Thoughtful Reading

"Important events - whether serious, happy or unfortunate - do not change a man's soul, they merely bring it into relief, just as a strong gust of wind reveals the true shape of a tree when it blows off all its leaves. Such events highlight what is hidden in the shadows; they nudge the spirit towards a place where it can flourish. " -Suite Francais, Irene Nemirovsky

This quote is from the book I am currently reading, which is actually comprised of two books. The author intended to write a 5-part series about WWII and its great effects on the lives of the French people. She herself was a Jew living in Paris during the war, and she died tragically at Auschwitz. (*The level of impact of the events at Auschwitz are apparent even in the computer age, since the name of that particular concentration camp is recorded the the Blogger spell-check.) After lying undiscovered for 46 years, the books have been translated and edited by Sandra Smith.

It is intense reading, but the novel is worth every minute of study. The quote above captures the essence of the author's writing style and purpose in delivering this pair of novellas. Words like this stand the test of time and are relevant in any age.