The Nightingale
A Novel
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4.7 • 19.5K Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK
A #1 New York Times bestseller, Wall Street Journal Best Book of the Year, and soon to be a major motion picture, this unforgettable novel of love and strength in the face of war has enthralled a generation.
With courage, grace, and powerful insight, bestselling author Kristin Hannah captures the epic panorama of World War II and illuminates an intimate part of history seldom seen: the women's war. The Nightingale tells the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France—a heartbreakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of women. It is a novel for everyone, a novel for a lifetime.
Goodreads Best Historical Novel of the Year • People's Choice Favorite Fiction Winner • #1 Indie Next Selection • A Buzzfeed and The Week Best Book of the Year
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Gorgeously written, The Nightingale is a feast of images, scenes, and emotions that whirl off the page. Set in WWII France, the novel tells the story of two sisters with very different personalities forced to draw upon their strengths and find their own path to resistance under the German occupation. We were completely absorbed by the development of Viann and Isabelle’s relationship and the tense, moving portrait of two women’s courage during one of history’s overwhelmingly dark periods.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"In love we find out who we want to be; in war we find out who we are," Hannah's narrator, Viann Mauriac, proclaims as she looks back on her life in France. The bestselling author hits her stride in this page-turning tale about two sisters, one in the French countryside, the other in Paris, who show remarkable courage in the German occupation during WWII. Through Viann we learn how life was disrupted when husbands and fathers were forced to enlist while the Germans took over their towns and villages, billeting themselves in people's homes, gorging on food, and forcing the starved locals to wait in endless lines for rations. Viann's younger sister, Isabelle, always rebellious, joins the resistance in Paris, finds love with another resistance fighter, and risks her life guiding downed British and American paratroopers over the Pyrenees and out of France. Viann does her part too, saving 19 Jewish children by hiding them in a convent. Despite having a German officer in her own home, she also takes in a Jewish baby her best friend's son when his mother is sent to a concentration camp. The author ably depicts war's horrors through the eyes of these two women, whose strength of character shines through no matter their differences. Announced first printing of 350,000 copies.
Customer Reviews
Wonderful, emotional read
This is my first book I've read from Kristen Hannah. I've tried her others but they seemed like YA. This one felt like I was reading something from a completely different author. I don't typically read books about history especially this period bc of the hell and horrors that WWII was. But I had heard so many rave reviews about it and decided to give it a try. I'm very glad I did. It's incredibly well written emotional and riveting. It was hard for me personally to get through at some points but it's so engrossing I couldn't put it down. This book will stay with you forever. Just beautiful and so heartbreaking but really an extraordinary read.
Hard to put down
I have read tons of books about WW2 and this is the 2nd one I've read that depicts it from the French perspective of the German occupation if France... Heartbreaking... It makes me shudder to realize what they went through!!!
Great Read!
I didn't think I would like it, but I was wrong. It's a wonderful story filled with happiness, sadness, and just real life moments. I really enjoyed this and look forward to reading her next book.