On My Bookshelf

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah has been on my list for quite a while and I have finally crossed it off. What a great read! I loved it. Historical fiction is definitely my favourite genre and WWII is one of my most favourite time periods. I would rank The Nightingale right up there with other WWII favs like Sarah's Key, Those Who Save Us, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet and The Far Side of the Sky. 
The Nightingale, set in German-occupied France between 1939 and 1944 is a beautifully written story of two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle Rossignol. Kristin Hannah is a master story-teller, painting her characters with a fine brush - they seem so very real and alive. This is not your typical WWII story, but rather one of family, and the courage that two women displayed, each in their own way, to deal with the horrors of Nazi-occupied France. Vianne and Isabelle are somewhat "estranged" with a difference in age and opinions. With Vianne's husband off to war, her home becomes the home base for a Nazi officer. Isabelle cannot accept this arrangement and leaves to join the French resistance. Their lives follow different paths, each showing strengths by resisting the occupation in their own way. I won't give away any more of the plot, you really must read this book yourself! A powerful and moving story, the character of Isabelle is based on a a real person who helped more than 100 downed Allied airmen escape occupied France. It left me wondering if in similar circumstances I could be half as determined and courageous. This novel has won several awards and I've heard there will be a movie. I cannot wait! 10 stars out of 10 from this reader!

Peace,
Linda

"The book to read is not the one that thinks for you, but the one which makes you think." ~ Harper Lee