Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

334 reviews

elaineharlington's review

challenging dark

4.5

I tend to stay away from World War II books, just because there’s usually a plethora of them and they’re often very very sad. This book follows two sisters in occupied France, and what they do during the time. It’s a historical fiction novel that takes us from the very start of the war, through the dark times of rationing and Nazi occupation, to the very end of the war. In this story, the character growth and development is astonishing of both sisters as war changes them both. Interspersed between the war narrative, there is the story of an elderly woman looking back at her past. I thought this is very well written, and to my limited knowledge felt historically accurate. All the characters are vividly painted, and their personalities jump off the page.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Violence, and Torture

Moderate: Rape, Domestic abuse, and Murder

maddiebrt's review

dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Violence, Grief, War, and Antisemitism

mad_books_'s review

challenging emotional inspiring tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Death, Miscarriage, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, Child death, Infertility, Terminal illness, Antisemitism, Deportation, Blood, Grief, Genocide, Police brutality, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Torture, Physical abuse, Sexism, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Cancer, and Misogyny

ksc2742's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

The high ratings and Reese’s Book Club drew me to this book. At first I wasn’t sure this was going to be above a 3 or 4 star for me, but Kristin Hannah wrote this book so well. I feel like when authors write about WWII they try to fit the entire war into one book and I feel like it does it a disservice. It often makes the war feel much shorter than it is, but Hannah some how managed to make you feel how long the war drug on without making the book feel like it was dragging on. She showed how long and hard the war was without losing the reader in that. I think that is a sign of a great author. Switching between the two sisters and then occasionally with 1995 helped to keep you more engaged. I was in between 4.5 and 5 stars until I read the end. The ending really pushed it to a 5 star read for me (and made me cry). 

Warning: This book is very good, but it is also hard and heavy. I walked away with a greater understanding of WWII, but some of those things were hard to hear and imagine.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, War, Murder, Sexual assault, and Rape

This book is very good, but it is also hard and heavy. I walked away with a greater understanding of WWII, but some of those things were hard to hear and imagine.

priscillarobock's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Racial slurs, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Bullying, Deportation, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Violence, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Genocide, Grief, Hate crime, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Death, War, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Cancer, Confinement, Child death, Death of parent, Excrement, and Torture

bwill214's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, War, Genocide, Death, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Murder, Violence, Child death, Gun violence, Torture, Hate crime, and Antisemitism

Moderate: Alcohol, Deportation, Confinement, Infidelity, Slavery, and Sexual content

mommamisti's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence

Minor: Death, Violence, and Rape

monloesco's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

If I could give this book a 6 out of 5 🌟 I would definitely do so.
This book made me cry, gasp, be anxious, feel happy, and experience love - in all of its forms: sisterly, motherly, friendly, romantically, between companions - all at once. Even in the horrifying ambiance of WWII (and the cruel and violent actions of the Nazis) it felt hopeful and insightful of what hundreds of people had to live through and experience before they could reunite in peace.
The author made an incredible job giving a back story to all of the characters and use every one of them to tell a different side of the same war:

the sacrifice of mothers, the loss of innocence of children, the rupture of families, the kindness of passeurs, the risks taken by some soldiers and citizens, the resistence of humanity, the unconditionality of love, etc.

Felt this book specially close to reality because of the inability of humanity to stop on re-living wars, destruction and violence.

Times I cried:
- Sarah’s last night
- when they took Daniel away
- Julien’s letter to his daughters
- Isabelle’s last thoughts 
Also… all of the hidden pieces of information were mind-blowing to me… (the sister who made it to the US)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Violence, Antisemitism, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Deportation, Genocide, Grief, Hate crime, Murder, Police brutality, Torture, and War

Moderate: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Blood, Cancer, Hate crime, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault

sharkjansport's review

emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book ripped my heart out several times and ended on the most bittersweet note possible.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Physical abuse, Murder, Death, Violence, and Rape

sageandboo's review

adventurous emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Rape