The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah Published by St. Martin's Publishing Group on February 3, 2015
Genres: Fiction / Historical / 20th Century / World War II, Fiction / Women
Pages: 448
Format: Audiobook
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A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK
A #1 New York Times bestseller, Wall Street Journal Best Book of the Year, and soon to be a major motion picture, this unforgettable novel of love and strength in the face of war has enthralled a generation.With courage, grace, and powerful insight, bestselling author Kristin Hannah captures the epic panorama of World War II and illuminates an intimate part of history seldom seen: the women's war. The Nightingale tells the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France—a heartbreakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of women. It is a novel for everyone, a novel for a lifetime.
Goodreads Best Historical Novel of the Year • People's Choice Favorite Fiction Winner • #1 Indie Next Selection • A Buzzfeed and The Week Best Book of the Year
It should come as no surprise that historical fiction is one of my favorite genres to read. Also, that I love dual timeline stories. But probably also that I’ll literally read almost anything . . . almost. Thanks to The Book Girls Guide, this is my second book set in France during WW2 in just a couple of weeks. Both are very different in a way that can only happen when the topic is the same. Having listened to two epic books (like hours of listen time . . . hours), it’s hard not to compare them, and while I shouldn’t play favorites, I will. This is my first Kristin Hannah book, but I assure you, based on my updated TBR pile, it will not be my last.
Honestly, I don’t know what I can say about this story that hasn’t already been said. And I don’t mean just the book but the greater story. WW2 is a very popular section of historical fiction. The occupation of France is an accessible setting. What you don’t get from history but get from every single book published is the human reactions. The way different people choose to respond to what is happening. And in choosing to respond, how they act on that. And this book gave me sooo much humanity. And a side note here, since I don’t know where else to put it, the narrator was absolutely perfect for this book in a way I didn’t expect. The changes she made to the voice of different characters was soothing and not distracting – which is hard to get right, but she got it oh so right.
In a family already decimated by The Great War are two sisters who are worlds apart in age, in ideations, and in grit. Vianne and Isabella could not appear so very different while hidden inside so much alike. This book didn’t have distractions for me, which is unusual for me to say. Everything led to a purpose, and each tidbit kept me completely engaged. I was so caught up in the lives of these two young women, on the same side but a different coin of response, that the ending threw me into a total left field in a way I never saw coming. Just when you think you know the story, I mean history, right, you don’t, because of being human. An amazing book I’ll carry with me for a very long time.
About Kristin Hannah
Kristin Hannah is the award-winning and bestselling author of more than 20 novels including the international blockbuster, The Nightingale, which was named Goodreads Best Historical fiction novel for 2015 and won the coveted People’s Choice award for best fiction in the same year. Additionally, it was a selection of the Reese Witherspoon Book Club in 2023. It was named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon, iTunes, Buzzfeed, the Wall Street Journal, Paste, and The Week. In 2018, The Great Alone became an instant New York Times #1 bestseller and was named the Best Historical Novel of the Year by Goodreads.
The Four Winds was published in February of 2021 and immediately hit #1 on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Indie bookstores’ bestseller lists. Additionally, it was selected as a book club pick by the both Today Show and the Book Of the Month club, which named it the best book of 2021.
The Nightingale is currently in production at Tri Star, with Dakota and Elle Fanning set to star. Tri Star has also optioned The Great Alone and it is in development. Firefly Lane, her beloved novel about two best friends, was the #1 Netflix series around the world, in the week it came out. The popular tv show stars Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke and Season Two is currently set to conclude the series on April 27, 2023.
A former attorney, Kristin lives in the Pacific Northwest.
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