Reviews tagging 'Torture'

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

366 reviews

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

claireeshelby's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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

I cannot remember the last time I read a 500+ page book in a matter of hours (and stayed up till 4am to finish). I was completely and entirely hooked. Beautiful, simple, descriptive writing style that brought out each of the characters nuances and understandably complex emotions in war time. I have read a lot of WWII historical fiction, and the way this story was architected resonated with me in a different way than any other. The impending doom that you know is on the horizon, but the incessant hope that you still feel until the very last moment when yet another disastrous Nazi action rips away a life. 

I hesitated to give 5 stars because the writing did get a bit repetitive, but it held my attention for nearly 5 hours straight, so clearly something worked!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Genocide, Torture, Violence, Antisemitism, Murder, and War

Moderate: Miscarriage, Rape, and Sexual assault

ceelo1581's review against another edition

dark emotional informative 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? Yes

5.0

I am going to need 5 to 7 business days to recover from this book. It was probably one of the best novels that I have ever read. I don’t typically gravitate towards historical fiction; however, this was one that I could not put down. I learned so much about the history of France during World War II. While this was a fictional novel, there was so much that was based on the true stories of people who lived through the atrocities of this time. The characters were incredible, and the storyline kept me intrigued. There were so many twists and turns that I never saw coming. Definitely a must read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Genocide, Sexual assault, Torture, and Violence

kirstym25's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Antisemitism, and War

Moderate: Miscarriage and Torture

grace_concepcion's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture and War

Moderate: Rape

jeggert10's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Genocide, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Deportation

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Confinement, Hate crime, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Terminal illness, Blood, Excrement, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Racial slurs

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

manicake's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and War

Moderate: Rape and Torture