The Nightingale: A Novel

As I sit down to write this, there's this odd feeling of emptiness and dryness pervading my thoughts. I once stumbled upon this idea that a good review should capture how a book makes you feel, and let me tell you, this one has stirred up so many emotions in me that I hardly know where to start. If I had to sum it up in just one word, I'd probably go with "beautiful" – simple yet profound.

My usual go-to genre is thrillers and mysteries, but there's something about historical novels that always gets me. Especially those set against the backdrop of Asian cultures or the turmoil of World Wars I and II. The way authors, especially women like Kate Quinn, Kristin Hannah, and Min Jin Lee, delicately yet powerfully depict the horrors of war and the human spirit within it – it's absolutely mesmerizing.

War has always felt like a distant concept to me. I come from a country untouched by its scars, and none of my relatives have ever lived through it either. And honestly, I'm grateful for that. But maybe it's this distance that makes me so drawn to reading about it, even through fiction. These stories give me a glimpse into lives lived amidst unimaginable pain and suffering. And while I know nothing can truly capture the horrors of war, I can't help but relate to the everyday struggles faced by those who lived through it. It's both humbling and inspiring to see the strength and resilience of the women who navigated these turbulent times, not just for themselves but for those they loved.

In the words of Kristin Hannah herself, ""Men tell stories," I say. It is the truest, simplest answer to his question. “Women get on with it. For us, it was a shadow war. There were no parades for us when it was over, no medals or mentions in history books. We did what we had to during the war, and when it was over, we picked up the pieces and started our lives over.""

I love reading WWII books, but this one was one I'll not forget. I felt such an overwhelming heaviness of sadness, it spilled out into my day. I don't know how so many survived. At times, I had to put the book down and take a break. There is no break in the turmoil, torture, and starvation for the jews and for the people of France. Broke my heart. It was a lot, all at once and some of it made me think....how could anyone be that cruel?

I know the author did a ton of research, it shows. I kept hoping for one ounce of happiness or hope and there was none. At first it made me put the book down, but then I thought . . . these people had no break either. Would I read this book again? No. It was just too much for me but a story that many should read. If nothing else, so history does not repeat itself.

Wow... Just wow... I put off reading this book and any Kristin Hannah book for so long. Now that I have, I am so glad that I did, and I can't wait to read my next. This book was so powerful. The writing was incredible. This book made me feel angry, and sad, and even though I cried (boy did I cry) the way this book ended made my heart smile a little.

If you haven't read this, do it. It will break your heart, but open both it and your eyes to another view of life in WW2. Beautifully written, probably going to be one of my top reads this year.

“If I had told him the truth long ago, or had danced and drunk and sung more, maybe he would have seen me instead of a dependable, ordinary mother. He loves a version of me that is incomplete. I always thought it was what I wanted: to be loved and admired. Now I think perhaps I’d like to be known.”

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah follows two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, in France during World War 2. Vianne, with her quiet strength, raises her daughter under the watchful eye of Nazi officers billeted at her home while her husband is away fighting. Isabelle, with her courage and bullheaded determination, works with a resistance group fighting the war in her own way.

This book ripped my heart out, y’all. I was ugly crying by the end of it. I should have expected it, as Kristin Hannah makes me cry every single time. I honestly didn’t expect it, though, because I have been burned out by books based in World War 2 era. It’s been years since I’ve picked on up…on purpose. Which explains why this book has been on my TBR since 2019 and only got read because it was a book club pick. I’m glad it was, as it was a 5 star read for me. Please be mindful of my trigger warnings, though, and take care of yourself, my friends.

"I always thought it was what I wanted: to be loved and admired. Now I think perhaps I’d like to be known."

I had to take a bit of a break from this, was feeling very burnt out on WWII books and this was dragging a bit for me. Once I made to to around 50% it really picked up for me. The characters were so though to like at the beginning but I really warmed up to them. Kristin Hannah books always make me cry and this was no different. The themes of doing anything for your family really got me.

"For us it was a shadow war. There were no parades for us when it was over, no medals or mentions in history books."

I really enjoy historial fiction when it teaches me something I didn't know. I loved to learn of different ways women used their inconspicuousness to help during the war. While I'm sure this is embellished, I like that in some small way this gives recognition to the work that women did in the shadows.