WHILE PARIS SLEPT by Ruth Druart is a very moving story about occupied Paris during World War II. Jean Luc works for the national railroad and he knows he should be thankful for this position because he could have been sent to work in Germany like his father. But he is far from thankful when he is assigned to work at Bobigny, the rails that serve the Jewish transit camp of Drancy. He has no love for the Germans and he suspects his work is aiding them in their efforts to exterminate the Jews. He attempts to sabotage the rails and ends up in the hospital with a horrible scar on his face and a broken femur as a result. While he is recuperating in the hospital he meets Charlotte and they begin to fall in love. Jean Luc yearns to do more for the resistance and decides he will convince Charlotte to join up with him. While he is awaiting the right time to make his move, a Jewish woman who is boarding the train at Drancy shoves her baby into his arms and begs him to save her baby’s life. Unsure what to do with the baby, Jean Luc seeks assistance from Charlotte and her mother. It rapidly becomes clear to Jean Luc that in order to save his own life and that of the baby they must leave France. Charlotte is insistent on leaving with them. Together they strike out to start a new life.
I love historical fiction and I have read a lot of books set around and during the time of World War II. This book is unlike any I have read before. Ruth Druart's words touched my heart and soul. Her accounts are so realistic I could imagine myself actually there. The accounts of the torture suffered by the Jews are heartwrenching. The account of Jean Luc and Charlotte’s escape from France is heart-stopping. And the account of Samuel’s life when he is forced to return to Paris is heartbreaking. I would highly recommend a box of tissues close at hand while reading this book.
There is so much more I could say about this book, but I don’t want to spoil it for other readers. I will say that I found myself empathetic for several of the characters. I am very grateful that I have not personally suffered the tragedies presented in this story. I would hope that if I had, I would have the bravery and character to emulate many of their actions. I highly recommend WHILE PARIS SLEPT by Ruth Druart to fans of historical fiction.
One woman must make the hardest decision of her life in this unforgettably moving story of resistance and faith during one of the darkest times in history.
Santa Cruz, 1953. Jean-Luc is a man on the run from his past. The scar on his face is a small price to pay for surviving the horrors of Nazi occupation in France. Now, he has a new life in California, a family. He never expected the past to come knocking on his door.
Paris, 1944. A young Jewish woman's past is torn apart in a heartbeat. Herded onto a train bound for Auschwitz, in an act of desperation she entrusts her most precious possession to a stranger. All she has left now is hope.
On a darkened platform, two destinies become intertwined, and the choices each person makes will change the future in ways neither could have imagined.
Told from alternating perspectives, While Paris Slept reflects on the power of love, resilience, and courage when all seems lost. Exploring the strength of family ties, and what it really means to love someone unconditionally, this debut novel will capture your heart.
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