The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah was recommended to me a few times. I finally got around to reading it in Paris this week, which is also where the book is set!
The book starts off in modern times with a sick older lady and her son. The women in the first chapter introduces herself as a person with a secret past; one that her son knows nothing about. It’s a period of her life she has chosen not to remember for a long time. She begins packing to move into assisted leaving at her sons request; as she is packing up her belongings, the story transitions to flashback of memories; most of which involve the character’s sister and herself before and during the Second World War. Most of the book goes back and forth between the two sisters in first person during this time of war in Paris. It illustrates their strained relationship and the day to day struggles throughout this period of their lives.
As the story continues you are left wondering which sister was the one in the first chapter as the author never introduces the women in the opening chapter. It leaves you guessing. Do they both survive the war? Does their relationship reconcile?
Each sister is head strong and stubborn. They both have strong opinions when it comes to the other one and what is best. The author illustrates both sides of the story very well. As the reader you can totally relate and understand where each character is coming from. It looks so simple to the reader but based on personal experience it would be much more difficult to see your sibling’s opinion when you are immersed in a relationship like that.
I’d loved being in Pairs and reading this story. Not only do I already enjoy historical fiction stories, especially those about the Second World War, but getting to explore the city that book takes place was new and wonderful experience. My imagination of the story really came to life as I walked down the streets like Rue Saint-Germaine. I could imagine Isabelle sneaking through the streets working for the French resistance in Pairs as I walked through them myself. The day we went more out of the city I pictured Vianne’s life in country. The Germans occupied her small town and home. Tying the story to real places I had the chance to visit creates a unique way to experience a story. I was much more engaged in the book because of the setting i was reading it in. Not to say I not have enjoyed it at home.
I find reading about what humans can do mentally and physically to be simply fascinating. Often times it’s also very uncomfortable. It’s brings up questions of character, we would like say yes of course I’d risk everything to save just one person facing injustice but would we really? I’d like to think that we humans would do what’s right and fight for equality and around us. It’s in trying situations, like the ones this book presents, that true character comes out. You never really know what you could and couldn’t do until we you’re immersed in a similar situation. Will you fight for your beliefs when your instinct for self preservation is screaming for you to do something different?
Overall I would give it 4/5. It was good quick, engaging read.
