This is one of the last books which I read in 2013, I’m still trying to catch up with my book reviews. I read it because Jack had read it and really loved it, in fact he said he thought it was brilliant! I think I’ll be all laid back and Glaswegian about it and say it was ‘not bad’ I would give it 4 stars on Goodreads, presumably he would give it 5, and I see that Margaret@BooksPlease gave it a 5 too.
This is the first book which I’ve read by Nemirovsky and really I should have read Suite Francaise first, and by the way, I’ve just read that that is being made into a film which will be released in the autumn.
Anyway, back to Fire in the Blood which is just 153 pages long and was actually written in 1941 but was only published in 2007. Sadly the author died in Auschwitz in 1942. It was thought that she hadn’t finished this novel before her death but the manuscript came to light fairly recently.
Set in the small French village of Issy-l’Eveque, the story is narrated by Silvio who has come home to the village after spending most of his life abroad. It’s the sort of place where parents decide that it is time their children got married and try to pair them off with ‘suitable’ people. Silvio obviously wasn’t keen to stick around and do what was expected of him.
It starts with a wedding, the bride is one of a large family and her parents are a devoted couple. She hopes that her marriage will be as happy, but life gets in the way in the shape of passion and deceit and nothing is as it seems.
Nemirovsky had her idea for the book when she visited the village in 1937/38. It was a rural heaven on the surface but the inhabitants were distrustful of their neighbours and money obsessed. It’s all very French and presumably some of the things which go on in the tale were observed by Nemirovsky.
If you want to see what Jack said about it you can read his review here.
I read Dimanche and Other Stories last year and loved it, one of my favorite reads of 2013. I also bought Suite Francaise and now I want to read all her books. Will add this one to my list!
Karen K,
I have a copy of Suite Francaise too so I’m going to be getting around to reading it soon, I hope.
I think one of the reasons I liked this book so much was the atmosphere – brooding, silent and haunting, almost menacing and the rich descriptions of the land and the people.
‘Suite Francaise’ is good, overwhelming and painful to read. I think I preferred ‘Fire in the Blood’.
Margaret,
You’re right the atmosphere is somehow brooding. I think Jack must have preferred Fire in the Blood too, I don’t know if I fancy the idea of a painful read at the moment but I want to read it before seeing the film.
Katrina,
I’ll put this one on my list. I think I heard something about it, but I’m so glad you reviewed it because I didn’t take note of it at the time.
Ivanhoe’s swimming along!
Judith
Judith,
I’m enjoying Ivanhoe much more than I thought I would.