The Nightingale
Ratings447
Average rating4.3
The Nightingale is about two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, who live in Europe during the German occupation of WWII. This story jumps between viewpoints and timelines, with one being an elderly woman in Oregon in 1995, and also following the lives of both women starting in August of 1939. A school teacher and a rebellious teen, the women could not be more different, but due to the occupation of France by the Nazis, Isabelle is sent to Le Jardin by their father to stay with her sister.
Vianne is married and has an 8-year-old daughter named Sophie. Her husband has been drafted into the war effort, and is sent to the front lines to defend against Germany. Throughout the war, Vianne is challenged morally and emotionally, due to the Nazi’s taking over their town, but Isabelle quickly decides she is not going to be a silent bystander. The opposition of their personalities creates a lot of friction in the story and eventually leads to Sophie leaving Vianne’s home to pursue her own interests.
Each woman embarks on their own harrowing journey during the war, and the differences are vast, but the biggest thing to note is that Sophie is the reason for all of Vianne’s decisions. This book does an excellent job of showing how differently a parent will function when they need to prioritize their child’s wellbeing. I came to respect each character for their own strengths and weaknesses, which Hannah did a great job highlighting. You watch them grow and strengthen in their own ways. They make mistakes and have triumphs, but there is loss and heartache.
The novel is based on a real woman from Belgium who aided downed Allied airmen by sneaking them out of German occupied areas. The story is intentionally vague in the POV for the character from 1995, but this plays into the story so well, and provides an emotionally charged reveal that is delivered masterfully near the end. It’s very easy to see why Hannah is a best-selling author, and her writing is engrossing and easy to fall into. The result is an epic story that brought me to tears in the middle of Wal-Mart (thank you audiobooks).
Originally posted at youtu.be.
The Nightingale is about two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, who live in Europe during the German occupation of WWII. This story jumps between viewpoints and timelines, with one being an elderly woman in Oregon in 1995, and also following the lives of both women starting in August of 1939. A school teacher and a rebellious teen, the women could not be more different, but due to the occupation of France by the Nazis, Isabelle is sent to Le Jardin by their father to stay with her sister.
Vianne is married and has an 8-year-old daughter named Sophie. Her husband has been drafted into the war effort, and is sent to the front lines to defend against Germany. Throughout the war, Vianne is challenged morally and emotionally, due to the Nazi’s taking over their town, but Isabelle quickly decides she is not going to be a silent bystander. The opposition of their personalities creates a lot of friction in the story and eventually leads to Sophie leaving Vianne’s home to pursue her own interests.
Each woman embarks on their own harrowing journey during the war, and the differences are vast, but the biggest thing to note is that Sophie is the reason for all of Vianne’s decisions. This book does an excellent job of showing how differently a parent will function when they need to prioritize their child’s wellbeing. I came to respect each character for their own strengths and weaknesses, which Hannah did a great job highlighting. You watch them grow and strengthen in their own ways. They make mistakes and have triumphs, but there is loss and heartache.
The novel is based on a real woman from Belgium who aided downed Allied airmen by sneaking them out of German occupied areas. The story is intentionally vague in the POV for the character from 1995, but this plays into the story so well, and provides an emotionally charged reveal that is delivered masterfully near the end. It’s very easy to see why Hannah is a best-selling author, and her writing is engrossing and easy to fall into. The result is an epic story that brought me to tears in the middle of Wal-Mart (thank you audiobooks).
Originally posted at youtu.be.
I can't do it. I tried. Historical fiction is my least favorite genre ever. My blood pressure can't handle it. This genre is too depressing. Also the dialogue felt sooo stilted. If I was vienne and my crazy sister was endangering the safety of my 8 year child in front of nazi soldiers i think I would have been a lot more mad but idk
I can't do it. I tried. Historical fiction is my least favorite genre ever. My blood pressure can't handle it. This genre is too depressing. Also the dialogue felt sooo stilted. If I was vienne and my crazy sister was endangering the safety of my 8 year child in front of nazi soldiers i think I would have been a lot more mad but idk
the sacrifices of the rossignol sisters, both isabell and vianne in their own ways, was a beautiful story of bravery and strength in the darkest hours. a reminder that we are capable of more than we can imagine.
the sacrifices of the rossignol sisters, both isabell and vianne in their own ways, was a beautiful story of bravery and strength in the darkest hours. a reminder that we are capable of more than we can imagine.
