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Sometimes I find it hard to put my feelings about a book into words. This is one of those books. The book is set during WWII, at the time that France fell to Germany, and falls into two parts - the first part chronicles the journey of a group of parisiens as they flee the city; the second tells the story of a village and how they cope with the German occupation.

This book invoked a multitude of emotions. There is just no way for me to imagine how it must have made them feel for their country to be at war like that. OK, so there is the war that is currently happening in the East, however it's not happening here in our streets and so although many people are touched by it because of family members fighting, we are still somewhat removed from it. To have the war thrust in their face constantly; to see their homeland in ruin; to be completely powerless to do anything; to have no hope that things would be as they were before; I just can't imagine how that must have felt. I read this book during a busy week and so had to put it down often, yet it was still in my thoughts when I wasn't reading.

The writing was excellent. I found the author's use of decription to be perfect. Sometimes description can be overused and it really isn't in this novel, yet there is enough to give you the feeling of being there. The story is told from many different viewpoints which, again, doesn't work well in some novels, but does in this one. I found that it really enhanced the story and helped to convey the many emotions felt by those living through the horror.

This is one that will stay with me for some time.