The Nightingale in Hype or Like Friday

Jul 14, 2019 Amanda rated it it was amazing

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“In love we find out who we want to be. In war we find out who we are.”

How do I even start this review?

I savored The Nightingale.

I read it slowly, I let every word sink in and I absolutely fell in love with this story.

I have recently come to find a love for historical fiction, and when I saw The Nightingale, I knew I needed to read it. My only thought after finishing it with tears streaming down my face was, “why did I not read this sooner!?”

Set in World War II, when Nazi took over France, The ...more

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Mar 29, 2017 Jocelyn rated it it was amazing

I cannot explain enough how much I loved this book. I cried about 50 gazillion times reading it, mostly because it was sad, but also sometimes because I was happy. This is a WWII book, which I know can get old for a lot of readers, but it was such a new, interesting take that it seemed completely new. Isabelle and Vianne are both sisters from France, which was taken over during WWII by the Germans, and so they were essentially living in German controlled territory, billeting with soldiers, and t ...more

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Apr 24, 2016 Courtney rated it it was amazing

I remember reading The Diary of Anne Frank vaguely from back in middle school. Even though this is a work of fiction, Hannah has painted a haunting image of the vicious reality of the time of the Holocaust – both inside and outside the camps. Knowing the history of World War II, the story became more painful both with what I have read in history books and with the two narrations of the sisters. After I completed it (the last 2/3 in one day, I couldn’t put it down), I had to go for a walk, it was I remember reading The Diary of Anne Frank vaguely from back in middle school. Even though this is a work of fiction, Hannah has painted a haunting image of the vicious reality of the time of the Holocaust – both inside and outside the camps. Knowing the history of World War II, the story became more painful both with what I have read in history books and with the two narrations of the sisters. After I completed it (the last 2/3 in one day, I couldn’t put it down), I had to go for a walk, it was that powerful – right up until the end.

The most I feel that we hear about wars comes from the battlelines and/or the male perspective. Or if it does take on the female perspective, there are nurses or aids (nothing wrong with that at all!). I appreciated these views of Vianne and Isabelle, 2 sisters that could not be more different when we started but have the same fight in them when it comes down to doing what is right – real powerhouse heroines at a time where they were overlooked and not appreciated for their talents.

I reflected a lot about what we do for the ones we love. Almost every page was filled with sacrifice and caring for others so selflessly, especially after knowing we have made life-altering mistakes. The symbol of the Nightingale is much bigger than Isabelle’s code name. It’s a movement, an aspiration, working on what is natural day and night yet also risky. As much as Vianne disapproved of Isabelle’s vivacity, she ends up being her own kind of Nightingale as she saves 19 Jewish children in a humbling manner. Isabel wanted to be remembered as a heroine, Vianne a mother who’d do anything for her own children and children of Jews who were on the list.

Learning that it’s never too late to tell/show someone you love them was an overarching theme. So many times that the characters wished they told each other how they feel for them and fortunately were able to do so when it mannered the most. War, death, and danger can put some things into perspective.

This novel will sure stay with me for some time as it was raw and felt more real than I could’ve imagined.

Read The Nightingale if you like the themes of:

World War II/The Holocaust
Women empowered
Sisters/Family
...more

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Apr 28, 2016 Debby (Alwaysbooking) rated it liked it

full review at alwaysbooking.wordpress.com

Unfortunately was not my cup of tea... I obviously am in the few on this feeling. I couldn't connect to the characters in the way I needed to. While I thought her story was well written and thought and the character growth was really nice. This book just wasn't my cup of tea.

However with such high ratings I suggest you try it.. :) ...more

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Sep 15, 2015 Angelica Cropper rated it it was amazing

This was the best book I have read in the longest time. I can't even express the range of emotions I felt with each turn of the page. Pride, loss, fear, love, courage. the last 50 pages of the book, I had a continuous stream of tears on my face.
This subject, life in germany/France during WWII, continues to be my favorite with amazing representation in "The Book Thief", "All the Light We Cannot See", "Night", and many others. "The Nightingale" showed me a whole new perspective that blew my mind. ...more

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