who suffered through the reality. It would take a hand far more deft than mine to keep that sort of thing from being appalingly offensive.
B. I would have to spend a lot of time and energy researching and analysing the Holocaust. I can't think of any subject I would rather avoid more. It would do something irreversable to my psyche to dwell on man's inhumanity to man so intensely and so long.
C. I lost the original assignment somewhere, so I have no jumping off point.
Dody, aren't you glad I could hijack your comments section to answer a question posed by someone who lives in the same house I do? Seems pretty efficient to me!
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