The Nightingale - September 2022 BOTM

[Savita]

Gorab wrote: "That's a true story?? Crazy!!!"

Absolutely true , Gorab ! Information on Andree de Jongh is available on the internet , and also mentioned in The Nightingale 's Wikipedia ( don't read the whole Wikipedia account because it will spoil the book for you . Just read the Andree de Jongh bit ) .
After WW11 , Andree went on to work in some leper hospitals in Africa . Not only a courageous lady , but also one with an astonishingly kind heart .
Amazing , on one hand we have the Nazis who so cruelly tortured their helpless victims , and, on the other hand we have angelic Andree . 🤔

[Gorab, TheGunman]

I'm not reading Wiki - as I don't know where to stop to avoid the spoilers. Will look it up after finishing.

Have reached Chapter 30.

Are all others finished? Or someone still reading along/planning to begin?

[Gorab, TheGunman]

It is slowly getting spookier at Chapter 30.

I don't know. Maybe the impact would have been much larger had it been one of the first holocaust themed books that I've read. Can't imagine what all atrocities and torture people would have gone through.

We can only be hopeful that we learn from History and don't repeat such gross acts. Though the chances of that look slim going by the current world situation :(

[Gorab, TheGunman]

It is pretty evident now on who is narrating this :)
Also the statement of an earlier chapter regarding I should have chosen *this* instead of *that* is becoming clearer
(view spoiler)[ I think she meant to kill the current occupant of her house instead of general Brent. I felt bad for Brent. He was kind, nice and only doing his duty. Only because of the circumstances... (hide spoiler)]

Agin a reminder - life is cruel. Not always good things happen to good people.

[Shriti]

Gorab wrote: "We can only be hopeful that we learn from History and don't repeat such gross acts. Though the chances of that look slim going by the current world situation :("

Agree with you 100% there; History will keep repeating itself till we humans learn from our mistakes.

[Savita]

Gorab wrote: "I'm not reading Wiki - as I don't know where to stop to avoid the spoilers. Will look it up after finishing.

Have reached Chapter 30.

Are all others finished? Or someone still reading along/plann..."

Sherin is still reading .

[Savita]

Gorab wrote: "It is pretty evident now on who is narrating this :)
Also the statement of an earlier chapter regarding I should have chosen *this* instead of *that* is becoming clearer
[spoilers removed]

Agin a..."

I think you mean Capt Beck ( not Brent ) ? Yes , retrospectively I agree ☆☆Beware Spoilers (view spoiler)[ Capt Beck was a decent , normal person .
This Von Richter is just hateful ! ☹ (hide spoiler)] ☆☆

Not always good things happen to good people . 🤔
Maybe it's the consequence of long ago karmas ..... even perhaps related to previous births ?? ( Natural ) Laws related to the physical world are so complex . So also must it be with the laws related to the spiritual world in this superbly organized universe . Cause and effect .

[Bapaul]

Iam just starting read.Got the book a few days back. Will share opinion after completion.😃

[Savita]

Bapaul wrote: "Iam just starting read.Got the book a few days back. Will share opinion after completion.😃"

Welcome, Bapaul ! Looking forward to your thoughts and comments .

[Sherin]

Bapaul wrote: "Iam just starting read.Got the book a few days back. Will share opinion after completion.😃"

Awesome!
I was lagging behind, and guess everyone else has already finished.
It's good to have someone reading the same part. :)

[Sherin]

Savita wrote: "Gorab wrote: "I'm not reading Wiki - as I don't know where to stop to avoid the spoilers. Will look it up after finishing.

Have reached Chapter 30.

Are all others finished? Or someone still readi..."

Sorry for holding you all back from discussing the book without caring about the spoilers.. :(
I'll catch up from now on..

[Shriti]

Sherin wrote: "Sorry for holding you all back from discussing the book without caring about the spoilers..."

Take your time :) Books are ultimately meant to be enjoyed.

But since you've read upto chapter 30 already, I don't think the following comment will be a spoiler even though this part appears towards the end of the story.

[Shriti]

“Men tell stories,” I say. It is the truest, simplest answer to his question. “Women get on with it. For us it was a shadow war. There were no parades for us when it was over, no medals or mentions in history books. We did what we had to during the war, and when it was over, we picked up the pieces and started our lives over.

I feel that the Nightingale is able to stand out from most books about WW-II , by shining light on the females' plight during wartime - their often-unseen role of keeping hope alive in times of despair, their emotional strength to not just survive... but also rebuild.

I understand that Isabel risked a lot during the war, but ultimately it's Vianne's story that makes me reflect. Her temperament, her disposition, her helplessness is the exact reason why women were thought unfit for military service in that era but she still persisted in her dystopian reality. She did her bit... If not by openly fighting against the enemy, she did protect the ideals for which the Allied nations were fighting for.

What is others' opinion? Is the Nightingale a memorable book for you? If yes, what are your reasons? Would love to hear...

[Savita]

Sherin wrote: "Savita wrote: "Gorab wrote: "I'm not reading Wiki - as I don't know where to stop to avoid the spoilers. Will look it up after finishing.

Have reached Chapter 30.

Are all others finished? Or some..."

Actually , Sherin , Gorab was referring to the Wikipedia when he mentioned the spoilers , not this thread . Spoiler tags will have to be put anyway because other members, not reading along , may still be interested in viewing the non spoiler comments. So , please go at your own pace and enjoy the book 😊

[Savita]

Shriti wrote: "“Men tell stories,” I say. It is the truest, simplest answer to his question. “Women get on with it. For us it was a shadow war. There were no parades for us when it was over, no medals or mentions..."

Yes , The Nightingale is a memorable book for me . The war atrocities described is, unfortunately , not fiction , and is unforgettable . [ ☆☆Beware Spoilers (view spoiler)[ Isabelle watching her old and broken father being shot dead by the firing squad ; what Isabelle goes through in Ravensbruck concentration camp ; Von Richter 's filthy behavior ...... (hide spoiler)] ☆☆ ]
But , thankfully , the impact of the inhuman behavior described, was at least partially mitigated by the reassuring kindness and courage shown by ☆☆ Beware Spoilers (view spoiler)[ Isabelle (hide spoiler)] ☆☆ , again based on a real life character , Andree de Jongh . This has reinforced my belief that the human race , as a whole , is not evil . Majority lie in the grey zone ( a little good , a little bad ) . A small percentage lie in the black zone - sheer evil 😈 . And another small percentage lie in the shining white zone ( truly divine ). If there is a ( ☆☆Beware Spoilers (view spoiler)[ repulsive (hide spoiler)] ☆☆ Von Richter , there is also a Captain Beck ☆☆Beware Spoilers(view spoiler)[( basically decent , but caught in a bad situation (hide spoiler)] ) .
This book , and others like it ... fact or historical fiction , are like warning beacons to humanity .

[Sherin]

Shriti wrote: "Sherin wrote: "Sorry for holding you all back from discussing the book without caring about the spoilers..."

Take your time :) Books are ultimately meant to be enjoyed.

But since you've read upto..."

I'm nowhere near chapter 30. :D
Thank you!

[Sherin]

Savita wrote: "Sherin wrote: "Savita wrote: "Gorab wrote: "I'm not reading Wiki - as I don't know where to stop to avoid the spoilers. Will look it up after finishing.

Have reached Chapter 30.

Are all others fi..."

:)

[Sherin]

--Spoiler for those who haven't reached till chapter 9--



Chapter 8:

Vianne remembers a lot about World War I.
But why is it Isabelle who thinks of hiding the valuables and creating a hiding place for emergencies?
Vianne is admonishing her for doing so too, as she considers it 'low priority' even after Germans have invaded their town!
She doesn't come off as too naive to believe that everything is going to be peaceful after the armistice..

[Shriti]

Sherin wrote: "I'm nowhere near chapter 30. :D
Thank you!"

😆 OK, my bad! This replying business in GR is terrible, but I should've been more clear about who said what.

I think I'll lie low on this thread for a bit, till the discussions open full-swing. I need to free up space in my brain's RAM for making headway with my TBR pile anyway... 🤭

[Shriti]

Savita wrote: "This book , and others like it ... fact or historical fiction , are like warning beacons to humanity."

That's a wonderful takeaway!

I can see that you are very much impressed by Isabelle's heroics... Have you by any chance read Calling Sehmat, the one on which Alia Bhatt's movie Raazi was based? Similar covert activities & courage portrayed, plus quite a bit closer to home 🤓

[Sherin]

Shriti wrote: "Sherin wrote: "I'm nowhere near chapter 30. :D
Thank you!"

😆 OK, my bad! This replying business in GR is terrible, but I should've been more clear about who said what.

I think I'll lie low on thi..."

:D
It would be better if you can contribute the discussions though

[Savita]

Sherin wrote: "--Spoiler for those who haven't reached till chapter 9--



Chapter 8:

Vianne remembers a lot about World War I.
But why is it Isabelle who thinks of hiding the valuables and creating a hiding pla..."

Sherin , what Shriti remarked about Vianne is true . ☆☆Beware Spoilers (view spoiler)[ Vianne tends to look the other way when she's confronted with a problem . She lacks , at this point, Isabelle 's courage . (hide spoiler)]

[Savita]

Shriti wrote: "Savita wrote: "This book , and others like it ... fact or historical fiction , are like warning beacons to humanity."

That's a wonderful takeaway!

I can see that you are very much impressed by I..."

Thank you , Shriti !
I have seen the movie Raazi , but I have not read Calling Sehmat , which I think is based on a true story . I would love to read this book . Thank you for the recommendation .

[Gorab, TheGunman]

I finished this yesterday night, and loved the book overall.
Though the ending.... (view spoiler)[ Had a few cliches. That entire business of hiding about her son. (hide spoiler)]

If its difficult to just read about the war victims, I dread to imagine how much worse it would be to endure all of that!

[Gorab, TheGunman]

Calling Sehmat is in my radar. Looks more connectable given the Indian context.

[Savita]

Gorab wrote: "I finished this yesterday night, and loved the book overall.
Though the ending.... [spoilers removed]

If its difficult to just read about the war victims, I dread to imagine how much worse it woul..."

The latest news about the Ukraine Russia conflict is that there's a threat to resort to nuclear weapons . The situation looks so grim .

[Savita]

Gorab wrote: "Calling Sehmat is in my radar. Looks more connectable given the Indian context."

We could have it in the BOTM nominatiion perhaps .

[Shriti]

Gorab wrote: "I finished this yesterday night, and loved the book overall.
Though the ending.... [spoilers removed]"

My feelings exactly... It's as happy an ending as one can hope for in those dreadful war times.

[Gorab, TheGunman]

Savita wrote: "We could have it in the BOTM nominatiion perhaps ."

Good idea. I will nominate it when the next nominations are up.
Even if not selected, we can buddy read in November.

[Savita]

Gorab wrote: "Savita wrote: "We could have it in the BOTM nominatiion perhaps ."

Good idea. I will nominate it when the next nominations are up.
Even if not selected, we can buddy read in November."

Oh yes , that's a good idea !