What readers think of The Nightingale, plus links to write your own review.

This book falls under what I call "Holocaust Light", but the more involved I got in the story the more I enjoyed it. Taking place in France under Germany's occupation it was a different view of the time during World War 2. Bravery, daring as well as desolation were all a part of the story. The character development was generally good except that it was frustrating to have part of the story narrated by one of the key protagonists 50 years later now living in America but to never be told how she had ended up there and what had happened in the intervening years. Over all, well done.

As with most of her best-selling novels, Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale focuses on the intricacies of family relationships. Here, she has set her fast paced tale during the very bleak years of the Nazi Occupation of France (1940-45). Little surprise then that the plucky, head-strong sister joins the Resistance, while the conservative one takes longer to find her niche in the fight. Conforming to genre norms, the plucky one is fearless, her love interest has gray-green eyes, and eventually all family misunderstandings are are exposed and forgiven. Well-researched and smoothly written, Nightingale is a great companion for a rainy mid-winter afternoon.

A formulaic "historical" romance novel in a WWII setting, fraught with overwrought sentimentality and shocking scenarios, as well as historical inaccuracies to keep the reader turning pages. Writing style is high school level...not for the reader to wants a challenging thought-provoking read.

While I found the book difficult to put down, I was also aware of glaring deficiencies. The author doesn't seem to be able to write authentic dialogue. Ari-Daniel is certainly old enough to remember Viane and Sophie, so why hasn't he tried to find them? Why has one of the heroines ended up in the US? The plot line is absorbing, but the relationships of the characters are muddled.

Breathtakingly awful prose in a shoddily pieced-together tale.

Not recommended at all.

Where to begin? Or, I should say, how can I ever finish this? It's for book club or I would have abandoned it after 50 pages. Discrepancies abound. Facts glossed over. Telling instead of showing, the mark of a poor writer. The author grinds these out every year or two. This is my first and definitely my last. For great writing, well developed characters, and authentic atmosphere, read the result of 10 years of research and the Pulitzer Prize winner, "All The Light We Cannot See". Skip Miss Hannah. You deserve better.

I read many books and write many reviews. The rave reviews for this book have troubled me like no other. I was struck by the countless plot inconsistencies, anachronisms, flat characters, improbable behaviors, word repetitions and historical and cultural inaccuracies. It seems there was no one at the wheel on this one and yet the public adores it. The French who have reviewed it seemed torn between amusement and disgust. World War II buffs who are knowledgeable about the French Resistance likewise. Even if you don't care about the historical and cultural errors- which you may not even realize- how about the plot inconsistencies? The author forgets to age Isabel 4 years along with her sister. Plants growing in a ravaged garden. Chickens wandering about while people are starving. Roses growing over a wall during a French winter. People freezing in one paragraph and perspiring in the next. I could go and on. I was jolted out of the world the author was creating so many times by the mistakes I could not possibly enjoy this book.