Note: clearing old books from before 2019

Did not have time to read this book - still on my TBR. Thank you for the opportunity and my apologies for not getting to it.

I absolutely loved this book. In fact, I have read it twice and I enjoyed it just as much the second time. I highly recommend this.

I enjoy a great historical romance book. The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah is a great. Thank you NetGalley for a wonderful read.

ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY: A powerful story of two very different sisters and how their lives were impacted during WWII.

BRIEF REVIEW: The Nightingale, begins in 1998 Oregon with an elderly, unnamed woman sorting through papers and reflecting on her younger days as a young woman during the war.

Vianne and Isabelle are sisters whose lives take different paths after their mother died. Vianne, significantly older, marries Antoine and the couple and their young daughter Sophie move to the French countryside of Carriveau. Isabelle had attended boarding school and when old enough to go it alone, the fearless, rebellious and independent Isabelle moves to Paris.

As German troops move into France and war breaks out Antoine is called to serve and, in the countryside, everything changes for Vianne, a teacher, and daughter Sophie. As the Germans infiltrate the countryside and one Nazi forces his way into her home, her instincts as protector of her young daughter kick into high gear and she must do what it takes for them survive the ordeal of war. Meanwhile, Isabelle recovering from a love loss refuses to sit idly by as the brutal Nazi occupation grows, she joins the resistance movement, constantly putting her life at risk with every move she makes.

The strength of this novel, IMO, was not in the way in which it depicts the war, although the second half of the book was darker and more intense. I still thought the war aspect felt mild in terms of describing the brutality and horror of war. The author's strength was in the wonderful job she did describing how each sister was affected by war and what they had to endure and the sacrifices they made while the men were called to serve. The women were often faced with agonizing choices and the utter strength and bravery shown by the sisters and other women made each of them heroes in their own right.

A story of both survival and loss and ultimately redemption, based in part on a Belgian woman who inspired the role of Isabelle (The Nightingale) in the war effort. I throughly enjoyed reading this novel and have gained a new appreciation for historical fiction in 2021 - my 9th book in this genre thus far.

RATING: 4.5/5 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

MEMORABLE QUOTES:

“If I have learned anything in this long life of mine, it is this: in love we find out who we want to be; in war we find out who we are.”

"It's not biology that determines fatherhood. It is love."

I have recommended this book to everyone I know. I've been a fan of this writer for such a long time--The Winter Garden being one of my favorites. In this story, we are taken on a journey through WWII with two sisters. Though the girls are very different, they both prove heroic. Vianne and Isabelle both fight the invading Germans in their own way. One is a mother and the other is young and free-spirited. Yet, both women make courageous choices to protect those they love. One of the best books ever!

Every now and then you read a novel that stays with you well beyond the last page. Kristin Hanna's The Nightingale is one of those books for me. The characters, the history, Kristin's writing...everything was so well done. I have recommended this book to numerous friends.

Lovely, powerful book. I should have read this long ago, but I'm glad that I finally did! Highly recommended.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah had languished on my kindle for two years. It mocked me each time I turned on the device to delve into something else. Finally, finally I got around to reading it.

The reason I dragged my feet was because after reading one of Kristin Hannah’s earlier novel, Winter Garden I was not impressed. The story was lacking, the characters never developed, in short, it was a hot mess.Fortunately, The Nightingale was the exact opposite.

The beginning was a bit slow. The characters took their time to introduce themselves and get to the meat of the story. Once our heroines were in place The Nightingale was difficult to put down. Isabelle and Vianne’s tireless efforts never gave me room to breath. I was spellbound.

Kristin Hannah’s novel is a story that is easy to get lost in. Isabelle and Vianne were strong female protagonists. Despite being sisters, they were vastly different in personalities as they each resisted politics that loomed ahead.

Isabelle was headstrong, and at times stubborn. Even though I found her frustrating I couldn’t help but admire her as she helped the innocent out of France Von Trapp Family style.

However, despite Isabelle having the title of “The Nightingale” I felt the Vianne was the unsung hero in the novel. Her work to save children from a vicious fate aboard a train, and her quick thinking to hide them in plain sight via a forged orphanage was nothing short of brilliant. Vianne went to great lengths to keep these jewish children safe and it goes without saying that she would do anything for her own.

Speaking of which, Vianne’s daughter Sophie was a heroic child growing up in a most difficult time. I felt that Sophie’s character was the most heartbreaking. The reader sees her grow up and reads how the war has changed her from a care-free youngster to a hardened teenager. She carries just as many secrets as her mother and bares them admirably.

Despite being spellbound, I was a little disappointed by the ending. It was a little too unbelievable. Sadly, I found Vianne and particularly Isabelle’s fate to be unsatisfactory and a bit of a let down. As a whole, The Nightingale was a fabulous read and would highly recommend it.

Wow! This book was so good and so much better than her other books. I've always liked her books okay, but was never impressed by any before this one. Such a sad yet inspiring story.

This is a heart wrenching, beautiful book set during World War II. It focuses on sisters, Vianne and Isabelle and the horrific things they endure during the war. This is one of the best WWII books I have read, and it will stay with me.

Hannah's tale is intriguing and engaging, from start to finish. The characters and their lives drew me in and have stayed with me long after finishing this book.

Could not keep this one in stock...in any format. A powerful story and well-loved by the many patrons who read it, including in book groups sponsored within and outside the library!