The Nightingale: A Novel

4/5

Book club selection for January - discussion questions at the end, but easily available online. The impact of reading this book still lingers with me... you know any book on WW II is going to be heavy as we all know what happened - brutality of war, concentration camps, etc. This novel has two sisters who's father fought in WW I and it changed him. When their mother dies, their father Julian wants nothing to do with them and falls into alcohol. Vianne, the oldest daughter, seeks love and marries Antoine. The younger sister, Isabelle, rebels against everything and gets expelled from another boarding school on the verge of France occupation. The sisters have many conflicts, but watching how the war affects each of them and how they ultimately react to the horrors around them was compelling. It took me a while to warm up to Isabelle as she seems so immature and whiny in the beginning. However, I was glued to the story as each sister found their own way to resist the occupation. By the end of the book, I was choked up with tears as these two sisters fates led them back together again. I don't want to say much because all of the things I thought would happen didn't, so I was surprised several times by the story. This was so much better than The Women. You can tell this was a well thought out and researched novel. Although Isabelle annoyed me at first, watching the sisters grow up was an amazing and sad journey. A very impactful, well done novel. I encourage you to read the guide linked below as it includes an interview with the author, pictures, and questions. https://images.macmillan.com/folio-as... (less) [edit]

Excellent book! One of my favourites. I could not put this masterpiece down for one minute. It is quite similar to "All the Lights We Cannot See" but a better and more fluent read.

This book is not in my genre at all. I’m more into fantasy than historical fiction. I’ve never liked books or movies about war, but when I saw it was a tale of two sisters through the war, I knew I had to try it. This book was empowering and heartbreaking all at once. I’m so glad I went out of my comfort zone and picked up this book. I was hooked from the first few pages. It wasn’t an easy read and it’s not supposed to be. It’s provocative and emotional, all the things that a good book. So often we forget how wars affect women and families in general, the ones left behind. I had no idea the trials and courage that women during World War 2 endured before I read this book, and I am so thankful for the knowledge. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

I found The Nightingale to be a deeply touching read that explores themes of love, loss, and resilience amid the horrors of war. While the story is undeniably dark and filled with some truly awful moments, it beautifully captures the strength of the human spirit and the bonds between mothers, sisters and women in general. Kristin Hannah's writing is evocative, pulling you into the emotional depths of her characters' experiences. The journey through their hardships is both heartbreaking and inspiring, making it a powerful reflection on what it means to be human in the face of adversity. Overall, it's a compelling story that stays with you long after you've turned the last page. Highly recommended!