The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
What would you do if you were a
woman and an invading army took over and moved into your town and your
home? What if you had children? What if you were single? Even if you feel you would be incapable of
putting up any resistance do you think you may surprise even yourself?
French sisters Vianne and Isabelle
couldn’t be more different. Vianne is
the calm and obedient one, married with a daughter. Isabelle was always running away from
boarding schools and getting into trouble.
When the Nazis invade France Vianne tries to shelter her daughter and
maintain normality in her home. Yet
Vianne cannot simply stand by and let things happen, despite herself she
becomes involved in helping others even though she is putting her family in
danger. Isabelle returns to Paris and
becomes the Nightingale helping the Resistance by walking American and British
downed pilots over the mountains to Spain.
Every day she puts herself at risk ferrying messages and people under
the enemy’s noses.
It seems like I just read a really
great WWII era book (All the Light We Cannot See) and I didn’t think I was
ready to read another. I was pleasantly
surprised. This is a wonderful book
giving insight into the trials of the women left behind in France when the
Nazis moved in. While Isabelle’s story
is thrilling I found myself drawn to Vianne: a strong woman who doesn’t see
herself as a hero, but who truly is. Be
prepared to get teary eyed at the end if, like me, you tend to cry at happy yet
bittersweet endings.
