The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
The Nightingale by
Kristin Hannah
I
really want to write a review that will do this amazing historical fiction justice
but it’s hard to put in to words what makes this story so incredible. At its
core it is a story about occupied France and the course of war. But at its
heart it is the story of two women who are forced to make incredibly
devastating choices in order to survive World War II. Vianne is a married
school teacher living with her husband and daughter in Carriveau, a town
outside of Paris. Her younger sister Isabelle has just been kicked out of yet
another finishing school and is currently living with their father, Julien.
When the Germans invade, Isabelle must make her way to Vianne with the
thousands of other refugees fleeing Paris, while bombs drop around her and
machine gun fire leaves many dead in the road. But reaching Vianne is only the
beginning of the occupation. Isabelle wants to rebel against the Germans that
have taken over her home while Vianne only wants to survive until her husband,
who has been called to war, can return to her.
Hannah
produced an extremely well written, intense, moving, and emotional historical
fiction novel. The sisters were both extremely dynamic and well thought out
characters. They look at the world differently and those differences at their
core determine the paths that they take. They each have to define what bravery
means to them. While one chooses to rebel, the other chooses to protect her
friends. Are they not both exhibiting bravery in their own way? It’s a complicated
question that bears answering. All of the characters were so well developed but
the differences between Vianne and Isabelle are the driving force of this novel
and they bear it well.
Beyond
the amazing character development, the world building was done extremely well.
The minute details that added to the tension and landscape of 1940’s France,
are so well executed that the reader becomes swept up in this horrifying
reality. The landscape gave way to a beautifully revealed plot. The narrative
had breaks within it where the reader goes from third person to first person of
a woman in 1995. We aren’t sure who this character is or which sister this
might be, but it’s obvious that her past still haunts her. These breaks were
welcome and well timed. Hannah created a great rhythm where the unfolding plot
never felt forced or rushed. The reader is simply swept up in the narrative and
this courageous story of two women and how they fought to survive.
I feel
the need to note that this historical fiction novel focuses more on Occupied
France and the resistance then it does any other factor of World War II. I feel
that most people assume that any novel having to do with World War II will
automatically focus on Jews and the Holocaust. This novel definitely mentions the
atrocity taking places throughout Europe and you can see how Jews were targeted
and their everyday lives were affected. But this novel really looks at what it
means to be a bystander in the time of war. Do you choose to be a passive
bystander or an active bystander? Are you a part of the resistance of are you
too afraid to take a stand? What will your turning point be? How far will you
go to protect your family and your friends? It’s complicated and I love the way
these questions are handled in this novel.
All in
all I thought this book was incredible. It can be an all consuming experience.
I was definitely emotional in many parts. The ending was beautifully done and
the entire story was unpredictable. None of the characters ever felt safe. The
tension was always palpable. This was just very well done. I give this 5 out of
5 stars.
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