The group thoroughly enjoyed this novel. We all found Nemirovsky's style very readable and her description of the French countryside and towns really beautiful. The novel also provoked much discussion. Nemirovsky makes some fascinating observations of human nature and how people in France responded to the German invasion of their country. Despite the desperate situation, Nemirovsky observes that many people still were firmly rooted to their class and prejudices. The first part of the novel concerns the evacuation of Paris at the invasion and we are introduced to a number of different characters and families. We felt that the second part of the novel, Dolce, was more successful- this section focusses on the German occupation of a town and how its inhabitants respond to the German soldiers stationed in their town. Again, there are some fascinating observations and Nemirovsky questions whether a human should live to serve as part of their community or live to satisfy their own individual desires.
The novel was not finished- Nemirovsky planned another three sections and the tragedy is that she herself, writing the novel in occupied France was taken away to a Concentration camp. Looking at the appendices at the back of the novel, which include Nemirovsky's notes for the other parts, one can only imagine what a great novel this would have been. The first two sections are great in themselves and we are lucky that they were rescued by Nemirovsky's daughter. A tragedy that Nemirovsky never lived to finish it.

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