The Nightingale: The Multi-Million Copy Bestseller from the author of The Women

Kristin Hannah is such a gifted writer. Her stories are fiction with the backdrop of her vast and global historical knowledge. The Nightingale is set in France during World War 2 and told from the perspective of the women and children; a perspective that is often overlooked in history. It is a story of unimaginable suffering, heroism, endurance and love. Even though the characters are fictitious, their stories are true of so many. These are the details of war that are rarely told and they are so harrowing and moving.A truly amazing book.

Found this book very well written,holds the attention well,and gives a good idea of the terrible times for Jews living in France during WW2.

This is one of the most poignantly moving books I have ever read with an end so affecting that I found it impossible not to cry. It describes the lives of two French sisters during the period of the Second World War and the heroic part they both played in contributing to the French resistance. Vianne and Isabelle both took different paths to heroism and in doing so fractured their relationship; their ideologies were completely different and at first they did not understand each other as the routes they took were very different. The book concentrates on exploring their relationship as they were both rejected by their father following the untimely death of their mother and the impact of this led to their own splintered relationship; Vianne found solace in a young marriage and parenthood but excluded her four year old sister from her new found happiness and family life which led to years of guilt, introspection and regrets for the way in which she had treated her. Isabelle was impulsive, hot headed, brave and strong; she wanted to take part in the resistance movement in an active, forceful way which would show immediate results; she was willing to take enormous risks, put her life at stake and overlook the overwhelming consequences of capture such was her passion and commitment to the movement she served along with her love for the freedom fighter Gaetan who would give up his own life to strike a blow against the brutal regime under which they were enslaved. Isabelle led downed airmen to their escape through occupied France to neutral Spain, a relentless route across the Pyrenees at which point she described the journey so graphically, you could almost feel the pain and exhaustion they felt, the blisters and wounds on their feet in their ill fitting shoes, the cold, hunger and thirst which beleaguered them without mercy and the massive challenge of scaling those heights at such speed without any opportunity of catching up with some food and rest; and for these incredible journeys Isabelle became known as the Nightingale. Meanwhile cautious Vianne remained at home; her overwhelming first thought was for the safety of her beloved daughter Sophie and also for Ari, bequeathed to her by her tragic Jewish friend Rachel who was captured by the Nazis and sent on a cattle cart to meet her end in a horrific death camp; the merciless treatment the Jewish community received at the hands of the Nazis comes to life in this novel and we experience the terror, injustice and horror the Nazis inflicted upon them. At first Vianne was opposed to active rebellion against the brutal regime to maintain the safety and protection of her children although in concealing  Ari within her own home she showed remarkable courage as the consequences of this action would have been unthinkable. The brutality, cruelty and deprivation of occupied France by the pitiless and sadistic invaders is again graphically described as we follow Vianne's story and her fight against the punishing cold and unbearable hunger as she fought heroically to keep her family alive and even endured serial sadistic rapes at the hands of the evil Von Richter who was billeted in her house to ensure the safety of her children. Eventually Vianne saved a further nineteen Jewish children by hiding them in a local convent; the outcome of this venture would have led to certain death so she too showed a selfless courage to match the bravery of her sister. The description of Isabelle's time in Ravensbruck is so horrific that it makes difficult reading; it is hard to come to terms with the fact that human beings are able to inflict such pitiless, monstrous cruelties upon each other and starve and torture a race to death in such a cold blooded and merciless way. The reuniting of Vianne, Julien and Ari at the end of the book is so heart rendingly poignant, touching and emotional that it is impossible not to cry and I would thoroughly recommend this book as important reading; those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

If I had believed the reviews of this book I would never have read this book. The novelist has been accused of romanticism and being inaccurate with the historical facys, but I found this a compelling book. It is in the historical fiction genre, its is not nonfiction history, so I have enough grace to gloss over some mistakes.The book begins with an elderly woman moving into a nursing home after being diagnosed with cancer and losing her husband.hbThe author employs flashback to then tell the story of two sisters living firing the time of the Nazis occupying France, and the story of the two sisters fighting against the regime.At times, this is a difficult book to read and there are many horifficc and tragic scenes throughout this book which deals with familial and romantic love.I thought this was an interesting book looking at one aspect of World War two with finely crafted characters and well written prose. I rate this book as a four star read.

A beautifully written book, that hooks you in from the start. It explores family relationships, friendships and enemies. Hugely emotional, left me crying on the plane home. Highly recommend. Adore Kristin Hannah books and can’t wait to read more of her work. (Already read the nightingale, the four winds and have the home front lined up).

This is a story that has been told a few times. But there are never enough times . It may be fiction but this happened . The story is beautifully written , the characters beautifully developed . A good story paints pictures and these were beautiful , sad but beautiful.I never tell the story , it spoils the book for others . Looking for more of her books now .

This is harrowing and traumatic and horrific. It’s beautifully written. It’s had a profound effect on me. The author has done an outstanding job in her portrayal of what ordinary people went through in world war 2 and the staggering courage some showed against the terrible inhuman Nazis. I could hardly read some of it and yet I did and am immensely moved in a way that’s hard to explain.

A beautifully written tale of family against the backdrop of war. Gripping (and tear inducing!)

I loved this book so much! I bought it to read during my vacations and I simply had it with me all times. Such an amazing story that keeps you involved in different ways with the characters. I cried twice reading it! Really recommend it.

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!!!

This book has the amazing ability to be captivating in every section. Usually books have exciting moments and slow moments, but this book kept me captivated the entire time!

I loved this book so so much

Eines der emotionalsten Bücher, die ich je gelesen habe.