The Nightingale in Retro Chapter Chicks

Apr 11, 2015 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: author-pub-giveaways, own

I finished this book in tears. I'm not sure there are many that haven't done the same. What is there left for me to say that I'm sure so many people have already said about this book. It made me mad, made me sad, made me cry, made me happy.

The things these two sisters went through during this horrible time is unbelievable. I know this is a work of fiction but the truth is there in things that have happened. More atrocities than are in this book. But, I'm ta ...more

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Aug 22, 2016 Book Concierge rated it liked it

Shelves: concierge, strong-women, world-war-ii, library, audio, france, historical-fiction, sisters

Book on CD narrated by Polly Stone

Two sisters in Nazi-occupied France struggle to survive, and resist. Their father sends Isabelle Rossignol from Paris to the village of Carriveau, to live with her sister, Vianne Mauriac in relative safety.

I was hesitant to try this because I’d read Hannah before and was lukewarm to that work, but the good reviews from many people whose opinions I trust made me reconsider. Then my F2F book club chose it for discussion, so I was in.

As the story took off, I was Book on CD narrated by Polly Stone

Two sisters in Nazi-occupied France struggle to survive, and resist. Their father sends Isabelle Rossignol from Paris to the village of Carriveau, to live with her sister, Vianne Mauriac in relative safety.

I was hesitant to try this because I’d read Hannah before and was lukewarm to that work, but the good reviews from many people whose opinions I trust made me reconsider. Then my F2F book club chose it for discussion, so I was in.

As the story took off, I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was. I was really invested in these two young women, the brash and outspoken Isabelle, and the quiet, steady Vianne. Of course their differences are exacerbated by their circumstances; Isabelle is only 19 and full of outrage and a desire to DO something, while Vianne is a mother whose husband is fighting on the front, while she works to maintain their household.

Isabelle has always been a fighter, and quick to voice her opinions. Vianne can’t afford to go off half-cocked on a “mission” that would put not only her life at risk but that of her daughter, Sophie. When a German officer is billeted in Vianne’s home, Isabelle becomes increasingly angry and joins a resistance movement. But her actions put Vianne and Sophie at risk, so she returns to Paris, where her youth and beauty help give her a perfect cover. Who would believe that this blonde teenager, who flirts with the Nazi soldiers who frequent her father’s bookshop, is “the Nightingale” who leads downed RAF pilots across the Pyrenees to safety?

Meanwhile, back in Carriveau, Vianne is increasingly uncomfortable with the Nazis’ way of treating the Jews. She finds her own courage and ways to resist that, while not so brazen as Isabelle’s work, are every bit as dangerous.

It’s a compelling story, and I really liked having the action take place within the lives of these two women. However, at about the midpoint of the narrative, it took a turn towards a romantic melodrama that just really irritated me. And I thought the flashback “mystery” was entirely unnecessary and manipulative.

Polly Stone does a very good job narrating the audio book. Her pacing was good, and she really brought the characters to life.
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Jan 22, 2015 Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Schu rated it liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, tbrhchallenge

The story of Vianne and Isabelle was not unique or new, but I have read numerous books on WW II and knew of the roles that women had during the war. The undoing of the characters' lives in the war was well written and the most interesting aspect of the story. The history of the war was definitely researched with great care to create the story and the characters. The criticism of this story is the author's inability to create French characters, the culture was definitely missed (e.g.the use of Br ...more

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Sep 13, 2017 Theresa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: highly-recommended-by-me, francophilia

A compelling story of one family, its women, children, and old men, and their war. Hannah tells the women's story of WWII France with an emotional truth that devastates. The scenes detailing the round-up and export of Jews, when read against our current US political climate with a president seeking the deportation and banning of Muslims and immigrants without full papers, resonated, made me realize just how easily and quickly such a horror could happen again today.

I cried buckets. You may have t ...more

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Dec 27, 2022 Sarah Brown rated it it was amazing

I am so glad I finally got to reading this book. It pulled on a lot of heart strings, that's for sure. It's so difficult to think of what it would be like to live through such a tragic time. What would one do if a Natzi lived with you, or you went in for questioning, saw innocent people being torn apart from their families? I really enjoyed reading up on the Pyrenees afterwards, I didn't know that was a thing. How amazing. Wonder if the book is based on anyone's life, need to look into that. Loo ...more

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Dec 27, 2024 Lory Sakay rated it liked it

After having this on my TBR for several years and hearing others rant and rave about it, I was excited to have had my book club pick it (so I’d actually start reading it!) and then sadly, was quite underwhelmed. It was nice. I had some difficulty getting past some of the far fetched scenarios the main characters miraculously survived and it was as a typical WWII trope. As always I did enjoy the historical component and appreciate the research and effort Hannah put into that aspect, but the story ...more

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