The Nightingale

To say I was intimidated by this book is an understatement. With its 600 pages and WWII plot, I had been putting it off for longer than I should have. But this was a mistake because the minute I picked it up I was transported to the harsh, unforgiving territory of France during the height of the second world war. Rather than the story being told through the perspective of a soldier, or a spy, it is told through two normal civilians, struggling in their day to day. 

Vianne and Isabelle could not be more different. While Vianne's only worry is protecting her daughter and surviving the occupation of her home, Isabelle refuses to conform to the Nazi’s taking over her home town. Their different approaches to adversity reminded me of the contrast between my sister and me, and put me in the shoes of two women with different, yet equally powerful reactions to war and terror. 

The thing that struck me the most about The Nightingale was that Kristin Hannah gave a voice to the silenced, the oppressed, and represented the unconventional narratives in war. There are no battlefields or armies at the heart of the novel. Instead, there are families trying to find food, students being separated from their best friends, neighbors deciding who they can trust, and ordinary people making impossible choices. The war feels terrifying precisely because it has invaded every part of their lives.

Despite its length, I was absorbed by the story, and the fast paced, yet extremely detailed style of Hannah’s writing. It reminded me that some of the most powerful stories about war aren't necessarily about the people fighting on the front lines, but about the people left behind who are simply trying to survive the day. Let me just say, the 600 pages are worth it. 5/5 ⭐️