Book Review: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

No Spoilers 🙂

A little background on the author…

Kristin Hannah, renowned for her bestsellers like “The Nightingale” and “The Great Alone,” has garnered numerous accolades including Goodreads’ Best Historical Fiction Novel for 2015. “The Nightingale,” a Reese Witherspoon Book Club selection, has been lauded by various platforms including Amazon, iTunes, and the Wall Street Journal. Hannah expressed her inspiration of the remarkable courage of women in World War II, which compelled her to write about their extraordinary acts of heroism, including creating escape lines for downed airmen and hiding Jewish children. A haunting question woven throughout her writing is of when one would risk their life, especially as a wife and mother, to save a stranger, a the central theme of “The Nightingale.” Despite the risk of venturing into new territory with a sweeping historical epic about women’s war stories, Hannah was driven by the desire to honor their sacrifice and courage, hoping to provoke readers to consider their own capacity for bravery and sacrifice.

Now for the review…

As expressed in my review for The Long Petal of the Sea I am very interested by the human experience during the early 20th century. Maybe it is a touch of nostalgia for a time I didn’t experience but I think more so there is a connection between the events that occurred and what is happening now in the world. In a way I look up to those who experienced the hardships of war and economic depression, see how they navigated those difficult times and try to learn.

Negatives

The only negative about this book, and maybe many a-time like my writing, it was a little long-winded. I feel some of story telling was lengthy for what could have been.

Postives

But despite the length, the stories told were so interesting and inspirational. To see the different hardships the characters went through, how some shared the same origins yet their paths went in complete different directions while still entwining themselves. I did cry at various parts of the book, knowing the various heartbreaking events were actually experienced by so many and the difficult decisions that had to be made. Definitely a book I recommend, but do emotionally prepare yourself.

FINAL RATING: