Reviews tagging 'Antisemitism'

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

407 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.

---

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.

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 

---

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

ms_emily's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Physical abuse, Rape, Antisemitism, and War

miorinsa's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring medium-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? Yes

5.0

Powerful, but extremely tough story about two sisters in occupied France. The author uses a delicate hand to tell such a strong and needed tale. I am in awe of her characters and the real women they represented and I am in awe of Kristin’s talent as a writer. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, and War

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

---

Content Warnings

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

claire_bear26's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

2.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Genocide, Miscarriage, Rape, Torture, Violence, and Antisemitism

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

---

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!

---

Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Miscarriage, Rape, and Sexual assault

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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Antisemitism, and War

Moderate: Miscarriage and Torture

elocinrhom's review against another edition

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Genocide, Violence, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, War, and Deportation

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

Minor: Pregnancy