The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah is easily one of my favorite books of all time. In honor of the new special edition that will be released soon, here is why you should read this beautiful book. The Nightingale won the Audie Award for Fiction and has an average rating of 4.63 on Goodreads, an app where people rate the books they read. It is the winner of Best Historical Fiction of 2015. If that doesn’t scream greatness, I don’t know what does.
The story takes place in France during World War II. It follows two sisters, Vianne Mauriac and Isabelle Rossingol, who struggle to survive. What I love about this book is the different personalities brought to the table. One of the sisters is more timid and reserved. She is a mother and has a family to look out for. The other is more adventurous and stubborn. She wants to join the army and help with the war.
Hannah has a way of gripping the reader from page one. There was not a moment I was bored, and that’s coming from someone who doesn’t usually love historical fiction. The book is extremely emotional. I laughed and cried with these characters. The way Hannah writes makes you feel like you are there with them. These are not two-dimensional characters, instead, they are thoroughly fleshed out, each having their own specific personality and values that make them who they are. Her character depth makes you feel like these are real people, which connects you even more to the story.
This book also offers a different perspective about World War II: the perspective of two French women. Not a lot of books out there that offer that. Hannah really goes into detail about how France handled World War II. Her descriptions of France, their customs, and the people are so specific and leave no room for imagination.
You know a book is good when you don’t want it to end. That’s how I felt when I neared the final pages. This is a book for everyone. It has action, romance, mystery, you name it. At the end of the book, you will love the two main characters like they are real people. So, if you haven’t already, pick up this book.
