Although i cried through the last few chapters I actually didn't enjoy this book- I felt the writing was elementary, the subject matter was hardly researched and it just didn't hold a candle to other wonderful books written about the Holocaust. The perspective from a non Jewish pair of sisters doing incredible life saving acts was clever, however most of her knowledge of the time seemed so off. Anyone agree?

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10 years ago
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Maureen I would like the list of your other favorite books about the Holocaust. I have read the following: The true story of Hansel & Gretel, The zookeepers Wife, The Book Thief, Sarah's Key, In the Garden of Beasts, The German Suitcase, Winter Garden, and Finding Rebecca. I gave these books high ratings. With historical novels, there is always the "fiction" mixed with the "historical" and for me that is what makes it most interesting. In reading the acknowledgements and epilogues, we find out just how accurate the historical part is based on extent of research. I enjoyed The Nightingale because the perspective of the French Occupation shed a different light from other books based primarily in Germany.

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Emily I agree; the story of the characters was deeply touching, but the writing was sub-par. I read this immediately after reading "All the Light We Cannot See," which is also set in Nazi-occupied France. If you enjoyed "The Nightingale" at all, I HIGHLY recommend "All the Light." Its setting and time are the exact same, and I felt the actions of the characters were as moving and eye-opening as those of Nightingale, but the writing was much more poetic and enjoyable! :)

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Hank I figured out who the Oregon woman was after the second encounter. I found it preposterous however that her son was so clueless about her past. Yes, I agree with you. It seemed to be based o a superficial sentimentality.

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Beatrijs Thank you for this review, I had trouble putting to words why I didn't totally enjoy this book, in spite of the fact that its subject is worth a novel. You did it for me. I agree.

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MomToKippy Totally agree. I hope you review it.

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Catalina Aguilar Well did you survive the Nazi occupation of France . Who are you to say what women did or survived ?

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Kim I agree-the story was much better than the writing- I kept wishing a more talented (sorry no offense KH) writer had written this story- I wanted to feel it instead of read it- but still a 4.5 star book. Any other recommendations?

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Jill Completely. If the acknowledgments are any indication, the author only spoke to one historical reference--a scholar at a university in Florida. I'm sure she read a few books as well (maybe...?) but none of this story rang true to me.

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Ruth Cuadrado It seems like according to you, WW2 only had consequences in Germany/Poland and for the jewish population?
There were too many suffering across Europe because of the war, and all stories are worth telling. There were hundreds (if not 1000s) of non-jewish people in real life who helped jews escape.
So I'm not sure what you are finding so poorly researched about this book.

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Bonnie Judd In the end it did make me cry. However, I have read many a and own this author's other books and I kept waiting to have that, "can't put it down" thing happen. I have never lived thru war, so I won't say the decisions made aren't accurate. This also was a different era. I have not read a book concerning France during WW11. Interesting.

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Barbara No, not at all. I certainly don't know how accurate it was, but I felt it rang true to expected reactions to their precarious situations.

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