I loved While Paris Slept. I finished the novel with tears in my eyes. An uplifting novel and will be great for book clubs’ *****’

The railway wagon used to carry internees to Auschwitz and now displayed at Drancy - image from Wikipedia Meet Sarah, a young Jewish woman who is ripped away from everything she knows and loves in Paris, leaving her with nothing but a deep sense of despair and a precious, life-changing decision to make. Meanwhile, in California, Jean-Luc is haunted by the ghosts of his past and struggling to come to terms with the atrocities he witnessed during the Nazi occupation of France. A young woman’s future is torn away in a heartbeat. Herded on to 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. In 1944, to save her son from certain death, Sarah, a young mother, entrusts her newborn baby to Jean-Luc, a French railway worker, before being pushed onto a train to Auschwitz. On a darkened platform, two destinies become intertwined, and the choices each person makes will change the future in ways neither could have imagined.

Ruth Druart Press Reviews

The ARC of this book was kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #WhileParisSlept #NetGalley. This may be a different scenario, but it almost had a similar reaction for me. Because parents are having to make difficult decisions. You’ll have your heart in your mouth and tears on your cheeks as it reaches its rich, life-affirming conclusion… Had me completely and utterly enraptured’ LOUISE CANDLISH

As readers we can’t help but feel the weight of the Nazi occupation and its impact on Sarah, her husband David, even Jean-Luc and Charlotte, as well as a nurse that he meets at a German hospital. Beginning on an ordinary day and ending on an extraordinary one, WHILE PARIS SLEPT is an unforgettable read.Overall, this novel has so many elements to it that it makes for compelling reading. Recommended for fans of historical fiction. Recommended Reads about Race, Racism, and Demarginalizing History - Necessary Non-fiction You Should Read for Life-changing Insights and Impact You'll have your heart in your mouth and tears on your cheeks as it reaches its rich, life-affirming conclusion. Both epic and intimate, this unexpected story had me completely and utterly enraptured I loved this novel, I'm still crying. A truly beautiful book that captures the meaning of parental love in all its forms. I highly recommend this book to all my book groups. *****'

Overall, While Paris Slept is an atmospheric, intense, impactful novel by Druart that sweeps you away to another time and place and reminds you that survival of any form takes unimaginable sacrifice, courage, strength, and often moral and ethical dilemmas. I have decided to give this book three stars only because I feel like historical fiction as a genre is oversaturated with World War Two novels. And while this was a compelling read, this book didn’t add anything particularly unique to this genre. But if you love World War novels, I highly recommend this book. A very strong story. Yes, this was a very dark time in history but we are presented with a glimmer of hope,power of love, resilience, and courage.

LoveReading Says

Buy from our bookstore and 25% of the cover price will be given to a school of your choice to buy more books. *15% of eBooks. Home > Jean Luc and Charlotte meet during WW2 when he is injured and brought to the hospital where she works. They're both young and trying to survive under German occupation. They both struggle with their consciences as they work for the Germans. A heartbreaking and emotional read based around WW2. Absolutely fantastic. I have no hesitation in giving this 5 stars *****’