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A review by tbrickner
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.5
Kristin Hannah is 2 for 2 on making me ugly cry at the end of her books.
The last quarter of this book had me sobbing uncontrollably. Kristin Hannah takes you through World War II France with two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle. Hannah's storytelling grips you, making you feel like you're right there with them. The bond between Vianne and Isabelle is so well written. Their relationship is complex and dynamic, filled with resentment at times, but there is still so much love. Love is carried throughout this book, even in the most painful parts, love stays steady. Highly recommended, but be prepared to have your heart and your emotions thrown all over the place.
The first chapter set in 1995, with its hint of mystery about the narrator's identity, kept me guessing until the very end. Not knowing who was the narrator in the first chapter and going back to that narrator in other chapters throughout was an interesting way to keep me as a reader pushing forward to find out which of the characters lived beyond the war. And when the truth was finally revealed, I found myself sobbing even more.
For audiobook readers: I did a tandem audio/physical read, and the narrator did a great job with all the various accents of characters.
Trigger warning: it's emotional and heavy at times, doesn't shy away from brutalities and horrors of war, tackling topics like violence, rape, and death.
The last quarter of this book had me sobbing uncontrollably. Kristin Hannah takes you through World War II France with two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle. Hannah's storytelling grips you, making you feel like you're right there with them. The bond between Vianne and Isabelle is so well written. Their relationship is complex and dynamic, filled with resentment at times, but there is still so much love. Love is carried throughout this book, even in the most painful parts, love stays steady. Highly recommended, but be prepared to have your heart and your emotions thrown all over the place.
The first chapter set in 1995, with its hint of mystery about the narrator's identity, kept me guessing until the very end. Not knowing who was the narrator in the first chapter and going back to that narrator in other chapters throughout was an interesting way to keep me as a reader pushing forward to find out which of the characters lived beyond the war. And when the truth was finally revealed, I found myself sobbing even more.
For audiobook readers: I did a tandem audio/physical read, and the narrator did a great job with all the various accents of characters.
Trigger warning: it's emotional and heavy at times, doesn't shy away from brutalities and horrors of war, tackling topics like violence, rape, and death.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Child death, Gun violence, War, Death, and Sexual assault