The Nightingale audiobook

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Isabelle. Paris is overrun. The Nazis control the city. What is an eighteen-year-old girl to do about all of that?” What, indeed.I really didn't know what to expect going into The Nightingale. Given the quote about love and war in the blurb, I kind of thought it might be an historical romance set during the Second World War - like the world really needs another The Bronze Horseman - but it turned out to be so much more than that.There are love stories in The Nightingale, but that's not really what the book is about. It's about women in wartime, and it's an interesting, moving portrait of the Nazi occupation of France and what this meant for all the wives, daughters and widows left behind. We're told in the book that men always assume war is about them - it's true - so this is the untold story of the home front. These are the women who are forced to house Nazi soldiers, the women who are manipulated into betraying their friends, the women who wish they could fight for their country and the women who secretly do. The main story is about two very different sisters - Vianne and Isabelle - who are trying to survive during wartime. Vianne is older and misses her husband (who is in a Nazi war camp); she must deal with her rebellious younger sister and the Nazi soldier living in her home, whilst also making sure her daughter doesn't starve. Isabelle is one of those borderline insufferable characters that also inspires affection. She reminds me of fiery, annoying, but ultimately lovable heroines like Scarlett O'Hara from Gone with the Wind and Kitty from The Painted Veil. The best thing about her, though, is her growth. She starts out a naive 18 year old who falls in love with handsome young men instantly, and she later grows into someone wiser. I loved the way her characterization was handled.On that note about falling in love, this book throws up a number of red herrings. When Isabelle instantly falls for Gaetan, I was rolling my eyes and thinking "oh great. It's that kind of book." But don't worry, that isn't the story being told here and Isabelle has a lot to learn. It's a multilayered book and none of the relationships are straight forward.And it's also incredibly sad and moving in parts, as a book about war generally is. Children in wartime are forced to grow up so fast in order to survive. Take, for example, this exchange between Vianne and her daughter: “Vianne cupped Sophie’s thin face in her hands. “Sarah died last night,” she said gently.“Died? She wasn’t sick.”Vianne steeled herself. “It happens that way sometimes. God takes you unexpectedly. She’s gone to Heaven. To be with her grandmère, and yours.”Sophie pulled away, got to her feet, backed away. “Do you think I’m stupid?”“Wh-what do you mean?”“She’s Jewish.”Vianne hated what she saw in her daughter’s eyes right now. There was nothing young in her gaze—no innocence, no naïveté, no hope.” You really get a sense of how the Nazis took over the lives of the French people. How it was subtle and manipulative, built on fear. They gradually caused divisions within communities, scaring people into betraying their friends. It wasn't a perfect book, if there is such a creature. There were some slow parts that could have been shortened or edited out all together. And I wish the author hadn't used a bunch of American terms and measurements. For example, a "cup" measurement is not used in France. But whatever, I enjoyed it a lot. In the silence between them, she heard a frog croak and the leaves fluttering in a jasmine-scented breeze above their heads. A nightingale sang a sad and lonely song. Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | Store

I've been told by so many people that I need to read this book. It gets so much hype that I thought there was absolutely NO way it would live up to it. But it did more than that. It surpassed it. My favourite books is a pretty exclusive list and it usually takes me a while to decide whether a book fits that list or not but this was an instant favourite. I absolutely adored it. Even just thinking about it now I am fighting back tears because this was such a beautiful and vivid story. I felt like I was with these characters through all of their terrible experiences and I just wanted to shelter them from it all. The women in particular, the sisters, were absolutely inspirational. They showed incredible strength in this terrible time and I loved seeing how women contributed to the war. This was just a story that really resonated with me. It has a special place in my heart for it was truly, beautiful. If you like WWII historical fiction, or even if you don't, I encourage you to try this book out. I know I'm going to be encouraging basically everyone I know to read it.

Beautiful.

4.5 stars. I didn’t mind that the story was slow because I thoroughly enjoyed the writing and was engaged throughout the book. Hannah writes so descriptively that it made me enjoy the journey and really painted the atmosphere of France. Each line was rich in detail and you could tell had been researched. And yes, I’m one of the many people who cried reading the ending lol.What would have made me fully embrace the book is if both romances had been developed better and the characterization had been stronger. Isabelle still felt like a caricature of a “rebellious girl” to me with no other qualities (even though she was such a badass in the end). I also think if the book is going to focus on women during WW2, Hannah could have emphasized the sister relationship better instead of making them disjointed for most of the story (even if just thinking about the other sister or showing memories of them throughout the book). Since the romance wasn't that well-developed we could have used that time for the sister relationship instead to really hone in on the theme and purpose of this book. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed this book and its beautiful writing. I will say though that I cried much harder in “All the Light We Cannot See” and “Lovely War” so maybe that's why I hesitate to fully give it 5 stars, because I know I am capable of more tears!

4.5/5 ⭐Full review on my Blog: The Dacian She-Wolf 🐺I don’t know what is wrong with me, but I really have a predilection when I read historical fiction: The Second World War.Even in school, I always thought that this was the most interesting part of the whole history we were taught (maybe because our history teacher was a bit obsessed with that period too, who knows).I want to start talking about this book – The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.I thought I was going to love this so much as I did with other WWII-plot-based books, but after about 250 pages it was something about it that to me felt incomplete. And I was fairly disappointed. It felt exactly how it was but it didn’t want to seem like: a story of some French girls living in the WWII France, a story narrated by an American.I am not being mean. I am only being honest. Here, either the story was indeed a bit sugar-coated as a historical fact, or I don’t know, man, it was maybe too much of the American enthusiastic positive thinking in it. French suffered more in the war then seeing the Germans drinking their French wine really, but after all, everyone suffered big time in that war, including Germany (if you believe it or not). It was war, no one got out of there looking richer or more beautiful or smarter. And this is an universally approved fact.Now, living all this sensitive content of who is good and who is bad behind because it isn’t the point here because in war everything changes and nothing is good or bad anymore, let’s move to the actual plot. Because things changed dramatically after more than half of boring and slow description and half-actions. „In love we find out who we want to be; in war we find out who we are.” I will say that I loved the whole idea of the 1995 perspective upon the events that happened from the summer of 1939 on. It is a great way to construct a novel, it gives it a bit of fluidity and a sense of emotional connection. It shows that the same very person can live as many and as different lives in the real life. It is a fascinating narrative perspective. And giving the fact that at the end the whole idea comes with a twist it makes it even more special. It is heart-felt. „Of course, men always think war is about them.” I really loved this whole idea of putting in spotlight the fact that war is not only for men but also women have crucial roles in the whole process. Women in war are like the link of a chain in a great big machine – if there’s no link, there’s no machine. War is dangerous, but even so, those women back then chose to sneak around the so-called law forced upon them, look the danger in the eyes and smile. And this is what makes them greater than they think they could be.Those two sisters in the book, Vianne and Isabelle, are as different one from another as Mars and Neptun. Vianne is sensitive, taciturn, happy to live a simple life, she doesn’t need to stand out in any way – she’s a survivor; Isabelle, on the other hand, is wild and free and full of passion and has an enormous desire to help do big things – she’s a fighter. What this war thought the two sisters is that they need to fight their own fight along with the others in order to get through – and the ways to do it are dangerous and unimaginable, almost impossible.The book was a mixture of amazing persons with beautiful and courageous hearts put in the wrong place at the wrong time, alongside wicked people with poisoned minds and hearts. I can’t even tell you how much I loved and respected Rachel de Champlain, this amazingly strong woman who didn’t back down and couldn’t let anyone back her down. And also, what an amazing character Captain Wolfgang Beck was? I mean, he truly was the voice of so, so many good Germans who purely had to fight for their country because they had to respect a vow they’ve made to the homeland and to themselves. Beck really was put there to show the world that not all good guys are good guys and definitely not all bad ones are as bad as they are shown to be. Black is the night when its sky is moonless, but, after all, everyone knows the stars are still there. „But love has to be stronger than hate, or there is no future for us.” This book teaches us to love. It shows us the horrors of a loveless world and it reminds us to love each other any and every day. ***Also, as endnote or side note, I couldn’t help but wonder: what if Mrs Hannah had a tiny bit of inspiration from the whole history of yet another famous nightingale, „The Lady with the Lamp”, Florence Nightingale? Just a thought, but, coincidence or not, the idea was, after all, very cleverly put together.

I'm crying 😭💔 I read a lot of amazing books this year but this one broke me. This novel was everything that I wanted in a historical fiction. I don't know how to express what I feel right now. This book is a must read for everyone.

Halfway through the book I was like I don't think I will cry or even feel sad, why is everyone talking about how sad it is and making a big deal out of it. Trudge on, I told myself. Then came the second half of the book.It's insanely fast paced by then for a historical fiction. And things started making sense. Regarding the first half of the book, I was busy judging the characters and the events that were happening. But still the writing style's really good that it was not an issue continuing on.The characters seem complex and unreasonable at the beginning but things fall in place as the story continues. Relationships develop and you will want more of these characters. All you would want is to make them all be together and enjoy a good meal at least once before the book ends. The separations and the heartbreaks, the communication gaps and the unavoidable situations will break you. The ending is beautiful yet it leaves you totally sobbing and broken. But your heart will have the acceptance and closure, the ending feels so wholesome.I have never cried so hard reading a fiction in my entire life.This book is all about family and I am a sucker for historical fiction ☕**Is there any other book in which sisters sacrifice this much for each other?Let me grieve. I won't be the same again.This book is my most memorable read at the end of 2019.

I'm not sure what I can say about this book that hasn't already been said, but the quality and sheer excellence to this story blew my mind. I'm not typically a fan of historical fiction, which is likely why I've avoided it for so long, but once this was described to me as "historical fiction light" I felt it was safe to take a gamble on it. When we decided for this to be the Suspenseful Clues and Thrilling Reviews September book choice, I was nervous because WHAT IF I HATED THIS BELOVED BOOK?! Clearly this is a WWII saga, but at heart I felt this was a variety of love stories. Sure there was romance, but I'm talking the love for a people, the love for a country, and the love for fighting for all that is good and right. It'll be awhile before I can pick up another emotional read because I don't know how I'll recover from this one! Please, even if (like me) you steer clear of historical fiction and love stories, do yourself a favor and pick this up. ❤️*Feel free to join in our discussion via the link below!https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

The Nightingale by Kristin HannahHeartbreaking. Really heartbreaking. This book is absolutely raw and real and heartbreakingly beautiful. And learned a lot about World War 2. If I have learned anything in this long life of mine, it is this: in love, we find out who we want to be; in war, we find out who we areLoved it...

** spoiler alert ** I'm late to the party...But here goes:"The Nightingale" begins with an unnamed elderly woman as the narrator. She is living in Oregon, and the year is 1995. Her son is helping her move...so she is downsizing her possessions. She insists that she must bring her old- large- trunk that she kept stored in the attic. In the truck contains 'past memories'. There is a WW11 identity card of a young French women, named Juliette Gervaise. As the story transports to France, 1939, we are wondering about Juliette Gervaise... and the elderly unnamed woman in 1995 ... and how they are connected to the story, ( we don't find out until towards the end). We meet the Rosingal sisters: Vianne and Isabelle. ( when war was still in the 'threat-stage'). Their personalities are different. Vianne is 10 years older, married with a child....and lives in the country. Her husband is sent off to war. Isabel has just been been kicked out of - yet another- boarding school. She is 18 at the start..and sent back home to live with her father in Paris. The sisters father had abandon them years ago ( ages 14 & 4), after their mother had died, by dropping them off, with the caretaker out in the country. So, Isabel knows her dad is not going to be very happy to have her back home. When the Germans invade Paris, her father sends Isabelle to live with Vianne. As a result of the Nazi occupation, a German soldier is stationed at Vianne's house... And Isabelle ends up going back to Paris because her attitude, defiance, and rebellion, is putting Vivianne and her daughter Sophie in danger. Isabelle and Vianne both have different perspectives and reactions to the injustices of war. They both are standing for what they believe is right, they both have courage, and both show compassion in different ways. As the story moves on we see the sisters reconcile and/or at least acknowledge their differences. Through the storytelling -we see how the Nazi's treated France (and what police officers did to their own French people- especially 'all' Jews. ( The roundups, the hiding, and the deportations). The history is haunting & horrific. The real emotional impact of "The Nightingale", is towards the end of the book. It's hard not to 'feel' something.....Yet parts did not feel authentic to me...with scenes and dialogue being over exaggerated. Parts were predictable, and cliché. I think I'm the rare bird with this novel. 3.5 rating.

I don't even know where to start this review. I am typing it through teary eyes, so I will keep it simple. (Insert tissues here)My pick for Vianne when this becomes a movie is Naomi Watts or Kate Winslet and for Isabella is Julianne Hough or Amanda Seyfried. Let's see if Hollywood takes my suggestion!This WW2 novel was so beautifully written. This war was a time of bitter hatred and in this story Kristin Hannah brings to life love, survival, bitterness, strength, and persistence. Vianne and Isabelle are the most outstanding characters I've ever read. It would be an honor to know them if they were real. I have so much more I could add but I will not because it would take so much of my review.This is a story that will make you cry and have hope in believing that if you keep stepping forward and never looking back you will make it. I highly recommend this book. It's absolutely wonderful and a gorgeous story. I will cherish it always as it is now one of my top 3 favorites :)I'm looking forward to this movie becoming a film. I will be there opening night :) in the front row!!!

4.5 to 5 stars - This is a very complete book. I hope that makes sense when I say it. I was satisfied with the entire experience.Emotional and at times nerve-wracking. Love and hope mixed with fear and suffering. Hard choices that are unavoidable, easy choices that come with great risk. This book is a historical fiction roller coaster ride.Even if you are not into historical fiction or WWII, I think this is worth checking out. Also, I would highly recommend it to those who enjoyed Between Shades of Gray and/or The Book Thief.

I almost didn't read this book and it would have been my loss if I didn't, because I would have missed out on knowing Isabel and Vianne , and the story of their indescribable bravery and volition to save lives in their roles in the French Resistance during WWII. Oh I know this is a work of fiction and these two women are characters in a novel . But I also know as history tells us there were real men and women risking their lives doing the very same things Isabel and Vianne did . A recent article tells how Hannah based the story on real events and real people ."The subject of “The Nightingale” was an outgrowth of research Hannah had done for her earlier novel “Winter Garden,” when she came across information about a Resistance heroine — the 19-year-old Belgian woman Andrée de Jongh. This brave teenager, inspired in turn by the earlier World War I heroine Edith Cavell, established the Comet Escape Line, a secret network of people who risked their lives to help Allied servicemen escape over the Pyrenees to Spain. De Jongh’s story inspired Hannah to conduct further research into the French Resistance, finding stories about women who had put themselves and their children in peril by hiding Jewish families. And de Jongh became the model for Isabelle, the younger sister, who, as “the Nightingale,” personally led downed Allied pilots over the mountains to safety." ( Seattle Times February 22, 2015)The story is all encompassing in many ways , depicting not only the war , the holocaust, the suffering and starvation, the death , the concentration camps , the emotional, physical and mental toll on people and the unrelentingly will of the people in the Resistance . We see the depth of friendship between Vianne and Rachel , a mother's or father's love for their children and the sacrifices they will make to save them with Vianne and Sophia and with Julian and Isabel and we see the raw innocence of first love that becomes a deeper love with Isabel and Gaetan .I almost didn't read this because I had previously read two other books by Hannah , one of which I loved and one that I didn't , but I could not continue to ignore the 4 and mostly 5 star ratings that so many of my Goodreads friends gave this book . These are friends who are drawn to the same books that I have loved . I'm glad I paid attention to them . My Goodreads friend Evelyn said that by the end of the book she couldn't breathe. I think that she described the feeling perfectly. I wonder why it is that the books that make me feel like I can't breathe are the ones that I love the most . I think it's because these books evoke the feelings that make us human. In this case it is a story that begs us to remember what happened. I couldn't recommend it more .

The Nightingale, Kristin HannahThe Nightingale is a historical fiction novel, written by Kristin Hannah and published in 2015. It tells the story of two sisters, just coming of age in France on the eve of World War II, and their struggle to survive and resist the German occupation of France. It was inspired by the story of a Belgian woman, Andrée de Jongh, who helped downed Allied pilots to escape Nazi territory.تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز بیست و ششم ماه اکتبر سال 2016میلادیعنوان: بلبل: رمان تاریخی؛ نویسنده: کریستین هانا؛ مترجم: مژگان احمدخان؛ نازنین عباسی؛ تهران، نشر علم، 1394؛ در 506ص؛ شابک9789642247943؛ موضوع: داستانهای نویسندگان ایالات متحده آمریکا - سده 21معنوان: بلبل: رمان تاریخی؛ نویسنده: کریستین هانا؛ مترجم: آفاق زرگریان؛ تهران، کتابسرای تندیس، 1394؛ در 711ص؛ شابک9786001821899؛ عنوان: بلبل: رمان تاریخی؛ نویسنده: کریستین هانا؛ مترجم: میثم امامی؛ ذهن آویز، 1398؛ در 740ص؛ چاپ سوم 1399؛ شابک9786001182501؛ماجراهای زندگی دو خواهر جوان و شجاع: «ایزابل» و «ویان»، و سختی‌های جنگ، و آنچه که انسان‌ها در برابر شرایط باورنکردنی زندگی، از خود نشان می‌دهند: «انتخاب‌هایی بدون حقِ انتخاب»؛ دخترى جوان، مغرور، متهور و بى کله! کسى که وارد دسته ى مقاومت مردمى «فرانسه» شد، و براى آزادى «فرانسه»، تا پاى جان جنگید، دشوارترین و ترسناکترین کارها را بردوش گرفت، عشقش را، امنیتش را و زندگیش را نادیده گرفت، تا نامش در کنار پایداری «فرانسه» جاویدان بماندتاریخ بهنگام رسانی 10/07/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 28/05/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی

its quite silly how i almost always go into a historical fiction book thinking, “why am i reading this? history is sooo boring.” but then i read books like this. books that remind me there are beautiful, heartbreaking, and important stories that make me a better person for reading them.and its difficult to write a review about story set during such a dark period in time, but this book truly is a must read for everyone. trust me. this is the kind of story that will stay with you long after you have read the final page. ↠ 4.5 stars

“My nightingale, I got you home.”This review contains *spoilers*.I honestly didn't expect to like The Nightingale as much as I did.The premise of the book intrigued me (I've been really into historical fiction lately). This story follows two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, during World War II and their hardships trying to survive. My heart broke for each sister as I read their stories full of loss and pain. And I loved the shifting point-of-view that allowed me to see inside each character's head. But one of the best things about the story for me was Isabelle. I loved her as a main character and her character development was phenomenal. She started out as a impetuous 18 year old, but in order to survive the war, she turned into someone tough and driven and so strong.“She let fear give her a little shake and she almost gave in to it. Then she thought about the swastikas that flew from the Eiffel Tower and Vianne living with the enemy and Antoine lost in some prisoner of war camp. And Edith Cavell. Certainly she had been afraid sometimes, too; Isabelle would not let fear stand in her way.”Reading from Vianne’s point of view was just as nerve-wracking as reading from Isabelle’s. Herr Captain Beck made me really uncomfortable — whenever he helped Vianne and her daughter, I felt exactly as torn as she felt. Now I’m starting to get really emotional thinking about Vianne, especially thinking about her friendship with Rachel. Their friendship is so rich and real and it made Rachel’s departure that more emotional for me. I had actual tears running down my face when she helped Rachel and her children escape. Vianne’s character growth was outstanding and it definitely surprised me. “I’ll write if I can,” Rachel said.Vianne’s throat tightened. Even if the best happened, she might not hear from her friend for years. Or ever. In this new world, there was no certain way to keep in touch with those you loved.”This book definitely astonished me. It showed me kindness when I least expected it (Eduardo and Madame Babineau) and it showed me the losses and fears of so many people and their bravery trying to live through extremely difficult times. The story is moving and heartbreaking and the characters interesting and complex. What do I possibly read after this?“He smiled. “You have a habit of saying whatever is on your mind, don’t you, Isabelle?”“Always. Why did you leave me?”He touched her face with a gentleness that made her want to cry; it felt like a good-bye, that touch, and she knew good-bye. “I wanted to forget you.”Isabelle and Gaëtan made me really emotional. I’m glad we got to see him again after he left her. Their reunion made me smile after feeling sad for so long because of the events in this book. They are so good together. But being happy didn't last long because I found out that the older woman from 1995 wasn’t Isabelle she was Vianne— Isabella had died right in Gaëtan's arms. (I found this song to be really fitting while reading.)*Note: I'm an Amazon Affiliate. If you're interested in buying The Nightingale, just click on the image below to go through my link. I'll make a small commission!* This review and more can be found on my blog.