Reviews

Näktergalen by Kristin Hannah

agsmith07's review against another edition

5.0

Oh MY! I have no words. Heartbreakingly beautiful. I haven't cried like that in a very, very long time.

carolyn_chf's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

liznew's review against another edition

4.0

Would probably give it 3 1/2 stars. Interesting story of the German occupation of France. What bothered me was the added romance, which didn't seem to fit with the characters. But I would still recommend it as an interesting account of the war.

madgblack's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Torture

jenhep's review against another edition

5.0

An unbelievable book, one of the best I've read all year. Will leave you in tears numerous times throughout the story.

znvisser's review against another edition

emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

The ratings prepared me for a big emotional saga but the writing felt very sentimental from the start (sprinkled with some unnecessary French words here and there too) and that immediate took me out of the story. I saw a different reviewer say: “it prompts emotions from you in the least intellectual way possible” and that covers how I feel about this too. Once I feel like an author is actively trying to manipulate my emotions I oftentimes resist - although there are definitely exceptions when I did fall for it (damn you Backman and Yanagihara). 

There is a lot going on in this story

- these two sisters experience as many WWII challenges as possible -

and I was often confused by little inaccuracies in the plot or just because I couldn’t believe how something played out

(e.g. German soldiers patiently explaining to a random French woman where all the Jews were being deported as if that knowledge was out in the open at that point; or how easy it appeared to become a leading figure in the resistance as a teenager, etc)

.

However, it turned out it was interesting enough to pull me through all these pages, and although both sisters were a bit stupid at times in their own authentic ways, in the end I did start to feel for them and their family. Will probably not remember a lot from this in a few days tho.

alexangraf's review against another edition

5.0

this book is really amazing wow. it is beautiful and tragic at the same time. WWII stories always intrigue me in learning and trying to even understand the horrors people went through. i laughed i cried i couldnt put it down. loved how it was more focused on female struggles and heroism because i feel like alot of times its men but any way either way love this book and enjoyed the perspective from France as the Nazis took over and reading Vianne / Isabelles different stories contributing to the War efforts

javierae's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

mndarde's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

inesfma's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.0