2024 the best books of all times review

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A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK

A #1 New York Times bestseller, Wall Street Journal Best Book of the Year, and soon to be a major motion picture, this unforgettable novel of love and strength in the face of war has enthralled a generation.

With courage, grace, and powerful insight, bestselling author Kristin Hannah captures the epic panorama of World War II and illuminates an intimate part of history seldom seen: the women's war. The Nightingale tells the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France—a heartbreakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of women. It is a novel for everyone, a novel for a lifetime.

Goodreads Best Historical Novel of the Year People's Choice Favorite Fiction Winner #1 Indie Next Selection A Buzzfeed and The Week Best Book of the Year

Praise for The Nightingale:

"Haunting, action-packed, and compelling." —Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Absolutely riveting!...Read this book." —Dr. Miriam Klein Kassenoff, Director of the University of Miami Holocaust Teacher Institute

Reviewer: JBenoit
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Epic and powerful story of survival and strength
Review: ‘In love we find out who we want to be; in war we find out who we are.’Wow… what a completely epic and powerful story this book was! This is a book that is subtle in its brilliance, it’s one of those books that gets even better the more you sit and think about it. I’m still kind of in awe as I sit here and reflect back on the sheer magnitude of everything that happened over the course of this book. This isn’t the type of book I typically read but I’ve heard so many people talking about it and with nearly 14,000 5-star reviews, how could I not check it out? I’m very glad I did because it was such a moving experience and it really makes you reflect on your own life and certainly will make you thankful for the freedoms we enjoy each day. It wasn’t over the top or gratuitous but it was a very real and honest portrait of life for women in France during WWII and the journey of two sisters as they set out on two very different paths towards survival and freedom in this horrific era.The story centers around two sisters, Vianne Mauriac and Isabelle Rossingol. Vianne, the older and more responsible of the two is living a peaceful and happy life with her husband and daughter in the French countryside. At the threat of impending war, her life is upended when her husband, Antoine, is sent off the fight for France. As Germany begins to occupy France, Vianne is forced to learn how to survive in these new times and protect her young daughter, Sophie. Meanwhile, Isabelle, the younger more rebellious sister has spent much of her childhood being bounced from one boarding school to the next. After the death of their mother when she was just 4, Isabelle has been largely abandoned by her sister and their father. Neither one knowing how to handle the rambunctious girl. As the war starts, Isabelle is not content to sit back and watch as her beloved city of Paris is overtaken by the enemy. Longing to make a difference in the war, Isabelle makes some shocking choices that will forever alter the trajectory of her life.“Tell my sister I asked about her. We parted badly.”He smiled. “I am constantly arguing with my brother, even in war. In the end, we’re brothers.”Vianne and Isabelle’s war-time experience was vastly different, but I was fascinated and inspired by each. Their situations and choices, combined with their tumultuous history, was the source of much conflict between the two. But I loved that when push came to shove, they were still sisters and that’s a bond that is pretty hard to break. I loved seeing how their paths would intersect over the course of the book, even when it was heartbreaking. As I read, I found myself waiting for the time when they would cross paths again. Their relationship was so complicated and well written, I was 100% invested in each of their journeys as well as the evolution of their relationship with each other.“Kiss me,” she whispered. “Make me forget.”“It’s not forgetting we need, Vianne,” he said, leaning down to kiss her. “It’s remembering.”I found myself relating with Vianne on many levels. I can’t imagine having to live what she lived through, but I could picture myself making some of the same decisions she did. She was cautious and was one to try to fly under the radar in order to not draw attention to herself or her daughter. She did what she had to in order to survive but she wasn’t one to take unnecessary risks. There were few exceptions to this rule as time goes on, however, and I was so proud of some of the things she was able to do. Of course my heart also broke time and again for the things she had to endure or do. She was certainly a hero in her own right for the part she played in the war, and I think she deserved just as much recognition as her sister. And both of them deserved as much recognition as the men on the front lines. I was fascinated by all of the complicated relationship dynamics at play with her and the various men in her life, from Antoine, to Beck to her father and Von Richter. It was all so well done, I know I’m not doing any of it justice here!“I hope you never know how fragile you are, Isabelle.”“I’m not fragile,” she said.The smile he gave her was barely one at all. “We are all fragile, Isabelle. It’s the thing we learn in war.”We may all be fragile, but Isabelle did not let that stop her or hold her back from setting out to make a difference in the war! She was a fighter and pretty fearless. Many of her decisions gave me anxiety but I also had huge respect for her for all that did was doing and the risks she took to try to free her country. She may have been impulsive and reckless a lot of the time but her passion and love for her country radiated from the pages of the book, I could feel it in my soul. Her relationship with Gaetan was heartbreaking and beautiful all at the same time. It really captures the risks of giving your heart to someone in a time of war. As I said, her journey was very different from her sister’s but her experiences were equally (if not more) horrific as her sister’s. But it was her strength and her will to survive that captured my heart and inspired me throughout the entire story!I struggled with how I was going to review this book, and I know that I haven’t done a great job of capturing the depth and impact of this book. It’s really one that you have to experience for yourself. It’s painful and heartbreaking at times but it’s also inspiring and uplifting. While this is a work of fiction, it’s hard to think that people actually had to live through this during the actual war. I can’t even imagine, but like I said earlier, it’ll definitely make you thankful for the lives we have now. This book deals with loss, hardships and personal and human atrocities but it’s in the message of survival and redemption where it truly shines. I loved how it all comes together at the end, it’ll really hit you right in the heart! It was just perfectly done. I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it for anyone looking for a story with an epic feel that features very real relationships and celebrates the strength and resiliency of the seldom talked about heroes of the war, the women!“It’s hard to forget,” she said quietly. “And I’ll never forgive.”“But love has to be stronger than hate, or there is no future for us.”

Reviewer: CVZ
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A Literary Masterpiece Transformed Into A Heartbreaking Yet Empowering Movie For The Mind’s Eye
Review: I finished reading “The Women” a month ago and fell in love with the storytelling ability of Kristin Hannah. I was drawn to “The Nightingale” hoping against hope that this book will also gift me with an enlightenment of sorts. Well… it was well beyond my expectations! Ms. Hannah does NOT spare her readers from the cruel realities of war. I was literally drawn into the story and felt what the characters were feeling and could see what they were experiencing in their environment. All the deprivation, loss of freedom, heartache, sacrifice, and unimaginable loss and heroism time and time and time again played in a loop for readers to witness throughout the story.Two sisters, each so different in personality traits yet both a product of a father who lost his ability to parent, take separate paths when the Germans occupied France. Both have incredible fortitude and unmatched resilience. They shared the ability to stay strong and persevere through insurmountable odds. Isabelle ….”every barrier she turned into a gate.” Vianne…. nurturer, mother, savior and protector. Both were “Nightingales” in their own right.There are so many valuable lessons to take away from this incredible narrative. To summarize, life choices are not always black or white, right or wrong. One has to take into account the circumstances surrounding our choices. This can’t be any more true than in the grips of war.This story and the way it was delivered, is a masterpiece! Kristin Hannah is a truly stellar writer and I’m more than privileged to have the opportunity to read her works. She HAS enlightened me once again with a story depicting the contributions of women in crucial times where their bravery and sacrifice has been understated if not neglected all together.The Audible narration is beyond words too! It adds so much to the delivery of the story. Recommended.I will most definitely continue to read books by Kristin Hannah. Just need a little time to recovery emotionally from this intensely powerful read.

Reviewer: Cas Coen
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Beautiful, sad, and inspirational.
Review: I already love Kristin Hannah, and this one continued my love for her writing and stories. Historical fiction has my heart in the literature world and I could not believe the rollercoaster of emotions that I went through while reading the Nightingale. 10/10 recommend for historical fiction lovers.

Reviewer: Jordan T
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: TW SA
Review: I fully loved this book until a character was sexually assaulted. I think it's important to cover the impact SA has on women. I don't feel the perpetrator was glorified in anyway, but I do wish there was a TW label somewhere. I still liked the book, but was personally a little disturbed by my own experiences for a couple of weeks because of what I read. I was very invested in this story and I loved the colorful characters. Strong women, determined men, and even some representation of various political positions of German Nazi soldiers. This complex story is a great read, but is filled with tragedy and hard truths. I would recommend this book, but be forewarned this is very much about real life in the 1940s.

Reviewer: Jessica
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Phenomenal book, engaging story line
Review: Kristin Hannah has quickly become my favorite modern day author. The Nightingale is expertly written, reads well and sucks you right in. I couldn't put it down. Finished the book in 3 days. Another great book of hers. Highly recommend!!!

Reviewer: EA
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Amazing!
Review: I loved everything about this book. You live within the characters. Very hard to put down. This book takes you through every emotion. Every review I heard about this book was true. It is one of the best books ever written.

Reviewer: KimW
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Historical story that I couldn’t stop reading
Review: Such a detailed story of life in France during the war. So well written. Tells a story of enduring love.

Reviewer: Arthur Chaves
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I loved this book so much! I bought it to read during my vacations and I simply had it with me all times. Such an amazing story that keeps you involved in different ways with the characters. I cried twice reading it! Really recommend it.

Reviewer: jmilone
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Simplesmente maravilhoso. Emocionante do começo ao fim. Um jeito de contar uma linda e emocionante estória que nos faz viver e compartilhar sentimentos através das páginas do livro. Leitura mais que recomendável. Amei!!!

Reviewer: Mr. M. Hodgson
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I have given this book 5 stars because I read it. I read it for a book club. However, faced with a review: I only read it a few weeks ago and I have forgotten what it is about. Use that to deduce for you whether it is worth reading. Gripping enough, characters full enough, just, to maintain interest. Sadly, it seems, very forgettable.

Reviewer: Stephanos
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: This book has the amazing ability to be captivating in every section. Usually books have exciting moments and slow moments, but this book kept me captivated the entire time!

Reviewer: Carol00
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I loved this book so so much