“It’s not forgetting we need, it’s remembering”. ~ Antoine to Vianne from The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Although I had high expectations about The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, it was a good read nonetheless.
What does having high expectations mean for a new book reviewer like me? I probably just anticipated sobbing, but the book is about war. Do I have time to weep when everything around them is chaotic, and shame is a luxury? Is dignity set aside because some are not brave enough?
I enjoyed reading the book, given that The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah is my first experience with the war book genre. I felt the rage, the hate, the patriotism, the sacrifices, and the unspoken words. I formed many theories, but I never got one right. It’s funny. It took me three weeks to finish the book, not because it was difficult to get into—I’m just pretty occupied and couldn’t do it in one sitting. 🙂
I think the ending of the novel was rushed. Or maybe that’s really all of it. It’s the story of two sisters surviving the war. I think I wanted to know Julien’s reaction and his flashbacks. Perhaps that’s the beauty of a novel; readers can form their own perspectives based on how they perceive the characters as left to them by the author.
I bought my paperback copy at The English Bookshop in Kuwait. There was one left on their shelves, so I picked it up immediately. 🙂
Have you read The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah? What’s your take? I have the ISOLA, another Reese’s Book Club pick, in my TBR list.
Leave a Reply