Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

189 reviews

mboutlaw's review against another edition

dark 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

4.75

This book wrecked me. As a mother of two young children especially, it hit HARD. It was triggering to a point of me almost marking it DNF. I used a whole box of tissues and gave myself a headache in the reading of certain scenes. 

However, I kept reading because I felt a need to find closure of this story and I am glad that I did. Truly. Isabelle/Vianne’s story of loss, hope, and unending compassion was life-changing. By this book, I will forever be reminded of the thousands of stories of the small (and yet huge) acts of kindness, love, and rebellion during times where people were forced to look into the very face of evil.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and War

Moderate: Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Infertility, and Miscarriage

This is a book about WWII, it will describe war crimes against Jewish people and those suspected of helping them. It describes multiple graphic instances of child death at the hands of Nazis. Would not recommend this book to anyone sensitive to any of these themes and moreover would encourage mothers of small children to avoid this book.

geminisoul's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

This books is probably one of the best books I have read this year. The strength that the characters find throughout the story is astounding. The author has done a fantastic job of world and character building. I couldn't help but cry at times while reading. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

charlotterose13x's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

“I know now what matters, and it is not what I have lost, it is my memories. 
Wounds heal, love lasts, we remain” 

The most heartbreaking, beautiful book I have read in while and my favourite book of 2024 so far.

 This story has me fully invested in these women’s lives and their stories. I was moved greatly by their relationship and sisters and their experiences throughout the war.

 The way Hannah has written from both women’s perspectives is incredible. Both ladies living different lives but despite all odds brought closer by the outbreak of war in France. Vianne and Isabelle are both equally as strong and inspiring fighting their own battles against the Nazis.

Well worth a read and I will be recommending to all 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Infertility, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Antisemitism, Grief, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, Torture, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

katiebannasch's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring sad 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Sexual violence, Violence, Antisemitism, Murder, and War

megcat13's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Torture, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, War, and Deportation

Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, and Pregnancy

jsanz22's review against another edition

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

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

5.0

A devastating, heavy, very well written story.  Took me a while to get into but once I did, I couldn't put it down.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Genocide, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, and War

eemadeeberry's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring sad 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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Genocide, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, War, and Deportation

Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail

phoebebird's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.0

I know a lot of people loved this book but it didn’t do it for me. The author’s knowledge of occupied France and WWII seemed shallow and her descriptions of Paris lapsed into  cliches. If I had a nickel for every time one of her French characters said c’est la vie or ate baguette I’d have enough money to take a trip to France. The writing is weak and repetitive, the timeline is inconsistent, and there are several grammar mistakes and misused words. But what bothered me most was Vianne’s plotline. She was the character I loved most, but her interactions with Beck changed my mind quickly. I’m not sure how Hannah thought having her strong and dedicated heroine

fall in love (or at least lust) with a German soldier occupying her house would be appropriate, even if he is not *technically* a Nazi.

However, I did make it through the book, and Isabelle’s character arc was fantastic. I also grew to love Ari, his little moments were some of the best and I wish there were more. Overall, it I wouldn’t recommend it but I’m not sorry I read it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, and War

suzecluez's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War

Moderate: Alcoholism, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, and Antisemitism

b00kishnurse's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation