A friend of mine mailed me this book sometime during Covid. She thought I would really enjoy it. The length has always intimidated me so there it sat. But when I was looking for a new audio book, one to listen to a bit at home but mostly while on travel, I was delighted to see The Nightingale available without a hold! The length was 17hrs, so I figured what I couldn’t listen to, I could finish by reading the book.

This book is simply beautiful, and I almost have no words to describe its beauty. The story follows sisters Vianne and Isabelle. The story begins in 1939, and shortly after the Nazi’s invade France. Isabelle is strongly against the war, and vocal about it. Vianne keeps her head down in hopes of protecting her daughter and prays her husband is returned to her. Shortly there after a young Nazi soldier billets at their house. Isabelle is not pleased and joins the Resistance. Her work leads her to Paris where her father lives. In Paris, Isabelle is a strong member of the Resistance and sets forth on a dangerous path. Vianne struggles as well on her own. Her friends are fired from their jobs for being Jewish, then she is fired for associated with a Jew. The struggles for both women are told in such a harrowing way. I listened impatiently waiting to learn what happened next.

I will say I am not surprised that this book is becoming a movie. I already said its beautiful, and I’ll say it again, it’s beautiful. Kristin Hannah writes with such precision and realism. This book was a 5/5 for me and I will be thinking about it for a long time.