The Nightingale-Kristin Hannah
World War II was one of the most horrifying episodes the human history has ever seen. The German barbarism , wiped off millions from the surface of earth. The numerous struggles the war saw, the Nightingale is one of them. This story is about the Rossignol(meaning nightingale) sisters and how their lives upturned on the arrival of Germans in Paris in the summer of 1940.
Vianne and Isabelle lost their mother young, and were abandoned by their father. Vianne grew to be the subtle and submissive one, got married and had a perfect life where as Isabelle turned out to be the rebellious one. She was constantly thrown out of schools for misbehaviour and being a big mouth. The war is the turning point of both their lives and makes them realise the necessity of family to both of them. With German invasion Isabelle is sent to her sister’s house in Carriveau, and their paths separated for years intertwine. Antoine, Vianne’s husband is prisoner of war now and a German officer billets in their house. All the injustice on French people is difficult for Isabelle to swallow and she joins a radical organisation working against the German government.
This requires her to move back to Paris, to his father who has been working against the government as well, forging and stealing identity papers. In the start she only passes messages to people but one day she grabs the opportunity to help an airman cross the border to Spain. With this her lifelong desire to be free, be useful to French people and help gain them independence from the torment of Germans begin. She is called the Nightingale and her rebel against the Germans began. Isabelle helps dozens of airmen to hide and then let them cross over to Spain through one of the most torturous routes through the Pyrenees Mountains.
Vianne on the other hand, like every French struggles for food everyday to keep her and her daughter going. The German who billets in their house is kind but he is the enemy. This constantly puts her in a dilemma to take help from him. As the days pass the horrible face of the War unfolds and Jewish people are pulled out of their abodes , stashed into carts and taken to camps. Rachel, Vianne’s best friend is gone like the wind and helpless Vianne watches her taken away promising to keep her son safe. This incident changes her to the core and she raises Rachel’s son as her own, changing his name to Daniel.
With the execution of millions of Jews, treated like vermins and pests in the camps the search for the Nightingale begins. The German officers are unable to trace the traitor, and never having the doubt that a small 20 year old girl would be carrying out such operations. With the passage of time, Isabelle feels more powerful and even more fearful of her life. On the other hand, Vianne joins the rebellion too, helping Jewish children to hide and survive the holocaust in orphanages.
This breath taking story of two sisters reunited through a common cause of freedom is elating and enriching. The sister bond is beautifully portrayed throughout the book and will make you fall in love with both of them. Isabelle is the strong, independent woman thought of just being beautiful and useless that gives her the advantage to fight for her nations’ independence. Vianne being the subtle and submissive one, rises as a strong character to know her potential and be a part of the rebellion. The book reflects the two sisters finding out who they really are and each other. The war pushes them to the limits of horrendous situations but not able to break them.
http://www.amazon.in/Nightingale-Novel-Kristin-Hannah/dp/0312577222
Goodreads
Vianne and Isabelle lost their mother young, and were abandoned by their father. Vianne grew to be the subtle and submissive one, got married and had a perfect life where as Isabelle turned out to be the rebellious one. She was constantly thrown out of schools for misbehaviour and being a big mouth. The war is the turning point of both their lives and makes them realise the necessity of family to both of them. With German invasion Isabelle is sent to her sister’s house in Carriveau, and their paths separated for years intertwine. Antoine, Vianne’s husband is prisoner of war now and a German officer billets in their house. All the injustice on French people is difficult for Isabelle to swallow and she joins a radical organisation working against the German government.
Vianne on the other hand, like every French struggles for food everyday to keep her and her daughter going. The German who billets in their house is kind but he is the enemy. This constantly puts her in a dilemma to take help from him. As the days pass the horrible face of the War unfolds and Jewish people are pulled out of their abodes , stashed into carts and taken to camps. Rachel, Vianne’s best friend is gone like the wind and helpless Vianne watches her taken away promising to keep her son safe. This incident changes her to the core and she raises Rachel’s son as her own, changing his name to Daniel.
With the execution of millions of Jews, treated like vermins and pests in the camps the search for the Nightingale begins. The German officers are unable to trace the traitor, and never having the doubt that a small 20 year old girl would be carrying out such operations. With the passage of time, Isabelle feels more powerful and even more fearful of her life. On the other hand, Vianne joins the rebellion too, helping Jewish children to hide and survive the holocaust in orphanages.
This breath taking story of two sisters reunited through a common cause of freedom is elating and enriching. The sister bond is beautifully portrayed throughout the book and will make you fall in love with both of them. Isabelle is the strong, independent woman thought of just being beautiful and useless that gives her the advantage to fight for her nations’ independence. Vianne being the subtle and submissive one, rises as a strong character to know her potential and be a part of the rebellion. The book reflects the two sisters finding out who they really are and each other. The war pushes them to the limits of horrendous situations but not able to break them.
http://www.amazon.in/Nightingale-Novel-Kristin-Hannah/dp/0312577222
Goodreads
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