Title : The Nightingale
Author : Kristin Hannah
Publication date : February 3rd 2015
by St. Martin's Press
So, who hasn't heard of Kristin Hannah? Well, if you read lots of chicklit or women's fiction, Hannah is one of the most famous authors on those genres. This is my first time of reading her work and since this is a historical fiction (her first attempt), I was so excited.
The Nightingale is a book about two French sisters Vianne and Isabelle, struggling to survive WWII. Their hometown was occupied by Nazi soldiers, food was rationed, husbands were going to the war. Everything was tough and it gets even tougher when NAZI started to discriminate and kill French Jews. Told with two point of views, one for the sisters, the other is narrated in the 1995 slowly unwrapping the tale of the heroic Nightingale.
Well, the premise sounds interesting, if you ask me. I love historical fictions from 1940-1950 and fact that it is set during WWII sparked my curiosity even more. This impressions don't last, unfortunately. The Nightingale is not as cool as its glowing reviews.
Vianne and Isabelle are opposites of each other's character. Vianne is described with being level-headed and calm, but on the other hand, she's so helpless that it becomes irritating. Isabelle is totally different. Because she's much younger, she shows rebellious don't-mess-with-me trait, but despite of that, I cannot relate to her.
So, the plot. Yeah, the plot. I hate to tell you this, but out this 400-ish pages long, there's nothing except exaggerated violence or a 'supposed to be' horror. It did a very lame job, by the way, because this book clearly couldn't pull it off. The story is obviously forced to be a tear-jerker, but heck, it does nothing other than annoying me. It's like reading a book of a never-ending tragedy, but instead of gaining sympathy or touch my heart, The Nightingale is just being whiny book to me.
Not. Worth. The. Hype. 1 rating from me. How come it became Best Historical Fiction of 2015 on Goodreads, I have no idea. I dislike it, choose something else if you feel like reading historical fiction (Tracy Chevalier's books, maybe. I am her biggest fan). I dislike it when a book is clearly overrated. Enough rant, I'd love to hear from you. Have you read any Kristin Hannah's books? What is it? What's your favorite historical fiction so far?
Well, the premise sounds interesting, if you ask me. I love historical fictions from 1940-1950 and fact that it is set during WWII sparked my curiosity even more. This impressions don't last, unfortunately. The Nightingale is not as cool as its glowing reviews.
Vianne and Isabelle are opposites of each other's character. Vianne is described with being level-headed and calm, but on the other hand, she's so helpless that it becomes irritating. Isabelle is totally different. Because she's much younger, she shows rebellious don't-mess-with-me trait, but despite of that, I cannot relate to her.
So, the plot. Yeah, the plot. I hate to tell you this, but out this 400-ish pages long, there's nothing except exaggerated violence or a 'supposed to be' horror. It did a very lame job, by the way, because this book clearly couldn't pull it off. The story is obviously forced to be a tear-jerker, but heck, it does nothing other than annoying me. It's like reading a book of a never-ending tragedy, but instead of gaining sympathy or touch my heart, The Nightingale is just being whiny book to me.
She had come to church -- braved the cold -- to be comforted by Father's sermon on this Sunday, to be inspired by words like "honor" and "duty" and "loyalty." But today, those ideals felt far, far away. How could you hold on to ideals when you were sick and cold and starving. How could she look at her neighbors when she was taking food from the enemy, even as small amount as it was? Others were hungrier.Imagine that melodrama repeated over and over. I understand that in war violence happens, however there's no need to remind us of that at every single pages of the book. We readers have better things to do, too. Oh, and what I don't like the most from this book is the writing style. I can't believe I am writing this, because, ladies and gentlemen, this is Kristin Hannah that I am talking about, for Heaven's sake however reading The Nightingale reminds me of reading a dystopian YA book. This particular writing style doesn't suit historical fiction and I as a non YA lover is very irritated by this. Not to mention that the dialogues are very flat, too.
"Love," Isabelle said quitely.See, it's supposed to be sad. But I wasn't sad, I was agitated by it. I am clueless about what's the message or purpose of this book. It fails to be a historical fiction, it's a literal approach of "series of unfortunate events" makes it too depressing for chicklit, what? The Nightingale clearly doesn't know what it wants or which readers it intends to attract.
"I will add this though, since I am a mother and we can't help ourselves : A broken heart hurts as badly in wartime as in peace. Say goodbye to your young man well."
Not. Worth. The. Hype. 1 rating from me. How come it became Best Historical Fiction of 2015 on Goodreads, I have no idea. I dislike it, choose something else if you feel like reading historical fiction (Tracy Chevalier's books, maybe. I am her biggest fan). I dislike it when a book is clearly overrated. Enough rant, I'd love to hear from you. Have you read any Kristin Hannah's books? What is it? What's your favorite historical fiction so far?
