The Nightingale

Stories of the French Resistance abounds in extolling the bravery of the men. This is a love story almost exclusively about the women and the tremendous role they played. Extremely emotional and heart wrenching. Well written and absorbing

Nightingale has ruined my a heart in a way, I cannot seem to recover from. For the longest time, I heard book reviewers talk about how much they cried after reading it, how they have gone back to reading this book time and again. Yet, I couldn't feel the intensity of it, until I finally started reading it. Set in the WWII spanned out from its very initial stages covered till the very end. This is a story of two sisters Vianne and Isabelle. Vianne left alone with her daughter in a small town in Carriveau, when her husband has to go enlist himself. She does everything in her capacity to protect her child. While Isabelle, a rebellious teenager, risks her life to join the Resistance in Paris and saves lives under the code name 'The Nightingale'. From brutal abuse, unwarranted discrimination to concentration camps this epic historical fiction captures everything with a highly emotional quotient to it. When I say the story will rip your heart out, I mean you must read it to experience this. The character arc of the sisters are deeply empowering and inspiring in a distinct parralel way. From the beginning till the end, there is not a moment of dullness that I thought let me put it down for a bit now. It is arresting in its every detail throughout the story. Soon to be released into a motion picture, this historical fiction captures one's heart and will remain long after.

***MILD SPOILERS AHEAD*** Let me share a fact today, I am attracted to tragedy and I found this out recently. I can not get over war-based historical fiction. I tried, but eventually, between other books of different genres, this genre keeps coming back to me, and I am helpless at stopping it. The tragedy in them excites me and the hope in them soothes my nerves. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah is a tale of love and hate, bravery and fear, victory and loss, and much more, stories that are woven by the women of Occupied France. Vianne and Isabelle Rossignol had never been the sisters their mother had wanted them to be. In fact, they were more away than together. Ever since their beloved mother had died, they had been on their own. Facing abandonment from their Great War veteran father, they found themselves coping with their grief all alone. Neither could comfort the other in their time of shared misery. How could they? A 4-year-old and a 14-year-old hardly have anything in common. When each knew they had nobody but themselves, they looked for whatever could give them comfort and the love that had suddenly disappeared from their lives. While Vianne found herself deeply in love with Antoine, Isabelle was left fending for herself in boarding schools, which she was repeatedly expelled from because of her impetuous nature. Their father remained colder than the winters that befell France. When the war arrived and the French found themselves under German occupation, Vianne and Isabelle found themselves under the same roof, and yet at the opposing ends of fact and action, like always. Becoming a revolutionary came as second nature to Isabelle, and Vianne, well, she was left to host a German Captain in her large house and just try to survive with her little girl Sophie, waiting and hoping that Antoine would come back soon. As Isabelle’s risk-taking grew, so did her strained relationship with her father who didn’t want her in Paris again. With the danger increasing with every passing day, Vianne and Isabelle found themselves in situations where they had to choose their steps wisely, thinking not about the ones they love but save their own necks and making the right decisions while remaining true to their morales. Never were they prepared for what they faced, and never in their wildest dreams did they think things would come to what they did. Ah, what a beauty! What a beauty! I’ve read a few books on WWII but none brings out the lives of women as this book does. I am sure there must be other greater books than this one, but this was my first brush with the lives of women during the war, so my review might sound biased to some. This definitely isn’t going to be the last and you can rest assured, as am I, that I only have forward to look to. The narrative was lucid and smooth, though I wouldn’t say it was one of the best that I’ve read. There was surely a lack of art and beauty in the prose, it was just simple storytelling, in simple plain words. The characters were limited, a handful of them kept pace throughout while others had reappearances at apt places. Parallel stories ran through, and what struck me most amongst the multiple storylines was the desire to survive, against anything, at all costs, for the loved ones with them and back home. The reckless Isabelle with her adamant nature and the dependent Vianne took most of the space and formed the stories around them. The emotions were displayed beautifully. The lovestruck Isabelle and her anger towards her lover, her steel resolve to help her country thwart the Germans, the pining Vianne and her dilemma at having been at the edge with Beck, at having to make a decision between her honor and her children’s safety, Julien’s regret as an incapable father to his girls and his sacrifice for them, Rachael’s heartbreaking decision to leave her toddler in hope of a better life for him, Sophie’s coming of age when her best friend is killed and having to deal with the repercussions of being a growing child in the time of war...the list is endless. I can’t even begin to fathom how difficult life must have been, how did they find the courage to deal with everyday atrocities, how did they find strength, both physical and mental to keep living on and on. A country of women, that was what it was. Restless, unsafe, and difficult. And women are what this book is about. Powerful, resilient, and survivors. Having said all of the above, I must also mention that the story wasn’t as real as it might have seemed at the first glance. It was a blend of realism and artistic liberties. Gender biases, cliches, coincidences, Isabelle’s love story, and a lot of other things were put together to churn out a piece that would go on to become a bestseller. In the end, someone who hasn’t lived during the time isn’t expected to do all the justice when writing such books and some forgiveness can be granted, right? At least I can. Do I recommend this book? Hell yes. Do I need to critique it for all the faults that it had? Definitely no.

Without a doubt, one of the most exceptional historical fiction novels l've ever had the privilege to read. From the very first page, I was captivated by the beautifully woven narrative that delves deep into the lives of two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, navigating the harrowing challenges of Nazi-occupied France during World War II. The strength of this novel lies not only in its historical context but also in the profound emotional depth of its characters. Each individual is portrayed with such complexity and humanity that they feel like family. The bond between the sisters, marked by both tension and unwavering love, is portrayed with such authenticity that it resonates deeply with readers. Similarly, the father-daughter relationship adds another layer of emotional richness, highlighting themes of sacrifice, resilience, and the enduring power of familial love. What sets The Nightingale apart from many other historical fiction novels is its exploration of the often-overlooked experiences of women during wartime. The novel captures the essence of the quote: "Men tell stories. Women get on with it. For us it was a shadow war. There were no parades for us when it was over, no medals or mentions in history books. We did what we had to during the war, and when it was over, we picked up the pieces and started our lives over." Through the courageous acts of Vianne and Isabelle, the author sheds light on the silent yet profound contributions of women in times of conflict. Beyond the personal stories, the novel provides a vivid portrayal of the broader historical events. The German occupation of France brought unimaginable hardships to its citizens. Food shortages became severe, and the requisitioning of personal property by the Germans left many without basic necessities. Jewish families faced increasing persecution, leading to their deportation to concentration camps. The French Resistance, known as La Résistance, engaged in acts of sabotage, espionage, and guerrilla warfare, often at great personal risk. Many who participated were captured and sent to concentration camps or executed. The narrative also brings to light the harrowing realities of concentration camps. Isabelle's journey leads her to Ravensbrück, a notorious women's camp in Germany. There, she endures inhumane conditions, forced labor, and the constant threat of death. The novel doesn't shy away from depicting the brutality faced by prisoners, offering readers a stark reminder of the atrocities committed during the war. This book is a testament to the strength of the human spirit, the complexities of sisterhood, and the indomitable will to survive and protect loved ones. It's a must-read for anyone seeking a story that is as heart-wrenching as it is inspiring. Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a brilliant book. Kristin Hannah turns pages into a motion picture of Paris and French Countryside, bringing the locations and all her characters to life in the midst of the ravages of WWII. Isabelle and Gaetan, Vianne and Antoinne, love stories that begin tenderly and grow into a mature end deemed so by the timeline of war. An apple tree bearing witness to the passage of time. All the characters built around Vianne and Isabelle, sisters who are polar apart and yet bound by a fate to be brave. Every friendship - Rachel, Anouk, Mme Babineau, a different colour, valuable & vulnerable, to live and die for. A lesson in resilience. A lesson in what women endured while the men went to war. Survival and Loss. Willpower to keep going. Didn't want to put the book down at all. I literally visualised it like it was happening around me. I wasn't a reader, but an observer standing in the shadows around one of the street corners with a perfect view of the action. Fantastic way to spend the holidays, engrossed in the story, travelling in time and space.

Emotionally devastating but at the same time this book kept me hooked till the last page Its based in world war two sister fighting and resisting in their own different way and trying to survive the heinous torture of germans

This book takes you back to the days of war and struggle. Makes you realise what humanity can do at its worst and then it shows the courage of the ordinary man and woman in peralious circumstances. In a war created by men, women and children suffer and it is also the women who hold strong. This story is a brilliant example of that and much more.

I admit that I bought this because I was in (and probably still am) in that phase where I want to read all things World War II, this is one of the most hyped books I have seen on bookstagram and BookTube as well. With so much hype surrounding it, I was almost afraid to actually start reading the book, I don’t deal well with hype in general. Well-deserved or not. However I must say that this one did not live up to the level of hype that I saw everywhere. It’s not that the plot is weak or the writing bad or even the characters convincing, it’s more that I couldn’t quite feel invested enough in them for the longest time. I had to reach, I think, till page 160 or something to finally start feeling like ‘yes, I wanna know how this goes.’ I don’t think one should have to read that much to want to know more about the book and its plot or characters. I do admit that after that 160 something mark, things did pick up pace and the characters did feel interesting and I was invested because I read the rest of the book that day. There were certain things, many pages that could have been edited out, made it into a tighter and considerably more enjoyable read for me. I should also mention that there’s a triggery scene and it isn’t in detail but there’s nothing left for imagination, everything else is there. A story of two drastically different women who are also sisters during the World War II. The concept of the book was interesting and there was an attempt to execute it too but it fell short for me. While trying to show how women were facing problems in life, and how some women aren’t quite the rebels that Isabelle was, the author painted a really odd picture of Vianne. I so wanted to be on Vianne side during the whole book and at times, I was. I could understand her motives and I could maybe forgive her naiveté initially but when it happened far too many times for my comfort, I lost faith in that character’s ability to develop. I am not sure if that happened to others who read the book but it certainly happened to me. Isabelle wasn’t without her own set of problems but while I was reading the book, they were muted. However as I started to review the book and read the notes I had made, I realised that Isabelle is also shown in rather stark colours. She is either too rebellious and quite childish (just as Vianne thinks she is) or she is noble and self-sacrificing. I couldn’t see the full picture, I couldn’t decide if she was some of those things for some time or all of them all the time or all of them some of the times. You might start thinking if there is only going to be negativity in this review. No, I am about to talk about some really good points of the book. There were few of them scattered throughout the book and I loved them and they are one of the reasons this book got a 3.5 (or 4) on GoodReads. I loved the way the author showed us the slow at times but also rather too fast occupation of German forces, the way the author showed that while some might have joined the German forces out of genuine honor but over the period had realised the reality of things. How they had their own lives and they had moments of doubts and warring emotions. I admit that I cried during a certain scene when a little girl is killed and Vianne had to explain it to her daughter. It was hard and it was handled fairly well. I also really liked the way Vianne and Rachel’s friendship was shown and how it went through so many things before the end of that arc in the book. I specifically found it important that the author showed us Beck before she showed us the other German officer who billeted at Vianne’s house. It made the transition of Vianne from a timid, helpless woman into a slightly braver and truly remarkable woman easier. There were many things that I found problems with in the book however few scenes and some chapters saved it from being a 2 star book for me. I would recommend it for those few things that I loved, overall, it’s not a terrible book and it’s not a brilliant book. It’s just…a slightly problematic one. At least for me. I am aware that I might in the minority regarding the rating of the book in the bookish community but I simply couldn’t go beyond what I rated it. Trust me, I am disappointed too. So, any fans of historical fiction, specifically World War II fiction could enjoy it hopefully.

I heard this was a great book. I was a little worried it being historical fiction, however it captured me from the start. I haven’t put it down in days. Ok 2 days ! It’s a longer read with smaller font but so worth the time and investment. Read the book. I kept pushing this one to the side and now regret doing it.

Zelf niet gelezen maar gekocht als cadeau voor iemand. Verder geen beschadigingen of iets dergelijks, was helemaal goed aangekomen!

Simplesmente maravilhoso. Emocionante do começo ao fim. Um jeito de contar uma linda e emocionante estória que nos faz viver e compartilhar sentimentos através das páginas do livro. Leitura mais que recomendável. Amei!!!

A moving tribute to the women of the Resistance who dared to lose everything to save Jewish children and downed Allied airmen in WWIII Nazi-Occupied France. This novel begins gorgeously: "If I have learned anything in this long life of mine, it is this: in love we find out who we want to be; in war we find out who we are. Today's young people want to know everything about everyone. They think talking about a problem will solve it. I come from a quieter generation. We understand the value of forgetting; the lure of reinvention." Some reviewers here have delved into the storyline with some wonderfully evocative summaries, which you can read to get a real sense of what this book is about. Others have preferred to structure their review more traditionally, in a critique, which I will also endeavor to do. This book is so fabulously rich in its narrative, its characters and its subject matter. It is no easy read, in the sense that because the author is so very adept at bringing the setting and characters to us (the backdrop being Occupied France during the horrors of the Nazi occupation of WWII) all but the most insensitive readers will feel the harrowing pain of the situation down to their bones. There is the physical pain of the privation of an entire people--French citizens--particularly women and children. There is the fragility yet incredibly enduring strength of very many different kinds of love, and the destitution of lost or fragmented love. And perhaps most of all, there is the emotional agony of choices made, and those that are not made. And as we discover, sometimes a seemingly simple decision takes on monstrous enormity while some really huge choices are often more easily made. So often it is easier to act when the situation is black and white, rather than so many shades of grey. This story may in essence be about two young women and their own reactions to the occupation of France, but it is most of all the story of the immeasurable bravery of the real-life French people, so many of them women, who took a stand against the Nazis and saved Jewish children and downed Allied airmen who bombed the Nazi occupation and eventually forced Hitler's retreat, surrender, and cowardly suicide. The central question the reader is confronted with time and again is: "could I, would I dare to do even a fraction of what these incredible women were able to do?" Can you love your country enough, and believe against all seeming odds in her ultimate survival, to risk your life and the lives of your friends to bring these downed Allied airmen to a distant safety that they may continue the fight? Can you love your child so much that you risk everything to try and ensure she does not grow up in a place, among a people, in which no neighbor or friend will even try to save a Jewish child? The two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, go on very different journeys to find their way to the Resistance: the younger, Isabelle, is described as impetuous and from the beginning has a remarkable will and need to fight on the behalf of the Free French--but how, and what can she do as a woman of the time? Vianne is drawn into the Resistence much more slowly, unwillingly (and for good reason; she is protecting her daughter), but is ultimately just as courageous as her sister precisely because of the circumstances that are part of her life. I cannot say enough about how thoroughly well developed and believable each character is (and I include here not only Vianne and Isabelle), and how much you come to care for them. Like several other reviewers, I read this story in one sitting, riveted and unable to put the book down. This book is fiction, and yet here we see the beating heart of history; the true stories of the French Resistance. It is an incredible testament to the skill of this author that the reader can hear not only the fictional characters distinctive voices, but the many voices from the journals and accounts she used to construct this novel. This book will undoubtedly make you cry at times, but the journey through this most painful of historic times to see these triumphs is so well worth it.

I loved this book so so much