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shibaunited's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Stalking, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
bbellabeee's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
lilifane's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
And although I liked it because I've read so many WWII books before, I also read a lot of better ones. I wish there was more focus on the actual Nightingale plot and also more about the orphans to make it stand out. But the book focuses way more on the drama, the hardships and horrors and pain the characters endured. And although this is important when writing about war, it gets very repetitive and predictable when you've already read so many stories about that time.
I liked the writing though and the characters and the emotions. So, I'm looking forward to reading more from Kristin Hannah in the future.
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Terminal illness, Torture, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail
joelleen's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, and War
rachelerin19's review against another edition
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Miscarriage, Racism, Violence, Antisemitism, Grief, and War
pixiebix's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Sitting back and reflecting on this book, I am honestly in awe of how much I feel I've actually been through with these characters and the vastness and diversity of the landscapes The Nightingale covers. Looking back on the characters at the beginning of this book--Isabelle especially--is to reflect on a ridiculously huge yet realistic transformation. This book is painfully real and visceral and simple and raw, and the characters literally jumped off the page; absolutely everything I've read about here I feel I have actually experienced firsthand with them.
There are some images and deaths and journeys that I know will stay forever imprinted on my brain from this book--scenes with Beck and Sarah and the Pyrenees mountains; of soldiers and ravaged gardens and bleakness and fear. The Nightingale had me so friggin hooked and my mouth dry and my eyes flying across the pages trying to establish where we stand in the wake of yet another devastating event.
This book is far from flawless (hence the not-5-star rating): Isabelle's beauty, while helping to paint a picture of her character to start with, ultimately receives far too much focus and detracts from her (slash De Jongh's) bravery and status as a war hero; Isabelle's romance is written almost as an afterthought and is provided far too little page space for readers to be given even a chance to become invested in it; pacing is a huge issue, with some super relevent, super built-up parts being cut out completely
Regardless, this book is just so fucking devastating and really, really gets under your skin and taps into your humanity. This is so much more than yet another book about two opposite sisters: it's the very picture of resilience in the face of hardship and an ode to remembering in an age that we're prone to forgetting. I also just adore how multifaceted and layered these characters are, particularly Beck: so many authors fall prey to painting all Nazi officers in a completely villainous light, forgetting how subtly and intentionally things escalated. The words 'I'm just following orders' gave me chills every damn time. So many of those officers were just young men trying just as hard to survive and stay out of trouble as the victims, and Hannah showcases that fact while also showing the other side: the true horror of what some human beings will derive genuine joy from doing; the true perpetrators and power-hungry dictators that do sadly inhabit (and always have inhabited) this world.
The scope this book covered while remaining focused on just two women during the war is truly so impressive, and really forces you to think about the sheer number of voices and stories that have ultimately gone unheard.
Now to wait until the movie adaptation.
Graphic: Antisemitism
Moderate: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and War
Minor: Chronic illness
mandi4886's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Cancer, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Infertility, Miscarriage, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Excrement, Vomit, Kidnapping, Stalking, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Alcohol
_emma_rose_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It should be noted that I would recommend it for readers 18+.
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
esther_me's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Torture, Blood, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and War
lazyowl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book took me on a roller coaster of emotions. I railed at the unfair and horrible acts against the innocent to the truly evil actions of humans against each other. I cried at how much these women endured all whilst trying to protect their families. I felt hope for the women who took risks to selflessly help the vulnerable.
A highly recommended and important read. My words do not do this justice, just go read this book.
Moderate: Racism and Murder
Minor: Homophobia, Miscarriage, Rape, and Abandonment