Book Review of
The Nightingale

Author: Kristin Hannah

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Lynn's Review

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah is a historical fiction book published in 2015.

The Nightingale is a WWII historical fiction book set in France. It is about two sisters who are very different and who take very different paths during the war. It is about how tragedy changes people and how it impacts future generations.

This book is about war, family, friendships, and decisions during horrific times. The details and descriptions about the characters and the family dynamics made it a page turner for me.

It is easy years later to say what we would or wouldn’t do during war or other tragedies, but do we really know what we would do if we were never in that situation?

Kristin Hannah;s books take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride. I read a review that described her books as satisfying and traumatizing and I think that is a great description of her writing.

Kristin Hannah’s books make you think. They stay with you long after you finish them. For me, that is always a sign of a good book.

I first read this book almost ten years ago, shortly after it was published. Everyone was talking about it and gave it a try. I didn’t love it the first time that I read it, but after reading several other Kristin Hannah books, I understand her writing better and decided to reread The Nightingale.

I enjoyed it so much more the second time I read it. It isn’t my favorite Kristin Hannah book, but it is close.

I will say that The Nightingale is about war and horrific things that happen in the book, including things that affect women. So, if you are sensitive to those things, keep that in mind.

I will also say that I did not love the two sisters for the first part of the book. I did not like their choices and some of their decisions. However, about halfway through the book, it all started to come together, and I understood the sisters and their decisions. The more I read of the book, the more I loved it.

If you love historical fiction and have not read The Nightingale, I highly recommend it.

Did you know Kristin Hannah has written over twenty books? My list of Kristin Hannah books includes all of them.