Reviews tagging 'Torture'

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

366 reviews

emily_britton's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense fast-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

3.75

This is not exactly an enjoyable book.  War is never pleasant.  We know about what happened in WW2, but the day-to-day of the people behind those lines is shocking to be immersed in.  I will say that the twists were good and I got pretty choked up at the end.  But I will enjoy not having Nazis literally occupy my dreams at night any more.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Torture, Violence, and War

caitlinemccann's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy

Minor: Cancer, Homophobia, and Vomit

mcnoble's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective 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? Yes

5.0

An absolutely heartbreaking but beautiful story of two heroic sisters who, in their own ways, navigate and survive the challenges cast at them during a Nazi-occupied France during WWII. In her writing, Kristin Hannah transports you to Paris, the mountains, the countryside, and to the hidden places in between where survivors gather. She shares how there is not one way to be a hero, to be a friend, or to be a sister. This book was tense but well-paced, and, as one can imagine, an absolute tear jerker at times. Thank you to the wonderfully brave women who silently carry the world during war and thank you Kristin for sharing their stories. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Antisemitism, Murder, and War

Moderate: Alcoholism, Rape, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

anxiousgouda's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, and War

livlaughlit's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

2.0

I was intrigued to read this book, as I’d heard practically nothing but rave reviews, but sadly this missed the mark for me.

I thought the writing style was somewhat unsophisticated and repetitive, with Hannah often implying something and then immediately clarifying what she meant, just in case we hadn’t picked up on the nuance. Regardless, the pervasive anachronisms were the real bug-bear for me. On every other page, there was an error that made me roll my eyes (oral antibiotics? A Flemish farmer smoking like a true Frenchman? The flippant mention of concentration camps on official warnings?). This read as Historical Fanfiction, rather than a well-researched piece of Historical Fiction. It was also extremely forgiving of Vichy France’s passing antisemitic legislation independently of Nazi requirements.  

Too often, the characters were reduced to flat stereotypes, and the development of the romantic plots were poorly paced (especially between Isabelle and Gaetan). I was also unconvinced by Isabelle and Vianne’s relationship, which seemed not to develop much at all.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, and Miscarriage

ldod's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring sad 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

Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Genocide, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and War

acal92's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Deportation

xandrav's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Excrement, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

inkwellimps's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-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

4.0

The book was technically well written, so I'm giving it a higher star rating compared to how I actually felt reading it. The Nightingale is an exhausting read that I had to really force myself to finish. The horrors pile up, and there is hardly any relief. I read this at a recommendation of a family member, and I don't think I will read another WWII book for a long while. Not my genre, I suppose.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Rape, Torture, Violence, Antisemitism, Murder, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation

Moderate: Chronic illness and Death of parent

Starvation/hunger is also a theme of this book.

madelinedalton's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Antisemitism, and Murder

Moderate: Rape