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"In love we find out who we want to be."
"In war we find out who we are."
FRANCE, 1939
Narrated by Jane Smith
I really tried, you guys. There was even a 20% period when my standards were reduced so low from the previous 70%, that I thought maybe, maybe 2*. But the last 10% was offensive. Yes, I said offensive.
"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.
It was the comparisons to All the Light We Cannot See that attracted me to The Nightingale. Though both novels are set during WW2 the similarities for me stopped there. All the Light is a magical novel electric with beautiful resounding prose and refined artistry. The Nightingale is a novel motored essentially by cliche and exaggeration.
So many 4 & 5 star reviews here, but I'm afraid I just thought this WWII historical novel was okay. There are so many novels about this time period and I didn't think this one rose above the heap. The last one to do that for me was Kate Atkinson's Life After Life and this just can't even compare to that or to David Gillham's City of Women.
This book completely wrecked me. I stayed up until 3 AM finishing it because I simply couldn't put it down. The way Hannah weaves together the stories of these two sisters is masterful. I'll be thinking about this one for a long time.
While the historical aspects were well-researched, I found the pacing a bit uneven. The first third dragged considerably, though it did pick up in the latter half. The character development was solid, but some plot points felt contrived.
As someone who has studied WWII extensively, I appreciate the attention to historical detail. The author clearly did her research. However, there were a few minor historical inaccuracies that bothered me...
DNF at 30%. I know everyone loves this book but I just couldn't connect with the characters. The writing style wasn't for me and the pacing felt off. Maybe I'll try again later.
A masterpiece of historical fiction. The way the author captures the atmosphere of occupied France is breathtaking. The relationship between the sisters is complex and beautifully portrayed.