A review by haley_b
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.0

 The Nightingale follows the story of two sisters as they navigate the German invasion of the French countryside in World War II. 

This book club pick was my 2nd Kristin Hannah title, and I was surprised how much more I enjoyed this one over The Four Winds despite the glaring similarities between the two. Both feature mothers who, in the absence of their husbands, must persevere through major historical events and protect their young children along the way. There’s ultimately nothing revolutionary about this book in its plot, characters, or message. Vianne and her sister are very conventional protagonists, and there are certainly more noteworthy examples of World War II historical fiction.

To their credit, Hannah’s books are easy reads despite their length, they’re intense without being graphic, and they paint a narratively appealing picture of the time period. In this case, faming the narrative as a flashback added a layer of intrigue throughout the book, and though the foreshadowing eventually became predictable, it helped events come full circle in a satisfying way. 

Fans of historical fiction will enjoy every minute of The Nightingale, and I have already had success recommending this book to patrons at my public library job. I wouldn’t consider it one of my favorites, but its improvement over The Four Winds merits a begrudging 4th star.