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From the Bookshelf of Read With Me!…

The Nightingale

Kristin Hannah

Start date: April 1, 2019

Finish date: April 30, 2019

Discussion: April 2019

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Showing 2 of 5 topics — 6 comments total

April 2019

Redemption Road
By Tina , Creator · 2 posts · 5 views

last updated Sep 03, 2025 03:26PM

The Nightingale
By Tina , Creator · 1 post · 8 views

last updated Apr 02, 2019 07:35AM

What Members Thought

Aug 25, 2020 Francesca rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

WOW. What a wonderful, wonderful book with believable characters.

7 likes · Like · see review

Aug 05, 2015 Lydia Granda rated it it was amazing

I don't give out 5 stars reviews easily, this book deserves a 10 star review. It is the story of the french people during the occupation of Nazi Germany. One sister is hot headed and reactionary, the other is calm and follows the rules. This book is one that I could not put down and when I did, I couldn't stop thinking of it and wanting to get back to it. I had known very little about the French resistance and occupation, mostly from old movies, this enlightened me and gave me such an appreciati ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Aug 12, 2025 Robin rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I’ve read a few other books by this author but for some reason hadn't gotten around to reading this book yet though it's one of her more popular and famous books. Being that it is being adapted into a movie I decided to finally read it. It was definitely one of her good ones, though it is quite sad and there are some parts that are heartbreaking, but since most of her books are like that and this one also deals with WW2 events I knew to expect that.

I've read a lot of books about WW2 and the Hol I’ve read a few other books by this author but for some reason hadn't gotten around to reading this book yet though it's one of her more popular and famous books. Being that it is being adapted into a movie I decided to finally read it. It was definitely one of her good ones, though it is quite sad and there are some parts that are heartbreaking, but since most of her books are like that and this one also deals with WW2 events I knew to expect that.

I've read a lot of books about WW2 and the Holocaust, both historical fiction and nonfiction, and there are a lot of stories about people in many countries who did whatever they could to help those who were persecuted (which were mainly Jewish people though there were other races, nationalities, and types of people with beliefs that didn't match what Hitler thought was proper) because they didn't think it was right. I have always found it interesting to read about how things were in each place in based on all of the stories out there, it does seem a majority didn't agree with Nazi beliefs. While there are many stories out there, so many heroes were never properly recognized for all they did so I'm thankful for every book that does tell stories based on real ones whether they are historical fiction or nonfiction books. This book focuses on two sisters who fight to survive and help so many who didn't deserve their fates during WW2 Nazi takeover in France. Most of the rest of my thoughts could be considered to be spoilery so...
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The storyline of older sister, Vianne, depicts what many women had to deal with when Nazi soldiers took over their cities/ towns. V's husband goes off to war, and unfortunately for her their house is taken over by Nazi soldiers more than once. The first guy actually tried to keep V and her daughter safe but the second guy was a monster. Reading about what V and so many women were forced to do to survive was horrible. She was really strong to put up with what he did to her and to help so many Jewish children. When her best friend is taken to a concentration camp she ends up taking in her young son. I understand his family wanted him when they learned his parents had perished but it was heartbreaking to watch him being taken away from V since her family was all he knew at that point. I can't imagine having to send a small child to live in another country with total strangers after losing everyone and everything he knew. I was glad they did eventually get to see each other again even if it was so many years later. At least her husband did finally come home although he was definitely not the same person he was when he left. While it took a lot for them to put back together what they once had, both seemed to realize that although they were both damaged, still they were lucky to survive and be reunited unlike so many who didn't get a happy ending.

The younger more rebellious sister, Isabelle, was also very strong. She met a guy who was part of a resistance group which inspired her to do a lot of dangerous missions to help. They both spent most of the war doing this, and eventually she gets caught and sent to a concentration camp for her actions. What I found to be extremely upsetting was that although she survived being there and eventually makes it home to be reunited with V and her family and the guy she loved, she was too sick to at least get to be with for a while and obviously didn't get a HEA ending. That moment was probably one of the saddest parts of the book, but I guess I should look at it that at least she got to return home, be reunited with her loved ones, and to say goodbye rather than just being killed in action or at the concentration camp .

As the book concludes, V as an older woman is at an event to honor all of the brave souls who deserved the recognition for their heroic actions that saved many lives during this horrible timeframe. Her son, who was a result of some of these horrifying events, learns a lot more about his mother and aunt than he ever knew his entire life in a few short hours.
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Overall, I found this book a lot more interesting than some of the other WW2 books I've read. Of course it was sad but still definitely worth reading and I'm looking forward to seeing the movie adaptation. ...more

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Mar 31, 2019 Jan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

My daughter bought this book for me as she was also reading it we have both loved it and shared in the ups and downs of the life of the two sisters during the German occupation of France in WW2 I could not put it down Isabelle was my favourite and her courage and fiery nature made her an unforgettable character never knowing what risks she would take next. The love story that weaved its way into the story was done beautifully between Isabelle and Gaeten. The older sister Vianne's strength that s ...more

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Feb 03, 2019 Lynne added it · review of another edition

Shelves: dnf

Jan 05, 2020 Dalmush rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favourite, favorite

1 like · Like

Mar 18, 2022 Maggie marked it as to-read

Jan 08, 2018 Jess Penhallow marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: own-ebook

Dec 28, 2016 Tina Haigler marked it as to-read

2 likes · Like

Jan 26, 2019 Dee rated it it was amazing

Jun 17, 2021 James Malloy marked it as to-read

Jul 06, 2021 Heather B. rated it it was amazing

May 27, 2022 Tom Day marked it as to-read

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